Barry Livingston: "The Importance of Being Ernie" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stevea · 10-27-2019, 06:02 PM

Believing in the importance of being a M3S fan, I read this book. Here's a short review: This book is an autobiography of Barry Livingston. He goes into detail about his early life, and his sort-of dysfunctional and poor family. Things started to change for the better when both he and his brother, Stan, started getting acting roles. Both had a variety of roles as child actors, including roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. When Stanley landed a regular role on M3S, Barry took his place on O&H. Eventually in the fourth season Barry became a neighbor of the Douglases on M3S, Ernie--a best friend for Chip. After the fifth season Tim Considine decided to leave the show, and to maintain the three sons storyline, the writers made Ernie a foster child adopted by the Douglases in the sixth season, and thus a regular role for Barry.

Barry's book relates a lot of information about his subsequent to M3S acting roles--TMI, for my liking. And not enough about M3S, on which, after all, he spent nine seasons. More TMI--way too much detail on his drug use and wild Hollywood parties. Just tell us you had a problem with cocaine, I don't need a ton of detail.

What is it about actors that makes them illiterate about their show? A good example is Jerry Mathers and his book. And Barry is no exception. I groaned when, early in the book, he referred to Uncle Bub. Bub was never called Uncle because he wasn't an uncle to the Douglas clan--he was the boys' grandfather. Later he mentions the Ernie adoption story arc covering six episodes. Uh, no, Barry, it was a three-episode arc. The second sentence in that two sentence paragraph also was wrong in saying that Ernie's adoption was never mentioned again. In season 10 when Dodie was adopted, Ernie mentioned that he too was adopted. I have a suggestion for stars when they write about their shows--stay away from the trivia unless you REALLY know.

Barry, in your book, you should have stuck with the title. That would have made it way more interesting. The first third of the book is interesting, and if you can get it cheap, it's worthwhile.

thejasoomian · 10-27-2019, 06:34 PM

Thanks for the write-up. I've always wanted to read this book but so far I haven't. Does he talk about working with Jerry Lewis ?

stevea · 10-27-2019, 07:26 PM

Nothing about Jerry Lewis. A lot about directors, producers, and other actors he worked with/for. He claims to have been really chummy with longtime M3S director (S8-S11) Fred DeCordova.

PracTz · 10-27-2019, 08:40 PM

Read the same book.

Also, he claimed that there was a multi-episode arc detailing Bub's departure when they decided to get rid of Mr. Frawley.

NOPE! ALL that was done was Bub getting an invite to his Aunt Katey's 104th Birthday in Ireland (who the family sans Ernie HAD met earlier that year then was seen walking up a plane's gangplank to start his journey- and that was IT! They never mention him safely arriving there much less any decision on his part to permanently immigrate to Ireland just because of a birthday party invite!

One episode later, Mr. Demarest arrives as Uncle Charley and immediately takes over not just Bub's duties but also his very room right down to replacing his 'vaudeville' decor with maritime stuff ASAP!

They never even mention Bub (much less if he's still living or not) when Mike (his namesake) marries his longtime flame Sally [who HAD known Bub] or when his triplet great-grandsons by Robbie were born.

Oddly enough, I can't even recall Uncle Charley mentioning any childhood memories that included Bub his own brother!

stevea · 10-27-2019, 09:09 PM

I must have been falling asleep on that mistake. He probably was thinking of the 2 part episode where the Douglases visit Ireland, at the beginning of season 5. This was before Frawley's departure, which wasn't even relevant in these episodes--although by this time the producers were probably searching for his replacement.

You're right--other than maybe a reference in the first Uncle Charley episode, there's never a mention of Bub again. And when Mike left, there were mentions of Mike in a few subsequent season 6 episodes. They were inconsistent--for example, in the wedding episode, Steve mentions that Mike and Sally are going "back East", but in the episode where the family thinks Steve is getting married, the reference is to them being in Arizona.

Hazel Anyday · 10-27-2019, 09:42 PM

It's frustrating to listen to the ignorance of these people who were involved GREATLY in a show and have them display such lack of basic knowledge of the program. Uncle Bub!!!! As Oliver Douglas would say, "What the".

Same thing happened with that Our Miss Brooks Reunion youtube video referenced in the Our Miss Brooks thread, some basic history they just seemed to be unaware of.

And as for Ernie's book, sounds like a concert you go to to hear your favorite songs performed by a singer and instead he spends 95% of the time playing lousy new songs he's trying to promote then just plays qick medlies of his hits. It's called KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, Ernie, people buy your book to read about My 3 Sons not drug life. By the way, I grew up in this same time, I never took any drugs, what's with these Hollywood types who don't seem to have any self control or common sense? And if I had taken drugs it would not be something I'd write about in a book that should be all about My 3 Sons. Just say I made mistakes and leave it at that. Maintain some dignity, but I guess he was trying to please his publisher who was only interested in dirt and scandal.

TV Guy · 10-27-2019, 11:57 PM

I have to agree. I wish Barry had spent more time on his career in the 60s, and less time on how he struggled after the show ended in the 1970s.

paul.austin · 10-28-2019, 10:56 AM

Doing the show was just mundane day in day out stuff to the actors. They can be forgiven for not knowing every plot detail.

I think one of the Bradys said that if they'd know this stuff would be important one day, they'd have taken more notes and done home movies of the studio.

stevea · 10-28-2019, 11:21 AM

Yeah, but Uncle Bub was really a flub. He should have steered clear of trivia if he didn't know it.

PracTz · 10-28-2019, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Yeah, but Uncle Bub was really a flub. He should have steered clear of trivia if he didn't know it.

Not to mention, this was written in 2011. Hence, in this age of Google and other search engines, it would have literally taken just a few mouse clicks for him to have gotten the CORRECT info about William Frawley's character (and said character's exit). Therefore this was IMO a lazy fail on Mr. Livingston's part (as well as any cowriters and researchers who may have assisted him).

10-27-2019, 06:02 PM	#1
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,689	Barry Livingston: "The Importance of Being Ernie" Believing in the importance of being a M3S fan, I read this book. Here's a short review: This book is an autobiography of Barry Livingston. He goes into detail about his early life, and his sort-of dysfunctional and poor family. Things started to change for the better when both he and his brother, Stan, started getting acting roles. Both had a variety of roles as child actors, including roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. When Stanley landed a regular role on M3S, Barry took his place on O&H. Eventually in the fourth season Barry became a neighbor of the Douglases on M3S, Ernie--a best friend for Chip. After the fifth season Tim Considine decided to leave the show, and to maintain the three sons storyline, the writers made Ernie a foster child adopted by the Douglases in the sixth season, and thus a regular role for Barry. Barry's book relates a lot of information about his subsequent to M3S acting roles--TMI, for my liking. And not enough about M3S, on which, after all, he spent nine seasons. More TMI--way too much detail on his drug use and wild Hollywood parties. Just tell us you had a problem with cocaine, I don't need a ton of detail. What is it about actors that makes them illiterate about their show? A good example is Jerry Mathers and his book. And Barry is no exception. I groaned when, early in the book, he referred to Uncle Bub. Bub was never called Uncle because he wasn't an uncle to the Douglas clan--he was the boys' grandfather. Later he mentions the Ernie adoption story arc covering six episodes. Uh, no, Barry, it was a three-episode arc. The second sentence in that two sentence paragraph also was wrong in saying that Ernie's adoption was never mentioned again. In season 10 when Dodie was adopted, Ernie mentioned that he too was adopted. I have a suggestion for stars when they write about their shows--stay away from the trivia unless you REALLY know. Barry, in your book, you should have stuck with the title. That would have made it way more interesting. The first third of the book is interesting, and if you can get it cheap, it's worthwhile.

10-27-2019, 09:42 PM	#6
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Importance Of Sticking To The Subject Ernie It's frustrating to listen to the ignorance of these people who were involved GREATLY in a show and have them display such lack of basic knowledge of the program. Uncle Bub!!!! As Oliver Douglas would say, "What the". Same thing happened with that Our Miss Brooks Reunion youtube video referenced in the Our Miss Brooks thread, some basic history they just seemed to be unaware of. And as for Ernie's book, sounds like a concert you go to to hear your favorite songs performed by a singer and instead he spends 95% of the time playing lousy new songs he's trying to promote then just plays qick medlies of his hits. It's called KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, Ernie, people buy your book to read about My 3 Sons not drug life. By the way, I grew up in this same time, I never took any drugs, what's with these Hollywood types who don't seem to have any self control or common sense? And if I had taken drugs it would not be something I'd write about in a book that should be all about My 3 Sons. Just say I made mistakes and leave it at that. Maintain some dignity, but I guess he was trying to please his publisher who was only interested in dirt and scandal.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

10-27-2019, 06:34 PM	#2
thejasoomian Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 15, 2019 Posts: 327	Thanks for the write-up. I've always wanted to read this book but so far I haven't. Does he talk about working with Jerry Lewis ?

10-27-2019, 07:26 PM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,689	Nothing about Jerry Lewis. A lot about directors, producers, and other actors he worked with/for. He claims to have been really chummy with longtime M3S director (S8-S11) Fred DeCordova.

10-27-2019, 08:40 PM	#4
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Read the same book. Also, he claimed that there was a multi-episode arc detailing Bub's departure when they decided to get rid of Mr. Frawley. NOPE! ALL that was done was Bub getting an invite to his Aunt Katey's 104th Birthday in Ireland (who the family sans Ernie HAD met earlier that year then was seen walking up a plane's gangplank to start his journey- and that was IT! They never mention him safely arriving there much less any decision on his part to permanently immigrate to Ireland just because of a birthday party invite! One episode later, Mr. Demarest arrives as Uncle Charley and immediately takes over not just Bub's duties but also his very room right down to replacing his 'vaudeville' decor with maritime stuff ASAP! They never even mention Bub (much less if he's still living or not) when Mike (his namesake) marries his longtime flame Sally [who HAD known Bub] or when his triplet great-grandsons by Robbie were born. Oddly enough, I can't even recall Uncle Charley mentioning any childhood memories that included Bub his own brother!

10-27-2019, 09:09 PM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,689	I must have been falling asleep on that mistake. He probably was thinking of the 2 part episode where the Douglases visit Ireland, at the beginning of season 5. This was before Frawley's departure, which wasn't even relevant in these episodes--although by this time the producers were probably searching for his replacement. You're right--other than maybe a reference in the first Uncle Charley episode, there's never a mention of Bub again. And when Mike left, there were mentions of Mike in a few subsequent season 6 episodes. They were inconsistent--for example, in the wedding episode, Steve mentions that Mike and Sally are going "back East", but in the episode where the family thinks Steve is getting married, the reference is to them being in Arizona.

10-27-2019, 11:57 PM	#7
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	I have to agree. I wish Barry had spent more time on his career in the 60s, and less time on how he struggled after the show ended in the 1970s.

10-28-2019, 10:56 AM	#8
paul.austin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 22, 2012 Posts: 673	Doing the show was just mundane day in day out stuff to the actors. They can be forgiven for not knowing every plot detail. I think one of the Bradys said that if they'd know this stuff would be important one day, they'd have taken more notes and done home movies of the studio.

10-28-2019, 11:21 AM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,689	Yeah, but Uncle Bub was really a flub. He should have steered clear of trivia if he didn't know it.