Did Danny Williams display abusive personality behavior - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 11-05-2022, 01:28 AM

He frequently yelled at other characters who weren't doing what he wanted them to do. He could get quite loud and threatening, i.e., verbally abusive.
Some of the TV episodes ended with Danny getting a comeuppance, but many didn't, and either way, his character was a sweetheart by the end of every episode.

Howard · 11-25-2022, 06:50 PM

That's one of the things I loved about this show! Am so glad that PRIME has seasons 5-11 playing for free!

vitoscotti · 12-11-2022, 04:59 AM

I was listening to an interview of a writer who worked for Danny Thomas mentioned DT carried a gun and would pull it out if needed to send a message.

Howard · 12-11-2022, 07:38 PM

Exactly! Loved all the yelling as it reminded me of my growing up amidst it!

Howard · 12-11-2022, 07:39 PM

Vito Scotti was an incredible character-actor in the 60's/70's! Any relation?

Road Dog · 08-07-2023, 02:56 PM

Danny Williams was an extension of Danny Thomas' personality. Both Jean Hagen and Sherry Jackson eventually left the show because they were fed up with being bullied by Thomas and Sheldon Leonard.

stevea · 08-07-2023, 07:12 PM

I'd bet Marjorie Lord didn't take any bullying. She looked like the type who could dish it out with the best of 'em.

vitoscotti · 08-11-2023, 10:34 PM

I was listening to a "The Godfather" panel discussion and Danny Thomas came up. During early stages of the pre movie financing talk he and his production company were interested in buying it. And yes, Danny Thomas would have been Vito Corleone.

dee2364 · 06-26-2024, 10:45 AM

Danny Williams was abusive by today's standards, but back then, that's how a lot of fathers from working class, immigrant backgrounds were, as opposed to middle class families (like the Petries, Andersons and Bradys), who raised their kids with Dr. Spock.

Also, I don't know if people realize this, but Make Room for Daddy was definitely mocking and rebelling against Dr. Spock and child psychologists, who was all the rage back then, so he spoke for Americans who didn't believe in any of that "let the child decide/be best friends with your kid" nonsense.

stevea · 06-26-2024, 12:40 PM

A lot of Danny's yelling was just bluster. There's a flashback scene shown from a very early episode where he was trying to get up the nerve to spank around-6 year old Rusty. He couldn't do it.

The loudmouth bit was just a part of the show. When the Hans Conried character, Uncle Tonoose, was on, it escalated quite a bit.

Charles Knox · 06-26-2024, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

A lot of Danny's yelling was just bluster. There's a flashback scene shown from a very early episode where he was trying to get up the nerve to spank around-6 year old Rusty. He couldn't do it.

The loudmouth bit was just a part of the show. When the Hans Conried character, Uncle Tonoose, was on, it escalated quite a bit.

The television Danny character was all bark and no bite. Now the real Thomas snd Leonard, were probably two bad dudes not to be messed around with. Although without them, we wouldn't have a lot of the classic shows we love.

stevea · 06-26-2024, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Knox

The television Danny character was all bark and no bite. Now the real Thomas snd Leonard, were probably two bad dudes not to be messed around with. Although without them, we wouldn't have a lot of the classic shows we love.

Like Andy Griffith and Dick Van Dyke shows.

11-05-2022, 01:28 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,380	Did Danny Williams display abusive personality behavior He frequently yelled at other characters who weren't doing what he wanted them to do. He could get quite loud and threatening, i.e., verbally abusive. Some of the TV episodes ended with Danny getting a comeuppance, but many didn't, and either way, his character was a sweetheart by the end of every episode.

11-25-2022, 06:50 PM	#2
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 238	That's one of the things I loved about this show! Am so glad that PRIME has seasons 5-11 playing for free!

12-11-2022, 04:59 AM	#3
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,065	I was listening to an interview of a writer who worked for Danny Thomas mentioned DT carried a gun and would pull it out if needed to send a message.

12-11-2022, 07:38 PM	#4
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 238	Exactly! Loved all the yelling as it reminded me of my growing up amidst it!

12-11-2022, 07:39 PM	#5
Howard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2003 Posts: 238	Vito Scotti was an incredible character-actor in the 60's/70's! Any relation?

08-07-2023, 02:56 PM	#6
Road Dog Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 94	Danny Williams was an extension of Danny Thomas' personality. Both Jean Hagen and Sherry Jackson eventually left the show because they were fed up with being bullied by Thomas and Sheldon Leonard.

08-07-2023, 07:12 PM	#7
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,160	I'd bet Marjorie Lord didn't take any bullying. She looked like the type who could dish it out with the best of 'em.

08-11-2023, 10:34 PM	#8
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,065	I was listening to a "The Godfather" panel discussion and Danny Thomas came up. During early stages of the pre movie financing talk he and his production company were interested in buying it. And yes, Danny Thomas would have been Vito Corleone.

06-26-2024, 10:45 AM	#9
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	Danny Williams was abusive by today's standards, but back then, that's how a lot of fathers from working class, immigrant backgrounds were, as opposed to middle class families (like the Petries, Andersons and Bradys), who raised their kids with Dr. Spock. Also, I don't know if people realize this, but Make Room for Daddy was definitely mocking and rebelling against Dr. Spock and child psychologists, who was all the rage back then, so he spoke for Americans who didn't believe in any of that "let the child decide/be best friends with your kid" nonsense.

06-26-2024, 12:40 PM	#10
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,160	A lot of Danny's yelling was just bluster. There's a flashback scene shown from a very early episode where he was trying to get up the nerve to spank around-6 year old Rusty. He couldn't do it. The loudmouth bit was just a part of the show. When the Hans Conried character, Uncle Tonoose, was on, it escalated quite a bit.