I didn't even know The Mothers-in-Law existed - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Hawkee · 12-07-2022, 03:35 AM

Today when cruising Tubi I looked at their Classic Sitcoms section and found The Mothers-In Law and to my surprise I never knew that this sitcom existed and so I decided to watch an episode and found it real funny and what's surprising about The Mothers-In Law is that Desi Arnaz produced this series. Was The Mothers-In Law one of the least successful Desilu produced shows? It shocks me that this show hasn't been seen on any retro channels and I do know that METV carried it for a time but The Mothers-In Law should be brought to Decades because it's so funny
Bestie

dee2364 · 09-01-2023, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkee

Today when cruising Tubi I looked at their Classic Sitcoms section and found The Mothers-In Law and to my surprise I never knew that this sitcom existed and so I decided to watch an episode and found it real funny and what's surprising about The Mothers-In Law is that Desi Arnaz produced this series. Was The Mothers-In Law one of the least successful Desilu produced shows? It shocks me that this show hasn't been seen on any retro channels and I do know that METV carried it for a time but The Mothers-In Law should be brought to Decades because it's so funny
Bestie

The show ran for a short while on Antenna TV, IIRC, right before or after Good Morning, World (can't remember).

rusty spike · 09-01-2023, 01:18 PM

It's an ok show. It may not have the appeal of rewatchability meaning that you can sit through it once, but that's it. Maybe my opinion is in the minority, but I don't find their squabbles to be enjoyable.

Added to say that this show was added to a channel a few years ago and it didn't do well. Guess it streaming on Tubi is a better option.

Duster76 · 09-01-2023, 02:55 PM

One housekeeping issue, Hawkee indicated this was a Desilu produced show, Desi had already left Desilu, this was a Desi Arnaz Production. The series was filmed on the old Desilu lot, by the time the series was on the air Gulf Western may have been the owner of Desilu.

The casting for this series was a complete mess, Desi wanted Ann Sothern to play one of the two mother-in-laws, but NBC nixed it thinking her style and Eve Arden's were too similar. Desi then called on Kaye Ballard, who at 41 was almost 20 years younger than Eve and only 11 years older than the actor who played her son. What's worse Roger Carmel who played her husband was less than 4 years older than the actor who played the son. Carmel with a handlebar mustache had a prototypical bad guy look, hardly someone that would normally be cast in a part like this.

The show was placed in the 8:30 Sunday timeslot on NBC bookended by two monster hits, Disney and Bonanza, unfortunately this timeslot with all the riches on both ends was the Bermuda Triangle of timeslots, shows that went into that timeslot didn't last very long. Mother-In-Law at two years was the best you could hope for.

Bonniegirl · 09-01-2023, 03:24 PM

I loved this show, I remember this as a little girl ! It's really funny !

I remember METV ran it years ago. Wish one of the retro stations would pick it back up. I thought Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard were hilarious together !

1960'sTVfan · 11-17-2023, 12:24 AM

Agreed, watching episodes of this show is a fun trip down nostalgia lane. Actress Kay Cole was the original choice for the role of the Hubbard's daughter, she is in the unaired pilot episode but when the actual series begins Kay Cole is replaced with Deborah Walley. No one seems to know why the casting change was made, when watching the interview with Kaye Ballard on the DVD set, she didn't have an answer either.

I like season 1 better than season 2, mainly because of the casting change, Roger Carmel being replaced with Richard Deacon. Deacon was a good actor but he seemed miscast in a wacky sitcom like The Mothers In Law, it wasn't the right type of show for him. I don't know if Carmel left the series on his own or if he was fired, but from what I understand it was over a money issue. I think Avery Schreiber would have been a better choice to replace Carmel but I don't know if he was even considered for the role.

The Mothers In Law was cancelled after season 2, I imagine that ratings probably weren't as good compared to the previous season, NBC had also greenlighted The Bill Cosby Show sitcom for 1969-70 so another series had to go and Mothers In Law was given the ax.

12-07-2022, 03:35 AM	#1
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,744	I didn't even know The Mothers-in-Law existed Today when cruising Tubi I looked at their Classic Sitcoms section and found The Mothers-In Law and to my surprise I never knew that this sitcom existed and so I decided to watch an episode and found it real funny and what's surprising about The Mothers-In Law is that Desi Arnaz produced this series. Was The Mothers-In Law one of the least successful Desilu produced shows? It shocks me that this show hasn't been seen on any retro channels and I do know that METV carried it for a time but The Mothers-In Law should be brought to Decades because it's so funny Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

09-01-2023, 01:18 PM	#3
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	It's an ok show. It may not have the appeal of rewatchability meaning that you can sit through it once, but that's it. Maybe my opinion is in the minority, but I don't find their squabbles to be enjoyable. Added to say that this show was added to a channel a few years ago and it didn't do well. Guess it streaming on Tubi is a better option.

09-01-2023, 02:55 PM	#4
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	One housekeeping issue, Hawkee indicated this was a Desilu produced show, Desi had already left Desilu, this was a Desi Arnaz Production. The series was filmed on the old Desilu lot, by the time the series was on the air Gulf Western may have been the owner of Desilu. The casting for this series was a complete mess, Desi wanted Ann Sothern to play one of the two mother-in-laws, but NBC nixed it thinking her style and Eve Arden's were too similar. Desi then called on Kaye Ballard, who at 41 was almost 20 years younger than Eve and only 11 years older than the actor who played her son. What's worse Roger Carmel who played her husband was less than 4 years older than the actor who played the son. Carmel with a handlebar mustache had a prototypical bad guy look, hardly someone that would normally be cast in a part like this. The show was placed in the 8:30 Sunday timeslot on NBC bookended by two monster hits, Disney and Bonanza, unfortunately this timeslot with all the riches on both ends was the Bermuda Triangle of timeslots, shows that went into that timeslot didn't last very long. Mother-In-Law at two years was the best you could hope for.

09-01-2023, 03:24 PM	#5
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,449	I loved this show, I remember this as a little girl ! It's really funny ! I remember METV ran it years ago. Wish one of the retro stations would pick it back up. I thought Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard were hilarious together !

11-17-2023, 12:24 AM	#6
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,053	Agreed, watching episodes of this show is a fun trip down nostalgia lane. Actress Kay Cole was the original choice for the role of the Hubbard's daughter, she is in the unaired pilot episode but when the actual series begins Kay Cole is replaced with Deborah Walley. No one seems to know why the casting change was made, when watching the interview with Kaye Ballard on the DVD set, she didn't have an answer either. I like season 1 better than season 2, mainly because of the casting change, Roger Carmel being replaced with Richard Deacon. Deacon was a good actor but he seemed miscast in a wacky sitcom like The Mothers In Law, it wasn't the right type of show for him. I don't know if Carmel left the series on his own or if he was fired, but from what I understand it was over a money issue. I think Avery Schreiber would have been a better choice to replace Carmel but I don't know if he was even considered for the role. The Mothers In Law was cancelled after season 2, I imagine that ratings probably weren't as good compared to the previous season, NBC had also greenlighted The Bill Cosby Show sitcom for 1969-70 so another series had to go and Mothers In Law was given the ax.