Watching Old TV: Four Things to Like About Family Affair

  Recently we've had several different old sitcoms out of the library.

Our 1960s TV

  Flipper was fun, but i didn't really see anything worth talking about in it.
  However, Family Affair seems to transcend a mere sitcom.  There's  a depth to it without being heavy.

  In no particular order, here is hopefully a quick list of four things that make Family Affair exceptional:

• The kids and Uncle Bill talk to each other.  The message doesn't always come through at once - sound like real life? - but they do their best, keep trying, & eventually get through.

• Uncle Bill wants what's best for the kids, sacrifices for the kids, but he doesn't turn himself into a different person.  Mr. French comes to care for them too.  The emotions are real without being over the top.

• Uncle Bill doesn't always agree with the experts, but he works with them & never badmouths them.  These kids have serious emotional issues.  Uncle Bill sometimes finds it necessary to consult with experts.  Sometimes the school consults with him.  They don't always agree on the right solution, but they do agree that  by working TOGETHER , with the information from each other, they  can  best help the kids. 

•  It's light on the heavy.  The whole premise of the show is heavy:  3 orphans are dumped on the always-on-the-go bachelor uncle, who's enjoying his jetsetting career and being the most eligible bachelor in NYC.  Minor details, aka the problem of the week, get solved in the apparent half hour, but the big issues remain.  And other issues, huge ones, are mentioned in passing.  Uncle Bill & Jody can't fish because the water was diverted from the lake by the resevoir (that Uncle Bill's company built).  The Other Woman, who is feared to become Mrs. Uncle Bill, is his friend because of how she handled the Korean War death of her husband, Uncle Bill's friend.

Heavy stuff, touched on & skipped away from.

  i could make a four article series out of this, but it's only a sitcom, fun but not of ultimate importance.  Take a look at the episodes yourself if you like.  And here is a well-done fansite.  Enjoy!