"Father Murphy" (1981) TV series 1981-1983

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Creator:

Michael Landon

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

3 November 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Western

Plot Keywords:

Cult Favorite | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Merlin Olsen	...	John Michael Murphy (34 episodes, 1981-1983)
Katherine Cannon	...	Mae Woodward (34 episodes, 1981-1983)
Timothy Gibbs	...	Will Adams (34 episodes, 1981-1983)
Moses Gunn	...	Moses Gage (34 episodes, 1981-1983)
Scott Mellini	...	Ephram Winkler / ... (32 episodes, 1981-1983)
Lisa Trusel	...	Lizette Winkler / ... (31 episodes, 1981-1983)
Kirk Brennan	...	David Sims / ... (31 episodes, 1981-1983)
Byron Thames	...	Matt Sims / ... (31 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Reynolds	...	John (30 episodes, 1981-1983)
Jason Anderson	...	Jason / ... (26 episodes, 1981-1983)
Richard Bergman	...	Father Joe Parker (14 episodes, 1981-1983)

Runtime:

USA:48 min (35 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

NBC Productions

Trivia:

Murphy's dog was Mine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hercules Against the Moon Men (#5.10)" (1992)

a wonderful "Little House" spin-off

Merlin Olsen was good as Jonathan Garvey on Little House On The Prarie. He took over for Victor French when he temporarily left the show to do the short-lived Carter Country. He was a professional football player to begin with, but I feel that he had a nice, natural presence as an actor. By the way, Patrick Laborteaux who played his son on Little House is now Bud on Jag, his brother Matthew was Albert Charles Ingall's son. I feel that Merlin Olsen was a good enough actor to carry his own show, but they really didn't give it the chance that it deserved. He was wonderful as a kind man posing as a priest to help orphans. The show was so warm and family oriented that they even had a whole episode about bed wetting! He was really good with the kids on the show and the fine character actor Moses Gunn gave able support to him. Unfortunately, warm family shows like this don't often survive in the cynical and callous world of network tv.