Family Affair 

Bill's comfortable lifestyle must change when he receives a group of unexpected, long-term, guests.

Creators:

Don Fedderson, Edmund L. Hartmann

Stars:

Brian Keith, Kathy Garver, Anissa Jones

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Brian Keith	...	Uncle Bill Davis 138 episodes, 1966-1971
Kathy Garver	...	Catherine 'Cissy' Patterson-Davis / ... 138 episodes, 1966-1971
Anissa Jones	...	Ava Elizabeth 'Buffy' Patterson-Davis / ... 138 episodes, 1966-1971
Johnny Whitaker	...	Jonathan 'Jody' Patterson-Davis / ... 138 episodes, 1966-1971
Sebastian Cabot	...	Mr. Giles French 129 episodes, 1966-1971

Storyline

Bill Davis is a highly paid and successful engineer living in a large apartment in New York with his valet, Mr. Giles French . His life is suddenly changed when his niece, Buffy shows up. In the midst of deciding what to do, Buffy's twin brother, Jody shows up, and Bill has to leave for Peru. Once he leaves, Buffy and Jody's older sister, Cissy shows up. Bill and French's life is suddenly changed as they become surrogate parents for the 3 children.

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Plot Keywords:

male protagonist | master servant relationship | twin | fraternal twins | twin brother and sister | 

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Taglines:

Bachelor and butler inherit three tots. Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot star. In color.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

In early episodes, Johnny Whitaker (as Jody) spoke with a pronounced lisp, a character trait that was dropped as the series progressed.

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Goofs

In some episodes the front door had a striker/latch, in others there wasn't even a cut-out for it.

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Connections

Referenced in WKRP in Cincinnati: A Family Affair (1980)

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Soundtracks

Family Affair
Written and Performed by Frank De Vol

User Reviews

Cute family series notable mainly for the butler and the doll

This is an engaging little series that I grew up with, hearkening back to a more innocent age of cute family programming. It revolves around a bachelor engineer, Bill Davis, who has been living a carefree playboy life in his Fifth Avenue apartment. His household needs are tended to by his very efficient English butler, Giles French. Suddenly Bill's life is turned upside down when he inherits three young relatives, who have been orphaned as the result of a car accident. Both Uncle Bill and Mr. French must accustom themselves to this trio of newcomers, pretty 15 year old Cissy and her adorable but challenging younger twin siblings, Buffy and Jodie.

Brian Keith is wonderful as Uncle Bill, the playboy uncle turned surrogate father. The younger stars are also perfect in their roles, especially little Anissa Jones who plays Buffy. Sebastian Cabot is the real jewel of the series in his brilliant portrayal of the butler, Mr. French, who always appears so very proper and gruff but is actually quite charmed by these three kids.

Various amusing and touching scenarios would unfold weekly as the two adults and their three charges grew accustomed to life together. For me, the show was notable (apart from the butler) for Mrs. Beasley, Buffy's bespectacled granny doll. She was a prominent feature in most episodes, always getting lost or whatever, and naturally Buffy was VERY attached to her. All in all, it was a sweet, heartwarming show from nostalgic years of yore when kids were, happily, much less sophisticated than they are today. Pity there aren't more such family programs these days and a demand for them.

Details

Official Sites:

Wikipedia

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Family Affair

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Don Fedderson Productions, Family Affair Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (138 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3