When this came out, Shirley Jones and company were pretty much put into a mold that had been developed in the 1960's. We have mother hen and her brood, a musical family which were updated from the Nelson's and into the mod hip era of the 1970's. What made the show a hit was the music. I think I Love You hit the pop charts way up there.
This family, unlike the Monkees, was never expected to play their own instruments. They obviously never pretended too either. This was more quality sitcom. The scripts crackled with good humor between manager Rubin Kincaid and the family and he was a great straight man to bounce the jokes off. Even mom would score punch lines through the feud between Rubin and Danny (Bonadance) was classic comedy. Funny how the family rivaled The Brady Bunch but had no where near the popularity in reruns.
The recent shocking death of the youngest daughter at age 52 might wake up some folks. Susan Dey who in real life was a reluctant sex symbol was just the opposite of David Cassidy who was running out doing concerts while the show ran. Susan was too shy to take advantage of he looks and still looked like she was not comfortable when later she did LA Law.
Susan had to potential to be much more but it is getting too late for that for her now.
This family, unlike the Monkees, was never expected to play their own instruments. They obviously never pretended too either. This was more quality sitcom. The scripts crackled with good humor between manager Rubin Kincaid and the family and he was a great straight man to bounce the jokes off. Even mom would score punch lines through the feud between Rubin and Danny (Bonadance) was classic comedy. Funny how the family rivaled The Brady Bunch but had no where near the popularity in reruns.
The recent shocking death of the youngest daughter at age 52 might wake up some folks. Susan Dey who in real life was a reluctant sex symbol was just the opposite of David Cassidy who was running out doing concerts while the show ran. Susan was too shy to take advantage of he looks and still looked like she was not comfortable when later she did LA Law.
Susan had to potential to be much more but it is getting too late for that for her now.