Aired: 1964-65
DAD: K.Y. “Kentucky” Jones (Dennis Weaver) / Widower (?)
DAD’S JOB: Veterinarian
KIDS: Dwight Eisenhower (‘Ike’) Wong (9)
WHERE’S MOM?: Dead. Ike was an adopted orphan
STAND-IN “MOM”:Unknown
The late Mrs. Jones applied to adopt a Chinese orphan just before she died. Kentucky was left to care for a 9-year-old daughter and still manage a veterinary practice in Southern California. Kentucky was a reluctant dad in the style of “Bachelor Father.” By the way, the reason he was called “Kentucky” was because his initials were K.Y. … fill in your own punchline here.
Author’s Note: A lot of mail I receive about Dennis Weaver revolves around the mistaken idea that Gentle Ben was a TV Single DAD’S show. I think people confuse the plots of Kentucky Jones and Flipper and come up with Gentle Ben. For the record, the mom on Gentle Ben was played by Beth Brickell. And it’s easy to confuse Flipper with Gentle Ben, because in both shows, you’ve got a wild animal in the Florida Everglades.