Aired: 1969-71
DAD: Michael Endicott (John Forsythe) / Widower
DAD’S JOB: College Professor
KIDS: Alison (Joyce Menges), Penny (Susan Neher), Mary Jane “Pokey” (Melanie Fullerton)
WHERE’S MOM?: Died just before episode one.
STAND-IN “MOM”: Harriet Endicott (Kay Medford) / Aunt, then Andy Pruitt (Walter Brennan) / Grandpa
Whenever I get the book version of this website published, I’m going to devote a whole chapter to the Standard Television Plot of Dad moving to another part of the world after Mom goes to heaven.
In this show, Professor Endicott takes a job in The Eternal City after his wife dies. Bella hijinks ensue.
This show marks several firsts. One of these firsts is actually a “second” – it’s the first time an actor has played a Single Dad character on two different shows (John Forsythe). The show also marks the first (and one of the few) shows where the Single Dad is the father of an all-girl tribe (excluding only children like Gidget and My Little
Margie). Kinda like an anti-My Three Sons.