![]() ![]() Until 1960 most family comedies were centered on strictly nuclear groupings-mom, dad and biological children. ![]() ![]() The program's narrative concept has proven equally influential. Despite the hardship on writers, directors and co-stars, the MacMurray method was adapted by a number of film stars (Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda) as a conditional requirement for their work in a television series. Frequently, to avoid complication, the writers simply placed his character "out of town," so that there are an inordinate number of episodes in which Steve Douglas communicates to his family only by telephone. Often times, the producers were forced to film MacMurray in scriptless episodes, and then construct a script around his very generalized monologues. Guest-stars often had to return nine months later to finish filming an episode MacMurray's co-stars had their hair cut weekly so as to avoid any continuity discrepancies (MacMurray wore a toupee) and any unforeseen event (a sudden growth spurt, a guest-star's death) could cause catastrophe. The repercussions of this schedule were enormous. Practically speaking, this meant the series had to stockpile at least half a season's scripts before the season ever began so that MacMurray's role could be shot during his limited work days. All other actors had to complete their fill-in shots while MacMurray was on vacation. Upon Young's complaint about television's time-consuming schedule, MacMurray insisted on a unique shooting plan that was to be copied by other top actors and christened "the MacMurray Method." This so-called "writer's nightmare" stipulated that all of MacMurray's scenes were to be shot in 65 non-consecutive days. It is most significant for its development of a star-friendly shooting schedule and for its redefinition of the composition of the television family.īefore he agreed to his contract, Fred MacMurray queried veteran television performer, Robert Young, about Young's workload. The program was conceived originally as a television vehicle for Fred MacMurray, (who owned 50% of the program), when Fedderson was approached by Chevrolet to develop a program that was "representative of America." During its twelve year run, the program averaged a respectable, but not spectacular 22.2 rating and a 35% share, and underwent enormous narrative and character changes. He was also really cheap, and when Nickodell raised the price of their beer by 10 cents a glass, he stopped going there and went to Musso and Frank.Created by Don Fedderson and Leave it to Beaver alumnus George Tibbles, My Three Sons was one of television's longest running and most influential domestic comedies. “He would drink there, and then after work, he would drink more. He would go to a place called Nickodell,” she continues. The idea that he took a drink or two … he was really a very, very bad alcoholic. Simmons, who’s a really good actor, his character was just not like Frawley was. “I was very upset over the movie,” Kupferberg tells Page Six. ![]() Simmons is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category of this year’s Oscars for his portrayal of Frawley.) It was no secret that Frawley disliked Vance, but Audrey Kupferberg - who co-wrote “ Meet the Mertzes: The Life Stories of I Love Lucy’s Other Couple” with her late husband, Rob Edelman - says he was much worse than people know and that his character was sanitized in “ Being the Ricardos.” (J.K. Unfortunately, not even 30 yards from the entrance, the lieutenant general asked Frawley what Vance was really like - and that’s when Considine’s stomach dropped.Īccording to Considine, Frawley succinctly responded, “That miserable c–t.”Ĥ Frawley was on the first five seasons of “My Three Sons.” Getty Images hasn’t said anything to put anyone off,'” Considine remembers. “I was thinking, ‘Hey, this is a great success. Tim Considine exclusively tells Page Six that Frawley uttered the vulgar insult when a lieutenant general and his adjutant visited the set of the actors’ 1960s sitcom “My Three Sons” while Considine was in the Air Force Reserve.Īfter a pleasant lunch, the quartet walked back to work. “I Love Lucy” star William Frawley was such a crass curmudgeon that he once allegedly called his on-screen wife, Vivian Vance, a “miserable c–t.” ‘Alice’ star Linda Lavin: I was sexually harassed on the set of a TV movie Lucille Ball hated running a studio and was not a feminist, daughter says ‘Sixteen Candles’ star Carole Cook dead at 98 Why Lucille Ball’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz, made a deal to be fired from ‘Here’s Lucy’ ![]()
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