To quibble a bit, the title of this six-disc set isn't quite accurate: the long-running family sitcom was only called Make Room For Daddy for its first three seasons (1953-56), after which it became The Danny Thomas Show. However, the 34 fifth season episodes collected here do capture a watershed moment in the series as 1957 was the year that Marjorie Lord became a regular as Kathy, the second wife of nightclub entertainer Danny Williams (played with a notable lack of restraint by Thomas). At the same time, Angela Cartwright made her first appearance as Kathy's precocious daughter Linda, joining Rusty Hamer and Sherry Jackson as the children of the household. Called by either name, this was hardly a groundbreaking series: it featured old-fashioned, warmhearted family comedy, with the kids--particularly the wisecracking Rusty--providing most of the laughs. But it's very familiarity was somehow reassuring, and occasional appearances by secondary figures such as Hans Conried's extravagant Uncle Tonoose and guest stars like Jack Benny and Bob Hope added to the fun. DVD extras include a clip of Thomas performing on a Martin & Lewis telethon, a featurette on the St. Jude Hospital the star championed, and--most importantly--the 1960 episode that served as the pilot for The Andy Griffith Show (Ron Howard is already Andy's son Opie, but Frances Bavier isn't yet Aunt Bee, appearing instead as a weeping Mayberry resident). Boasting solid transfers, this set will be welcomed by aficionados of early television comedy. Recommended. (F. Swietek)
Make Room For Daddy: The Complete Fifth Season
Questar, 6 discs, 780 min., not rated, DVD: $34.99 Volume 20, Issue 1
Make Room For Daddy: The Complete Fifth Season
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