When one thinks of cutting-edge TV, My Three Sons does not immediately leap to mind, but this beloved baby boomer-era staple (it ran for 12 seasons, bested only by The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet in the family sitcom genre) broke the nuclear family mold. Fred MacMurray's Steve Douglas was a widower, raising his titular brood—college-bound Mike (Tim Considine), middle son Robbie (Don Grady), and youngest son Chip (Stanley Livingston)—with the help of his gruff, but soft-hearted father-in-law, Bub (William Frawley). Also not par for the sitcom course is the avant-garde use of sound effects. In one episode, sibling rivalry over a girl results in a “cold war” between Mike and Robbie. Their dinner table sniping as Steve tries to broker peace is punctuated by the sounds of guns firing and bombs exploding. Which is to say that My Three Sons has aged nicely, with much to offer beyond simple nostalgia, presenting situations grounded in reality, and writing that often surprises with twists that subvert sitcom convention and stereotypes. “Countdown” cleverly unfolds in real time as the family's Monday morning routine plays out against a televised satellite launch. In another episode, a fraternity rejects Mike, not because they are snobs (the usual sitcom route), but because they believe Mike isn't serious enough about his education. Some episodes simply bring home the laughs, as in “The Little Ragpicker,” in which a lifelike dummy causes a new neighbor to think the worst about the Douglases. But there is also genuine pathos, as in “Bub in the Ointment,” in which Bub's “Irish temper” and lack of tact embarrass the kids, until Steve reminds Mike of the sacrifices Bub made, moving in with the family to help out after his daughter died. The boys talk, act, and fight like brothers, and Steve, while a pipe-puffing font of sage fatherly advice, is sometimes at a loss, and is allowed to be testy and impatient with his “wild bunch.” The split season is unfortunate (as is Paramount's characteristic lack of DVD extras), but these first 18 episodes from the 1960-61 inaugural season offer up a healthy taste of this iconic series. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)
My Three Sons: The First Season, Volume One
Paramount, 3 discs, 463 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 Volume 24, Issue 1
My Three Sons: The First Season, Volume One
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