by Billy Ingram
On
January 20th, 1971 The Smith Family debuted starring screen legend
Henry Fonda as Chad Smith, cop and devoted father. The theme song was
'Primrose Lane' a hit song from 1959. This comedy-drama was the second
series for Fonda as he attempted to find a home on the small screen.
The
show followed Room 222 on ABC Wednesday nights so it had that
'relevant' slant that the networks thought people wanted inserted into
their entertainment. That thinking also did in Andy Griffith that same
season when his 'hip' drama Headmaster bit the dust in December
of 1970. The Smith Family at least managed to limp through a
second season - as did Fonda's first series The Deputy - but
both are largely forgotten today.
From
Edmund Hartman, writer of many Bob Hope films and who's TV credits included
Family Affair and My Three Sons, the first episode dealt
with Smith arresting a marijuana user, touching off a family crisis.
The
supporting cat was solid with Janet Blair cast as Fonda's wife and Ron
Howard as his teen son, this was his transition from The Andy Griffith
Show to Happy Days. Bubble gum sensation Michael-James Wixted
played the younger son with Darlene Carr as the daughter.
With
good scripts and a stellar production, it's a shame that The Smith
Family never clicked with the audience, it had all the makings of
a hit. There were 39 episodes.
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THE
SMITH FAMILY
Henry Fonda ... Det. Sgt. Chad Smith
Janet Blair ... Betty Smith
Darleen Carr ... Cindy Smith
John Carter ... Sgt. Ray Martin
Ron Howard ... Bob Smith
Michael-James Wixted ... Brian Smith
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