The Courtship of Eddie's Father
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{{infobox television |
| show_name = The Courtship of Eddie's Father
| image = [[Image:The Courtship of Eddie's Father.jpg|220px]]
| caption = ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' cast photo
| format = [[Situation Comedy|Sitcom]], [[Family]]
| runtime = 30 minutes (per episode)
| creator = [[James Komack]]
| starring = [[Bill Bixby]] <br> [[Brandon Cruz]] <br> [[Miyoshi Umeki]] <br> [[James Komack]] <br> [[Kristina Holland]]
| country = {{USA}}
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| first_aired = [[September 17]], [[1969 in television|1969]]
| last_aired = [[March 1]], [[1972 in television|1972]]
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 73
| imdb_id = 0063887
|}}
:''This article is about the television series. For the 1963 film, see [[The Courtship of Eddie's Father (film)]].''
'''''The Courtship of Eddie's Father''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[television]] [[comedy-drama]] based on the popular [[1963]] [[The Courtship of Eddie's Father (film)|movie of the same name]] that had gained some respect in theaters, and it was also based on a book written by Mark Toby. It was directed by [[James Komack]] and tells the story of a widower played by [[Bill Bixby]], with a young son played by [[Brandon Cruz]] who believes his father should marry and manipulates situations surrounding the women his father is interested in.
The series debuted on [[September 17]], [[1969]] and was last broadcast [[March 1]], [[1972]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], replacing the short-lived ''[[Here Come the Brides]]'' series. ABC had acquired the rights to do a weekly [[television]] [[comedy-drama]], dealing with a young, single father, trying to raise a young son while pursuing a social life. The show gained in popularity during its first two seasons, as had other hit [[comedies]] that dealt with [[widowed]] [[single parents]], such as, ''[[Beulah (series)#Television|Beulah]]'', ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'', ''[[My Three Sons]]'', ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', ''[[The Lucy Show]]'', ''[[Family Affair]]'', ''[[Julia (TV series)|Julia]]'' and ''[[The Doris Day Show]]''. This show also set the tone for other [[1970]]s [[comedies]] that dealt with [[widow]]hood and/or traditional family values: ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', (which debuted just 9 days after ''Courtship''), ''[[The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV series)|The Ghost & Mrs. Muir]]'', ''[[The Partridge Family]]'', ''[[Sanford and Son]]'', ''[[Alice (TV series)|Alice]]'', ''[[Eight is Enough]]'' and ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]''.
==History==
Veteran comedy producer and one-time ''[[My Favorite Martian]]'' writer, [[James Komack]] also served as both the creator and the executive producer of the show. The television show's theme song, "Best Friend", was written and performed by [[Harry Nilsson]], and was played over opening credits showing Bixby and Cruz in various happy moments. The song has often been used since as an [[iconic]] indication of father-son bonding.
==Plot==
The show centered around Tom Corbett ([[Bill Bixby]]), a handsome, thirtyish magazine publisher and widower from [[Los Angeles]] who had shouldered the responsibility of raising his freckled-faced, six-year-old son, Eddie ([[Brandon Cruz]]), who often cleverly manipulated his father about getting a new wife, shortly after the death of Eddie's mother and Tom's wife, Helen. Tom's domestic arrangements were managed, highly competently, by his [[Japanese people|Japanese]] housekeeper, Mrs. Livingston ([[Miyoshi Umeki]]), who was diplomatic and full of sage advice and would also look after Eddie, especially his dirty work. Mrs. Livingston is best remembered for the way she addressed Bixby's character as "Mr. Eddie's Father." At work Tom would usually work with Tina Rickles ([[Kristina Holland]]) who was his secretary at a magazine company. Very often, Norman Tinker ([[James Komack]]), who was the head of another family, worked as a radical photographer at the same company that both Tom & Tina worked in, and who would also become Eddie's occasional uncle.
Starting in 1970, Bill Bixby made his debut as a director, directing several episodes of the show.
Many familiar and/or unfamiliar actors who guest-starred on the show went on to become successful stars: [[Sally Struthers]], [[Pat Harrington Jr.]], [[Diana Muldaur]], [[Willie Aames]], [[Warren Berlinger]], [[Suzanne Pleshette]], [[Yvonne Craig]], [[Tippi Hedren]], [[Pat Delaney (actor)|Pat Delaney]], [[John Fiedler]], [[Alan Oppenheimer]], [[Lou Jacobi]], [[Jodie Foster]], [[Bill Dana]], [[Jerry Stiller]], [[Anne Meara]], [[Ann Prentiss]], [[Ron Ely]], [[Carol Lawrence]], [[George Takei]], among many others. Future ''[[Happy Days]]'' stars [[Pat Morita]] and [[Erin Moran]] also made guest appearances. Famous comedian and dancer [[Sammy Davis Jr.]] made a cameo appearance where he played an insurance man.
The show was canceled in [[1972]] when Bixby had a falling out with producer [[James Komack]] on the direction of the show. Many of the later episodes focused on Komack's, Bixby's, and Cruz's characters, Norman Tinker, Tom & his son, and Eddie Corbett rather than on the relationship between Tom & Eddie. Years after the show was canceled, the show became quietly popular in [[reruns in syndication]], [[WWOR EMI Service | WWOR's EMI Service]], [[ABC Family]] (formerly [[Family Channel]]), [[ME-TV]] and [[VisionTV]].
==Cast==
* [[Bill Bixby]] as: Tom Corbett - A widower and a magazine editor
* [[Brandon Cruz]] as: Eddie Corbett - Tom's son
* [[Miyoshi Umeki]] as: Mrs. Livingston - Tom's & Eddie's maid
* [[Kristina Holland]] as: Tina Rickles - Tom's secretary
* [[James Komack]] as: Norman Tinker - Tom's partner at a magazine company
==Rejected series==
In [[2003 in television|2003]], filming began on a new television pilot which starred [[Ken Marino]] and [[Josh Hutcherson]], but it was not picked up by a network. The child star of the previous series, [[Brandon Cruz]], played a supporting role.
==External links==
*{{imdb title|0063887}}
* [http://www.myspace.com/officialeddiesfather Official Courtship of Eddie's Father on MySpace]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Courtship of Eddie's Father, The}}
[[Category:1963 films]]
[[Category:Comedy films]]
[[Category:American television sitcoms]]
[[Category:1969 television series debuts]]
[[Category:1972 television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s American television series]]
[[Category:1970s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television]]
[[Category:Television programs based on films]]
[[it:Una fidanzata per papĂ ]]