Search - Family Affair - Season 3 on DVD

Great season and sensational reunion EXTRA

Pageturner in NYC | Manhattan | 03/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Season three boasts 28 episodes (the episode not listed in jon sieruga's excellent review/episode guide to this season is the 14th episode of this season, FAMMILY PLAN, where Uncle Bill breaks his leg during a skiing accident) and one truly sensational bonus feature. The special feature is a 30 minute "Family Affair Reunion Special" featuring Kathy Garver (who played Sissy), Sherry Alberoni (who played Sissy's bets friend and upstairs neighbor, Sharon), producer John Stephens and husband and wife writers Austin "Rocky" Kalish and Irma Kalish. The five sit in a semi-circle and chat for 30 minutes, offering lots of fascinating background information about the cast members (Irma remembers Brian Keith as never speaking to her on the set and Stephens remembers his prickly personality; Kathy adored him), the show's legacy and the interesting way the show was shot.

Each season the show got Brian Keith for just 65 days to shoot all his scenes for a season's worth of episodes. (The series was shot this way to give Keith time to keep filming motion pictures.) This meant that all the episodes had to be written before the season began and in most cases the episodes were filmed ahead of time, missing only the scenes that required Brian Keith. Producer Stephens remembers that when they were filmingw ith Keith, they would often work on 4 or 5 episodes in one day! He called its "organized chaos" and credits director Charles Barton, who filmed every episode.

We learn about Anissa Jones not being happy to still be dragging around her Mrs Beasley doll by season four when she was 12 (she was 9 years old in the first season when the twins were suposed to be 6) and both Stephens and Mr Kalish don't have positive things to say about her mother. On a more humorous note, we hear about Sebastian Cabot measuring the length of Keith's trailer to make sure it wasn't larger than his. We also find out that Cabot had broken his wrist during season one (which explains the bandages on his one hand in season one) and it required surgury, which is why John Williams replaced him in a handful of episodes that season. We also find out that the 3-part episode LOST IN SPAIN was totally filmed on the network's backlot, using sets from the TV series "From Rome With Love."

This is a wonderful, chatty and informative feature. Its too bad that no one could convince Johnny Whittaker ("Jody") to participate. It would be great to get a few commentary tracks with him and Garver in the fourth or fifth season.

This show is thought of as a sitcom, but its really much more of a drama-dy. You better have some tissues near when watching "Christmas Came A Little Early" where Buffy befriends a young homebound classmate (played by BRADY BUNCH's Eve Plumb) who has leukemia. And you have to admire the restraint and power of some of the more dramatic episodes of this season, especially "The Latch Key Kid" where Buffy's new friend, Lana, seems to live a very enviable life as a latch key kid who makes her own dinner and stays up as late as she wishes or "Albertine" where the twins try to get close to a new black student who's real life may be very different than what she presents.

This is a show that has been long out of syndication. Thanks to MPI, we have uncut episodes to treasure. (One small complaint, I wish the episodes had chapter breaks.) Well worth purchasing!"

More episodes from a fantastic '60's TV show

jon sieruga | Redlands, CA USA | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Episodes for Season Three include the famous 3-parter where the twins get lost while on a trip through Spain (#19, 20, 21), Cissy falls in love with a pop star who writes a hit song for her (#25), Buffy and Jody befriend a black student--unusual for its time--with a big imagination (#9), and the incredibly sensitive episode guest-starring lovely Eve Plumb as a youngster dying of leukemia (#7). Thanks to the site "Apartment 27A" for the episode list.

1. The Latch Key Kid
2. By A Whisker
3. A Waltz From Vienna
4. Your Friend, Jody
5. The Substitute Teacher
6. Oliver
7. Christmas Came A Little Early
8. The Unsound of Music
9. Albertine
10. A Matter of Choice
11. Ciao, Uncle Bill
12. A Nanny for All Seasons
13. Family Plan
14. To Love With Buffy
15. A Family Group
16. A Lesson for Grown-Ups
17. Oh, To Be in England
18. A Matter of Privacy
19. Lost in Spain (1)
20. Lost in Spain (2)
21. Lost in Spain (3)
22. A Diller, A Dollar
23. The Young Man from Bolivia
24. Speak for Yourself Mr. French
25. The Flip Side
26. The Matter of Dignity
27. Flower Power
28. My Man, the Star
BONUS "Reunion Special""

Still Holds Up Well After All These Years....

a viewer | antioch, tn United States | 06/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Would that we would have series like this on today's television. Thank God that DVD is bringing back these wonderful classic television programs. Season 3 of Family Affair is charming and engaging, poignant, thought-provoking and with messages that touch the heart. I always remembered the "Lost in Spain" episode because it made me cry. So too "The Latch Key Kid" and "Christmas Came a Little Early". "By a Whisker" is hilarious!!
So what if Buffy and Jody were portrayed as goody-two-shoes? I'm sorry but Jody cutting Mr. French's whiskers while he was asleep was NOT being exactly a model child. But if they were portrayed as a goody-two-shoes it was because they were brought up with standards and strict disciplinary rules. I see nothing unrealistic about this. It would do parents well to observe these tactics and employ them with the rearing of their own children today....those who care enough to do so. Children today are crying out for discipline and rules...take the "Latch Key Kid" for example. We have a child whose mother could care less about her. She has all the freedom in the world to do everything she wants. But is she happy? No. She spends a weekend with Buffy and gets a taste of what "discipline and rules" are all about. She knows that Buffy and Jody are loved because someone cares enough to teach them good manners and discipline them. Buffy on the other hand wants to experience the freedom that Lana has and comes to realize that the grass isn't always greener and comes to appreciate the love that her family has for her. This is just one example of the morals and standards this show strived to promote. Another great example is the "Cissy" episode entitled "Flower Power Child". Same principles. Uncle Bill gives Cissy the opportunity to experience freedom and she comes to realize that the "hippie" movement (a timely topic for that time) is not all it seems to be either. The show has great messages that are still timely and we need them now more than ever."

Season 3 is a Winner!!

Stephanie Fitzgerald | Red Oak, Tx., USA | 04/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every season of Family Affair has memorable episodes, but for me the ones in Season 3 really stand out. Maybe I just remember these episodes better, from when they were on in the sixties. One of the best is "Christmas Came a Little Early". Anybody that can watch it without getting a lump in their throat is made of stone! My 7 and 10 year-old sons watched "Oliver" with me and thought it was hilarious. I think MPI has turned out another wonderful product. The sound and picture quality is great. I also thought that the "Reunion" fature on disc 5 was very enjoyable and interesting. I highly recommend watching this show with your family, especially if you are tired of trying to find decent shows to watch on T.V. now."