Family Affair - Season 3 (1966)

Caution Moms: You May Develop a Crush on Uncle Bill

Anissa Jones died on my thirteenth birthday. My niece, who rather resembled Jones, died when she herself was thirteen.

So, I had to get Season Three for the sake of "Christmas Came a Little Early" to watch a young Eve Plumb fight her own battle, presumably with leukemia. This episode was rarely shown in reruns, probably because it was too heartbreaking.

"Family Affair" was one of the last of the really sweet shows. The obnoxious "All in the Family" era came in its wake, and television was never the same.

Watching "Family Affair" in reruns as an adult I am struck by what a deeply loving person and outstanding "parent" Uncle Bill was. This show offered far more than sitcom fluff, and many times it gave adults and children alike positive examples of how people should treat one another.

Strictly speaking, the three children were orphans, yet they lived privileged lives in a New York City penthouse with a full-time man-servant. Yet the kids were not at all arrogant, and they proved every time to be empathatic toward other children facing their own challenges in life.

Brian Keith had his own combination of biological and adoptive children. He was fatherly toward Anissa Jones, whose own home life was an unfortunate disaster.

Keith's role in the "Parent Trap" would prove to be a forerunner of his role in "Family Affair". Take a man that was attractive to women, add a pair of twins, and you have one of filmdom's most charismatic and lovable father figures.

I love watching Keith in both of these roles. Once in a while you will see a glimpse of the tattoo on his bicep. I am guessing this was a memento of his tour of duty in the Marines.

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Keith. You sure were a charming and beloved "Dad". November 19, 2008

Family Affair Season 3

The item was exactly as discribed and arrived in good condition. I would gladly buy from this seller again...anytime! May 31, 2008

Family Affair- Season 3

This item arrived within a few days from being ordered. It was wrapped
well and in excellent condition when I opened it to see.
I would rate this seller as excellent. December 8, 2007

Who Doesn't Love Uncle Bill?

I loved this show and it's such a pleasure to find all the episodes coming out on DVD. I watched mostly for Brian Keith, who was arguably one of the most popular television actors of his time. His long-overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will finally be installed next June; you can check out the whole story on it at starforbrian.com. By the way, there's an auction page on that site with items donated by Brian's widow and Kathy Garver! October 16, 2007

Uncle/Father Knows Best

The cast of four, with Brian Keith as the head of household, Sebastian Cabot as the household coordinator, Kathy Garver, Anissa Jones, and Johnnie Whitaker as the children, have again won the hearts of those who delight in seeing proper etiquette and moral stability coming from a television show. In this not so traditional family setting, we are helped in remembering what our social responsibilities are to one another. It reminds me of the stories told in Sunday school that we pattern our lives from: they were meanful, motivative, and interesting, but were less remembered after the weathering of time. Seeing these episodes again brought back some fond childhood memories of television viewing. June 17, 2007

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