One of the greatest TV sitcoms ever, and one that my whole family watched religiously during the 1960's, was My Three Sons, which debuted in 1960. Starring the great Fred McMurray, and initially featuring William Frawley (Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy), it had an ensemble cast that changed frequently over its run, yet it lost little of its charm and appeal in the process. This show was one of the first to feature single parenthood, as Fred McMurray's character was a widower, initially assisted by his father-in-law in running the household. From the IMDb:
"My Three Sons" remains one of the most popular television series ever. Of course it has its detractors as any show does, but its historical value lies in its simplicity and naivete. A hybrid of the era the would be labeled the 'dom-com' or domestic situation comedy, "My Three Sons" is notable for its composition of the nuclear family, with a motherless family being brought up by the widowed father and housekeeper grandfather, something that was relatively new to television in 1960. In its early years the cast changes were minimal but as the show progressed and additional characters were added, most viewers had no problem keeping up with the Douglases. In reruns the show has found a whole new generation of audience, even if they seem more sophisticated now than what we were at a younger age.
By today's standards it appears wholesome, tame and perhaps slightly dated, but it's a slice of life that all of us can appreciate and learn from. "My Three Sons" is more than just another run of the mill television show from the 1960s - it is an enduring piece of sitcom entertainment that still entertains today some fifty plus years after its premiere. The nostalgia that the show evokes is only part of the viewing pleasure. There really is great work here so take a step back in time to the good old days and watch a much loved part of television history.
YouTube features many if not all episodes, and I have embedded a couple, one from its early B&W days, and one in the later color. So sit back, relax, and see for yourself that not all TV dads were Homer Simpsons.