Missy's Men (1968) Unsold Pilot starring Dwayne Hickman and Daniel J. Travanti

[@lestoil]

I’m going to be blunt and say-it seems like every old unsold pilot that ends up on KZbin gets the same “How did this not get picked up??” routine. No matter how bland and generic these unsuccessful old pilots are the KZbin viewers love them.

[@eckankar7756]

I always liked Dwayne Hickman, I met him once at a Hollywood convention, he was so nice. Great to see Jack Sheldon, too. thanks for posting

[@eternal1blue]

Dobie Gillis,Mr Conjuction function, Captain

[@raymondcaple9543]

Produced by the same team behind My Three Sons and Family Affair.

[@desireel247]

This was so cute, seems like what they based later "3 men and a baby"on and others like it, but was just ahead of its time in the theme.

[@6HauntedDays]

Ummm you're kinda forgetting this was an UNSOLD PILOT!!! Meaning no one saw it 🙄😂 soooo how then was it was supposed inspiration to create that pointless movie? Wasn't somehow groundbreaking.

[@desireel247]

@ this was released even as that. It was also based off of a European movie about the same exact thing that came out before this pilot was done. It was almost completely identical.

[@akrenwinkle]

Fun Fact: A brand new remake is in the works: "3 Cisgender Mammals and a Non-Binary Embryo"

[@curtismitchell538]

​@@6HauntedDaysunsold doesn't mean no one saw it, it just wasn't broadcast. I mean, you're seeing it now which means someone else has definitely seen it.

[@mikejorsch304]

Three men and a little lady

[@AndreaLB]

How wasn’t this sitcom sold?? What a beautiful value and morals. I wish it had many seasons!!

[@artvandelay409]

Morals and values ....yes. Funny and entertaining....not in the least.

[@hellogoodbyeagain]

Because it sucked.

[@mistercool3859]

A precursor to Three Men and a Baby

[@Stephen-to7jx]

I was thinking My Two Dads plus 1

[@mistercool3859]

@@Stephen-to7jx Yeah, I can see that.

[@6HauntedDays]

Ummm you're kinda forgetting this was an UNSOLD PILOT!!! Meaning no one saw it 🙄😂 soooo how then was it was supposed inspiration to create that pointless movie?

[@mistercool3859]

@@6HauntedDays Maybe this unsold concept was talked about and circulated over the years among Hollywood writers and producers until it was recycled in the form of "Three Men and a Baby."

[@kengeorgejones6855]

Thanks. That was a bit cutesy but I wish they'd picked it up - with some tinkering the show could have worked. Very good cast, particularly Jack (heartfelt) and Dwayne (slick but committed). You can tell Daniel is more suited to dramatic work but he's decent as well.

[@finch45lear]

Lol. Yeah nothing says ratings like a bunch of lousy kid actors.

[@howardkerr8174]

Daniel Travanti would have a guest appearance on Lost In Space around this time. And I agree, he is a better dramatic actor than a comedic actor.

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally intended for CBS' 1968-'69 schedule, produced by the network [and never telecast]. Hank Garson and Ed Beloin {he also co-wrote Jack Benny's radio show from 1936 through '43} previously produced and wrote various episodes of "FAMILY AFFAIR" (and continued to contribute scripts through the end of the series).

[@dreamquesttv]

Wasn't that Buffy as one of the students?

[@fromthesidelines]

It *looked* like her, but it wasn't.

[@howardkerr8174]

This does, sort of, strike me as Family Affair but in reverse...sort of. I wonder what happened that it didn't make it. Perhaps it was a case of the actors involved didn't " hit " with audiences? Or maybe it was too cutesie?

[@fromthesidelines]

CBS had too many successful sitcoms scheduled for the 1968-'69 season. The new ones they finally chose were "HERE'S LUCY" {Lucille Ball's follow-up to "THE LUCY SHOW"}, "MAYBERRY RFD" {a continuation of "THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW", with a new lead character}, "THE DORIS DAY SHOW", "THE GOOD GUYS" and "BLONDIE".

[@trh2-f7v]

These tv shows had values and morals !

[@artvandelay409]

Go to Church if you're looking for values and morals. This was absolutely terrible and not the least bit funny.

[@fromthesidelines]

Jack Sheldon had previously starred in Leonard Stern's short-lived CBS sitcom, "RUN, BUDDY, RUN" (1966-'67).

[@willgray7272]

Sheldon was also a well-known jazz musician.

[@fromthesidelines]

Yes! He also played in Merv Griffin's studio band on his talk show for years.

[@eLEMENTARYimage]

Short lived indeed.. I believe the network pulled it after just 5 episodes.

[@fromthesidelines]

It lasted 16 episodes {September 12, 1966- January 2, 1967}.

[@RevLeigh55]

I watched that show back then. There was even a comic book for Run Buddy Run.

[@gescheharm5881]

just lovely

[@isotopefeeney]

15:24 Dwayne Hickman hasn't quite gotten over his 'Dobie Gillis' habit of breaking the 4th wall and making eye contact with the audience.

[@daisyviluck7932]

So basically “Full House” but with only one little girl

[@MrMenefrego1]

I was 8 in 1968, and I believe I'd have liked this unconventional show. It almost seems they were implying that the little girl was adopted from Vietnam, as the war was really raging in '68; (Three men who were in the Marine Corps adopted a little Asian girl) I lost my eldest brother in 1969 to that war. RIP Kurt. P.S. Isn't that Lumpy from LITB?

[@8avexp]

No, Lumpy was played by Frank Bank.

[@marcibates-gy4yl]

I'd have watched this in 1968.

[@JanaSuzanne]

I'd have watched this in 2024

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

So cute.

[@niceclaup1]

Wow, imagine getting sick of lasagna

[@p.f.p.productions6082]

Cute sitcom, definitely a precursor to “Three Men and a Baby”.

[@bluedragon4]

3 bachelor's in san francisco raising a asian baby. Very modern.

[@Anita_Backrub]

😂 I was thinking the same thing

[@janeblake7505]

Pity that the actress who played Missy didn't become more successful. Her acting is a little raw, but she was so sweet and pretty.

[@spwash1000]

Is that a pre HSB-young Daniel J. Travanti in this pilot?

[@fromthesidelines]

YES. He spelled his last name "Travanty" at the time.

[@NancySanders-om4ic]

Coincidentally, Mr.Travanti played a police officer in this series, played Captain Furrillo,in " Hillstreet Blues." Thank you,for showing this series.

[@tonybrown7041]

Yes

[@brooke8567]

No it's his twin brother

[@anode-cathode]

I just realized this too. A 28 year old Daniel J Travanti.

[@mikeyg8002]

Travanti fortunately toned his acting style down in time for Hill Street Blues.

[@kevinmadden1645]

12 years later .

[@jaygatz4335]

Yes, it was over the top here.

[@dgf6275]

General Hospital's "Edward Quartermaine" was not on my bingo card. A combo Full House / Three Men and a Babu

[@johnurban7333]

It was like the music turned to Oriental music when they showed the little girl

[@richsack]

Hi there! Do you happen to have the 1977 TV comedy Pilot “Eddie and Herbert.”? Thanks!

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Enjoyed!

[@Flirri]

Pls folks, it was Three Men and a Little Lady, Three Men and a Baby was just a baby.

[@frankpeter6851]

Daniel Travanti ... swoon!

[@moviesgalore9947]

Jeff you must create a new playlist for All your Unsold Pilots why don't you do this it's impossible to find all your unsold pilots on your channel. Make a separate playlist for all of them if you want subscribers you have to make it easy for us.

[@joeydepalmer4457]

Maybe not a tv show, but this would have made a great movie

[@sergioalpert66]

This show should have got picked up.

[@EllenD-p2q]

Hill Street Blues

[@thaidawg9231]

Really annoying having the not for broadcast continually on the screen.

[@stonerrocky]

Way before it's time. Let's see... San Francisco, same sex parents. Sounds perfect. Could just be a hit. We need a good family values type show again.

[@akrenwinkle]

Whenever Missy appeared... ting-ting-ting, ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting... bwong!

[@karenslovelymess2538]

Seems they were doing several non traditional households back then. You had family affair,, courtship of Eddie’s father, Julia, etc…

[@michaelmcgee8543]

There is some color restore software.They could of fix it

[@veeganboy]

'Full House' before 'Full House' got more full.

[@chrisjenkins9978]

Three men and a baby?

[@suzannelawson9215]

What ever happened to the little Asian girl who played Missy?

[@brenttravis4665]

She only has four acting credits on IMDb, with the last being an appearance on Adam-12 in 1974. She would now be 65 years old.

[@suzannelawson9215]

@brenttravis4665 Thank you for your reply and the information about the actress.

[@shawver83]

@@suzannelawson9215 I found her obituary online, says she died in 2015 after battling breast cancer for years.

[@tomryan914]

She grew up to be 'Alice Cooper', married Gomer and Rock, then died in Viet Nam, and...and...

[@elizabethsandberg846]

The movie three men and a baby, was a remake of a French film. I doubt this was what it was based on.

[@Avatar610]

A missed opportunity indeed!

[@1rjbrjb]

Dwayne Hickman was lower-T James Garner. If you watch closely - and it might not be the very best use of your time - the same expressions, inflections, and cheerful con artistry. And, in reply to one interesting poster: why wouldn't Dwyane Hickman be nice? There really wasn't a lot of weight to throw around there. Puts me in mind of Henry Winkler kvetching about stalkers. Henry would need to rent a stalker. At least Dwayne had perspective.

[@Angellady11]

Pretty obvious why it didn’t become what it should’ve been The country was already dealing with ending of segregation and racial profiling so I don’t really need to go any further to why

[@robertshows5100]

What if Jack Benny and Jack Nicholson had a baby

[@RangerJohnreid]

The show would never have worked. 1968 was the height of the Vietnam protests. I’m obviously these three men are supposed to be Marines or soldiers in Vietnam and brought somehow this little Vietnamese girl back to San Francisco with them. Let me tell you they’re showing a kicked off the air so fast due to both sides complaining!

[@leemcdonald5713]

had a diabetic episode from all the syrup..yuk

[@RangerJohnreid]

Decades later there was a show called My Two dads that actually worked for a while. The show would be controversial if it aired and it’s just very weak. There’s not enough there to make a weekly series out of. Please read my other comment below thank you.

[@richardvinsen2385]

I think the real reason they adopted her was the guilt they felt after their platoon wiped out her village in Vietnam.

[@brianarbenz1329]

OK, I'm 10 minutes into this video and, Is this or is it not the first show about a same-sex couple... or a same-sex _triple?_ Or what?

[@teresaproano7984]

I would have enjoyed this show too bad they did not produce it..

[@mexicanspec]

It is a shame this one wasn't picked up. Maybe it was too close to the 2 Asian conflicts.

[@afr1952]

Wonderful show, but perhaps a bit too gay for 1968 standards. Way ahead of it's time.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

No, it was almost unwatchable.

[@fromthesidelines]

I believe CBS passed on this because they had too many successful sitcoms on their schedule that season. They chose only three new ones for the 1968-'69 season: "THE DORIS DAY SHOW" {which lasted five seasons}, "THE GOOD GUYS" {two seasons}, and "BLONDIE" {13 episodes}. You should have seen some of the *other* proposed comedies the network considered.....how about one from Doris Day's production company, "STANLEY AGAINST THE SYSTEM", starring Larry Hovis as a an average Joe trying to fight his way through life's little annoyances? Or, "ROME, SWEET ROME", created by Johnny Wayne & Frank Shuster for Ed Sullivan's company, starring Bill Bixby as an American experiencing life in Rome?

[@robertpolityka8464]

If "Three Men and a Baby" was made in 1968...

[@kengeorgejones6855]

@@fromthesidelines Thanks for the extra info. Not a great track record (The Doris Day Show mostly seemed to stay on as long as it did because Doris and her son pushed through changes). This show sort of exemplifies the rut sitcoms were in by 1968, but considering the very aging slate CBS had by this point, I would have given Missy's Men a chance - over Blondie (such an odd choice for this point), anyway.

[@fromthesidelines]

You're welcome!

[@artvandelay409]

Terribly unfunny.

[@renesagahon4477]

I lasted 3 minutes 58 sec before I turned this off

[@helen1962]

Trying to push the new agenda in 1968.

[@thepeterchannel3230]

The acting is wooden .

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Geez that was nauseating . Great cast though.

[@christianneyoung9776]

This was so cute!!! Should have been picked up ❤❤

[@petervance6777]

About the time Hickman was a cbs programming exec and he couldn’t do better than this🫣