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

[@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

[@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.

[@raymondcaple9543]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@daisyviluck7932]

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

[@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".

[@marcibates-gy4yl]

I'd have watched this in 1968.

[@JanaSuzanne]

I'd have watched this in 2024

[@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}.

[@p.f.p.productions6082]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@gescheharm5881]

just lovely

[@mikeyg8002]

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

[@kevinmadden1645]

12 years later .

[@sergioalpert66]

This show should have got picked up.

[@suzannelawson9215]

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

[@richsack]

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

[@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.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Enjoyed!

[@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!

[@Flirri]

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

[@Avatar610]

A missed opportunity indeed!

[@michaelmcgee8543]

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

[@chrisjenkins9978]

Three men and a baby?

[@robertshows5100]

What if Jack Benny and Jack Nicholson had a baby

[@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.

[@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!

[@helen1962]

Trying to push the new agenda in 1968.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Geez that was nauseating . Great cast though.