Please Don't Eat the Daisies

Please Don't Eat The Daisies was inspired by the book Jean Kerr, wife of Herald Tribune theater critic Walter Kerr wrote about her domestic bliss. The movie had Doris Day writing a play and David Niven reviewing it, the plot emerges from there.

Mark Miller is an English professor and Pat Crowley is your suburban housewife raising 4 boys and a sheepdog who looks like a cousin of Tiger from the Brady Bunch and Tramp from My Three Sons. Nothing special in terms of the episodes that you didn't see from other family comedies

This was a typical role for Doris Day. But for Pat Crowley most unusual since she usually was playing sex kittens. Mark Miller was a pleasant enough man, but up against David Niven strictly out of his league.

The series was nice, but see the movie.

I believe this show holds the dubious honor of being the first television series to show a married couple sleeping in the same bed. Twin beds (ala The Dick Van Dyke Show) were the norm back then. This was a fun family show for its time and I remember seeing it in color over at my friends house on a giant RCA set they had. Pat Crowley was by far my favorite TV mom. She had a lot of patience! I remember being disappointed when this show was canceled. I always had soft spot for family centered shows. I had two sisters and a brother and we actually got along very well with each other. We did have our share of adventures and we always found a way to find the humor in things. This show depicted this kind of situation very well. I wish we could bring back some of what's good about these kind of shows today.

This series was based on Jean Kerr's 1957 New York Times best-selling novel of the same title which in turn was made into a theatrical feature that was released in 1960 starring Doris Day and David Niven. Fast forward five years later and we have the television version of the series "Please Don't Eat The Daisies" that premiered on NBC's Prime Time schedule on September 14,1965 starring Patricia Crowley and Mark Miller. It was presented as the Peacock network's "The Following Program Is Brought To You In Living Color only on NBC." Interesting note about this show: A total of 58 color episodes were produced with 30 episodes made in Season One and 28 episodes that were made in Second Two. During Season 1 of the series that program aired on its Tuesday night schedule in prime time opposite ABC's "Combat!",and the CBS Western "Rawhide". NBC however was planning to cancel the show after Season 1. However, Danny Thomas ended development of a sitcom for NBC when he learned that it was going into that time slot in its second season. Instead, the powers that be over at NBC decided to give "Daisies" another go when they put the series on it's Saturday night time slot in Season 2 for the 1966-1967 season where "I Dream of Jeannie" was(which NBC moved to Monday nights in its second season in color)alongside companions "Flipper",and "Get Smart"....and the odds of this show on that Saturday night time slot were against it...it was running neck and neck with "The Jackie Gleason Show" and "The Lawrence Welk Show"....But it was Gleason's reviving of his classic "Honeymooners" that gave it a boost in the ratings that clobbered "Daisies" in the ratings. The ratings for its second season were so bad that NBC decided after 58 episodes to canceled the series on April 22, 1967. Also of interest as well: It was the only family sitcom that had the original cast remained throughout it's entire 2-year run.

Being that it was just that a wholesome family sitcom "Daisies" brought along a wealth of great writers ranging from Austin and Irma Kalish to Ann and Bob Marcus, Lee Erwin, Jean Kerr, Sidney Morse and Jack Raymond not to mention Joesph and Carol Cavella. Several top name directors were on hand for several episodes ranging from veterans Hollingsworth Morse to Bruce Bilson, Jeffrey Hayden, Alvin Ganzer, Gary Nelson, Ezra Stone, Jerry Thorpe, Richard Whorf, Oscar Rudolph, Howard Morris, Stan Cherry, and David Alexander. And speaking of guest stars one of the memorable of the "Daisies" episodes came in Season 1 titled "Say UNCLE"(Season 1, Episode 18 that aired on January 11,1966)that featured Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in cameo appearances. Another episode also featured actress Stephanie Powers(as April Dancer)in "Remember Lake Serene". Not to mention cameo appearances from the stars of the NBC series "Flipper" which featured actors Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin and Tommy Norden as guest stars. Other guest stars that were featured on "Daisies" were Steve Franken, Dub Taylor, Burgess Meredith, Alice Ghostley, Howard McNear, to Dom DeLuise, Kathleen Freeman, Ed Asner, Audrey Meadows, Whit Bissell, to Jack Kelly, Ellen Corby and former "Donna Reed" alumnus Paul Petersen. Not to mention having Hanna-Barbera voice-over actresses Jean Vanderpyl and Janet Waldo in several episodes. After "Daisies" was canceled in the spring of 1967, the show that replaced it was the hour long action-adventure series "Maya" that starred Jay North(of "Dennis The Menace" fame)that premiered on NBC's Saturday night time slot for the 1967-1968 season.

I remember "My Three Sons", and I vividly remember the TV version of "The Ghost And Mrs. Muir".. SO, why don't I remember this oh so cute TV show which would also have been appealing to children of my age? My only possible answer is that perhaps it aired in the same time slot as one of the two above, which share characteristics with "Daisies".

Whatever, I am happy to say that at the ripe old age of late 30 something, I have discovered a thoroughly enjoyable cute little show. Luckily, I have the pleasure of viewing it nightly on the new cable/ satellite station of TurnerSouth. It is a nice change from the all too familiar Nick At Night roundup. Everything in the TV version of the movie is more appealing, in my opinion. The children are nicer, less obnoxious, the mother is more believable, more human and less of an actress playing a part, and the dad is just downright lovable. Toss in their English Sheepdog, and I think this was a perfectly conceived series. Why did it have such a short run? Hopefully, someone a bit older than I am can help me out with this one.

IF you have a satellite ,or live in an area where cable is running TurnerSouth, please stay up late and check this cute show out.

Til Next Time, Lavender Eyes

I was 6 1/2 when this show came on and almost 8 1/2 when it went off. I had the opportunity recently on Sell.com to buy a DVD set someone made at home from what it looks like to be VHS recorded directly from TV. Some of the episodes are really clear, some quite grainy but nevertheless so enjoyable. He had 51 of the 58 episodes recorded and charged me a very reasonable price. I have found two other shows that did not make it to DVD as well. I must have only watched this show when it was actually airing as I do not recall any of the episodes, only the characters and other regulars. Probably watched the second season on Saturday night. I don't recall watching TV in the evening during the week. That was homework time.

This show was, by far, my favorite family show with some real-life issues and arguments, flooded basements, parents quarreling, sneaky kids, etc. Patricia Crowley was my dream Mom; pretty, beautiful voice and way more patient and understanding than my own Mom and a little less OCD than my Mom. Dad was great and so were the kids. Not bad acting for young kids all just a little older than me now. BTW, oldest show on TV with the starring cast all still alive and well. Loved all the 60's character actors that guest starred on this show and many other shows. And it took place in Westchester County, NY, not far from North Jersey where I grew up. I am so elated to watch this show now around 50 years later. It really brought me back to my childhood.

Working on Nanny and the Professor (1970-71), 53 episodes that never made it to DVD although it is on in the morning on one of the classic TV stations.