Television: The Best comedies of the 1960's

Just what were the best comedies of the 1960's? With a couple notes of exception, my subjective list has been prepared. The exception is that some classics began in that last season of the decade that went on to be big successes in the seventies. The Brady Bunch, Room 222, and The Courtship of Eddie's Father, for example, all started in 1969, but their success rings truer to the next decade than this one. I'm also excluding both Here's Lucy and The Doris Day Show into the 70's category, even though they began in 1968. Like the shows from 1969, they are most closely identifiable with the next era of television. I'm also removing Father Knows Best from the equation as the 1960 season was its last. It also returned in the late 70's with a series of TV movies.

With the exceptions noted, I must explain that my list began as a top ten and then grew to a top 13. In reality, I really feel like it should be a top 30. There were just so many quality, funny shows in this decade that it's truly hard to choose which ones are the cream of the crop. Alas, a decision had to be made, so here is my list of the best comedies from the rockin' decade of the 1960's:

13) That Girl - Marlo Thomas created a very important character in Ann Marie. She was the independent daughter of an overly-protective father. She was pretty, young, vulnerable, all woman, and unafraid to be out there in the Big Apple that is New York City. At her side was Don Hollinger, played by the very capable Ted Bessell. The one thing I regret about this show is that we never got to see these two get married. Sadly, had Bessell not died, we would have at least gotten to see their future and how far they'd come together in a TV movie. That Girl was a role model for young women and teenagers of the sixties. Thomas showed femininity and strength didn't have to be separate traits. Most of all, the show was full of laughs. I'll never forget Ann and Don when they met over a search for a rolltop desk or Ann when she floored the accelerator of Don's stuck car and covered him with mud. It was good stuff.

12) Julia - This groundbreaking TV comedy starred Diahann Carroll as Julia Baker, a single mother trying to raise her son. The opening scene where Julia chats with her potential new boss, Dr. Morton Chegley where she points out to him that she's black demonstrates how far we've come, but in 1968 when this show debuted, that was how it was. Lloyd Nolan was fantastic as Chegley, and little Marc Copage endeared himself to the world as Julia's son, Corey. I never missed an episode of Julia. It was top drawer comedy that was controversial for its time. The real story, though, is that it was funny, too.

11) Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - For five seasons, Jim Nabors brought to life this lovable and often bumbling Marine private. We'd first loved Gomer as a gas station attendant on The Andy Griffith Show, but Griffith thought Nabors was so great that he put him in his own series. To this day, I believe Nabors is underrated as a performer. He kept us in stitches with Gomer, and when Gomer got a girlfriend in the sweet Lou-Ann Poovie, we felt the tenderness of his heart. Frank Sutton was the perfect man to play Sergeant Vince Carter. His 'I can't hear you' and 'Move it, move it, move it' are almost as legendary as Gomer's 'Shazam' and 'Gollllly'.

10) The Danny Thomas Show - This show morphed in and out of being Make Room for Daddy; they are one in the same. It was one of the first TV series to really go through a lot of transition. Initially, Thomas played Danny Williams, a nightclub entertainer. His wife was played by Jean Hagen, but she ended up leaving the show, so Thomas decided to kill off his wife. Williams did some dating and then married the character played by Marjorie Lord. Since she had a young daughter, this re-invented the cast in a big way. This show also was one of the first to change networks in the course of its run. Plus, it served as the pilot for The Andy Griffith Show by having Danny driving through Mayberry and getting a ticket, which he refused to pay. It was such a success that Andy Taylor found his way to quick success. One more worthy note. Five years after The Danny Thomas Show ended, it came back as Make Room for Granddaddy. It only lasted a season, but that was another TV first.

9) Hazel - Shirley Booth brought the fun of meddling maid and housekeeper, Hazel, into our homes, and it was just sheer fun. There wasn't a message or anything covert in the show. It was all about laughs and Hazel's jolly spirit. Hazel was heartwarming as she took care of the Baxters. Don DeFore was Mr. B and was so good at being flustered and ending up on the losing end of the stick. It's too bad that when Hazel changed networks, DeFore and Whitney Blake didn't come with it. The replacement family just didn't have it, and the show was canceled after that season. Still, Hazel served up years' worths of laughs, making her a worthy contender for this list.

8) The Rural Comedies (Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Green Acres) - I had to put these three shows together because they are somewhat of a joint package. Though they didn't all begin the same year, they were quickly associated with one another because of the show tie-ins. Petticoat Junction took place near Hooterville, and the Douglas' of Green Acres resided on farm land outside of Hooterville. They all shopped at Drucker's Drug Store, and cross overs were frequent. While the Clampetts of The Beverly Hillbillies lived in Beverly Hills, they came from the hills and were the same kind of folks. They, too, crossed over with the people in Hooterville. All three comedies were full of laughs and good times. Petticoat Junction was my favorite, watching the three Bradley girls grow up and seeing ole Uncle Joe keep moving kind of slow. Life was good at the Junction, as it was with the other two very memorable and often rerun shows.

7) The Lucy Show - Is there more that needs to be said other than Lucille Ball? The woman was, is, a TV legend, and this was her main show of the sixties. Vivian Vance was with her for the first few years, and it was during this show that Gale Gordon first appeared as Lucy's boss. The show only ended after six seasons because of the sale of Desilu to Paramount. Every show was full of the very best comedy. My favorite episode will always be Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account, when Lucy proves to Jack that his money would be safe in the vault at her bank. That show was a riot, and it's the perfect example of why The Lucy Show was a success.

6) The Dick Van Dyke Show - For years, I've said that Dick Van Dyke is underrated. He's had this awesome career, and I simply don't believe he's gotten his due. Here in the show that carried his name, Van Dyke was at his best. With Mary Tyler Moore and her 'Oh, Rob' sob, it was magic. Van Dyke's agility and pantomime abilities made for so much fun. I'll always remember the episode when Rob Petrie goes to son Richie's school and teaches them about how to be a comedy writer. That was classic. I loved the song and dance, all the times when Rob and Laura sang and danced together. It was like a variety show. They often performed Carolina in the Morning, and that always made me smile. The Helpers made the best neighbors, and Carl Reiner as Alan Brady just can't be topped. This show is simply the best. Even if it's not listed as number one, by rights, it should be because The Dick Van Dyke Show had it all - drama, tenderness, romance, and comedy.

5) The Donna Reed Show - Everyone wanted Donna Reed for their mother. She was the ideal mom, and the Stone family was the image America held as the ideal family. Right or wrong, this is the show that is often held up as an example of what family should be. Donna, Alex, Jeff, Mary, and eventually Trisha were who we wanted to be. There was lots of love, open communication, some arguing, and in the end, a very happy, caring family. Along the way, The Donna Reed Show delivered quality laughs and giggles. It's the show that nurtured the singing careers, such as they were, for Shelley Fabares and Paul Peterson. Maybe more importantly, this show was Peterson's foundation for growing up as a child star. Years later, he formed A Minor Consideration to help cute child stars who grew up and became not so cute and were abandoned by an industry that had treated them like royalty while their shows were on top and then like nothing when the shows had gone off the air. No matter how you look at it, The Donna Reed Show has left a legacy, not just of what was funny during its time, but the image of our ideals and the gift of Peterson, who has helped so many of the young stars of past and present.

4) My Three Sons - My Three Sons stayed on the air so long that by the time it was canceled, all of the sons were married, except for the youngest boy who had been adopted. Fred MacMurray was the understanding father of three boys in the beginning. A widower, it was just he and Bub to raise the boys, and when William Frawley who had played Bub died, it was William Demerast as Uncle Charley who took over the task. It worked, and it worked well. The boys all grew up, and what kept it fresh is just that each boy went through adolescence a little differently than their older brothers. Then one day, Steve Douglas remarried, and that added a woman to the fold. Then there were the triplets, and so much more. My Three Sons was satisfying because we saw the Douglas boys grow up and get married. Unlike other shows were marriage was the kiss of death, on this show, it just added family to the cast and created new sources of comedy, as well as tender and poignant moments. It was all good, and it was pure family entertainment.

3) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - Fourteen years: now that's a long time, and that's how much love and laughter the Nelson family brought into our homes. Somewhat autobiographical, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet featured the real Nelson family as ... the real Nelson family. It was wholesome, fun entertainment. Ozzie Nelson ran a tight ship, and it showed in the quality of seasons' worth of episodes. When David and Rick got married, the show simply added their wives to the cast. It was great. There's never been another show like it, and I doubt anything can come along to repeat this success. For one thing, Ozzie Nelson is a hard act to follow, and for another, it's very hard for a show to survive five years, let alone 14. America loved the Nelson family. It was a shame those days had to end. In 1973, Ozzie and Harriett came back for a season as Ozzie's girls, renting out the boys' rooms to a couple of college girls. It was pretty good, even if it only lasted a season. At least we have reruns of the original series to remember a quieter, more serene time in our comedy history.

2) The Jack Benny Show - For 15 seasons, the wonderful Jack Benny delighted us all with his magic in a comedy show that was such a delight. He had a cast that was perfect for his timing and style -- Don Wilson, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Dennis Day, and Mary Livingston, his beloved wife. The humor was innocent and well-timed. Benny's expressions made the show. He could just stare and get laughs. His mannerisms were the comedy. I loved this show, and I wish young people today could be exposed to it, but it's been years since I've seen it rerun anywhere. I would imagine some might make a to do out of the Rochester role, but those were the times, and they were great friends. The Jack Benny Show was comedy at its simplest and most expressive.

1) The Andy Griffith Show - The Andy Griffith Show is the king of sixties comedy . Andy Taylor was the sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina. He was the sheriff without a gun, and by his side was his cousin Barney Fife, who always meant well, but got into such trouble. �You're something, you know that,� Andy would tell him, while Barney just wanted to 'nip it! Nip it in the bud'. Aunt Bee kept the house, while Opie challenged his pa to follow his own words of wisdom. Some of my favorite episodes are those where Andy says one thing to Opie but does another, until Opie challenges him. There was the time Andy exaggerated the history of a cannon and another time when he covered up the condition of his house when it was up for sale. Ron Howard as Opie could really give his pa a stare of hurt and disbelief until Andy would realize the error of his ways and confess the truth. My favorite show, though, was Man in a Hurry. That's all about taking time to relax and enjoy the good things that life has to offer. The Andy Griffith Show is one of those good things, full of great characters and sweet laughs. Andy Taylor was an imperfect man and maybe that's why we loved him so much.

Honorable Mentions: Candid Camera, Leave it to Beaver, The Patty Duke Show, Bewitched, Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, Family Affair, The Governor and J.J. - I just ran out of room, but these shows were all marvelous and some made a permanent niche in our TV culture. Candid Camera is probably the first reality show, but considering how much fun it was, it's a comedy to me. From the identical cousins to the twitching nose and from the shoe phone to Mrs. Beasley, these shows all made us laugh in all the right ways.

Personal Favorites That I Have to Add: Love on a Rooftop, Occasional Wife, My Mother the Car, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir - I had to mention these simply because while not huge successes across the board, I laughed at these shows and enjoyed them tremendously as a child. I realize fully that My Mother the Car is one of TV's worst shows ever, but it was so ridiculous, that I laughed like heck.

Shows That At Least Rank a Shout Out: Dennis the Menace, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Bachelor Father, McHale's Navy, My Favorite Martian, F-Troop, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, Hogan's Heroes - These shows all demanded at least a small note because they, too, are part of our TV landscape. Sally Field might wish she'd never worn that habit, but millions were entertained, and who could forget Ray Walston as Uncle Martin? The PT-73 gave us Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway at their very funniest, and long before Charlie or Blake Carrington, John Forsythe was delighting us as Bachelor Father. These shows were hits, one and all.

The sixties: a decade of comedy, and those listed within this article are among the best comedy shows ever produced. They're pure laughter and suitable for the entire family. They are magic, and they are the foundation of comedy today.