There seems to be silence on the legacy of this classic sitcom. It started as Make Room For Daddy and mushroomed into The Danny Thomas Show. I saw all of the latter and only a handful of the other. The actress playing his wife, in the first half, had disdain for the man and it showed. Her composure did not scream nurturing, romantic or in love. Wrong place for the wrong actress. Danny played a version of himself. He was a singer/comedian who worked nightclubs. Jabbing at Danny's Lebanese culture was open, respectful and knowledgable. Lucy & Desi were his parents (friends) and Dick Van Dyke was his cousin (spin-off.) The show was blessed with energetic ideas, comic genius and non-stop showmanship. Danny must have learned how Lucy did it because he found his cute and sarcastic wit. Second wife was glamorous, vindictive, funny and hot. Marjorie Lord went shopping with Lucy Ricardo, cooked in fashion, got him in the mood and plotted her revenge in a very elegant and comical manner. The son is a scene stealer. Even when he made a mistake he diverted it with more funny. His adorability peaked in his tweens and crashed in his teens but he had a memorable run. Funny as fuck. The daughter was a prime teen that left before her character became unbearable. She had her moments. Louise was the household maid that was played by two elder pros. She got to hug white children, gossip with the wife, celebrate as a family member and sass the boss. A proud black woman. She isn't in all the episodes but the character remained til the end. The guest stars were numerous. The writers succeeded in incorporating them into strong storylines. The topics were basic, like feminism, how men can't do anything right, a woman can do anything men can do, a gift abolishes snarls and make-up sex is her way of accepting an apology. Penny from Lost In Space enters as a cute sister moppet that was supposed to bring adorability and sunshine. She was a work in progress. She laughs during line readings and when Mr. Thomas is doing his thing. She's cute and annoying. He was a great teacher, though. He hands a season to his working buddy and his domineering wife, played by the original Ursula from the Little Mermaid. It was an odd experiment giving supporting players full reign. They had to fill really big shoes and were no longer the sitcom air freshener. Ursula flopped around like she was getting paid to play charades on land. She was a bit too much. Danny was a ham. He sang in almost every episode. He shoved it down our throats but was so adamant and easy going that we learned to accept it and stopped praying that he didn't sing in the next episode. They had minorities galore and a successful run from the 50s through the 60s. Well-written, comical, consistent and timeless. One of a kind. Why don't we ever celebrate it? 06-Jun-2023

S1 & 2. Maude was the perfect feminist. She wasn't afraid to let a man speak, weighed the options, argued them and resolved it like a scientific adult. Maude didn't need to win every argument. It wasn't necessary. The point of an argument is to be heard. She recognized a man's shortcomings and was willing to stroke it for peace. Bea Arthur was a force of wit, sarcasm, genius understanding and distribution. Adrienne Barbeau put the lib in life and the fighter in mother whilst shaking her gorgeous bon bons. She was a thespian. Conrad Bain understood why doctors are supposed to be stupid and funny. Rue McClanahan was giggly and neurotic before she became a slut. Bill Macy was the perfect foil because he was married to the perfect feminist and he had something to shout about. Forida (Esther Rolle) was so intoxicating that she blows away in season two to be upstaged by a stupid clown. Women are fighting to be equal to men they can't stand. It fits our time zone and it scratches my funny bone. I hope that when Betty made it to heaven that Bea was standing there to congratulate her. ("Kindness nullifies bitch, every single time.") 06-Jan-2022

S7E12. Ted is sexually harassed and Mary and Murray tease him into temptation. A man asks Murray out for a date. 24-Oct-2021

S4E23. Girls Will Be Boys. The Petrie boy is being bullied by a girl. Mama ideation triumphed in getting him to open up and supported him in his hurt but it didn't solve the problem. The violence continued even with parental interference. Sexual identity was contemplated, a boy's role in the world was catapulted and the talent was given the opportunity to portray gender conflict with laughter and honor. Daddy Perfect Hands believes boys shouldn't hit girls. Daddy Perfect Hands grows tired of the dainty threat and instructs his son to pummel her. It was resolved with sexual harassment. Equality. 15-Aug-2020

I will always have affection for these people but I truly hope they find that thing this season lost. 04-May-2020

They brought me joy, I dorked out and Buffy doesn't hurt. 17-May-2019

S5E18: Samantha and Endora rap. 10-Feb-2019

Van Dyke made silliness a class act and proved a physically hilarious man. Mary reacts adroitly. The writers wrote with a maturity that should have stuck. Sublime. 16-Dec-2018

Woman empowerment is obtained by walking forward while doing it "your" way. Lucy created a path... whether you walked behind her or beside her...we should have surpassed her by now. No one has.

The color is candy. 15-Dec-2018

...because Tabitha (Erin Murphy) was an adorable moppet
...because Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne) was squishier than my dog
...because Dick York (Darrin) was such the professional that we never noticed the pain he was in 26-Jun-2018

Endearing wickedness, courtesy of top notch cast and writers. 21-Jul-2017

Were they inclusive? No. Did they insult us? No.

They are tops because they sought the "A" in performance, geniality and durability. They made us laugh, cheer and according to many, gay. These are the friends you want to spend a lifetime with. 29-Jun-2017

The show doesn't pretend to be anything but a bubblegum machine. I'm sure good intent and wishful thinking was in its heart and that's why we forgive any ineptitude. When the gum machine crashes and cracks is when the Bradys evolve into unique portraits of family we can extend our arms to. Not because they are so realistic but because they promise a nirvana that I wasn't able to reach in an abused family environment. Like other delusive scripts, I knew they weren't going to part the sea but I could imagine practicing to be the exceptional person these characters/players fancied themselves and maybe recreate parts of it. I wasn't able to turn water into wine but I could do that.

It is on my best list because like bubble gum they are vibrant in color, unique in flavor and everlasting even when the sugar has been exhausted. They chaperoned and safeguarded me against the fear whilst the real adults in my life generated chaos because it allowed my mind to find sense and hope to be parented. 01-Dec-2016

Edith, Gloria, Archie & Mike, in that order. 21-Jul-2017

Uninhibited talent. 21-Jul-2017