The premier episode for "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" aired on ABC, 8:00 pm Eastern, on September 17, 1969. In the show, Tom Corbett (Bill Bixby) is a Los Angeles magazine publisher and a widower raising his son Eddie (Brandon Cruz). Other cast members include housekeeper Mrs. Livingston (Miyoshi Umeki), Tom's secretary Tina Rickles (Kristina Holland) and Tom's best friend, photographer Norman Tinker (James Komack). The show depicts a close relationship between father and son, with serious life topics unfolding throughout each episode, always ending with an endearing moment and a moral message. This show was probably the last sitcom to use the misunderstandings of daily life as the basis for comedy, rather than the humor resulting from character conflicts. The series was created from a novel by Mark Toby and lasted through 78 episodes, ending with the final show on June 14, 1972.

 

I absolutely loved this show. It was one of the few times a TV series based on a movie actually worked. It also had one of the greatest television theme songs in the history of comedy. This show gave me a lot of hope as a teenager in the late 1960's, due to the warmth of Bill Bixby's relationship with Brandon Cruz.

 

"Best Friend (The Courtship Of Eddie's Father)"

Harry Nilsson

People let me tell you 'bout my best friend
He's a warm hearted person who'll love me till the end
People let me tell you bout my best friend
He's a one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy

People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun

Whether we're talkin' man to man or whether we're talking son to son
Cause he's my best friend

Yes he's my best friend