Viewers who grew up with the original were horrified to see an aged, broken Mr. French. Teenagers in 1983 had no idea who Bill Davis was. It failed to capture the cross-generational audience.
Audiences in 1983 were not ready to confront death. The original Family Affair was escapist fluff. The revival dealt with Mr. French’s terminal illness, Jody’s implied alcoholism, and Bill’s isolation. One episode featured a child asking, "Uncle Bill, why do people die?" It was too heavy for the 8 PM family hour. family affair 1983
Have you seen the lost pilot? Do you remember watching the five episodes in the fall of '83? Share your memories in the comments below. Viewers who grew up with the original were
Often mislabeled, the vocalist is , an American singer who worked extensively with producer Bobby Orlando. James had a gritty, soulful voice that sat perfectly over the stark, electronic production. He isn’t to be confused with the R&B group The Family Affair—this was a one-off project name for the single, though it’s widely catalogued under his own name. It failed to capture the cross-generational audience