Henry Fonda starred in this light-hearted, family-oriented show about a police detective, his wife (Janet Blair) and their three children. At a time when several established movie stars were trying their hands at series television (James Stewart, Shirley MacLaine, Glenn Ford, among many others), this program fared better than most, with the emphasis on Fonda's character's home life over his professional life. Producer Don Fedderson was no stranger to family-oriented TV, having served as producer of "My Three Sons" and "The Lawrence Welk Show." Although the critcs praised "The Smith Family," marginal ratings limited it to a season's run. |
