MovieChat Forums > Family Affair (1966) Discussion > Anissa's demeanor in Season 5

Anissa's demeanor in Season 5

posted 13 years ago by vikkisings
16 replies | jump to latest

Hi everyone,
I purchased all 5 Seasons of Family Affair. I loved it as a kid, and have really enjoyed getting to see it again. Uncle Bill's love for the kids and their love for him really comes through. The season I hesitate watching is Season 5. I watched the first episode, and Anissa seems so sad, that I haven't watched any of the other episodes of that season yet. Are there any "stand out" episodes in season 5 that any of you would recommend? I love all of the other seasons, but 5 seems so different. Thanks in advance for your thoughts! :)

[–] tvlover1961 13 years ago

I loved this show too as a kid. I wanted Cissy to be my big sister!

I don't remember much about season 5, but since Anissa passed on a few years later from an overdose, I wonder if she was very sad during that season. If you read the trivia section on IMDB, it says that the director or producer insisted that Buffy be 6 years old, even when she was about 13 or so during the final season. It says that she had to bind her chest to keep up this facade. How awful. What is so wrong with having the kids age? Really misguided if that trivia is true.

BTW, if you get the MeTV station where you live, it's on at 6:30 a.m. (at least in Michigan it is).

[–] vikkisings 13 years ago

Hi TVlover,
I believe that she WAS very sad during that season. Her relationship with her mother was very strained, and I agree with you that she probably didn't like having to be 6/7 years old throughout the run of the show. I'm thinking the trivia is probably fairly close to the truth. I have all 5 seasons of the show on DVD, and in the special features, Kathy Garver mentioned that Anissa's mother very difficult, and may have caused a lot of Anissa's heartache. I live in California, and I've never heard of MeTV, but since I have the DVD's I can watch it any time! Thanks for your input! :)

[–] sharon-17 13 years ago

I live in California and I get MeTV.

[–] vikkisings 13 years ago

Thanks Sharon! Maybe I get and just didn't realize! I check my cable TV listing. :)

[–] edonovan2 13 years ago

It's 56.3 in the L.A. area if you don't have cable, and since I don't, MeTV, Anntenna TV, and This are a godsend (in addition to PBS, of course!)

I'm sure your cable provider could give you the information you need, in case you're interested. There are some other good series on as well.

[–] vikkisings 13 years ago

Thanks so much for the info! I live on the Central Coast of CA, near San Luis Obispo. I will check with my cable provider! :)

[–] Erinlizbeth 13 years ago

Family Affair comes on MeTV at 7 am Eastern Time. I don't think I've ever seen this show in reruns (accept for in the late 70s when I didn't realize it was a rerun) and have never seen it in color before, seeings we had only black and white TV.

[–] vikkisings 13 years ago

Thanks Erin! I bought all of the DVD's for all 5 Seasons. I loved the show as a kid, so I am really enjoying watching it on the evenings when I am home. The kids were adorable and the storyline is always good. The DVD sets have a lot of special features with Kathy Garver (Cissy). It is really cool to see the building where the show was filmed!

[–] USinBad051796 12 years ago

I was a big Family Affair fan when I was a kid. My whole family would sit and watch together. As we did with all our favorites. Bewitched, Wonderful World of Disney, I Dream of Jeannie and Bonanza. Many others. They just don't make quality family TV shows like those any more. However, I agree that it was alittle ridiculous that they would not allow characters to age appropriately. On Leave it to Beaver they tried to keep Beaver cute, and that got kinda creepy. On My Three Sons they wanted Ernie to keep talking like a child even after his voice changed and when I see those reruns now, I can't bear listening to that kid purposely squeeling to sound younger. By the time The Brady Bunch rolled around, the producers let those characters age along with the kids playing them. Much better. It was so sad to hear about the child actors like Anissa getting involved with such dangerous drugs and alcohol. Some of the memories about the 60's and early 70's aren't too good. Manson murders, Patty Hurst, drug over doses etc.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] gcarras 10 years ago

I loved it,too..I also wanted Cissy as my big sister...

Amanda Bynes is hot and Lindsay Lohan is not.
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[–] TrentinaNE 13 years ago

MeTV is up to about the 8th episode of S5 right now, and Anissa/Buffy does seem sad or subdued in just about every episode. The pigtails are looking pretty ridiculous on her. And I noticed that at the end of the 8th episode, there was a brief clip of Anissa and Johnny Whitaker talking to the audience, saying something like "Thank you for watching tonight's show. Tune in again next week." Anissa looked very somber. Don't recall seeing this tacked on to other episodes. I wonder if the ratings were starting to slide at this point.

[–] tiburonbirdred 13 years ago

I read maybe in wikipedia that in the final season, Sebastian Cabot & Anissa Jones/Johnny Whitaker filmed intros and closes for the episodes. You're right about Annisa and the pigtails (and carrying the Mrs Beasley doll). At least Cindy Brady eventually outgrew her pigtails and wore her hair partially down and she put aside Kitty Carry All as she grew up.

[–] vikkisings 13 years ago

I also noticed the pigtails, and they looked bad that last season. I think she was so done with them at that point. She was 12, but they wanted to keep her like a little girl. I have all 5 seasons, so I have watched Season 5 a couple of times. There are a few good episodes, and they seem to center a little more around Kathy Garver. I think you are right about the ratings. Once the kids weren't little any more, some of the audience started to lose interest. I love the show. We are back to Season One now, and enjoying all of the episodes!

[–] Erinlizbeth 13 years ago

Is season 5 1971? She seemed fine to me.

[–] mph1-3 12 years ago

I thought she always had a sad way about her, not just season 5.