What Might've Been: Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978)

Fresh off Chico & The Man, Jack Albertson wasted no time landing another series gig. The problem was, NBC stuck Grandpa Goes to Washington on the wrong night.

Albertson this time plays a college professor forced into retirement due to the mandatory retirement age. He gets prodded into running for the United States Senate. With a son in the military (Larry Linville, ex-M*A*S*H), newly elected Senator Joe Kelley should have no problems navigating the potholes in Washington, right? Wrong. The friction between father & son made up some of the tension on the show.

So what was the wrong night? Tuesday, opposite Happy Days. Game over.

Edit, 1/17/26: Had to remove the video. In its place is a network title card.

My folks & I did sample the show, but they didn't find it interesting.

Rating: B.