Today, sitcoms can function with or without a laugh track. But, back in the 60's, it was a rare bird that didn't have a laugh track.
Kentucky Jones, then, was one of the first "dramedies", although the term wouldn't be coined for another two decades. Dennis Weaver moved over from Gunsmoke to take on the title role, a widower caring for a young Asian orphan. Harry Morgan, fresh from Pete & Gladys, played an ex-jockey who now worked for Jones as a handyman.
So what happened? NBC slotted Kentucky Jones opposite the first half of the already established Lawrence Welk Show on ABC, and another freshman comedy on CBS, Gilligan's Island. Game over. Kentucky survived the season, but no further.
Weaver would return three years later with Gentle Ben on CBS, which lasted a couple of years. Morgan, of course, hit the jackpot with Dragnet, which was revived as a mid-season replacement in the winter of '67, and you know the rest of his resume, I'm sure.
Gilmore Box provides the intro:
I think the script graphics, which were also used on Gunsmoke for a large chunk of its run, were used for this show by design. Musical director Vic Mizzy also worked for Filmways, and scored another freshman comedy that season, The Addams Family.
No rating.
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