Author Archives: Ralph

They’re Either Too Young Or Too Old

FILMED  November 1969 In November I reported back to MGM to prep the first of a four-picture commitment for THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE’S FATHER, this one a romantic comedy. The romantic triangle had been a staple of cinema for eons. … Continue reading

Posted in The Courtship of Eddie's Father | 1 Comment

Gentleman Friend

FILMED July 1969 The third and last of my contracted commitments on THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE’S FATHER in the summer of 1969 was again a change in the tone of the script, but also changes in the visual presentation. Mrs. … Continue reading

Posted in The Courtship of Eddie's Father | 11 Comments

The Promise

FILMED  December 1969 Last night the following message was left on my Facebook home page: hi ralph!!! this is so amazing. so good to find you. you know, 19 years ago tomorrow, we lost bill. the timing of finding you … Continue reading

Posted in The Courtship of Eddie's Father | 4 Comments

To Denise, With Love And Murder

FILMED March 1973 Because BARNABY JONES had been a midseason replacement, it was still filming in the spring during what had become the television industry’s hiatus. That turned out to be a plus for me. Since QM Productions had completed … Continue reading

Posted in Barnaby Jones | 19 Comments

The Murdering Class

FILMED January 1973 As I wended my way back into hour-long shows after the debacle of THE THOLIAN WEB, my major employment was in shows of crime, and I think that was because crime shows had become the programs of … Continue reading

Posted in Barnaby Jones | 27 Comments

The Game Of Terror

FILMED August 1971 THE GAME OF TERROR was another first for me. Most of my bookings had been for series in their first or second season. There was an attrition that normally set into long-running series that made me want … Continue reading

Posted in The FBI | 7 Comments

A Christmas Ballad

FILMED September 1969 The script for A CHRISTMAS BALLAD, my fourth and final commitment to THE BILL COSBY SHOW, started out as the most typical formulaic situation comedy of any of the shows I directed for the series. But things … Continue reading

Posted in The Bill Cosby Show | 4 Comments

The Blind Date

FILMED August 1969 There was an open week between my filming GROWING, GROWING, GROWN and my next commitment on THE BILL COSBY SHOW, but I stayed on at the studio and used that time to prepare my director’s cut on … Continue reading

Posted in The Bill Cosby Show | 7 Comments

Brotherly Love

FILMED  August 1969 After wrapping GROWING, GROWING, GROWN in July, I returned to MGM where I directed three more episodes of THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE’S FATHER and then back to Warner Bros. for three more of THE BILL COSBY SHOW. … Continue reading

Posted in The Bill Cosby Show | 3 Comments

Growing, Growing, Grown

FILMED July 1969 Are you wondering why Dr. Cliff Huxtable said he was Chester Kincaid? Are you confused because Theo and his three younger sisters are nowhere in sight? Don’t be. This isn’t THE COSBY SHOW. It’s THE BILL COSBY … Continue reading

Posted in The Bill Cosby Show | 9 Comments