Family Affair
The Mother Tongue
TV Flash files “The Mother Tongue” as hour 23 of 138 in the TV Flash guide — Family Affair (1966–1971) on CBS, season 1, episode 23, aired 1967-02-27, 25 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E23: listed hour 23 of 138 in the Family Affair guide, hour 23 of 30 in season 1. It aired 1967-02-27 (25 min). The listed hour before it is “Ballerina Buffy” (S01E22). Next is “Everybody Needs Somebody” (S01E24).
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Mother Tongue sit in the Family Affair guide?
S01E23 is listed hour 23 of 138 — hour 23 of 30 in season 1, season 1 episode 23.
When did Family Affair S01E23 air?
The Mother Tongue aired 1967-02-27 and is listed at 25 minutes.
Where should I start?
Uncle Bill, Mr. French, and the children in the penthouse is the whole cocoon. Cabot's butler is the comic craft; Keith is the urbane guardian.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Family Affair is late-sixties CBS gentility: Brian Keith's bachelor Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot's Mr. French, and three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse. The comedy is manners, not slapstick — a polished guardian fantasy that syndication kept soft-focus for years. Cabot's butler craft and the era's idea of urban family as interior design are the draw.
Late-sixties CBS gentility is a slot, not a mood. *Family Affair* (1966–1971) put Brian Keith's bachelor Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot's Mr. French, and three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse for **five seasons, 138 episodes**. The comedy is manners, not slapstick — a polished guardian fantasy that syndication kept soft-focus for years. Kathy Garver's Cissy, Anissa Jones's Buffy, and Johnnie Whitaker's Jody filled the apartment. Mrs. Beasley the doll became merchandising gospel. Edmund L. Hartmann and Don Fedderson…
Filed against
- Brian Keith as Bill Davis
Brian Keith's bachelor Uncle Bill kept three orphans and Sebastian Cabot's Mr. French in a Manhattan penthouse on Family Affair — late-sixties CBS gentility, manners instead of slapstick. A polished guardian fantasy syndication kept…
- Sebastian Cabot as Mr. Giles French
Sebastian Cabot's Mr. Giles French polished Family Affair into late-sixties CBS gentility — Brian Keith's bachelor Uncle Bill, three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse, comedy of manners not slapstick. A guardian fantasy syndication kept…
- Kathy Garver as Cissy Davis
Kathy Garver's Cissy Davis kept Family Affair looking like late-sixties CBS gentility — three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse, manners instead of slapstick, a polished guardian fantasy syndication kept in soft focus. TV Flash still reads…
- Anissa Jones as Buffy Davis
Anissa Jones played Buffy Davis on Family Affair — late-sixties CBS gentility, Brian Keith’s bachelor Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot’s Mr. French, three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse. Manners comedy, not slapstick, a polished guardian…
- Johnnie Whitaker as Jody Davis
Johnnie Whitaker’s Jody Davis made Family Affair late-sixties CBS gentility with a lisp and a hug — Brian Keith’s bachelor Uncle Bill, Sebastian Cabot’s Mr. French, three orphans in a Manhattan penthouse. Comedy of manners, not slapstick,…