A Family for Joe

I don't remember a lot about how good or bad the show was. However, I'm remembering the premise slightly differently.

For reasons that I don't remember, the kids were orphaned (not in an orphanage, just that the parents were out of the picture). Rather than have themselves be split up in a number of orphanages/foster families, they decided to find a homeless man (Mitchum), and have him pose as their uncle (or something like that).

From what I remember, the show was more of a comedy with dramatic overtones. The comedy part revolved around the differing habits of the children and the (formerly) homeless man, as well as hiding the fact that he wasn't related to them. The dramatic overtones that occasionally surfaced revolved around the loss of the parents, as well as the homeless man's growing attempts to fill that void as they bonded.

I hardly remember this show, but what I can remember I liked. It didn't last long, though. Robert Mitchum, from what I can remember, played a homeless man that is taken in by kids (I think they were orphaned). I think it was intended to be a drama, but it was funny. I could be way off-base though, it's been forever since I saw this.

I remember only one line from this show: A divorced woman complaining about her ex-husband--a dentist whose "idea of high adventure was using unwaxed dental floss".

I was married to a woman at the time who enjoyed comedy. I never have been crazy about the 30 minute sitcoms and feel less so today. This one did appeal to me but it ended too soon to get started.

As for Robert Mitchum, I enjoyed most of his work and a little jewel that gets overlooked is when he played a rebel priest in a spaghetti western called "The Wrath Of God". No matter what part he played, he was always Robert Mitchum. He did it his way even playing a priest. In this movie he was joined by two other colorful characters, Frank Langella and Victor Buono and they did not get in each other's way.

Someone once asked him something like, how did he become a successful actor to which he replied, " Show up on time, know your lines, and stand where they tell you to". He also once said it beats working.

Rest in peace Mr. Mitchum and thank you for giving us a life time of good entertainment.

This was Robert Mitchum's only attempt at a television series up to this point and it didn't quite work out. Only 9 episodes of A Family For Joe were filmed before the series got the ax.

Mitchum reprises his role as the faux grandfather for the Bankstons who without his presence in the home the kids would be split up to foster parents or orphanages. The two older kids have a wider age spread with the two younger kids here than in the film. The kids are David Lascher, Juliette Lewis, Ben Savage, and Jessica Player the only one to repeat her role from the film.

The movie had some sweet and poignant moments in it. This series is your typical family situation comedy.

Never thought I'd see Robert Mitchum with a laugh track.