Apple's Way

I remember this show too. I was only 8 when it was on, but at the time I enjoyed it. It would probably give me cavities now.

Now I see it was really jumping on the bandwagon started by "The Waltons" two seasons earlier. "Little House on the Prairie" followed the same trend.

One of the episodes I remember involved the father sitting in a tree to protest its removal. Eventually everyone in town came to join him and sing-along as he played his guitar ("Down by the old mill stream...").

I did find the cantankerous grandfather with a heart of gold a little annoying. And I never really adjusted to the actress change for one of the daughters.

Some interesting recollections about APPLE'S WAY. One comment: Regarding the Sunday-night "deathslot" for this program … as APPLE'S WAY aired on CBS, it would not have been "clobbered" by 60 MINUTES, if only because 60 MINUTES was also a CBS program. Also—per Alex McNeil's TOTAL TELEVISION book (second edition, 1984)—60 MINUTES became a regular Sunday-at-7 p.m. show starting in the fall of 1975, a year _after_ APPLE'S WAY launched (60 MINUTES had various time slots before fall 1975). As for the show itself, I have vague recollections of watching the first few episodes. My family were fans of THE WALTONS, and no doubt that's why we gave APPLE'S WAY a look. But, also no doubt, APPLE'S WAY suffered in our home—and in many others—from airing opposite hour two of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF Disney on NBC. For what it's worth.

i watched this show a couple of times when i was 7 years old. The only scene that sticks in my mind that i remember is i believe it was the Tornado episode where i keep thinking there's a scene where George and the Grandfather were in the station wagon car (i think it was) and somehow , George was driving the car in the storm and somehow it flipped over and landed on its roof and then it went into a commercial.

When this show was out, i remember hanging out with this kid i knew and the song "The Night Chicago Died" was always on the radio. And at that time , my favorite TV series "The Six Million Dollar Man" was in its 1st season. I had memories as a kid. Apples Way was kind of a memory but not as big as some of the big shows that were out in the 1974-75 season.

Hamner basically ripped off his own "The Waltons" creation, for this "contemporary" variation, with a liberal flair. YouTube currently has the opening credits - check out the link provided in the menu for "clips."

So many of the questions arising in these comments are clearly answered by IMDb, such as dates of broadcast, length of series, etc. Obviously, "Apple's Way" was a mid-season replacement series, that started in Feb. of 1974, and ended its run in Jan of 1975.

"The Tree" episode sticks out in my mind, but then again, it was the first episode aired.

I didn't realize that Kristy McNichol replaced another actress, as she is the only person I remember in the role.

Trivia note: Lorimar also produced something called "Second Chances" in the early 90s, and Ronny Cox and Lee McCain once again played spouses for a few episodes.

I suspect that were I to see this show today I'd find it hokey and corny and wonder what I ever liked about it back in the day. I saw an afterschool special w/Kristy McNichol about 5 years ago & I was like "Oh this is so unreal. That would never happen in real life that the divorced dad only sees his kids every other Sun afternoon & doesn't invite his kids to his wedding" I think seeing this would bring on similar comments.

The Apple family, as I recall, left the big city to live in the country (IA or some such). I remember Ronny Cox in the tree and I recall Franny Michael being replaced by Kristy McNichol & preferring Franny.

I remember well Ronny Cox in the tree. Must have been their biggest episode b/c several remember it. I also remember the family in a basement or something and singing corny songs to pass the time. One of the girls was cranky about it and I don't remember if they were locked in or hiding from a tornado. I don't remember the grandpa at all.

I mainly recall the thrill I got when I wrote to complain about the show being canceled and they sent me an autographed photo of the cast. I had the biggest crush on Vincent Van Patten.

BTW, the person above was wrong. Vincent Van Patten was never on "Eight is Enogh" unless it was a one time guest role. They must be thinking of Willie Aames