It's a Man's World

It was the most intelligent show on television at the time. I wrote to the Television Museum in New York when they first opened to see if they had this in their archives but they did not. I would really love to see this show again. I was only eleven years old when this show was on the air but remember how incredibly disappointed I was when it was taken off. I remember it being about a bunch of brothers that lived together and their issues around relationships. I think the show "Thirty Something" was close to the themes discussed in this show. Way ahead of its time for television. I felt it was a very deep and adult show and appreciated their appeal to my intelligence.

It is Sunday and I was Googling around and ran out of people - so entered It's A Man's World not knowing I would actually find something! I was an extra in Hollywood back when extras were heavily unionized and one had to be registered with Central, Independent and other casting agencies to work. I landed a permanent job on It's A Man's World as double (for Glenn), stand-in (for Randy), and extra on all episodes. I submitted a story line that Peter Tewksbury and James Menzies (co-creators) almost bought - almost! So, they gave me an acting part in the episode entitled "I Count My Life in Coffee Cups" - one line "Hey Gerri" (to actress Diane Sayer). I've been 40+ year personal friends with Kate Murtagh (Mrs. Dobson) and saw Randy at a country music event at the Pomona Fairgrounds about ten years ago. I knew about Ted Bessell of course, but, until visiting this site, knew nothing of Michael Burns or the sad news about Glen. I heard that the negatives were lost - but the TV Archives at UCLA might have them. I would also like to know. This was posted earlier but my email address has changed - is now midnite-zephyr@kc.rr.com Bill Doty

There are 19 episodes of the one-hour series which aired on NBC from Fall, 1962 until just after the turn of the year, 1963 - and was then canceled by NBC, over many protests nationwide. Copyright is owned by Universal and the "masters" (16mm I believe) are among the holdings of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Archives at UCLA. Director Peter Tewksbury and stars Glenn Corbett (Wes) and Ted Bessell (Tom Tom) are all now deceased. Star Michael Burns (a Yale PhD, author and retired professor from Mt.Holyoke College lives in Danville, KY); star Randy Boone still lives in southern California. How do I know? I worked on all 19 episodes of "It's A Man's World." Bill (Now ret. in Kansas City)

I was a junior in high school when It's a Man's World premiered in 1962. It is a shame that it received so little recognition and so few episodes were made. I think I saw every episode. It is sad to think that they no longer exist. My favorite episode is the one in which Vern decides that he will only tell people the "truth" for an entire day. The result of his decision is that his world descends into total chaos and everyone ends up hating him for telling them the truth.

I agree that the reason for the shows lack of success and untimely demise was that it was a head of its' time. The only modern popular show that comes close to it in terms of overall creativity is Seinfeld.

I was 13 when this show disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. I was crushed when it was canceled.

As with someone who wrote earlier, it was the first time I ever wrote a letter to a network protesting the cancellation of a series. Never got a reply. I recall it as my first sense of outrage against "the system," and a sense of frustration that my voice could not make a difference. I spent my boyhood in Southern Ohio on the banks of the Ohio River where this series was situated and I really related to the characters and the story line. "Its a Man's World" was certainly way ahead of its time, and came nearly at the precise moment former FCC chairman Netwon Minow was proclaiming network television "A vast wasteland." I also remember an article in TV Guide about the cast doing something totally unprecedented. Upon learning the show was being canceled, Bessell and the others visited potential new sponsors in hopes of saving the show. This cast really believed in that show but they lost. And so did we.

Know what? 44 years later, I still recall the theme song, that haunting melody, played on a harmonica.

I hope they find the masters get it all on DVD.