Apple's Way

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

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.

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.

My sister HAD to watch the show every week, and it a misery. I'm so glad my dad could see it the way you did. He riffed the show and made it hilarious.

It was just a terrible, dry, Sears Roebuck attired saltine cracker of a show.

There was nothing redeemable about about any of the characters. Even today, when we come across bland unappealing 'acceptable' in a social way families my brother and I nudge each other and mutter, "Apple's Way People".

I remember this as a warm and friendly family show. It was a family who had moved back from the big city to the Dad's rural hometown. It had perhaps a little reminiscence of the Walton's although it was set in current times, not long in the past and not narrated that way. The Apples, too, were a family that had a strong family relationship and strong religious beliefs.

In fact, it may have been done by the same producer as the Waltons but I'm not positive. I was young and it's been so many years since it went off the air, but I remember my family being very disappointed when it wasn't renewed after the second year.