Family Affair (2002–2003) User Reviews (15)

Very well done.

[Krissette · 27 September 2002]

"Family Affair" may seem rather dense and insipid, but I thought it was really good. The only thing that was bad about it was the premiere, because it dragged out for an hour and brought everything together. After that the show turned out to be a breeze.

To remark such vile comments on a show which hasn't even been developed yet, is beyond me. We need to to be given the chance to explore these characters and story more before given judgment on how the original series was, because not all remakes follow the original concept, but instead try to give us a different and unique view on the modern ways and world of today.

This show has been marvelous so far, and I do enjoy Tim Curry as Mr. French. He gives the show hope and does a splendid job.

B R U T A L

[Rogue-32 · 1/10 · 20 September 2002]

I was hoping this would be a good weekly vehicle for Tim Curry, one of my all-time favorite performers. Alas and alack, it is NOT. There doesn't seem to be any chemistry between anyone on the show, the dialogue is decidedly uninspired, and even the laugh track appeared to be laboring. Brutal.

Underrated and under-appreciated

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 8 October 2009]

Of course the original show is better, with Sebastian Cabot as Giles French. It isn't always hilarious, but it is relaxing to watch. This remake show is inferior, but actually not that bad. I don't get the low IMDb rating, it isn't that terrible. And I couldn't disagree more with the external review, Family Affair has its faults but it is still watchable. One thing that the producers should have scrapped was the laughter track; I for one found it distracting. The show does start off slow, but after the fifth episode or so, it kicks off. And Holiday Fever is one of the better episodes of the show for me. As much as I liked the performances of the two youngsters, they were very charming and turned in delightful performances, I don't understand why they made Jody younger than Buffy. Still the show, which was short lived, has its merits. The theme tune is really pleasant, and the opening credits were visually a delight. The show is still funny, if you ignore the laughter track, and I actually liked the acting from the adult leads. Tim Curry, a very underrated actor and unjustly too, was perfect as Mr French. I don't think he looked at all bored here, in fact he had some very droll and wise lines that he delivered effortlessly, and Gary Cole is amusing as Bill. Caitlin Wachs is a sheer delight as Sissy and brightens up every scene she's in, and this is just proof she was developing into a very talented actress. There was one episode when she wore a balldress, and she was absolutely stunning, like a princess. All in all, a very underrated show, could have been better, but nowhere near as bad as people lead you to believe. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Just give it a chance! Family Affair does have its moments.

[rlparrt · 10 October 2002]

Almost anyone can comment on the fact that both adult leads (Tim Curry and Gary Cole) have stared in TV shows that failed, at three that I can think of. But this one is actually good, maybe even really good if the viewer can ignore the canned laugh track and the fact that it is really hard to do anything great with only half an hour. Sure, the characters seem really out of place on the WB, home of shows like Charmed and Angel, but maybe the idea of the family comedy/ sitcom is coming back. I never saw the original show, but this one is really very cute and charming. The chemistry is remarkably good, and the talent assembled is even better. Of course, the show is also up against Survivor and Friends, and because of that, I don't expect it to see the season through. Therefore catch it while you can! It is so worth it!

As good as the original

[dtekian · 27 July 2003]

How come there are so many bad comments about such a great show? This show is a remake of the 1966-1971 series, & I think this new version is as good as the original. The only 2 surviving members of the original series, Kathy Garver & Johnny Whitaker, ever made guest appearances on this new show.

Good actors, but...

[zoemanning · 22 July 2003]

I think the writers of Family Affair 2002 couldn't decide whether they wanted to do slapstick comedy, plain drama or a hybrid dramedy, so the show ends up as an odd mix that isn't really any of the above.

The decision not to record the show in front of a live audience was a huge mistake, since the subsequent "laughter tracks" seemed to be inserted out of place. It would have been way better if they followed Ally McBeal or The Gilmore Girls and dispense with the "canned" laughter altogether. There is simply not enough humour to spread out over each half-hour episode. I can't remember seeing any episode with more than two good jokes.

The actors tried their best, especially the younger actors. Caitlin Wachs is brilliant as Sissy and she's perhaps the only reason that kept me watching the show. Her acting is natural and convincing and is a step up from her performance in The Divine Secrets of The Ya Ya Sisterhood. Sarah Pieterse's Buffy has a surprisingly good range of emotions for her young age and has great potential. But the biggest boo-boo for the casting directors is their choice for the role of Jody. Jimmy Pinchak does a fine job as Jody, but he looks like he's much younger than Buffy and there's no way they could pass off as twins. Luckily the two of them have enough chemistry to make their sibling act believable.

Still, good acting alone can't save the show that is neither funny enough to be a comedy nor serious enough for a drama.

Very good show with lots of potential -- give it a try!

[sandy46 · 11 October 2002]

For those of you (like me) who remember the first "Family Affair" you probably groaned when you heard of this "remake." So, apparently, did a lot of professional critics. Well, I have good news for you -- FORGET its a remake, watch it for itself, and you will find a refreshing, touching, funny show!

Yes, I admit it didn't start out too hot -- sappy story lines, 6-year-olds mugging too much, slapstick humor, and too much laugh track. But no more! After now 6 episodes, its gotten better each time! The story lines now manage to achieve that rare mix of being simultaneously touching and sensitive, yet funny (sometimes laugh-out-loud, other times amusing). Uncle Bill (the rich bachelor, Gary Cole) is learning to parent his nieces and nephew. Mr. French (the butler, Tim Curry) is learning to adapt and now keeps harried but effective control of the household. Sissy (the 14-year-old niece, Caitlin Wachs) is learning, in a gentle way, that she really does need someone to look after her. The two 6-year-olds are cute but thankfully have had little screen time lately.

The cast works quite well together. In particular, Curry is perfect as the butler, and Wachs is a delightful young actress who brightens each scene she is in.

The storylines indicate the writers now realize this show shouldn't be a "remake" but an opportunity to underscore how today's families may be unconventional yet still function and care for each other. If they keep it up, this will be a great show! For those of you with kids, its safe to let them watch. For those without, you don't realize you're watching a G-rated show.

Forget its a remake. If you watched it earlier and didn't like it, give it another chance. If you've never watched it, don't judge it until you've seen it! I think you're missing a GREAT show!

Is this a comedy?

[Mac-59 · 23 December 2003]

One day I was watching an episode of Family Affair and about 3/4 of the way through, something odd happened. Tim Curry said something mildly amusing and then, in the background, I heard something that while not a real laugh, was definitely a chuckle. I checked to see if I'd missed a character in the scene. Who made that noise? , I wondered. I then realized that this show had a laughtrack all along. I didn't even know it was a comedy.

It actually took 3/4 of an episode for even the LAUGHTRACK to laugh....once. I have never seen that before.

If this is a sitcom and I'm still not convinced it is, it has to be the least funny one I have ever seen in my entire life. I am not kidding. It's like adding a laughtrack to the Days of Our Lives or something.

Too bad, because Tim Curry can be one of the funniest actors, if he had good material to work with. Not the case here...Here he looks really bored and ashamed of himself.

Here is a Great Show

[Scotti_de_Radeclyf · 27 September 2002]

Having only vague memories of the original Family Affair, I have nothing to compare this version to. I feel this is a great show! The whole reason I first tuned in was see Tim Curry as the picked on, put upon Mr. French. A character I feel that he does very well.

What keeps me coming back are Buffy & Jody... the primary reason Mr. French is picked on and put upon. I love the way the twins see French as the patsy for their practical jokes. Along with the fact that I think Sasha Pieterse {Buffy} is absolutely adorable.

At the same time... Caitlin Wachs is great and very cute in her roll of Cissie. As she appears to be the only sane character in the bunch. It will be interesting to see this character develop. As it is... I can see myself here week after week.

Remake this is not...

[johnmeechum · 31 October 2002]

I am disappointed in the production of this show. It's nothing like the original. It has no baring to what the original story line or characters. I am a big fan of Anissa Jones and I was shocked to see Jody younger than Buffy in the new Family Affair. Both do not act like the originals or maybe they are not suppose to be like the original.

I give this new show a BIG thumbs down. I expected more from Tim Curry even though he had to gain weight for this show. Please cancel this show and save production money.

By the way, if anyone saw the original with Brian Keith, Sebastin Cabot, Anissa Jones, Johnny Whitaker and Kathy Garver than they know what this show was all about. The original was not funny but it was relaxing to watch.

I adore Tim Curry but not this show. He's a wonderful actor and he's wasting his time with this show.

Like viewing a Train Wreck

[akemeyer · 13 September 2002]

Last night I felt as if I were viewing a train wreck happening in slow motion when I chanced upon the premiere of this remake. "Family Affair" in it's original form was not so endlessly wonderful that it deserved an update but it still deserved a far better fate that this dreary attempt. It was doomed from the onset with the creepy bantering over Bill Davis's (Gary Cole) love life with today's Mr. French (Tim Curry). Both men are talented actors woefully miscast in this show which makes me wonder who greenlit this awful idea. The children are insipidly cloying and uninteresting, the sexual innuendo jokes vile and the entire premise utterly absurd. In fact, the only character with any dignity or class or even believability was the long-suffering Mrs. Beasley. Nothing on earth could compel me to tune in to watch this dreck a second time. Should be put out of it's misery so the actors might move on to better (hopefully, but you never know in Hollywood) projects.

A little on the lame side.

[LILES22 · 28 February 2003]

I was really hoping that this show would be much better because I am from the same block as Gary Cole and graduated from the same high school as him. I think Gary is a good actor and I want to support his work, but not even his talents can bring these one dimensional, unhumorous scripts to life.

First of all: ABSOLUTELY GET RID OF THE LAUGH TRACK! Nothing is more pathetic then a show with audible laughs that isn't taped before an actual audience. It's like your trying to say to us: "Hey viewer, this is where your supposed to laugh, in case you couldn't figure it out on your own because our writing is so bland." 2nd thing: The day players you are hiring are very bad actors. They are for the most part stiff, boring and they look like they are not comfortable in front of a camera. Fire the casting director. All the talented young actors in L.A., and this is what you come up with?? Come on..... The bright spot of the cast is the girl that plays Sissy. She has the potential to be a breakout star. The scripts should be centered around her more. Gary's a good actor, but he doesn't have much to work with here. Tim Curry is also a fine actor, but he is definately mis-cast. Also, the short silly "feel good" clips of music that play throughout the show need to stop. This is a weekly t.v. show, not a feature film. I could write a whole page on the writing, but I'm not going to bother. I heard the show was cancelled anyways. But basically I would do a complete overhaul of the writing staff. Hire the writers from Dawson's Creek- they'll be out of a job soon anyways.. I'd hate to say it, but this show is pretty dreadful. And Aaron Carter was absolutely horrible- very bad actor....

Really Funny

[CmHowell99 · 29 September 2002]

One night when I was looking for something to watch I heard about this series. The show is based on a butler named Mr. French, A man named Bill Davis, and his two nieces and one nephew. The guys move in with Mr. French because I think Bill's wife left him. I heard that the kids are a handful in this series. Mr. French is voiced by Tim Curry, and Bill is voiced by Gary Cole. grade: A++

This was not what I had in stored.......

[raysond · 20 September 2002]

After viewing this preview of this premiere episode as of last night,I was hoping for the updated version of the Brian Keith classic,but let me tell you that I was totally wrong.

For one,the 1960's version of this series had its flaws,but it was sugarcoated and sweeted with a lot of family insituations and you tell that it was a very good series with Brian Keith(Uncle Bill),Sebastian Cabot(Mr. French-a grand version of English authority),and the children Buffy,Joey and Cissy(who in the original looked a lot like actress Sally Field in teenage years),but you can tell that Bill was always there for the children and there were times where Uncle Bill would lecture to them and there was the love at the end...enough said.....

Second,the original series ran for five seasons on CBS-TV(from 1966-71) and you can tell it was a family oriented show,but there was tragedy with the actors(Brian Keith died of suicide in 1997,Anissa Jones,who played Buffy died of a drug overdose in 1976,and Sebastian Cabot who died of a massive heart attack during filming of a movie in 1977)but the

only survivors of that original series(Johnny Whitaker who played Jody,and Kathy Garver who played Cissy)live to tell the whole story on unusual places daytime talk shows and etc....................

That was then,this is now and a whole new format.

The new version of "Family Affair" is not what I had in stored and its nowhere in comparison to the sugarcoated 1960's series of the same name and in my opinion it was totally horrible from the get-go(I agree with the other comment made about this show is that its looks like a train wreck waiting to happen)and you can tell right away this version won't last long on The WB Network.

First of all,Uncle Bill(played by Gary Cole who unfortunably played Mike Brady in the first two feature length Brady Bunch movies)is completely dull and boring;Mr. French(played by all people Tim Curry,who played a transsexual in The Rocky Horror Picture Show)looks like QC channel representative instead of watching after the kids....the children per se,Cissy looks like a slut here(may need to take beauty tips from Kathy Garver who was the original Cissy who had style and class)and Buffy and Joey who look like spoiled rotten brats who in some scenes cry their behinds off for attention......BUT the only individual who has the style of crass of the original series is not other than Mrs. Beasley,and she is a doll with common sense!

To all who want to see the two comparisons of the series,first off,if the 1960's version of the series comes on TV Land,catch some of the episodes and you do the math of the duo of the two. You'll be surprised.

Utterly dismal

[Michael-96 · 12 September 2002]

This has to be one of the worst comedy premieres I have seen in a very long time, and made all the more disappointing by seeing an actor with the talent of Tim Curry relegated to a role that lets him do no more than unenthusiastically spout stale one-liners. All in all, a modern-day Mr. Belvedere with anything remotely funny removed from it. QVC would be more entertaining - don't waste your time!