Question: In the mid-1960s, I think, Dennis Weaver starred in a show where he had an adopted Korean son, lived on a ranch and drove a convertible Mustang. What was the name of it? Thanks.
Answer: That would be the short-lived comedy-drama Kentucky Jones, which ran on NBC for a year beginning in September 1964. Weaver, coming off his nine-year stint as Chester Goode on the classic Gunsmoke, starred as veterinarian Kenneth Yarborough "Kentucky" Jones (he signed his name "K.Y."), who lived on a ranch in Southern Cal.
And the 9-year-old boy of whom you speak, Dwight Eisenhower "Ike" Wong (played by Ricky Der — apparently nifty nicknames were plentiful on this show), was Chinese, not Korean. Kentucky's wife had arranged to adopt the lad and then promptly died, leaving the widower vet to raise him alone.
Har
read more
Question: Know anything about Pete and Gladys? It starred Harry Morgan.
Answer: That I do — and since you don't know, Jack, I'm happy to fill you in. Mr. Morgan (M*A*S*H) first played the character, Pete Porter, on the CBS comedy December Bride, which ran from October 1954 to April 1961 and starred Spring Byington (Laramie) as a lovable mother-in-law living with her daughter (Frances Rafferty) and son-in-law (Dean Miller). Pete was the sarcastic neighbor who always came over to complain about his wife, Gladys, who was never actually seen. The griping worked — he proved such a hit with the audience that the network gave him his own show.
In September 1960, Pete and Gladys hit the airwaves with Cara Williams as the ditzy Gladys and, among others, Verna Felton as her friend Hilda and Gale Gordon (
read more
