Original title
Bachelor Father
Released
9/15/1957
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy, Family
Production companies
Revue Studios, Bachelor Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
5
Number of episodes
157
Bachelor Father is an American sitcom starring John Forsythe, Noreen Corcoran, and Sammee Tong. The series first premiered on CBS in September 1957 before moving to NBC for the third season in 1959. The series' fifth and final season aired on ABC from 1961 to 1962. A total of 157 episodes were aired. The series was based on "A New Girl in His Life", which aired on General Electric Theater on May 26, 1957. Bachelor Father is the only primetime series ever to run in consecutive years on the three major televisions networks.
Kelly is anxious for her Uncle Bentley to become active in the PTA at her school. However, Bentley has other things on his mind like a series of dates with a glamarous Italian actress.
Kelly plans to attend a weekend outing with her Girl Scout troop. Reluctantly, Bentley agrees to escort Kelly to the meeting place and once there encounters glamarous Miss Hesselworth, Kelly's scout leader.
Bentley becomes convinced that he needs the assistance of a psychiatrist in teaching Kelly responsibility. The doctor he chooses turns out to be a breathless beauty and he decides to discuss his problems with her over a candlelight dinner.
Bentley promises Kelly that he will take her out on a real "grownup" date. But he becomes involved with a lady client and completly forgets his promise.
A social group barrs Kelly due to the fact that one of the member's relatives hates Bentley.
Concerned over Kelly's inability to take care of her belongings, Bentley hires a housekeeper to help straighten her out. But he fails to reckon with the resitance Kelly and Peter can put up with.
Kelly thinks her uncle is acquainted with Ronny Mann, a singing idol of the teenage crowd. She thinks Bentley is going to invite him to a party, she's giving. Thus leads Bentley to attempt to produce the young singer to avoid a big let-down for Kelly.
When Kelly asks permission to babysit, Uncle Bentley refuses, claiming she's too young. But Kelly persists and finally Bentley relents and even looks in on his neice during her first assignment.
When Bentley learns that Kellt has entered a talent contest at he school, he decides to coach her a little. He reluctantly comes to the conclusion that she has no talent at all.
Bentley becomes upset when Kelly begins to spend a great deal of time with the Fuller family. He decides to ask Jack Benny to take Kelly on an outing, pointing out to Jack that he is Kelly's favorite comedian.
Bentley gives his permission to Kelly to go out on a date. Then he learns that she plans to go out with the son of a friend of his.
Bentley lends his houseboy, Peter, to a movie star. However, he finds that Peter likes his new assignment and wants to work for the star permanently.
Bentley decides to adopt Kelly, officially. He is convinced this will be a simple legal matter but the judge sends a social worker to the home to observe Kelly's way of life.
Kelly decides it's high time for Uncle Bentley to get married. Thus leads her and her friend to play matchmaker and they quickly pick a woman for him.
Kelly goes out on her first real date and promises her Uncle Bentley that she well be home at a reasonable hour. But Kelly fails to arrive home at the proper time.
Kelly is heartbroken when she learns that her Uncle Bentley will not let her be hostess at a dinner party to which her idol, Ronnie Burns, has been invited.
Peter has fallen in love and his talk of marriage worries Bentley, who doesn't want to lose his services. Meanwhile, Peter's descriptions of marital bliss is so persuasive, however, that Bentley soon begins to think that perhaps he should get married too.
Bentley meets of of Kelly's boyfriends and while he objects to the young man's using the living room as a clubhouse and snack bar, he tries to be nice to him for Kelly's sake.
The mothers of some of Kelly's friends refuse to allow their daughter to visit the Gregg household. They believe that there is a lack of parental discipline at Kelly's home. This leads Bentley to invite the mothers over to explain the situation.
Mrs. Browning thinks that it's high time that Bentley marry. She decides to find a suitable wife for him and Bentley discovers that there is no escape from the well meaning matchmaker's candidates for matrimony.
Bentley decides to send Kelly to a girls finishing school so that she will acquire some polish. But Kelly doesn't like the idea at all and enlists the aid of Peter in a plot to outwit her uncle.
Kelly urges her Uncle Bentley to try out for the leading role in a forthcoming PTA play. Bentley allows himself to be persuaded but during the rehearsal he argues with the leading lady and walks out on the play.
Bentley's plans for a weekend vacation run into an unexpected snag. He has made arrangements to place Kelly's dog, Jasper, in a kennel during their short holiday, but Jasper runs away.
Kelly loses her self confidence when a teen-age siren at schol makes a vivid impression on the boys. Bentley tries to help Kelly feel that she's attractive too.
Peter enrolls in high school in an attempt to improve his English. Bentley, who tries to help Peter, is impressed by the pretty teacher in charge of Peter's class.
The wife of an important client decides that Bentley would be the ideal husband for her plain neice.
Kelly gets a crush on Ronnie Burns and talks of nothing else. Kelly's boy friend doesn't like this turn of events one bit and even considers Bentley, partly to blame.
Bentley represents a wealthy client in a minor accident case and finds himself opposing Peter, who is acting as his own counsel.
Bentley decides to place the household on a stringent budget, but with very unhappy results.
When two boys ask Kelly to the prom, she can't decide which invitation to accept. She takes her problem to Bentley who quickly finds that she is the just the first of a chain of people who call upon him to make their decisions.
Kelly wants to discourage Bentley from checking up on her every move, so she decides to give him something big to worry about. She pressures her boyfriend, Howard, into taking objects from the Gregg household, creating the impression that the young man is a kleptomaniac.
Bentley starchly refuses Kelly's plea for a second telephone in the house but Kelly is determined to make him change his mind.
Kelly's boyfriend, Howard is always hanging around and Bentley reasons that if Howard's singing career took up more of his time, Bentley would see less of him. So Bentley decides to give Howard's career a push.
Bentley feels that Kelly should be more popular with the boys. He decides to change her personality and campaigns to have her named queen of the carnival.
Concerned over Kelly's lack of discipline, Bentley decides she needs a woman's guidance. He sends for his Aunt Caroline, but her arrival only complicates Bentley's problem.
Bentley succumbs to the charms of a lovely girl who operates a health club. He is so impressed that he starts exercising with barbells and eating health foods, hoping to capture the young lady's admiration.
Persistant Howard asks Bentley for permission to go steady with Kelly. Bentley refuses on the grounds that Kelly is too young to be held down to one person.
Bentley takes an avid interest in a beautiful Peruvian girl and helps her to win a talent contest. But he encounters unexpected complications in his campaign to woo her.
A girl who has her heart set on breaking into pictures decides that Bentley is just the man to help her. The girl begins by pretending to drown so that Bentley can save her.
When Peter falls in love the entire Gregg household suffers. Bentley learns that Peter's lady love is employed by the neighborhood supermarket and he offers to give him pointers on how to win the young lady's affections.
Bentley's dog, Jasper, decides a neighbor's prize winning camellias are even tastier than dog biscuits, which leads the neighbor to threaten a lawsuit.
Bentley, Kelly and Peter visit Gisele MacKenzie on a movie set. While they are there Peter trips and later his cousin talks him into suing Gisele.
Kelly plans a party hoping to take advantage of her friends' talents. Bentley, realizing that he and others are serving as Kelly's means to an end decides it's time to teach her a lesson.
Kelly decides that Howard is not very suave and sophisticated. So she decides to change him into the likeness of Uncle Bentley.
Peter decides he needs a television set in the kitchen so that he can watch his favorite western show. But Bentley firmly refuses to grant Peter's wish.
Eccentric Grandpa Ling, a relative of Peter's comes to visit. Bentley discovers that Grandpa has a habit of taking things he likes and leaving an item he considers of equal value in exchange.
Kelly develops a warped attitude about money after she has dated a millionaire. To teach her a lesson, Bentley decides to play the part of a fortune hunter.
Rufus, a dog belonging to a friend of Kelly's, is accused of biting a man. Kelly persuades Bentley to defend Rufus in a court hearing.
Bentley is shocked when huis teenage niece, Kelly, asks him for her own house key. He firmly refuses to let her have one.
Bentley is going to direct Kelly's high school play, ""The Courtship of Miles Standish."" Peter wants to play the part of John Alden but Bentley refuses to cast him.
Bentley encounters a young lady who feels that he ought to live a more purposeful life. She perscribes an active schedule for Bentley.
Bentley plays cupid when he learns that his secretary and his friend Chuck are dating. Bentley suggests they get married, but Chuck insists that he won't wed until Bentley does.
Bentley is mystified by Kelly's strange behavior and he questions her about it. Kelly shocks her uncle with the news that someone in her high school class is getting married.
Bentley decides to accept a job in Washington, D.C. and announces to Kelly and Peter that they are leaving California.
Nominated for president of the student council, Kelly plans a hard hitting campaign.
For a school project, Kelly and Howard must grow something in the garden. In a generous mood, Bentley offers to help them.
Kelly informs Bentley that the high school combo, slated to play at an upcoming dance, is sadly in need of organization. Bentley tries to solve the problem by talking his friend Chuck into helping the orchestra.
Peter receives a picture of a lovely girl from a marriage broker and falls madly in love.
Kelly wants to bleach her hair blond to impress a new boyfriend but Bentley won't allow it.
Kelly and her friends are practicing hard for an upcoming drum majorette contest but Uncle Bentley notices that one of the teenagers doesn't seem to be interested in rehersals.
A neighbor asks Bentley to join him in a protest to the city about the location of a traffic signal. Bentley is willing until he meets a pretty girl who favors the present location of the signal.
Bentley's friends seem to have dandy times with their sons so this gets Bentley thinking about making Kelly a companion.
Peter turns businessman by selling homemade fortune cookies to restaurants and helping in the operation is Kelly who is acting as an assitant.
Kelly's latest romance shocks Uncle Bentley after she becomes bored with her high school friends and begins dating an older man.
Kelly becomes a career woman when she volunteers to help Uncle Bentley in his law office. However, she impedes not speeds up due process of the law.
Bentley's latest case is Sense vs. Sentiment when he wants Kelly and and Peter to throw out all of their useles keepsakes.
Kelly wants to be an actress but Uncle Bentley responds with a blunt ""No."" However, the true spirit of ambition prevails.
Kelly is back to work in Uncle Bentley's office. This time it's because she doesn't want to be treated like a child.
Bentley meets the perfect woman but the young lady is dubious about his qualifications and has some interesting ideas about turning him ino the perfect man.
Bentley visits a travel agency and loses his head when he schedules a resort vacation for Kelly, a visit to San Francisco for Peter and in a final burst of inspiration, a fishing trip for a couple of friends.
A witness tries to bribe Bentley (John Forsythe). Elena: Patricia Huston. Chuck: Pat McCaffrie. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran.
At a Red Cross pep rally, Frank Curtis launches into a wild account of his wartime exploits. His own story a ringing success, he decides to create a similar aura of heroism for Bentley.
Peter decides to become a man of importance when his girlfriend gives him the brushoff. Bentley hatches a plan to boost his ego.
Kelly is fascinated by a young man who spends all his time at the beach.
Bentley is about to read the will to a late clients's relatives when the lights go out. When they come on again, the will is gone.
Kelly is for an idea for Uncle Bentley's birthday gift so a friend of Bentley's suggests a surprise birthday party instead and offers to help select the guest list from Bentley's little black book.
Loveable Jasper is gone so Kelly and Peter want another dog, but Bentley doesn't feel loveable, he says no.
Bentley teaches Kelly to drive. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Peter: Sammee Tong. Howard: Jimmy Boyd.
Bentley's client in a divorce case has a crush on him. Bentley: John Forsythe. Liz: Linda Evanstad. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Ben: Frank Wilcox.
Peter's on the jury of one of Bentley's cases. Peter: Sammee Tong. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran.
On Bentley's advice, Peter invests money in the stock market but as soon as he does, the bottom drops out of the market.
Kelly is coming up in the world when she begins working on a column of advice on teenage problems. Bentley thinks she's a little presumptious because Kelly has her own problems.
The Greggs are back from their trip to European tour but they still have that continental air. As if that isn't enough, Bentley has reels of movies of the trip.
Bentley patches up the Tatums' marital quarrel.
Bentley and Kelly clash over graduation plans. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Peter: Sammee Tong. Ginger: Bernadette Withers.
Kelly's interest in philosophy goes to her head. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Steve: Charles Robinson. Bentley: John Forsythe. Olga: Jennifer West. Peter: Sammee Tong.
Bentley finds himself the target of a practical joke. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Peter: Sammee Tong.
Kelly schemes to get her own car. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Bentley: John Forsythe. Peter: Sammee Tong. Howard: Jimmy Boyd. Ginger: Bernadette Withers.
Bentley spends a spooky night in a client's haunted house. Bentley: John Forsythe. Marilyn: Elizabeth Allen. Purvis: William E. Green.
Peter joins a union.
Recording artist Penny Patterson needs Bentley's help to break her contract legally then doesn't seem to be in a hurry.
Kelly campaigns for class vice president. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Kim: Leslie Parrish. Bentley: John Forsythe.
Peter learns that land he bought is in a ghost town. Peter: Sammee Tong. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Howard: Jimmy Boyd.
Eddie "Rochester" Anderson guest stars. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Peter: Sammee Tong.
Chaos begins when a family of cats invades the basement. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Peter: Sammee Tong. Cal: Del Moore.
When a Chinese tradition keeps Mei Lan from seeing her boyfriend Leo Toy, Kelly and Peter try to arrange a secret meeting for the young couple - right under disapproving Bentley's nose.
Kelly wants Warren to handle her business affairs. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Warren: Aron Kincaid. Peter: Sammee Tong.
Kelly and Warren get engaged. Bentley: John Forsythe. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Warren: Aron Kincaid. Horace: David Lewis.
Joanna Barnes guest stars in this episode. Peter: Sammee Tong. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran. Warren: Aron Kincaid. Bentley: John Forsythe. Glenn: Martin Braddock.
Bentley takes a week off from work.
A social worker tries to talk Bentley into supervising a group of boys.
Bentley's strict curfew prompts Kelly to move out. Bentley: John Forsythe. Ginger: Bernadette Withers.
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