New Regency has a draft or two in the vault for a feature comedy based on the 1950s radio/television series Father Knows Best. 24 Frames reports the studio will bring on writer/director Michael McCullers (Baby Mama) to update the screenplay and direct the remake. Intitial reports described the approach as “a multi-generational story about a father of a suburban family with a modern parenting approach who’s thrown for a loop when his own father, with a different attitude, comes to live with them.” McCullers is a logical choice after demonstrating a penchant for parenting dynamics and Odd Couple comedy with Baby Mama. McCullers is also credited on the Austin Powers sequels — maybe he wrote the scenes between Dr. Evil and Scott?
Father Knows Best started as a radio show about a wholesome Midwestern family that ran from 1949-1954. The sitcom followed and produced 203 episodes from 1954-1960. Watch the full episode “Typical Father” after the break.
Here’s a synopsis:
[Father Knows Best] was set in the typical Midwestern community of Springfield, where Jim Anderson was an agent for the General Insurance Company. Every evening he would come home from work, take off his sport jacket, put on his comfortable sweater, and deal with the everyday problems of a growing family. In contrast to most other family comedies of the period, in which one of the other parents was a blundering idiot, both Jim and his wife Margaret were portrayed as thoughtful, responsible adults. When a family crisis arose, Jim would clam the waters with a warm smile and some sensible advice. [TV.com]