Ozzie & Harriet Nelson's last son dies

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the passing of David Nelson, a member of the Nelson family known for their television show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Participants reflect on his life, the impact of the show, and its significance in the context of family values and entertainment history.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Historical

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express condolences for David Nelson, noting his age at the time of death and his role in the family show.
  • One participant shares a personal anecdote about visiting the Nelson family's beach house, highlighting a nostalgic connection to the family.
  • Another participant discusses their fondness for old-time radio shows, expressing surprise at the reality of the Nelson family being portrayed on television.
  • Some contributors reflect on the values promoted by the Nelson family's show, suggesting that modern programming could benefit from similar themes of honesty and family values.
  • There is mention of the show's long run and its influence on the genre of reality television, with some participants comparing it to contemporary shows.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the positive impact of the Nelson family and their show, but there are varying opinions on the relevance of such programming in today's context and its comparison to modern television.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the idealized portrayal of family life in the show and its potential lessons for contemporary audiences, but these points remain subjective and are not universally accepted.

Evo
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Most members are probably asking "who?".

Us older folks know the Nelson family. RIP David. He was 74?

David Nelson, who starred on his parents' popular television show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," has died, a family spokesman said. He was 74.

Nelson, who was battling complications of colon cancer, died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home, said family spokesman and longtime Hollywood publicist Dale Olson.

Nelson was the last remaining member of the Nelsons TV family, which included actor/bandleader Ozzie, his singer wife, Harriet Hilliard and his teen idol brother Rick. The show originated on radio in 1952 as "Here Come the Nelsons," then ran for 320 episodes on TV from 1952 to 1966 as "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" with some of the story lines taken from the stars' own lives. David Nelson also directed and produced numerous episodes of the show throughout its run.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110112/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_david_nelson
 
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RIP David Nelson. You helped us love the family life.
 
Wow, 74! That is hard to imagine.

At one time he had a very cool house on the cliffs in S. Laguna Beach. We used to jump a fence at night and sleep on his [and other's] private beach. We saw him walking on the beach once but never had the opportunity to talk with him.
 
I've gotten rather fond of the old time radio shows that come on late in the evenings on one of the AM channels in town (hey, I just listen for the sports!) I prefer the science fiction, western, and action shows but I'll usually listen through. Theatre of the mind, absolutely.

I'm surprised that they were a real family, though. Also really surprised that this first "Reality TV" show (the modern stuff is at least as scripted, and probably nowhere as entertaining) ran for 14 years.

Speaking of AM radio, according to the Wikipedia (and one or two interviews / mini-bios from various sources) the receipt of a box set of recordings of Those Old Radio Shows was what sparked a young Glenn Beck's interest in radio. I still don't know if it's an act, if he's gone over the edge, if it's some sort of performance art, or maybe all three of those things simultaneously.
 
The Nelson family gave us an idealized reality show (aren't they all, though, even today?) and they tried to teach lessons of honesty, self-reliance, deference to the wisdom of elders, and many other "family" values in each show. Today's kids could benefit from such programming, IMO. Not just young kids, but pre-teens and teens who are conflicted and under peer pressure. The Cosby show was a more recent incarnation of such values, IMO. I'd like to see a lot more of that in after-school programming.
 
The Ozzie and Harriet show was filmed at Ozzie and Harriet's home in the Hollywood Hills. What a talented family they were, and a good influence on the kids. Life seemed simpler in those days.
 

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