A Look Back at LOVE AMERICAN STYLE (1969-74)

With Valentines Day approaching, it is only fitting that we look at the classic romantic comedy series LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE.

LOVE AMERICAN STYLE may be the last successful anthology series for broadcast TV. It ran from September 29, 1969 – January 11, 1974. The series produced 108 episodes over those five seasons. 93 episodes were one hour in length and the remaining 15 were just 30 minutes in length.

The series was a solid ratings performer, but never made a season top 30 chart. It was the anchor to the classic ABC Friday line up that included THE BRADY BUNCH, THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, ROOM 222 and THE ODD COUPLE. When the ratings for the series fell through the floor for the 1973-74 season, ABC cancelled it at mid season.

In syndication, the series was edited down to 30 minute episode, effectively scripting out 201 episodes. This allowed it to run in syndication for years beyond a normal life span for a five year series. 

About LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE

As an anthology series each week featured different character, actors, plot and locations. The stories were usually comedic in nature, featuring couples finding love again by the end of each story. Since the series was an hour long, most episodes feature two or three separate stories, but occasionally, there would be just one story dedicated to the entire hour.

Also included into each episode were 10–20-second drop-in silent movie-style "joke clips" between the the stories. These clips allowed the show to be padded to the required length without padding the main segments. They generally consisted of then-risque visual jokes.

One of the better know story on LOVE AMERICAN STYLE was the backdoor pilot for HAPPY DAYS. The feature was titled, "Love and the Happy Days."The pilot starred Ron Howard as Richie, Marion Ross as Richie's mother, Anson Williams as Potsie, Harold Gould as Richie's father, Susan Neher as Joanie and Ric Carrott as Richie's older brother. When HAPPY DAYS was picked up as a series, the latter three actors were replaced with the familiar faced we knew and loved.

Two revival versions of the series were attempted over the years. The first was in 1985 with a daytime version. It was scheduled against CBS' THE PRICE IS RIGHT and was cancelled after just a few months.

In 1998, a pilot was shot for the '98-'99 season. Among the cast was Melissa Joan Hart. It was never ordered to series, but ABC did air the pilot in February, 1999.


LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE Theme Song



LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE - 1986


LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE (1999)