Ozzie’s choice to approach ABC resulted in it becoming the longest-running sitcom of its time and actually brought the network out of its slump. Before the show, it was struggling to keep up with NBC and CBS. Still, many people felt that it should have ended in the 1950s since it didn’t mix well with the new decade of thicker and more interesting plotlines, as well as color TV.
Peter Jones who wrote and directed the two-hour documentary, ”Ozzie and Harriet: The Adventures of America’s Favorite Family” had much to say about the reasons for the show’s success. He attributed the show’s success to America’s need for a new family image. Americans could relate to this family and they came to life in each and every family’s home. For that reason, it went on to become the longest-running family sitcom in the history of television.
Syndication History
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet had an amazingly long run on television, even after its last episode aired. From 1985 to 1994 the Disney Channel aired reruns of the TV series by way of an enhanced 35mm version of the show. The TV series then moved over to the Nostalgia TV Network and it currently can be found on the Retro Television Network.
Even San Bernardino, California’s PBS member station aired the series as late as May 2010 as part of its I Remember Television series.
The Nelson House Appeared on HBO's ‘Entourage’
The popular HBO series Entourage followed the life of Ari Gold, a Hollywood agent who was willing to do whatever it took to make money and create for himself a big name in Hollywood. Ari lived the typical Hollywood lifestyle. Even more than that, he did so inside of Ozzie and Harriet’s home!
In the picture above you can see a part of Ari’s home, the very same house that Ozzie and Harriet raised their children in years before. The photo above was taken in 2005. If you remember, this was 8 years before the home was renovated and later resold to another family.
The Show Was Sold for a Very Cheap Price
You will probably remember that Ozzie Nelson signed a 10-year contract with ABC before the show went on air. However, money wasn't Ozzi's only motive for doing this. To keep The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on television sets throughout the United States, Ozzie offered the TV show to ABC at a very big discount.
As a control freak, it has long been thought that Ozzie wanted to continually expand his family franchise while managing the lives of his family members. Well, his well-devised plan proved to be successful and it eventually ran for a strong 14 seasons on television after an already long run on radio.
The Show Is Now Public Domain
A majority of the episodes before 1964 are no longer available to the public, except for Ricky Nelson’s musical performance episodes which The Rick Nelson Company, LLC still owns. Due to its public domain status, the TV series has been released by various companies, including Alpha Video and Mill Creek Entertainment.
If you would like to check out the TV series, then it's very easy to tune in and get to know the pure, and often ridiculous, antics of the Nelson family. And if you’re currently a Mark Harmon fan, it’s a great way to check out his family’s history.