Peter Graves narrates this special two-hour account of the lives and careers of the First Family of Television, the Nelsons, who portray themselves on radio and television for 17 years, as they set records along the way.
* Harriet Hilliard, in 1931, becomes the first female to sing in an American orchestra, when she joins Ozzie's band. She set out to Hollywood for her role in "Follow the Fleet" one week after her wedding with Ozzie.
* Ozzie Nelson becomes the first performer to serve as Producer, Director, Head Writer and Actor in a television series.
* Ricky Nelson becomes the first singer to perform in a music video, when Ozzie projects rear screen images in Ricky's televised performance of "Travelin' Man."
* Ozzie and Harriet, Ricky, and Matthew and Gunnar perform songs which hit #1 on the Popular Music Charts to become the first family having three generations of recording artists to accomplish this feat.
* David becomes an accomplished motorcyclist and trapeze artist to retreat from his television persona, yet Ozzie incorporates his and Ricky's talents into the program's story lines.
This tender episode follows the stories from the births of Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky, as well as the third generation of Nelson family performers, as highlighted with photographs and interviews, along with radio, film, television and video clips, and many interesting stories behind them.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Brother Don Nelson, Constance Harper Nelson, David Nelson, Kristin Harmon, Cousin Willy Nelson, Grandchildren Tracy Nelson, Matthew Nelson, Gunner Nelson and Sam Nelson, Actress Sally Hughes, Actors Tom Bosley and Paul Petersen, Television Personality Art Linkletter, Director Fred De Cordova, Trumpeter Holly Humphreys, Guitarist James Burton, Songwriter Sharon Sheehy, Record Producer Jimmy Haskell, Script Supervisor Joe Bryne, CEO Dennis Holt, Radio Music Arranger Billy May, Psychologist Joyce Brothers, Accountant Wynel Cary, TV Historian David Halberston, Disc Jockey Peter Fornatale, and Singer Dwight Yoakam.
Archive footage includes clips and interviews with Harriet Hilliard, Ozzie Nelson and Ricky Nelson. Other stars appearing in archive footage include Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Walter Brennan, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Dinah Shore and Mary Wickes.
Ricky's song performances include "I'm Walkin'," "Lonesome Town," "Poor Little Fool," "Hello, Mary Lou," "Travelin' Man" and "Garden Party."
Film and Television Clips provide a screen glimpse of Ozzie, Harriet, David, Ricky and/or Tracy through the years, in scenes from "America's Sweethearts" (c. 1932), "Follow the Fleet" (1936), "Here Come the Nelsons" (1952), "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952), "Peyton Place" (1957), "Rio Bravo" (1959), "Love and Kisses" (1965), "Dinah!" (1977), "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1986) and "Father Dowling Mysteries" (1989).
* Harriet Hilliard, in 1931, becomes the first female to sing in an American orchestra, when she joins Ozzie's band. She set out to Hollywood for her role in "Follow the Fleet" one week after her wedding with Ozzie.
* Ozzie Nelson becomes the first performer to serve as Producer, Director, Head Writer and Actor in a television series.
* Ricky Nelson becomes the first singer to perform in a music video, when Ozzie projects rear screen images in Ricky's televised performance of "Travelin' Man."
* Ozzie and Harriet, Ricky, and Matthew and Gunnar perform songs which hit #1 on the Popular Music Charts to become the first family having three generations of recording artists to accomplish this feat.
* David becomes an accomplished motorcyclist and trapeze artist to retreat from his television persona, yet Ozzie incorporates his and Ricky's talents into the program's story lines.
This tender episode follows the stories from the births of Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky, as well as the third generation of Nelson family performers, as highlighted with photographs and interviews, along with radio, film, television and video clips, and many interesting stories behind them.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Brother Don Nelson, Constance Harper Nelson, David Nelson, Kristin Harmon, Cousin Willy Nelson, Grandchildren Tracy Nelson, Matthew Nelson, Gunner Nelson and Sam Nelson, Actress Sally Hughes, Actors Tom Bosley and Paul Petersen, Television Personality Art Linkletter, Director Fred De Cordova, Trumpeter Holly Humphreys, Guitarist James Burton, Songwriter Sharon Sheehy, Record Producer Jimmy Haskell, Script Supervisor Joe Bryne, CEO Dennis Holt, Radio Music Arranger Billy May, Psychologist Joyce Brothers, Accountant Wynel Cary, TV Historian David Halberston, Disc Jockey Peter Fornatale, and Singer Dwight Yoakam.
Archive footage includes clips and interviews with Harriet Hilliard, Ozzie Nelson and Ricky Nelson. Other stars appearing in archive footage include Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Walter Brennan, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Dinah Shore and Mary Wickes.
Ricky's song performances include "I'm Walkin'," "Lonesome Town," "Poor Little Fool," "Hello, Mary Lou," "Travelin' Man" and "Garden Party."
Film and Television Clips provide a screen glimpse of Ozzie, Harriet, David, Ricky and/or Tracy through the years, in scenes from "America's Sweethearts" (c. 1932), "Follow the Fleet" (1936), "Here Come the Nelsons" (1952), "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952), "Peyton Place" (1957), "Rio Bravo" (1959), "Love and Kisses" (1965), "Dinah!" (1977), "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1986) and "Father Dowling Mysteries" (1989).