NANCY (THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

NANCY (1970-1971) – With I Dream of Jeannie having finished its final season, creator Sidney Sheldon launched his new series Nancy, about the 21-year-old daughter of the incumbent U.S. President finding love with a small-town Iowa veterinarian. Would it complete a sitcom Hat Trick for Sidney and be as successful as his previous Patty Duke Show and the aforementioned I Dream of Jeannie? Not a chance.

When it comes to television sitcoms who can tell what will be popular? Hell, Sidney Sheldon had just finished a long-running show about a genie marrying a U.S. astronaut. The premise of Nancy seems positively grounded by comparison.

Renne Jarrett starred as First Daughter Nancy Smith, a pretty young lady living in Center City, IA. Nancy stayed with her guardian and chaperone Abby Townsend, played by the one and only Celeste Holm.

Abby offered wry commentary and sarcastic barbs regarding the madness that unfolded as Nancy pursued a romance with Center City veterinarian Adam Hudson. Dr. Hudson was played by John Fink, an actor who kept that name in defiance of all show business common sense.

“The Courtship of the President’s Daughter” (see what I did there) was complicated by Secret Service agents forever crowding the lovebirds and by scuzzy reporters looking to blow anything Nancy did out of proportion to cause a scandal. The two most prominent Secret Service men were Agent Rodriguez (Ernesto Macias) and Agent Turner (William Bassett), while the main journalist was Willie Maxwell (Eddie Applegate).   

I have to admit, the setup seems like it could have worked as a comedic play or film of the same genus as the old George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart productions. In fact, Nancy feels like one of the many failed television shows that tried to cash in on a popular movie.

In my opinion the two leads were the main problem here. Renne Jarrett made Marlo Thomas’ character on That Girl seem deep and quirky, while John Fink utterly failed as an imitation Ted Bessell. Nancy and Adam were hopelessly bland and overdid the lovey dovey business.

Celeste Holm carried the show as Abigail and seemed like a third member of the act on The Mothers in Law with Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard. Robert F. Simon as Adam’s crotchety Uncle Everett McPherson added some nice bits and it’s easier to root for the potential romance between him and Abby rather than the two stars.   

At any rate, after 17 episodes Nancy joined countless other programs on the scrap heap of television’s rejects and castoffs.

THE EPISODES:

IT’S A GOOD DAY FOR MEETING THE PRESIDENT’S DAUGHTER – While coping with media attention and eccentric Secret Service agents, First Daughter Nancy Smith falls in love with small town vet Dr. Adam Hudson. The pair become engaged.

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO THE WHITE HOUSE? – Devoted vet Adam winds up missing his and Nancy’s engagement party at the White House because he is needed by one of his patients – a sick cow. FARAH FAWCETT guest starred, as did Topo Swope who I think was always more attractive than Farah but what can ya do?

THE SMALLEST DIAMOND IN THE WORLD – Dr. Hudson grapples with his self-image while shopping for an engagement ring for Nancy. (Shouldn’t this episode have come before the previous one?) His income means he can’t afford the kind of diamond ring he considers befitting of the First Daughter.

IT’S A BAD DAY FOR MEETING PRESIDENTS – The President arrives in Center City to finally meet Nancy’s fiance, but the increased Secret Service presence winds up preventing the frustrated Adam from entering his own home for the meeting. NOTE: In this series the president was never seen, but sometimes his voice would be heard.

JUST CALL US INCOMPATIBLE – Nancy and Adam belatedly realize that they have very little in common, but she ultimately decides that unraveling each other’s mysteries makes for an improved relationship. Okay, even for a sitcom this is idiotic! Why did they get engaged so quickly then? Was she in danger of showing or something?

ADAM, THE TV STAR – Adam goes from resenting all the media scrutiny to showboating after a successful press conference. For fans of Leo Fong’s movies, let me point out that STACK PIERCE himself guest starred as a photographer.

EAST IS EAST & WEST IS WEST – Nancy and Adam spend time with her high-powered friends and he begins to feel inadequate. Sheesh! All these early episodes should have been set during Nancy and Adam’s courtship, leading up to the inevitable engagement and then wedding.

HERE COMES THE GROOM – We get the usual Wedding Episode wackiness for a sitcom. The ring gets lost, the wedding cake gets dropped and a hurricane approaches, but our lovebirds manage to wed. Byron Morrow guest starred as the minister.

HONEYMOON FOR TWELVE – Nancy and Adam cancel their plans to honeymoon in Europe when they realize the size of the entourage that will be accompanying them. They try honeymooning at quaint Lake Bageneehawk, but find that the media follows them even there. (How stupid are these two?) Lew Brown guest starred as the hotel manager.

GOING, GOING, GONE – Adam and Nancy decide they need a larger house now that Abby and their Secret Service agents have all moved in with them. At an auction, they get outbid for their dream home, so Nancy plots to convince the buyer to let them buy it. Hal Smith (Otis the Drunk) played the auctioneer.

FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS ARE THE HARDEST – As Nancy, Adam and company move into their new home, we get Lucy Show situations – the moving company goes on strike so their furniture has not arrived AND Nancy forgot to have the utilities turned on. For Dead End Kids fans, Billy Benedict guest starred as the phone man.   

BUSIEST BRIDE IN THE WORLD – Hijinks ensue when Nancy’s many activities as First Daughter repeatedly interfere with her marriage to Adam.

A CASE OF SPRING FEVER – Uncle Everett grows jealous when Abby is wined and dined by a man called the most eligible bachelor in Iowa. The smitten man proposes marriage, but Abby says no. Celeste Holm’s real-life husband Wesley Addy played her suitor. 

BOYS’ NIGHT OUT – It’s Adam’s night out with the boys, but the newly married man actually wants to spend time with Nancy instead. She wants him to stay home but feels she is expected to encourage him to go out while she spends time with her lady friends. Wackiness ensues. WKRP‘s Frank Bonner guest starred. 

NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH – Great Britain’s Lord and Lady Halford’s wedding gift to Nancy and Adam is a pre-paid Butler for a Year. At first the couple enjoy the pampering but grow to resent the lack of privacy.

BUDGET, BUDGET, WHO’S GOT THE BUDGET – When Nancy complains to her father about the trouble she and Adam are having making ends meet the president pulls strings to get them farm subsidies. The political fallout brings on zaniness. Ivor Francis and Ron Masak guest starred.

A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND – Nancy falls in love with a very talented stray dog that they take in, but eventually its traveling circus owners come to claim it.

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