About this season
Bachelor Father is an American sitcom starring John Forsythe, Noreen Corcoran, and Sammee Tong. The series first premiered on CBS in September 1957 before moving to NBC for the third season in 1959. The series' fifth and final season aired on ABC from 1961 to 1962. A total of 157 episodes were aired. The series was based on "A New Girl in His Life", which aired on General Electric Theater on May 26, 1957. Bachelor Father is the only primetime series ever to run in consecutive years on the three major televisions networks.
Episodes (37)
1. Peter Meets His Match
Aired 17 September 1959 • 30 min
When Peter falls in love the entire Gregg household suffers. Bentley learns that Peter's lady love is employed by the neighborhood supermarket and he offers to give him pointers on how to win the young lady's affections.
2. Bentley and the Dog Trainer
Aired 24 September 1959
Bentley's dog, Jasper, decides a neighbor's prize winning camellias are even tastier than dog biscuits, which leads the neighbor to threaten a lawsuit.
3. The Case Against Gisele
Aired 1 October 1959
Bentley, Kelly and Peter visit Gisele MacKenzie on a movie set. While they are there Peter trips and later his cousin talks him into suing Gisele.
4. Bentley and the Gullible Guitarist
Aired 8 October 1959
Kelly plans a party hoping to take advantage of her friends' talents. Bentley, realizing that he and others are serving as Kelly's means to an end decides it's time to teach her a lesson.
5. Kelly's Idol
Aired 15 October 1959 • 30 min
Kelly decides that Howard is not very suave and sophisticated. So she decides to change him into the likeness of Uncle Bentley.
6. East Meets West
Aired 22 October 1959 • 30 min
Peter decides he needs a television set in the kitchen so that he can watch his favorite western show. But Bentley firmly refuses to grant Peter's wish.
7. Bentley and Grandpa Ling
Aired 29 October 1959
Eccentric Grandpa Ling, a relative of Peter's comes to visit. Bentley discovers that Grandpa has a habit of taking things he likes and leaving an item he considers of equal value in exchange.
8. Kelly the Golddigger
Aired 5 November 1959 • 30 min
Kelly develops a warped attitude about money after she has dated a millionaire. To teach her a lesson, Bentley decides to play the part of a fortune hunter.
9. The Rescue of Rufus
Aired 12 November 1959 • 30 min
Rufus, a dog belonging to a friend of Kelly's, is accused of biting a man. Kelly persuades Bentley to defend Rufus in a court hearing.
10. A Key for Kelly
Aired 19 November 1959
Bentley is shocked when huis teenage niece, Kelly, asks him for her own house key. He firmly refuses to let her have one.
11. Bentley's Double Play
Aired 26 November 1959 • 30 min
Bentley is going to direct Kelly's high school play, ""The Courtship of Miles Standish."" Peter wants to play the part of John Alden but Bentley refuses to cast him.
12. Bentley and the Brainy Beauty
Aired 3 December 1959 • 30 min
Bentley encounters a young lady who feels that he ought to live a more purposeful life. She perscribes an active schedule for Bentley.
13. Bentley Plays Cupid
Aired 10 December 1959 • 30 min
Bentley plays cupid when he learns that his secretary and his friend Chuck are dating. Bentley suggests they get married, but Chuck insists that he won't wed until Bentley does.
14. Kelly's Secret
Aired 17 December 1959
Bentley is mystified by Kelly's strange behavior and he questions her about it. Kelly shocks her uncle with the news that someone in her high school class is getting married.
15. Bentley Goes to Washington
Aired 24 December 1959 • 30 min
Bentley decides to accept a job in Washington, D.C. and announces to Kelly and Peter that they are leaving California.
16. Kelly, the Politician
Aired 31 December 1959 • 30 min
Nominated for president of the student council, Kelly plans a hard hitting campaign.
17. Bentley, the Gentleman Farmer
Aired 7 January 1960
For a school project, Kelly and Howard must grow something in the garden. In a generous mood, Bentley offers to help them.
18. Bentley and the Combo
Aired 14 January 1960 • 30 min
Kelly informs Bentley that the high school combo, slated to play at an upcoming dance, is sadly in need of organization. Bentley tries to solve the problem by talking his friend Chuck into helping the orchestra.
19. Bentley and the Bartered Bride
Aired 21 January 1960 • 30 min
Peter receives a picture of a lovely girl from a marriage broker and falls madly in love.
20. The Blond Issue
Aired 28 January 1960 • 30 min
Kelly wants to bleach her hair blond to impress a new boyfriend but Bentley won't allow it.
21. Bentley and the Majorette
Aired 4 February 1960 • 30 min
Kelly and her friends are practicing hard for an upcoming drum majorette contest but Uncle Bentley notices that one of the teenagers doesn't seem to be interested in rehersals.
22. Bentley, the Model Citizen
Aired 18 February 1960 • 30 min
A neighbor asks Bentley to join him in a protest to the city about the location of a traffic signal. Bentley is willing until he meets a pretty girl who favors the present location of the signal.
23. The Fishing Trip
Aired 25 February 1960 • 30 min
Bentley's friends seem to have dandy times with their sons so this gets Bentley thinking about making Kelly a companion.
24. The Fortune Cookie Caper
Aired 3 March 1960 • 30 min
Peter turns businessman by selling homemade fortune cookies to restaurants and helping in the operation is Kelly who is acting as an assitant.
25. Kelly and the College Man
Aired 10 March 1960 • 30 min
Kelly's latest romance shocks Uncle Bentley after she becomes bored with her high school friends and begins dating an older man.
26. Kelly, the Career Woman
Aired 17 March 1960 • 30 min
Kelly becomes a career woman when she volunteers to help Uncle Bentley in his law office. However, she impedes not speeds up due process of the law.
27. Bentley's New House
Aired 24 March 1960
Bentley's latest case is Sense vs. Sentiment when he wants Kelly and and Peter to throw out all of their useles keepsakes.
28. Bentley, the Stage Mother
Aired 7 April 1960 • 30 min
Kelly wants to be an actress but Uncle Bentley responds with a blunt ""No."" However, the true spirit of ambition prevails.
29. The Woman's Angle
Aired 14 April 1960 • 30 min
Kelly is back to work in Uncle Bentley's office. This time it's because she doesn't want to be treated like a child.
30. Bentley Meets the Perfect Woman
Aired 21 April 1960 • 30 min
Bentley meets the perfect woman but the young lady is dubious about his qualifications and has some interesting ideas about turning him ino the perfect man.
31. Bentley and the Travel Agent
Aired 28 April 1960 • 30 min
Bentley visits a travel agency and loses his head when he schedules a resort vacation for Kelly, a visit to San Francisco for Peter and in a final burst of inspiration, a fishing trip for a couple of friends.
32. The Very Friendly Witness
Aired 5 May 1960 • 30 min
A witness tries to bribe Bentley (John Forsythe). Elena: Patricia Huston. Chuck: Pat McCaffrie. Kelly: Noreen Corcoran.
33. Bentley and the Blood Bank
Aired 12 May 1960 • 30 min
At a Red Cross pep rally, Frank Curtis launches into a wild account of his wartime exploits. His own story a ringing success, he decides to create a similar aura of heroism for Bentley.
34. A Man of Importance
Aired 19 May 1960
Peter decides to become a man of importance when his girlfriend gives him the brushoff. Bentley hatches a plan to boost his ego.
35. Bentley and the Beach Bum
Aired 26 May 1960
Kelly is fascinated by a young man who spends all his time at the beach.
36. Where There's a Will
Aired 2 June 1960 • 30 min
Bentley is about to read the will to a late clients's relatives when the lights go out. When they come on again, the will is gone.
37. Bentley's Birthday Gift
Aired 9 June 1960
Kelly is for an idea for Uncle Bentley's birthday gift so a friend of Bentley's suggests a surprise birthday party instead and offers to help select the guest list from Bentley's little black book.