Got Happy

I think the made-for-TV movie Come On, Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story is more entertaining than the show itself. (A low bar, but still...) It's narrated by Danny Bonaduce, who played Danny Partridge (and survived in show biz as an adult, after going through hard times), and is told from his point of view. The plot includes his abusive father, unhappy that his son makes more than he does. But the fun is the wacky escapades at the show.



It was just another dumb sitcom--an adaptation of The Cowsills' story without paying for the rights. The show was a hit, lasting four seasons, but the Partridge Family phenomenon was even bigger. Their music sold big and for a year or two, David Cassidy was the top teen hearthrob, replacing Bobby Sherman, Donny Osmond and whoever else dared face him down on the cover of Tiger Beat. (Maybe there should be a magazine for the girls who used to buy that magazine--call it Cougar Beat.)

As the movie shows, Cassidy wanted to be taken seriously. Authenticity was a big deal then. Tough luck. (I've heard him live and actually he's not bad.) He went out touring then, and apparently there were some wild times on the road, quite the opposite of the wholesome sitcom he was working on.

Their popularity burned out, of course, but they had a good run. Over a three-year period they had seven top ten hits. The first, "I Think I Love You," went to #1, and each song after that charted lower. Their albums showed a similar trend.

The music employed the best studio musicians in LA. The only cast members involved were Cassidy and Shirley Jones (his mother on the show, his stepmother in real life). I don't think the music or the show hold up today, but neither was meant to. Still, an interesting time capsule. Kids today who fight over Team Edward versus Team Jacob can see what it is that got their mothers excited.