Joe and Sons

Directed byPeter BaldwinStarringComposerDavid ShireCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo. of seasons1No. of episodes14ProductionExecutive producerDouglas S. CramerProducersRunning time30 minutesProduction companiesDouglas S. Cramer
Kukoff-Harris PartnershipOriginal releaseNetworkCBSReleaseSeptember 9, 1975 (1975-09-09) –
January 13, 1976 (1976-01-13)

Joe and Sons is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 9, 1975, to January 13, 1976. It ran for a total of 14 episodes.

Premise

The show focused on an Italian-American widower, Joe Vitale, who lived in Hoboken, New Jersey with his two teenage sons, Mark and Nick. Gus Duzik worked with him as a typical middle-class family worker at the Hoboken Sheet and Tube Company. Estelle was a cocktail waitress who lived in the apartment across the hall who helped Joe with his sons and liked to cook an occasional meal for the family.

Cast

• Richard S. Castellano as Joe Vitale
• Barry Miller as Mark Vitale
• Jimmy Baio as Nick Vitale
• Jerry Stiller as Gus Duzik
• Bobbi Jordan as Estelle
• Florence Stanley as Aunt Josephine

Episodes

Nº	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
0	"Joe and Sons"	Unknown	Unknown	April 18, 1975 (1975-04-18)
Series pilot: Joe is worried about the mysterious behavior of his older son, who has been coming home late and falling asleep in class.
1	"Mark's Doubt"	Peter Baldwin	Jay Moriarty & Mike Milligan	September 9, 1975 (1975-09-09)
Blue collar worker Joe Vitale, a widower, has his hands full with two growing sons and an odd assortment of concerned friends, family and neighbors. A theological crisis begins the season, as the older boy declares his doubt in the existence of God.
2	"Nick's Book"	Unknown	Robert Illes & James Stein	September 23, 1975 (1975-09-23)
Joe is enraged when he discovers that his 12-year-old son's biology book contains an explicit section on sex education.
3	"Joe's Date"	Unknown	Adele & Burt Styler	September 30, 1975 (1975-09-30)
The promise of romance has Joe in a fever of anticipation as he prepares for a reunion with the bombshell of his high school class.
4	"Carmela"	Unknown	George Almeyda	October 7, 1975 (1975-10-07)
Joe worries when he learns that Mark is dating the daughter of wild Flora (Dimitra Arliss), a woman who had a dubious reputation in high school.
5	"Joe's Cruise"	Unknown	Jeffrey Minches	October 14, 1975 (1975-10-14)
During a pandemonium-filled morning, Joe must choose between attending an annual boat ride with Gus or chauffeuring his kids around the city.
6	"A Real Lady"	Unknown	Unknown	October 21, 1975 (1975-10-21)
Josephine plays matchmaker, arranging a blind date between Joe and a widow who inherited a garbage-truck company from her husband.
7	"Uncle Charlie's Problem"	Unknown	Unknown	November 4, 1975 (1975-11-04)
Joe willingly agrees to take Uncle Charlie after the sprightly old codger runs away from a retirement home.
8	"The Desperate Minutes"	Unknown	Unknown	November 21, 1975 (1975-11-21)
Gus is suing the city of Hoboken for $2,000,000 for "bodily injuries and mental anguish" he suffered while riding a bus that collided with a car.
9	"Clothes Don't Necessarily Make the Man"	Unknown	Unknown	December 2, 1975 (1975-12-02)
Nick claims to be studying ballet for cultural enrichment, but his Aunt Josephine is beginning to worry about her nephew's masculinity.
10	"Pot Luck"	Unknown	Unknown	December 16, 1975 (1975-12-16)
A house plant left by Mark's long-haired friend is making Joe nervous; he's sure it's marijuana.
11	"Nick's Problem"	Unknown	Unknown	December 23, 1975 (1975-12-23)
Nick, who has taken great pains to hide his bed-wetting from the others, finds himself the object of much concern when his secret is discovered.
12	"Thou Shalt Steal"	Unknown	Unknown	January 6, 1976 (1976-01-06)
Gus fears for his life after running out of a crap game without paying up his losses.
13	"Jimmy Flynn's Wake"	Unknown	Unknown	January 13, 1976 (1976-01-13)
Joe is trapped into holding a wake at his house for Gus's lately departed friend even though he never even knew the guy.

External links

• Joe and Sons at IMDb
• Joe and Sons at epguides.com