‘Family’ TO RETURN AS BIG SCREEN AFFAIR

By Chris Petrikin and Benedict Carver

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Uncle Bill, Uncle Bill, we’re gonna be in pictures!Warner Bros. is developing a feature version of “Family Affair,” a saccharine sitcom that ran on CBS from 1966 to 1971. The studio has teamed up with producers Sid and Marty Krofft, who created the original series, and John Hughes.

The series starred Brian Keith as Manhattan bachelor Bill Davis, an industrial designer who suddenly finds himself guardian of his nephew and two nieces (the three children had been raised in separate homes after their parents’ deaths).

Sebastian Cabot starred as Davis’ manservant Giles French; Cathy Garver as Bill’s teen-age niece Cissy; Johnny Whitaker as his carrot-top nephew, Jody; and Anissa Jones as his niece, Buffy, Jody’s twin sister.

Howard Deutch will direct the feature from a screenplay by newcomer Emily Fox. Deutch’s directing credits include the 1986 film “Pretty in Pink,” which Hughes wrote and produced.

RHINO WELCOMES SID & MARTY KROFFT

Rhino Home Video’s Senior Vice President Arny Schorr recently signed a deal with Marty Krofft to acquire the video rights of the Sid & Marty Krofft library of programs. On May 18, a “smorgasbord” box set featuring various episodes of Krofft’s most memorable programs will launch this joint venture. The release of individual eps will follow later on July 13. Programs included in the home video deal are: HR Pufnstuff, Bugaloos, Lidsville, Sigmund And The Sea Monsters, Far Out Space Nuts, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Land Of The Lost, Lost Saucer, Wonderbug, Magic Mongo, Bigfoot And Wildboy, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, and The Barbara Mandrell Show. (source Rhino Online)