Melville Shavelson

"Anne and "Poppy" Rose are the average American family, with three quirky kids. Anne has a good heart and gives lost cats and dogs a home - and one day also the orphan Jane, a problem child who already tried to kill herself once. At first Poppy is worried and wants to get rid of her, but with love and patience they finally manage to integrate her into the family. Just then Anne invites another orphan, the aggressive handicapped Jimmy-John, to their...

When Coast Guard commander Frank Beardsley bumps into his old high school flame Helen North, sparks fly again, and the two quickly marry. Complications arrive when it comes time to merge their two families. Frank has 8 kids and Helen has 10 kids. With Frank looking to keep tight military control over the brood, and Helen preferring her loving, hippy-like ways of encouragement, the two struggle to maintain a family and home where the kids don't like...