# MacMillan and Wife... no wife
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 13, 2002, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081 "2002-10-13T13:35:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/21 "2014-06-16T06:12:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Maybe he decided a wife and kid was tying him down and he killed them. As a homicide investigator, he knew how to cover up the crime. The only two people who suspected were those closest to him: Mildred and Sgt Enright - so they were the next two to be killed.
It makes sense!
Almost.
One thing I’ve always wondered is, what happens to TV characters after the show ends? What would you think happened to Mac after 1977? How long can you be PC? I see right now there is a power play with one of the current commissioners, who may lose her seat (there is no one “PC”). It’s a very political position.
What do you do when you get ousted from a very cool job where you get to solve mysteries, in between boring budget meetings? Probably go into private law practice, though, solving mysteries of wrongfully accused people week after week. That probably wouldn’t make an interesting TV show, though…
I guess he could go back to the CIA.
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/22 "2014-06-16T11:54:03Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> Gayer than a Fire Island pinwheel factory, he was.
Yes sir, that man was gayer than an explosion in a glitter factory.
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### Author:  [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/23 "2014-06-16T13:00:22Z")
Gayer than a handbag full of rainbows.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/24 "2014-06-16T13:07:12Z")
Gayer than a sperm on a mustache.
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/25 "2014-06-16T13:19:46Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Gayer than a sperm on a mustache.
Oh, that joke went bad fast!
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/26 "2014-06-16T15:10:51Z")
> [@treat123456](#):
>
> I am watching McMillan and wife on Netflix and I am not understanding how Sally is pregnant at the end of season1 and you never hear anything about the baby and then again in season 4. It makes no sense. Does anyone know why they did that?😕 :dubious:
Right up until the producers decided to actually make a big deal about Henry Blake’s death on M_A_S\*H, TV characters disappeared with a frequency that would make a serial killer blush.
Some, like Darren Stephens, were recast. Some, like Adam Cartwright, “went to sea,” but there were a lot of out and out deaths. Margaret, the first wife on the _Danny Thomas Show_, Grandmother Lindstrom on\* Phyllis\*, even Kate on _Petticoat Junction_ were almost completely ignored after those characters died.
> [@jean\_stanforth](#):
>
> Mildred it is explained has inherited a diner back East so her sister Agatha is now Macs housekeeper.
That wouldn’t be some bizarre meta-shoutout to Nancy Walker being Rosie the Waitress in the Bounty paper towel ads, would it?
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/27 "2014-06-16T15:14:04Z")
Gayer than Maurice Bachmann doing la cucaracha in full drag at a Pride parade …
wait … perhaps I went a Bridge Too Far here …
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### Author:  [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/28 "2014-06-17T04:14:34Z")
> [@kunilou](#):
>
> Right up until the producers decided to actually make a big deal about Henry Blake’s death on M_A_S\*H, TV characters disappeared with a frequency that would make a serial killer blush.
>
> Some, like Darren Stephens, were recast. Some, like Adam Cartwright, “went to sea,” but there were a lot of out and out deaths. Margaret, the first wife on the _Danny Thomas Show_, Grandmother Lindstrom on\* Phyllis\*, even Kate on _Petticoat Junction_ were almost completely ignored after those characters died.
I don’t remember how or why Mike was written out of _My Three Sons_ but I do remember thinking, even at the time, that it was hilarious they’d adopt the kid next door, just so they’d still have three sons.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/29 "2014-06-17T14:49:56Z")
> [@jabiru](#):
>
> I don’t remember how or why Mike was written out of _My Three Sons_ but I do remember thinking, even at the time, that it was hilarious they’d adopt the kid next door, just so they’d still have three sons.
IIRC, Mike got married and was never seen again (though he was mentioned occasionally, as was Bub, the housekeeper):
> **[My Three Sons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Three_Sons)**
>
> My Three Sons is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was filmed in black-and-white and broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seven seasons, which were filmed in color. My Three Sons chronicles the life of widower and aeronautical engineer Steven Douglas (Fred MacMurray) as he raises his three sons.
> The series originally featured William Frawley (who had first co-starred with Fred MacMur...
I’m surprised to read about StJames and Hudson. I never watched _ **M&W** _, and I don’t know how she felt at the time, but I do remember her being interviewed when Hudson died (on _ **ET** _, I think) and she really came down on those who disparaged him because he was homosexual. Her attitude then (1985) was “So Rock Hudson is gay. _So what?!?_ He was a great guy. His idea of a good time was to stay home in the evening and have homemade ice cream!” (As near as I can remember the quote.)
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/30 "2014-06-17T16:00:16Z")
> [@terentii](#):
>
> …I’m surprised to read about StJames and Hudson. I never watched _ **M&W** _, and I don’t know how she felt at the time …
As a Wisconsin farmboy, I didn’t know the stuff that ‘everybody knows’, like who was gay, but I did read that SSJ did not like Rock. I think it might have been a passing comment in TV Guide, but it didn’t say why. I figured that it was just a personality thing. I also read that Marcia Strassman had similar feeling about Gabe Kaplan, but I don’t think he’s gay, so it didn’t have to be because of that for SSJ and RH.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/31 "2014-06-17T16:55:30Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> As a Wisconsin farmboy, I didn’t know the stuff that ‘everybody knows’, like who was gay, but I did read that SSJ did not like Rock. I think it might have been a passing comment in TV Guide, but it didn’t say why. I figured that it was just a personality thing. I also read that Marcia Strassman had similar feeling about Gabe Kaplan, but I don’t think he’s gay, so it didn’t have to be because of that for SSJ and RH.
FWIW, I’ve heard Florence Henderson could tell Robert Reed was gay the first time she kissed him, but he was apparently disliked by many on the _ **Brady Bunch** _ set because he was just a pain to work with.
There was never the kind of chemistry between Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent as there was between her and Dick York, but Sargent’s homosexuality was apparently never an issue between them and they remained friends for the rest of her life.
Kinda makes you wonder about other “happily married couples” on TV… :dubious:
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/32 "2014-06-17T17:22:19Z")
> [@kunilou](#):
>
> Some, like Adam Cartwright, “went to sea,”
I thought he went to college in Europe.
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### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/33 "2014-06-17T17:32:52Z")
> [@everton](#):
>
> Oh well, at least I didn’t false-remember it. I was only a kid when I first saw the shows, and I didn’t understand the _reason_ why they didn’t get on, just that they didn’t. But I paid closer attention to the kissing afterwards and noticed that there was a little wince there. Seems a little insensitive on her part with hindsight (- not his fault he was gay at a time when it would’ve wrecked his carreer to admit it).
I thought she was wincing because of that moustache. If he didn’t want people to think he was gay, what the hell was he doing with that gay porn moustache? I can’t watch the show because all I do is get squicked out by his moustache. And it’s not moustaches in general-- my father had a moustache, and no version of TV or movie of Hercule Poirot has ever bothered me, but it was like there were three people in bed in _M&W_– Mac, Sally, and the moustache.
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### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/34 "2014-06-17T17:33:52Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> I thought he went to college in Europe.
That was Chuck Cunningham.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/35 "2014-06-17T19:00:12Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> That was Chuck Cunningham.
Didn’t he join the Air Force? :dubious: 😕
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### Author:  [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/36 "2014-06-18T00:51:03Z")
> [@terentii](#):
>
> IIRC, Mike got married and was never seen again (though he was mentioned occasionally, as was Bub, the housekeeper):
>
> [My Three Sons - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Three_Sons)
Thank you. It’s many decades since I’ve seen the show and I never recalled hearing Mike’s name mentioned after he was written out.
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### Author:  [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2014, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/37 "2014-06-18T09:41:55Z")
Susan Saint James was very popular on “MacMillan and Wife”. I remember one of those sunday newspaper magazines (“Parade”?) named her as America’s favorite tv actress, slightly ahead of Cher. She and her agents could have used this as demands for more money and better perks. Lots of actors did at the time, with varying degrees of success. Carroll O’Connor, Redd Foxx, Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, Herve Villechaize. In her case, the producers said no, we will try to continue without you.
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### Author:  [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/38 "2014-06-18T12:34:13Z")
> [@yosemite](#):
>
> Yep, I was always led to believe that was true. I remember reading some a quote from an interview where she basically said (in essence) that it grossed her out to kiss him on camera.
Not trying to pick a fight on this, but I’ll call this urban legend until I see a cite.
There have been a lot of gay male actors. I’d guess this is part of the deal if you’re an actress, and it’s not like they were having sex on camera on 70s network TV.
I met Susan St. James years ago in a local bar in Connecticut and she came across as a laid back hippie. Doesn’t mean that Rock couldn’t have rubbed her the wrong way, just that I’d be surprised by it.
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### Author:  [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/39 "2014-06-19T00:03:22Z")
> [@spifflog](#):
>
> I met Susan St. James years ago in a local bar in Connecticut and she came across as a laid back hippie. Doesn’t mean that Rock couldn’t have rubbed her the wrong way, just that I’d be surprised by it.
It’s entirely possible they had a personality conflict that had nothing to do with his sexuality. I know a lot of gay men. I like most of them, but there are a few that annoy me, and one in particular who pisses me off to no end, and it has nothing to do with his being gay. He just happens to be a jerk who is gay.
Not that Rock Hudson was a jerk-- there have been people I liked individually who didn’t get along with each other for some reason. It happens.
Rock Hudson had chemistry with plenty of women on screen, like Jane Wyman and Elizabeth Taylor, but he was mismatched with Susan St. James. He was 21 years older than she was. Maybe that was part of it.
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### Author:  [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmillan-and-wife-no-wife/132081/40 "2014-06-19T00:37:02Z")
I worked with Susan Saint James for a while in the early 1980s. (You’re right, **spifflog** , she is basically a laid-back former hippie.) We discussed Rock Hudson a couple of times — she was still in contact with him and always spoke of him fondly.
I never asked why she left the show — mostly 'cause I didn’t care — but I doubt it had anything to do with Hudson. Probably just salary, but that’s a guess.
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