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Wait Till Your Father Gets Home

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by KJ Dell Antonia

In 1970s time-capsule cartoon WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME, titular dad Harry Boyle (voiced by Tom Bosley) lives with his reasonably happy family: wife Irma (Joan Gerber), slacker son Chet (David Hayward), overweight daughter Alice (Kristina Holland), and precocious son Jamie (Jackie Earle Haley), who feels like a precursor to Alex Keaton of Family Ties. The Boyles' changing times are reflected by the contrast between the more liberal attitudes of the older kids and those of Harry's commie-hunting, pinko-hating vigilante best friend Ralph (Jack Burns).

Is It Any Good?

4

The extreme views on both sides of the spectrum allow Harry to be the heroic voice of reason, and it's actually quite satisfying to see him stick to his own idea of what's right and not be swayed by either side. The show's writing is clever, and the animation (done by Hanna-Barbera) has a clean-background Schoolhouse Rock feel to it. The issues of the day were different, but the extreme perspectives on both the left and the right will likely remind contemporary viewers of our own times -- and maybe offer a little perspective, too.

Because Wait Till Your Father Gets Home was created in a different era, tough issues are addressed, but in a less-graphic way than we might see today, which makes it useful. Parents of tweens can use the issues showcased in each episode as a way to introduce various moral dilemmas. Should you testify against a criminal if you feel sorry for him? Should you allow someone to criticize your beliefs in your own home? Just be ready to put some of Ralph's rants in context.

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