Ep 19. Bedknobs and Drumsticks
- February 9, 1973
The Partridge Family season 3 episode 19, Bedknobs and Drumsticks, is a classic American sitcom that follows the lives of a talented family as they navigate the ups and downs of fame, family life, and adolescence. This episode centers around the family's patriarch, musician and widower Keith Partridge, as he tries to balance his career with his responsibility as a parent.
As the episode begins, Keith is struggling to write a new song that will be the centerpiece of the Partridge Family's upcoming album. He is so consumed by this task that he neglects his children's needs, and they begin to feel resentful of his single-minded focus. Meanwhile, their mother's absence continues to weigh heavily on all of them, especially Keith, who has the added burden of being both father and mother to his young brood.
Keith's attempts to inspire his creativity are interrupted when the family receives a visit from their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Meecham. She is an eccentric and mysterious figure, known for her love of exotic foods and her fondness for strange, magical artifacts. Mrs. Meecham brings with her a pair of ancient Bedknobs and Drumsticks, which she claims have the power to grant wishes and change lives.
At first, the Partridge kids are skeptical of Mrs. Meecham's claims, but she insists that they try the Bedknobs and Drumsticks for themselves. She explains that all they have to do is hold the knobs and say their wish out loud, and it will come true. Keith is amused by the idea but agrees to humor Mrs. Meecham and take care of the Bedknobs and Drumsticks for a few days.
As the family starts to experiment with the Bedknobs and Drumsticks, they discover that Mrs. Meecham was telling the truth - the objects really do have magical powers. First, oldest daughter Laurie uses the Bedknobs to make Keith fall asleep and sneak out of the house to attend a party. But her plan backfires when Keith gets hurt falling off a horse and ends up in the hospital.
Next, middle son Danny uses the Drumsticks to become the world's greatest drummer, which impresses everyone except his older brother Keith, who is still angry about the party incident. Meanwhile, youngest daughter Tracy wishes for a million dollars, and her dream comes true when a suitcase filled with cash falls from the sky - but the money turns out to be stolen, which creates a moral dilemma for the family.
As the chaos caused by the Bedknobs and Drumsticks begins to spiral out of control, Keith realizes that he needs to take back control of his family and his life. He realizes that he has been so focused on his music that he has lost sight of what really matters - his children and their well-being. With this revelation, he sets out to make things right, confronting each of his children in turn and reminding them of the importance of family, love, and responsibility.
In the end, the Partridges learn that the Bedknobs and Drumsticks were just a temporary distraction from the real magic of their lives - the love and support they offer each other every day. Together, they come to see that it is their own strength, not magic, that will sustain them through the challenges of life. The episode ends on a positive note, with Keith writing a new song that brings the family together and reminds them of the promise of the future.
