It was based loosely on the story of Frank and Helen Beardsley, although Desilu Productions bought the rights to the story long before Helen's autobiographical book "Who Gets the Drumstick?" was released to bookstores. Screenwriters Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll wrote several "I Love Lucy"-style stunts that in most cases had no basis in the actual lives of the Beardsley family, before Melville Shavelson and Mort Lachman took over primary writing duties. The film was commercially successful, and even the Beardsleys themselves appreciated it.