geri_chan | FIC: Eddie is a Punk Rocker

Posting this a bit late, but here is the fic I wrote for the annual Be the First challenge for writing in fandoms that don't have any fanfic yet. This year I wrote a story for the TV series The Courtship of Eddie's Father:

Eddie is a Punk Rocker (3351 words) by geri_chan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Eddie Corbett, Tom Corbett (The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV))
Additional Tags: Father-Son Relationship, Family Feels, Post-Canon
Summary: When Eddie was a child, he could tell his dad anything, but now for the first time, he's keeping a secret from his father.

I actually nominated and requested the show for Yuletide, but wasn't too disappointed when no one picked it up because it meant I could write it for Be the First! My memories of the show are a bit vague, but I really loved it as a kid. Of course, most of the show centered around the comical attempts of young Eddie to fix up his widowed father (played by Bill Bixby) with various women, but what I remember most and loved the most were the little father-son talks that Tom and Eddie would have at the beginning and end of each episode. They were mostly humorous, but sometimes poignant, and they all displayed the tender and affectionate relationship between father and son.

This story was inspired by the fact that Brandon Cruz, who played Eddie, became a punk rock singer as an adult. I remember that Bill Bixby appeared on some kind of awards show or retrospective where he was being honored, and Brandon was brought out to do a little ad-lib father-son talk like they used to do on the show. "Eddie" asked if "Dad" was upset by his punk rock styled hair, and "Dad" replied that as long as "Eddie" was happy, it was fine. It was just so sweet and natural that it really felt like I was seeing a grown-up Eddie talking with his dad.

So of course I wanted to write a story based on that little ad-lib talk where Eddie did indeed become a punk rocker and was worried his dad would disapprove, but Tom reacts with his usual warm and loving support. I really enjoyed writing the story and revisiting the world of an old childhood favorite show.

I have to admit, I didn't think many readers would be familiar with a sitcom from the 70s (showing my age, lol), so I would have been thrilled with a comment or two, but I was surprised to get a great response for the fic, and I am very happy to know that other people also still have love for Eddie and Tom!