This is the way I heard it.

In early December of 1965, a producer named Lee Mendelssohn sat in a screening room at CBS

watching the credits roll on a film he'd been working on for the last six months.

With him, we're three network executives who made no attempt to conceal their profound

confusion and deep disappointment.

It's too slow, said the first suit.

It's too depressing, said the second suit.

It's too religious," said the third suit.

And why the hell did you cast those kids?

Well, said Lee, Sparky thought the kids would make the whole thing feel more honest.

But their kids, said the first suit, and they can't even act or sing.

He's right, said the second suit.

These kids are terrible.

The music is terrible.

And the whole thing feels like it was put together by a fifth grader.

I'm sorry, Lee, but this is 30 minutes of very disappointing television.

Lee's side.

Truth is, he didn't entirely disagree.

The pace was slow.

The music was decidedly non-traditional.

And yes, in hindsight, he probably should have checked with the network before casting

children in roles that were traditionally played by adults.

...