 Bill Bixby (qv) was given the lead role of Tandy because  Bruce Jay Friedman (qv)s young son liked him on  _"Courtship of Eddies Father, The" (1969)_ (qv) TV series. Until  that time, Bixby was mainly known for playing comedy, not drama.  When approached by producers about who he had in mind for the lead,  Friedman named Bixby.