Eddie tells his father that he has a new best friend- a boy named Max Kelly (James Cole) who only has a mother- Betty (Cicely Tyson, "Fried Green Tomatoes"). Mrs. Livingston surmises that Eddie is matchmaking again. Tom obliges Eddie's request to invite Max over to stay the weekend and for his mother to have dinner with them. When the door opens Tom is a bit stunned to find they are black. He invites them in and he and Betty get to know each other as they prepare dinner. The kids are hoping it will progress to a serious relationship.
This wasn't the first time that concept has been addressed on film and TV. Like the hilarious Dick Van Dyke Show episode "That's My Boy??" I think it was handled the right way in that any differences didn't matter and they simply sat down and got to know one another. It isn't preachy or made to cause division. There's a hilarious exchange in the episode: Eddie: "I told Max...you could be his uncle..." Tom (pleasant smile): "Sure" Max (smiling): "Thank you Uncle Tom"
This wasn't the first time that concept has been addressed on film and TV. Like the hilarious Dick Van Dyke Show episode "That's My Boy??" I think it was handled the right way in that any differences didn't matter and they simply sat down and got to know one another. It isn't preachy or made to cause division. There's a hilarious exchange in the episode: Eddie: "I told Max...you could be his uncle..." Tom (pleasant smile): "Sure" Max (smiling): "Thank you Uncle Tom"
