Saturday, November 21, 2009 11:43 AM EST
Leave It To Beaver
One of the most popular series in television history, Leave It to Beaver stood out from the flock of family shows during TV's golden age. While most Beaver contemporaries, like The Donna Reed Show and The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, were star-driven vehicles in which the kids were merely supporting players, the action and antics in Leave It to Beaver centered around the Cleaver boys. Premiering in the fall of 1957 and focusing on the adventures of seven-year-old Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and his 12-year-old brother, Wally, Leave It to Beaver was remarkably fresh for its time. While its tone reflected the innocence of the era, the series had a realistic edge thanks to the show's creators, Joe Connely and Bob Mosher, who based most of the young characters on their own kids and other children they knew. The episode where Wally gives Beaver a crummy coif after losing his haircut money was taken straight from the experience of little Bobby Mosher. Does that mean there was actually a real life Eddie Haskell and Larry Mondello too? The lasting charm of Leave It to Beaver can also be attributed to its timeless story lines. It's not difficult to imagine Wally and the Beav's misadventures happening today, albeit with hipper lingo. At the show's core is the theme of growing up, and while most of us don't have model parents like Ward and June Cleaver or Gus the Fireman to dispense advice, we can identify with many of the Cleaver kids' predicaments. Boys will be boys, after all. Though the original series left prime time in September 1963, it has remained a regular in reruns ever since. In the early 1980s, Leave It to Beaver experienced a resurgence in popularity that resulted in a sort of Beaver Cleaver fever. Wally and the Beav suddenly found themselves on Kellogg's Cornflakes boxes, as well as the subject of a number of books. A reunion movie, Still the Beaver, was produced, and led to a syndicated series reuniting many of the show's original cast members.
time
episode title
11/23/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver's Tree
Beaver explains to his teacher how he planted a tree when he lived in his old house, and now that he has moved and is bigger, he realizes he misses his tree. He and Larry decide to go back to Beaver's old house and dig up the tree and bring it back to his new house. The boys wind up getting in trouble when June sees them tracking along the front lawn with somebody else's tree in their little red wagon.
Beaver explains to his teacher how he planted a tree when he lived in his old house, and now that he has moved and is bigger, he realizes he misses his tree. He and Larry decide to go back to Beaver's old house and dig up the tree and bring it back to his new house. The boys wind up getting in trouble when June sees them tracking along the front lawn with somebody else's tree in their little red wagon.
11/24/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Teacher Comes To Dinner
Beaver thinks that Miss Landers is a wonderful teacher and invites her over for dinner one night. Larry and a few others spy on the teacher eating, and Beaver becomes embarrassed when they are spotted. However, it works out in the end because all of the little spies are invited to stay for dessert and all are forgiven.
Beaver thinks that Miss Landers is a wonderful teacher and invites her over for dinner one night. Larry and a few others spy on the teacher eating, and Beaver becomes embarrassed when they are spotted. However, it works out in the end because all of the little spies are invited to stay for dessert and all are forgiven.
11/25/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver's Fortune
After a penny fortune predicts 'Today is your lucky day", Beaver ends up with a scheduled fight with fifth grade bully, Sonny Courtwright. Beaver is filled with confidence due to his fortune, until Wally points out that you can't count on luck to win a fight. While Ward and June ask Wally to try and prevent the fight, Beaver comes back stating that Sonny never showed.
After a penny fortune predicts 'Today is your lucky day", Beaver ends up with a scheduled fight with fifth grade bully, Sonny Courtwright. Beaver is filled with confidence due to his fortune, until Wally points out that you can't count on luck to win a fight. While Ward and June ask Wally to try and prevent the fight, Beaver comes back stating that Sonny never showed.
12/01/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver's Library Book
Beaver borrows Ward's library card so he can take out "Treasure Island" for a book report. The problem is that Beaver loses the book and can't return it. He manages to hide the overdue notices that he has collected over the past 20 days, but then gets scared that he might get arrested so he tells his father all about it.
Beaver borrows Ward's library card so he can take out "Treasure Island" for a book report. The problem is that Beaver loses the book and can't return it. He manages to hide the overdue notices that he has collected over the past 20 days, but then gets scared that he might get arrested so he tells his father all about it.
12/02/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Wally's Election
When Wally is first nominated for the position of class president, he wants nothing to do with it. However, Ward gets him so excited about it that Wally turns into a cocky politician and winds up losing the election.
When Wally is first nominated for the position of class president, he wants nothing to do with it. However, Ward gets him so excited about it that Wally turns into a cocky politician and winds up losing the election.
12/03/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver And Andy
Andy is the man hired by the Cleavers to paint the trim of the house. However, Andy is an alcoholic and gets drunk on the job. When Ward and June return, Ward has to drive Andy home and explain to Beaver what exactly is wrong with Andy.
Andy is the man hired by the Cleavers to paint the trim of the house. However, Andy is an alcoholic and gets drunk on the job. When Ward and June return, Ward has to drive Andy home and explain to Beaver what exactly is wrong with Andy.
12/04/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver's Dance
Beaver and Larry are signed up for dance classes by their parents, but they both neglect to go. Instead, they meet a little girl who lets them ride her horse, Whiskers. When their parents find out what is going on, the boys get in trouble for disobedience.
Beaver and Larry are signed up for dance classes by their parents, but they both neglect to go. Instead, they meet a little girl who lets them ride her horse, Whiskers. When their parents find out what is going on, the boys get in trouble for disobedience.
12/07/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Larry's Club
Beaver is sworn into "the Bloody Five" which is a secret club founded by Harold. Larry gets really jealous when he is told that he is not allowed to join, so he starts his own club called "the Fiends". Beaver then disowns the Bloody Five and joins the Fiends, only to find out that he and Larry are the only ones in the group. This causes a fight between Larry and Beaver.
Beaver is sworn into "the Bloody Five" which is a secret club founded by Harold. Larry gets really jealous when he is told that he is not allowed to join, so he starts his own club called "the Fiends". Beaver then disowns the Bloody Five and joins the Fiends, only to find out that he and Larry are the only ones in the group. This causes a fight between Larry and Beaver.
12/08/09 - 9:00 AM EST
School Sweater
Wally lets Frances borrow his sweater because she says she was cold. However, when June and Ward realized that his sweater is missing, they question him. He lies as to its whereabouts until June and Ward see it wrapped around Frances in a store one day and overhear what she was says about Wally and how she has him wrapped around her finger.
Wally lets Frances borrow his sweater because she says she was cold. However, when June and Ward realized that his sweater is missing, they question him. He lies as to its whereabouts until June and Ward see it wrapped around Frances in a store one day and overhear what she was says about Wally and how she has him wrapped around her finger.
12/09/09 - 9:00 AM EST
The Hypnotist
Eddie allows Beaver to try and hypnotize him after he learns new moves from a recent movie. Beaver thinks he succeeds and becomes scared when Eddie won't snap out of it the next day, but Eddie is only playing a joke on Beaver.
Eddie allows Beaver to try and hypnotize him after he learns new moves from a recent movie. Beaver thinks he succeeds and becomes scared when Eddie won't snap out of it the next day, but Eddie is only playing a joke on Beaver.
12/10/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Wally And Alma
Wally draws Alma's name for an upcoming school picnic. After Alma's mother meets Wally, she decides that he is good enough for her daughter and sets up a lot of dates between the two. Wally doesn't really want to go with her on all these dates, but at the same time he doesn't want to be mean to her.
Wally draws Alma's name for an upcoming school picnic. After Alma's mother meets Wally, she decides that he is good enough for her daughter and sets up a lot of dates between the two. Wally doesn't really want to go with her on all these dates, but at the same time he doesn't want to be mean to her.
12/11/09 - 9:00 AM EST
Beaver's Bike
Beaver gets permission to ride his bike to school from his father. On the first day, Beaver lets a young stranger borrow it but the stranger never returns with it. Beaver gets in trouble when he gets home for being careless. A few days later the bike is recovered, but it is in terrible condition. Beaver's parents say they will pay for the repairs.
Beaver gets permission to ride his bike to school from his father. On the first day, Beaver lets a young stranger borrow it but the stranger never returns with it. Beaver gets in trouble when he gets home for being careless. A few days later the bike is recovered, but it is in terrible condition. Beaver's parents say they will pay for the repairs.
