"Father Knows Best" (1954) TV series 1954-1960

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | unknown

Release Date:

3 October 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty...

Plot Keywords:

Sibling Rivalry | Father Son Relationship | Mother Son Relationship | Sister Sister Relationship | Fictional City

Awards:

Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 14 nominations

Cast

Robert Young	...	James 'Jim' Anderson / ... (92 episodes, 1954-1977)
Jane Wyatt	...	Margaret Anderson (91 episodes, 1954-1977)
Billy Gray	...	James 'Bud' Anderson Jr. / ... (70 episodes, 1954-1977)
Elinor Donahue	...	Betty 'Princess' Anderson (68 episodes, 1954-1958)
Lauren Chapin	...	Kathy 'Kitten' Anderson / ... (68 episodes, 1954-1958)

Also Known As:

"I Told You So" (USA)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (203 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Western Electric Recording) | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

The show took place in the town of Springfield. Even though they never specified the exact state in which the town was located, several times, characters mentioned Altoona, an actual city in Pennsylvania.

Quotes:

Bud Anderson: You've been around so long and seen so much and done so much, and still manage to look so good.
Jim Anderson: Thanks a lot!
Bud Anderson: I think you look real young. Honest. Younger than Joe Phillips' dad, younger than Claude Mesner's uncle, why even younger than...
Jim Anderson: Bud, before you have me back in kindergarten, see who's at the door, will you?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Veronica Mars: Hot Dogs (#1.19)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Waiting

One of the Best

Critics of this type of show are quick to point out how "unrealistic" it was. After all no episode dealt with drug addiction, teen pregnancy,dropping out of school, or any of the other "relevant" topics that pass for entertainment today. Instead this program concentrated on the, now passe, issues of family love, warmth, charity, and decency. I challenge any parent, of whatever generation, to contrast an episode of this show with any "Married with Children" or the majority of today's teen oriented sitcoms and decide which world view they would wish for their children. Perhaps this show and others of its era (e.g. Andy Griffith) was overly hopeful in its portrayal of family and community, but isn't it better to aspire to the values of Father Knows Best than succumb to the spirit of the age we live in?