"Leave It to Beaver" (1957) TV series 1957-1963

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Creators:

Joe Connelly
Dick Conway
Bob Mosher

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

4 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The Cleavers are the 1950's 'All-American Family' in this 'feel-good' family sitcom. Parents Ward and June...

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Husband Wife Relationship | Marriage | Suburbia | Problem Solving

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	12:30 PM	TVLAND	Beaver the Athlete	#2.37
Tue. Nov. 10	12:30 PM	TVLAND	Found Money	#2.38

Cast

Barbara Billingsley	...	June Cleaver (235 episodes, 1957-1963)
Jerry Mathers	...	Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver (235 episodes, 1957-1963)
Hugh Beaumont	...	Ward Cleaver (234 episodes, 1957-1963)
Tony Dow	...	Wallace 'Wally' Cleaver (234 episodes, 1957-1963)
Ken Osmond	...	Edward 'Eddie' Haskell (97 episodes, 1957-1963)

Also Known As:

It's a Small World (USA) (working title)
Wally and the Beaver (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (234 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Gomalco Productions

Trivia:

Edgar Buchanan, who appeared in an earlier episode as Captain Jack, would later return as Wally and Beaver's Uncle Billy.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: "Beaver Gets a Haircut" episode (Episode 4): When Wally and Beaver are talking in their room, right before Wally calls Beaver a "goof," you can catch the Beaver mouthing Wally's line along with him.

Quotes:

Ward Cleaver: It's that friend of Beaver's. You know, the one who always talks like he was just frightened by something.
June Cleaver: Whitey Whitney?
Ward Cleaver: That's it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mad Men: Meditations in an Emergency (#2.13)" (2008)

It's just a nice show.

"Leave it to Beaver" is one of the better older shows. I wouldn't say that it's my favorite, but because of when it was created I give it credit and lets just say that when it's on TV Land, I won't change the channel.

1957. Ahh, what a great year. By watching a few episodes of this show, I would guess that it was created later than when it actually was. It wasn't too ahead of its time, but it definitely stood out from the others. "Beaver" is so pleasant and peaceful. It's nice (yet sometimes frustrating) knowing that each and every episode will end happily ever after, so to speak.

I like the cast, especially Tony Dow, but there's something that bugs me about Barbara Billingsley. Overall, the cast fits nicely together and accomplishes to put together a few good seasons.

The writing is alright - a little bland, a little silly, but still enjoyable. I like "Leave it to Beaver" because it's a show where nothing bad, nothing inappropriate will ever occur, and hey, it's nice to see kids saying "gee" and "gosh, mom". (That just makes me laugh a little every time I hear that from the Beaver.)