IMDb > "The Donna Reed Show" (1958)

"The Donna Reed Show" (1958) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1958-1966

Photos (see all 4 | slideshow) Videos (see all 38)
"The Donna Reed Show" (1958): Season 1: Episode 37 -- Alex collects money Jeff owes.
"The Donna Reed Show" (1958): Season 1: Episode 36 -- Mary gets advice on how to handle love.
"The Donna Reed Show" (1958): Season 1: Episode 35 -- Donna wants a day alone without kids. But are she and Alex ready for that?
"The Donna Reed Show" (1958): Season 1: Episode 34 -- A housekeeper is hired by the Stones while Donna is busy managing the Have a Heart Hilldale campaign.
"The Donna Reed Show" (1958): Season 1: Episode 33 -- Donna plans a testimonial for the retiring Dr. Jason. Problem is that he really doesn't want to retire yet.

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Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   156 votes
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Donna Reed Show on IMDbPro.
Seasons:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 full episode list
Release Date:
24 September 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Another popular 1950's sitcom about a close family. The Stones consist of loving homemaker Donna, her pediatrician husband Alex... more
Awards:
Won Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Magazine preview: Stupid parents, reality TV, and kids at risk
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 23 October 2009, 5:30 AM, PDT)

Joss Whedon: Master of cult TV
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 2 September 2009, 6:11 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Donna Reed is a landmark show! more (11 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 4 of 96)

Donna Reed ... Donna Stone (275 episodes, 1958-1966)
Carl Betz ... Dr. Alex Stone (275 episodes, 1958-1966)
Paul Petersen ... Jeff Stone (275 episodes, 1958-1966)
Shelley Fabares ... Mary Stone (191 episodes, 1958-1965)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
30 min (275 episodes)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The first season opening credits of "The Munsters" (1964) were an outrageous parody of the opening credits of "The Donna Reed Show", which always began with Donna Reed lovingly passing out lunches to her departing family members as they left the house one by one. Yvonne De Carlo, as Lily Munster, did the same thing. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in T.V. Sphincter (1987) (V) more

FAQ

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Donna Reed is a landmark show!, 31 August 2008
10/10
Author: mainecoon1995 from United States

While I agree this was a 1950s sitcom, I don't feel it was "typical". Firstly, Donna Reed was a STRONG woman, unlike the regular 50s sitcom moms. She made a stand for women's worth and equality (remember the episode where the TV announcer says "just a housewife") and Donna stands up for all women do and represent, especially those that don't work outside the home? And when the women rebelled against something in the series, it was not something trivial...it was always something to show that women have the right to be treated with the same respect as men. Remember, Donna Reed was married to the show's producer, so she had much more input into making hers a more powerful character.

The children were intelligent, but not precocious. They were normal kids. And they could ACT.

Something else that made Donna Reed Show stand out was not only did the children LOOK like their parents, but you could feel the chemistry between all the actors in the real life situation, which then came out in the characters. Shelly Fabares and Paul Peterson have often written and remarked that they were treated like the children of Donna Reed and Carl Betz, and that the adults were fiercely protective of the child actors, and treated them accordingly. Donna and Alex also had somewhat of a sexual chemistry that wasn't seen on the other family shows. And the characters could be flawed, and in major ways, and yet, accepted for the flaws and mistakes. These were not super parents that did no wrong and had no emotional highs and lows. They were normal people acting as normal people.

Women's rights, drug abuse, child abuse, single fathers, poverty, children who need good health care but can't afford it...it was all shown on this show. Pretty groundbreaking for the era.

Donna Reed show didn't last for eight years without a reason. And it could have possibly endured, had it not been for Tony Owens and Donna Reed divorcing.

This show is highly underrated and should be shown so that other generations can appreciate quality.

In summary, I agree with the original poster, who obviously cares for the show, but I think that the Donna Reed show has SO much more to offer than casual entertainment.

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Interracial episode? tiburonbirdred
Nice Color Photograph of Donna -- Large Image jgs1935
'My Dad' - Paul Petersen jed_eye82
Release date changed for season 2: July 21, 2009 onnanob2
Bedroom Scenes beehoneybumble
I got the first season for Christmas!! silverose1209
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