The writers for the 70s sitcom LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE no doubt watched this episode, only it was done with adults! Very clever. I did not realize that until many years later.
This is something to see, and well directed by Hugh Beaumont. He got the best of Beave here, caught between a rock and a hard place. You could only imagine the fun they had filming this episode.
This story is every teen guys worst nightmare....
You promise that special someone you'll go out together -- then another special someone comes along at the wrong time. The romantic version of Murphy's Law.
The girl he rejects is poor Peggy, played by Veronica Cartwright, who actually played Lumpy's sister, Violet, in earlier episodes. The bewitching southern belle, Melinda --who Beave falls head over heels for -- is played by Charla Doherty. Charla was another excellent young actress, who landed a regular role on DAYS OF OUR LIVES a few years later.
Of course, teen homewrecker Eddie Haskell gets into this, persuading Beave to get Peggy to think he's a creep! Definite LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE material. Always fun to see Whitey, well played by Stanley Fafara, who was a natural. We all loved him.
The gang's all here.
See this for the memories. From SEASON 6 EPISODE 32 remastered Universal dvd box set. Released 2011.