For a change, we have an episode that really wants you to laugh. Bub is dealing with clothes on a clothesline in the backyard when he is approached by two women with a petition. He balks at signing before they even tell him what the petition is about, saying, "The last time I signed something I wound up in the Army." One of the ladies replies, "I'm sure Admiral Dewey was very proud of you," as she and her friend decided to retreat, giving up on getting his cooperation.
Then we see Robbie with his latest girlfriend, Juliet Johnson, at her house, where her father backs into a tree on the parkway. He gets out, flings his hat onto the ground, kicks at the tree and hurts his foot, winding up stomping on his hat by accident. He tells the teens that he has contacted the city to have this tree removed. We learn that not only is it right next to the driveway, but the roots are fouling up his driveway.
Back at the Douglas house later, we all learn that that petition from the women was about saving the tree. Bub takes an interest suddenly, learning that a shopkeeper he admires is one of the ladies' group. He organizes getting publicity for the protest group.
Through Robbie, he also learns that Mr. Johnson isn't really a bad fellow--that he got real sentimental on revisiting his hometown with his daughter. The next day we appear to learn why Bub cares about this tree when Robbie and Juliet see a carving on the tree dated 1909 professing love for "Bub and Mary." Mary is Rob's grandmother's name.
When Mr. Johnson learns about that carving, he caves and decides to build a new circular driveway, to ward off both of his problems with the old driveway, letting him happily keep the tree.
Now the end bit was predictable, and there's no need to spoil it here.
Between the exchange with Bub and the ladies at the beginning, to Mr. Johnson and Bub wrestling when he wanted to turn the hose on the protesters, this episode was much more fun that most.
The side story deals with Steve being totally bumfuzzled by a key whose use he cannot recall. Mike finds out the answer to that mystery, with his dad, but it only leads to another mystery, frustrating Steve even more so.
If most episodes had tried harder to be funny, like this one, I would rate this series a couple of points higher than I do. This one-a 9.
The plot summary, like often, is quite misleading. Only Bub and Robbie were at all concerned about the tree, and Robbie, wanting to keep his romance alive, was happy to see the tree cut down, so the summary that says, ""The family tries to save an old tree" is quite incorrect.
Then we see Robbie with his latest girlfriend, Juliet Johnson, at her house, where her father backs into a tree on the parkway. He gets out, flings his hat onto the ground, kicks at the tree and hurts his foot, winding up stomping on his hat by accident. He tells the teens that he has contacted the city to have this tree removed. We learn that not only is it right next to the driveway, but the roots are fouling up his driveway.
Back at the Douglas house later, we all learn that that petition from the women was about saving the tree. Bub takes an interest suddenly, learning that a shopkeeper he admires is one of the ladies' group. He organizes getting publicity for the protest group.
Through Robbie, he also learns that Mr. Johnson isn't really a bad fellow--that he got real sentimental on revisiting his hometown with his daughter. The next day we appear to learn why Bub cares about this tree when Robbie and Juliet see a carving on the tree dated 1909 professing love for "Bub and Mary." Mary is Rob's grandmother's name.
When Mr. Johnson learns about that carving, he caves and decides to build a new circular driveway, to ward off both of his problems with the old driveway, letting him happily keep the tree.
Now the end bit was predictable, and there's no need to spoil it here.
Between the exchange with Bub and the ladies at the beginning, to Mr. Johnson and Bub wrestling when he wanted to turn the hose on the protesters, this episode was much more fun that most.
The side story deals with Steve being totally bumfuzzled by a key whose use he cannot recall. Mike finds out the answer to that mystery, with his dad, but it only leads to another mystery, frustrating Steve even more so.
If most episodes had tried harder to be funny, like this one, I would rate this series a couple of points higher than I do. This one-a 9.
The plot summary, like often, is quite misleading. Only Bub and Robbie were at all concerned about the tree, and Robbie, wanting to keep his romance alive, was happy to see the tree cut down, so the summary that says, ""The family tries to save an old tree" is quite incorrect.
