Mister Ed

One of the sillier, but yet most beloved of comedy/fantasy shows that were so prevalent in the Sixties was that show about a talking horse, the famous Mister Ed. The talking palomino had a popularity with real children and those elusive children of all ages because of the skill of Alan Young making you really believe that a horse could talk with the voice of Allan 'Rocky' Lane.

I'm sure for retired B picture cowboys who weren't getting too much work in the Sixties, Mister Ed must have provided a few nice paychecks for someone not in demand to be a cowboy hero any more. Lane's voice was well integrated into the personality of the palomino of whom evolution seems to have taken a quantum leap.

The premise of the show was that Mister Ed would only talk directly to Alan Young as Wilbur Post, architect who set up his studio in the barn on his property so he could spend as much time as he could with his talking equine. I well remember in the pilot episode when Young acquired Mister Ed, the horse told him that he never felt like talking to anyone until he met Young whom he felt had a real love of animals. It was the love that came through every week.

Young was married to Connie Hines who for five years couldn't figure out what this thing between Mister Ed and her husband was. Neither could anyone else and that led to the plot of most of the episodes.

I have very fond memories of the show in my younger days. It was one of those shows that was in a totally make believe world. No politics or issues of social significance ever intruded on the world of Wilbur Post and Mister Ed. It was and is completely timeless, you could remake all the episodes today without too much trouble.

In fact Mister Ed's primary source of mischief was the telephone extension in the studio/barn where he could call out anonymously to the world. When that receiver was picked up you knew Alan Young was in for 30 minutes of trouble. Can you imagine today what Mister Ed could do with a personal computer? The mind boggles.

Though I can never see anyone ever with the gentle humorous style of Alan Young doing Wilbur Post today, I could be surprised. I'm willing to be.

... Mr. Ed is one of those shows. Following a storyline similar to the "Francis the Talking Mule" series of films, the animal in question (the horse, Mr. Ed) will only speak to one person - his owner Wilbur, an architect who has an office in the barn where Mr. Ed lives. Mr. Ed doesn't limit himself just to giving advice to Wilbur. Mr. Ed has definite ideas of how he wants to run his own life. He might fancy himself an author or a potential star of the screen, or he might take off on a humane mission to buy his mother when he learns she is a plow horse. As a result, Wilbur is often left in a ridiculous position and not in the good graces of his wife, Carol or his neighbors.

The whole thing is good clean silly fun in the tradition of Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Petticoat Junction. Believe it or not there are still many of us who enjoy such entertainment.

Mr. Ed has the reputation of being a silly sitcom that is mainly for children which is probably due to the story centering on a horse that speaks English. However, I consider myself a person with sophisticated tastes and I adore this sitcom and consider it one of the greatest sitcoms ever. The writing is sophisticated and witty. The interplay between all the characters is hilarious and the performances are uniformly marvelous. I think that Allan (Rocky) Lane (Mr. Ed's voice), and Larry Keating, are particularly underrated in this sitcom. Alan Young is also outstanding and his comic mannerisms are a sight to behold--he is very similar to John Ritter with his wonderful combination of slapstick comedic flair and appealing personality. The fights between Wilbur and his wife are especially well-written and performed. A truly special sitcom that has never received its due credit--especially for the writing.

This may have been one of the silliest shows of all time,but he spoke to a generation gap that continues to this day some 50 years after he went off the air,into syndication and this time around has found a new home with a new generation of people who can enjoy him today.........

The story goes like this:Married couple Wilbur and Carol Post buys a new home in the country and discovers a stall in the back yard with a lame horse named Mister Ed. However,the neighbors,The Addison's tells them that the horse was left behind by its previous owners,but this horse isn't like any other. You see,Mister Ed is owned by Wilbur Post,and when no one else is around he talks to Wilbur and does amazing things as well,but always manages to get Wilbur in trouble.

Mister Ed was one of the silliest shows of its day,but this show wasn't aimed at adults either. However,this show was aimed toward its targeted audience:CHILDREN since this show was designed for the kiddies,but the adults were watching it too. Based on the popular children's books by Walter Brooks,this show had it all even at times when Mister Ed always frustrate Wilbur to no end was fun to watch and getting into all sorts of mischief. It was crazy at times,but like the previous comment was made about this show may question the sanity of the TV executive who greenlighted this series about a talking horse was at the time just plain silly,since the executive producer of this series was no other than Al Simon,whom was behind the shows "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Green Acres","Petticoat Junction",and so forth that was produced under George Burns' production company McCadden Productions and Filmways Television. "Mister Ed" made television history as one of the few television shows that debut in national syndication to be pick up by a major television network. The series debut in national syndication for 26 episodes in black and white from January 5,1961 until July 2,1961. Then on October 1,1961 the series was picked up by CBS-TV for 130 black and white episodes airing until June 16,1965. Then in the show's sixth and final season a total of 13 episodes that were produced from September 12,1965 until February 6,1966. In all 143 episodes were produced in black and white. "Mister Ed" was gone by mid-season of 1966 and CBS replaced the series with another short-lived sitcom that aired in September of 1966.

The show was very keen in having great guest stars on it as well including on episode where Clint Eastwood was out of character during a segment which was very silly,but to see Clint in a comedical role was to be seen,and the other was with two of the stars of "The Beverly Hillbillies",actors Max Baer and Irene Ryan was hilariously funny. The others were Jonathan Harris,Jon Provost,and many others. As for the stars of the show,only actors Alan Young and Connie Hines remained throughout the series' entire run which ended on February 6,1966 after six seasons and 143 episodes all in black and white. However,the show had some moments as well with the changing of actors whom played the Addison's(Larry Keating and Edna Skinner,however,Keating passed away on the set after the second season in 1963 from failing health),and the Post's new neighbors,the Kirkwood's(played by Leon Ames and Florence Mac Michael)whom at times had to put up with some of the silliness the went on within the Post's residence,especially when Wilbur's wife Carol wasn't around. Not to mention Wilbur dealing with Carol's father(Barry Kelley)who thought the man she married was not quite right upstairs.

THE THEME SONG: A Horse is a horse,of course of course and nobody can talk to a horse of course,that is the horse,unless of course is the famous Mister Ed.... Go right to the source,,and asked the horse,and this one will you endorse he is always on a steady course,talk to Mister Ed........

Originally written on September 24,2003 and was completely revised on September 30, 2016 to commemorate with the show's anniversary.

Mister Ed was one of those silly irrelevant shows that you had to love. You might question the sanity of the TV exec who green lighted a show about a talking horse, but watching Mister Ed frustrate Wilbur to no end was fun to watch. I really wish Nick at Nite would start showing Mister Ed again so the younger generation could take in this timeless and much maligned classic.