Cleaver Pals

[Artfiore1]

Hello, everybody,
I have come to the conclusion that I have absolutely no idea why Wally and the Beaver had the friends they did.

In Beaver's case, sure, he had a lot of fun with Larry Mondello when they were little, but Larry constantly got Beav in trouble. And, he would turn on him and become his enemy, with the slightest provocation. Richard, Whitey and Gilbert treated Beaver like dirt. When they weren't getting him into some kind of trouble, they were verbally tormenting the poor kid. Beaver was made to feel as though he always had to *prove himself* to these little wise guys. And, they were such little scumbags.

Meanwhile, if I were Wally, I might hang out with Eddie Haskell *once in a great while*, just for a laugh. But definitely not as often as he did. The only reason I'd keep company with a total waste of humanity like Lumpy Rutherford would be if he were especially kind or generous to me, if I always had a good time with him . . . or if I benefited in some way by knowing him. The complete opposite was true in every case. He was incredibly stupid and obnoxious. That was one totally worthless human being.

So often, as I'm watching these "Leave It To Beaver" reruns, I find myself constantly asking one particular question regarding both Beaver and Wally -- "Why is he friends with this guy?"


Later,
Art

[BrandonS]

I don't know why Wally wants to be friends with Eddie and Lumpy. Of course, they would want to be friends with him because he has all kinds of good qualities, but I always felt that in addition Eddie and Lumpy kind of had the idea that some of Wally's good qualities might rub off on them by osmosis or something. It certainly does seem like Beaver and Wally are a cut above the guys they hang out with.

[UncleBilly]

If this were real life I would definitely say that Wally and Beaver should have other friends.....but, if you take away Lumpy, Eddie, Larry, Richard, Whitey and Gilbert you wouldn't have a show. If you look at most episodes, one or more of those friends are major characters involved in the plot of the show. In the earlier episodes I used to like Chester and Tooey as Wally's friends. Tooey was a bit strange, but Chester was much more like Wally. But just imagine how boring the show would be if you always had just normal, good kids playing the part of the friends. It wouldn't have lasted 6 seasons.

[BBF]

I don't know why Wally and Beaver stay friends with those rats either, but I do know that I am friends with some people that I don't even know why I put up with them. In my case, and probably Wally and Beaver's, it's just because they've been friends for so long that they don't even notice what rats they are anymore. I mean, I have some friends that no one likes, because they're rude or annoying, but I've been friends with them so long, I hardly notice it anymore, and when I do notice, I just blow it off, because I know nothing I do will ever change them.

[Artfiore1]

Hi all,
Thanks for the replies!

And, BeaversBiggestFan,
Like UncleBilly said, if it weren't for those imbeciles, there wouldn't have been a show.

"Leave It To Beaver" definitely was not like real life. As for your theory about *your* friends, you're probably 100 % right.

Later,
Art

[Christina E]

I think it has somewhat to do with availability for some people. When I was young, we lived in an area where there weren't many kids. For example, there was only one other kid on our street that was anywhere close to my age. Most of my childhood friends were kids of my parents friends (in other words I *had* to be friends with them) or were just the only other kids around to be friends with.

There were things that my friends did at times that really bugged me, but it was either be friends with them, or have no friends. It probably wasn't this bad with Wally and Beav, but maybe they "picked" their friends more on availability (i.e. lived across the street or always in the same class at school) then on qualities.

Christina

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by Christina E


There were things that my friends did at times that really bugged me, but it was either be friends with them, or have no friends. It probably wasn't this bad with Wally and Beav, but maybe they "picked" their friends more on availability (i.e. lived across the street or always in the same class at school) then on qualities.

Christina

I agree with Christina. I bet that's how Beav and Wally met their friends because they always had the same classes together.

[frani]

For that matter, why is Ward friends with Fred Rutherford? In so many eps, you get the idea that Ward can't STAND FR, yet they hang out all the time, FR is always calling Ward, etc. Yes, I realize they work together, but Ward really seems to need FR's approval in some weird kind of way.

Also, how come June has no friends? I mean, sure, they go to dinner with the Rutherfords, and other couples and she gets to wear her mnk stole and all, but you never see June just chewing the fat with a neighbor lady. I always find that kind of sad. Basically, June seems like a shut-in most of the time, going out only to do the marketing or go to Beaver's school.

As for Wally and Beav's friends, they give more reason for Wally's choices. It is made quite clear that Lumpy and Eddy are really social lamebrains who need Wally because of his popularity and because they hope to become like Wally,, and Wally, being the nice guy that he is can look beyond the surface and see the softer sides of both of them. Actually, it's great character development to have Wally be friends with them.

But they never give the same kind of development to Beav's friends. Why is Beav friends with guys who just get him in trouble over and over and over again? I mean, we have Eddie Haskell to do that and Beav's natural curiosity to prople Beav into lots of situations.

:dance: