Things That Annoyed You

[Corvetteguy]

Was there anyhting on the show that annoyed you ? Like characters etc. I always' thought it was annoying how beaver would always snoop in Wally's stuff and how June & ward would sometimes blow things out of proportion, like making Wally and Beaver go to social functions that they didn't want to attend and would reply by saying " But you have to go, because you were invited". I know they meant well, but they practically forced them to do thingsthey didn't wan't to do. :)

[bandito]

I always hated junes snooping. she never gave the boys thier privacy. always looking in thier garbage can under the beds ect. she would have made a good detective! btw welcome to the boards. i also love classic cars :D

[Corvetteguy]

I agree. They would throw something away and she " Just happened to find it" while she was cleaning the boys room. I also though it was nosy of them to listen to their phone calls and give them the 3rd degree about who it was and what they said. Thanks for the welcome. I love classic cars. Hopefully I will someday own one, preferably a classic (1959-1960-1961) corvette.

[tdr]

I don't think "annoy" is the precise term for me, for when Ward and June do their unnecessary probing as to who was on the phone and what did he want, and their "happening to find" a thrown away paper or something which tips them off to what the boys are 'up to.' I just see these as more like 'connectives' in the plots, especially finding a discarded 'letter' which tells the parents what the kids are doing without any volunteering. And always wanting to know who was calling by phone gave Beaver or Wally a reason to act obviously nervous to make it plain they are covering up something.

But I would use "annoy" to describe how I see so many times that Beaver (and sometimes Wally) just never learns. He never learns that his parents are not to be feared, so he too often goes behind their backs or pretends to be doing something he isn't [taking his clarinet to school when he is not in the band; pretending to go to basketball practice when he is off the team; getting Wally to be his 'guardian' several times instead of telling them he's in trouble]. And even worse is how he never learns that his 'friends' like to "give him the business" and leave him holding the bag [going to look for the "spanking machine" in the principal's office; making a face in the class picture; wearing the monster sweatshirt to school; ditching Pepe the burro on him despite their agreement].

[BBF]

I'm with tdr, nothing "annoyed" me, but there were a few things I noticed. First of all, dissapearing and nonexistant kids. What ever happened to Violet Rutherford? She vanished. And as for nonexistent...remember Fred mentioning his "older son"? So apparently he had another son older than Lumpy. And what about Larry's sister? She was apparently there, but NEVER seen. Perhaps the best example of a nonexistent kid was that of Angela Valentine. She upset Miss Landers by upchucking in the coat closet, and she also got sick on the bus. She also got in trouble with Mrs. Rayburn for wearing a Jackie kennedy wig to school. She was also the only girl Beaver didn't mind being around during the first season because she had 6 toes. Yes, Angela Valentine was definitely a busy girl, who did her share of trouble making...yet she is never seen. Odd.
Another disturbing thing was the way Gilbert went through 3 last names on the show...First it was Gates, then Bates, and one time it was even Harrison!

[HaskellGirl]

One thing that kinda bothers me is that Wally especially, but even Beaver, don't usually get upset with their parents. I know they are taught to be respectful, and that's great, but June and Ward sometimes overdo things, and the boys just take it. Like when the parents pry to much, or lecture Wally when it's his friends that are doing something wrong, I just want them to speak up for themselves!!! Beaver's actually a bit better than Wally, he'll sometimes react to his parents, like when he was running away from home, and when he said "So send me away for spilling some water" when Ward got upset that Beaver was clumsy. It almost seems like they were trying to make Wally more mature, but in my eyes, Beaver seems more plucky because he actually stands up for himself.

[Corvetteguy]

You all made good points. Maybe I shouldn't of used the term "annoyed", but rather irritated you. I noticed they never showed Angela Valentine, Larry's sister etc, and the name changes for Gilbert. I also noticed that originaly Lumpy's mother was called Geraldine, then it became Gwen by the time of the "Beaver & Violet" episode. Eddie's father was first referred to as George Haskell, then on today's episode it was Frank, then later it was back to George again. Speaking of Violet, Beaver said she was in his class at school, but we never saw her in class except the episodes that featured her. It was the same when they would show Gilbert missing in episodes that Richard was in, then Richard would be missing when Gilbert is shown etc. I guess the shows writers didn't think that these little quirks would be paid that much attention to at the time. They also didn't figure the show would have a huge fan following 40 something years later.

[frani]

I was just going to post the Angela Valentine question - that is, did we ever actually see her? I think it's interesting to have non-visible characters. It tends to give a show a life outside of its boundaries. I just wasn't sure if I had missed her or not.:wave:

[Mijada]

It always irritated me the way Larry was always getting Beaver into trouble. Talking him into going to the movies when he was supposed to be grounded, talking him into buying a bow and arrow for himself instead of a birthday present for Wally, talking him into playing with Wards autographed baseball, talking the go cart out on the street ect. Beaver would always go along with his friends instead of standing up for himself.

[lliissaad]

I am with Mijada. That damn Larry!

Otherwise, nothing irritated me or annoyed me. The parents were just typical parents, asking questions. That is what they are supposed to do, get in your biz and drive you crazy :)

[*InThisMoment*]

hmmm....well theres not a lot of things that annoyed me or irritated me but i didn't like how June was always asking them who was on the phone and when they said who it was then she would ask what they wanted when she could see that they didn't really like her asking them all these questions.but June always meant well.:)

[Corvetteguy]

Exactly. It was like they had to go through a line up. I also noticed that they always foud out things by a fluke. Twice I know of that Ward found things out by accidentaly picking up the phone when it was for Wally and the time they all took the camel back cutoff in Ward's car, the guy at the office "Just Happened" to be riding by on the bus and see them along the highway. It also bothered me when Ward would get irritaed if the boys were failures in athletics & school functions. He would also compete with Fred where Wally was concerned. Like the time he jumped on Wally because Wally wasn't interested in running for class president and when Wally got kicked off the track team for throwing towels and Fred rubbed it in that "Clarence will have to carry Mayfield in the event". He wanted the boys to be 100% perfect in all they did. I though the episode of forcing Beaver to eat Brussel Sprouts was ridiculous and when Beaver won the car and Ward sold it for college education funds, like June couldn't use a car. He also stayed on Wally's back when Wally bought the old car for 25 dollars. I'm through venting now....LOL

[James]

Remember the episode when Wally and the rest of the boys got ducktail haircuts? Their parents went nuts! (Was it the school principal who said that their haircuts were acceptable on account of free speech? Whoever it was was wrong in their judgment--dress codes are made to be followed. Plus those ducktail haircuts are a potential distraction!) Even Beaver got one for himself!

Man, talk about a lack of respect for authority!!!

:eek:

[HaskellGirl]

Having a different kind of hairstyle isn't necessarily going against the dress code...it just depends on what the dress code is for that particular school. Like I went to a prep school where you weren't allowed to have unnaturally colored hair. So this girl who died her hair purple had to wear a wig. The funny thing is that the wig looked goofier than her purple hair, but it didn't go against the dress code, so it was acceptable.

And Wally's haircut was hilarious!!! Could you imagine if he wore that haircut with that crazy suit he bought?:lol:

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by HaskellGirl


And Wally's haircut was hilarious!!! Could you imagine if he wore that haircut with that crazy suit he bought?:lol:

:lol: That would've been insane. I wished they would've shown Eddie with his crazy haircut. :lol:

[AndreAA]

when ward or june would get mad over silly things.here is something that kind of botherd me. it was from season 6. beaver had his hair gelled -when some girl called him sheep dog.
anyway, ward tells wally and june not to say anything when he comes down to eat. well wally sees beaver and thinks it is funny and he is trying to hold his laugh untill he can't take it anymore and he bursts out laughing. beaver gets mad and ward runs after him, but not before he tells wally that he will talk to him later.i understand that he told him not to laugh,but it was funny.i still like ward and june though.

[Jack1000]

June could be irritating. Yes, she was a nice person in that her kids were well taken care of, never went hungry, always had clean clothes to wear (etc.) But, she was a control freak. Her house had to be emaculate, she gave the kids no privacy whatsoever. I could see her having a fit if her rugs had stains on them. She would be the kind of person that would have safety gates all over the house so Beaver or Wally wouldn't fall down the stairs, have the "Mr. Yuck" sticker faces on the medicine bottles or household cleaners, so that "little Beaver" wouldn't drink the stuff....What would she do if her dinner roast burned? Probably have a heart attack! It's a wonder that Wally and Beaver weren't on anti-anxiety medication! We had a former neighbor that reminded me so much of June in the way she kept her house and raised her kids it's not even funny! (She never spanked her kids, and I remember the "Dr Spock" child-rearingg books, and the safety gates all over the house! hahaha.)

Ward was cool....He was pretty level-headed.

Eddie was the master of deciet and manipulation! Ken Osmond should have won an Emmy Award for his performance! He played "Eddie" so well that people thought that Ken was that way in real life. In fact, the opposite was true.

Tony and Jerry were superb! I thought Gilbert was cool! Larry was annoying and I think got Beaver in the most trouble. Does anyone else hate Richard? I don't know why but I can't stand him! He's like a bad rash that won't go away! Whitey was cool, but wasn't around often enough. Lumpy was just a big stupid oaf, but that was part of his charm! (I think it's hysterical how he called Fred "Daddy!")

Jack

[sami dg]

I guess one thing that irritated me is how dang gullable Beaver was to get into stuff with Larry. He would know darn well that he shouldnt be doing something but Larry would talk him right into it. At least Gilbert was a little sneakier. As for the person who asked if Angela Valentine was ever seen. She was never seen along with Larry's father and sister.

[frani]

I'm typing this as I watch "Kite Day" and it really bugs me how gullible Beaver is over and over and over. How is it that he doesn't tell Gilbert and Eddie and Larry to just "Leave me alone, listening to you NEVER WORKS OUT" How come, huh?:rolleyes:

[vze3t9q9]

I never see Ward discussing the problem with the Beaver's pals parents. When ever beaver gets in jam with Larry, Gilbert or Richard it seems beaver takes all the blame. Take the Ward's baseball episode. Beaver did say My dad said I should be carefull and then Larry almost forces Beaver out to play catch where the ball rolls under a truck. Nothing is said to Larry or his parents. Beaver gets the blame and much is the pals fault.

[Artfiore1]

Hi all,
I'm with Corvetteguy regarding the brussels sprouts episode! That's the one that really "annoyed" me -- forcing the poor kid to eat these things he really hated so much! And, for what? Because they were good for him? Because everyone else was eating them? It was completely wrong. I didn't like when Ward "hollered" at Beaver for blaming his torn pants on a dog . . . not even consideing that the kid just might be telling the truth. (At least, Ward realized in the end that he'd been wrong that time.)

I also hated with a passion when Wally resolved a major traffic problem by driving the car a few lousy feet back into the driveway, and he was treated as if he'd gone joy riding all over town without a license for no reason at all. (I was so glad to see him get Ward's butt out of bed in the end to back the car out of the garage, so the boys could wash it for him.)

Outside of those instances, I think Ward and June were outstanding parents. I give them a lot of credit for *usually* apologizing to the boys when they (Ward and June) had been wrong about someting or had treated them unfairly. I would never put them down for being concerned about what their sons were up to -- sons who mostly told them nothing more than "I'm going to mess around" or that So-and-So had done something "creepy."

It may seem, judging by the way kids are today, that Wally and Beaver might have been a little *too* respectful, never or hardly ever talking back to their parents. But, there's nothing wrong with that. That's the way it should be . . . .assuming the parents aren't a couple of wackos, that is!


Later,
Art

[Tap Dancer]

I hated when June accepted invitations for Wally and Beaver.

[Madame X]

I am sorry to be the wet blanket, but most of you who are posting were born two decades (one generation) after "Leave it to Beaver" aired. We oldsters appreciate the fact you take an interest in the shows of the 50's-60's, but please remember that times were different then, as well as what could be shown on TV.

Thank you for your interest, but my comments apply to everything that paved the way for what you/we are watching today.

I Love Lucy
Leave it to Beaver
Father Knows Best
My Three Sons
Bewitched
Andy Griffith
I Dream of Jeannie
Donna Reed
Pete & Gladys
Dobie Gillis
Gilligan's Island
The Munsters
The Addams Family
The Honeymooners, etc.
:wave:

[Waterston_Fan]

Just looking back to see any threads I can talk about....

I do agree with most of what you guys said...

About the phone, there is one problem, why didn't they go in Ward's den to use it?

I have a question though I have noticed and it's not annoying but kinda werid..

Why does Ward have to ring the doorbell? Is it something to be funny or what?

[tanquant]

It was really annoyinng to me when June would ask questions to Ward. Ward would your father have done.... Ward do you think the Beaver is having a good time?(at the school dance) Ward where do you think the Beaver is now?(when beaver goes across america) I feel like saying Ward why o why does June ask so many questions?

[Schmoopie]

It always irritated me the way Larry was always getting Beaver into trouble. Talking him into going to the movies when he was supposed to be grounded, talking him into buying a bow and arrow for himself instead of a birthday present for Wally, talking him into playing with Wards autographed baseball, talking the go cart out on the street ect. Beaver would always go along with his friends instead of standing up for himself.

Larry used to be my favorite of Beaver's friends but the more I watch him, the more he irritated me. You'd think after as many times as he got Beaver into trouble, that he would lay off. I know they just wanted to have a good time, but it seemed like he thought Beaver was the most gullible one of all. Plus, that time that Beaver didn't want to tell him that Ms. Landers was coming over for dinner. Larry dragged it out of him and right after Larry swore not to tell, he promptly told Whitey and Gilbert! :mad: I have wanted to strangle Larry many times!

[William Hogan Jr]

Beaver being a big baby in the last two seasons. I think he was a little too old to be crying over, being called a Sheepdog, being selfish about going to the baseball game when Ward had to choose which son to take, getting mad at his mother because she made him go to the store,and thinking his parents didn't love him anymore.

[Hughsgirl]

Hi all,
I'm with Corvetteguy regarding the brussels sprouts episode! That's the one that really "annoyed" me -- forcing the poor kid to eat these things he really hated so much! And, for what? Because they were good for him? Because everyone else was eating them? It was completely wrong. I didn't like when Ward "hollered" at Beaver for blaming his torn pants on a dog . . . not even consideing that the kid just might be telling the truth. (At least, Ward realized in the end that he'd been wrong that time.)

I also hated with a passion when Wally resolved a major traffic problem by driving the car a few lousy feet back into the driveway, and he was treated as if he'd gone joy riding all over town without a license for no reason at all. (I was so glad to see him get Ward's butt out of bed in the end to back the car out of the garage, so the boys could wash it for him.)

Outside of those instances, I think Ward and June were outstanding parents. I give them a lot of credit for *usually* apologizing to the boys when they (Ward and June) had been wrong about someting or had treated them unfairly. I would never put them down for being concerned about what their sons were up to -- sons who mostly told them nothing more than "I'm going to mess around" or that So-and-So had done something "creepy."

It may seem, judging by the way kids are today, that Wally and Beaver might have been a little *too* respectful, never or hardly ever talking back to their parents. But, there's nothing wrong with that. That's the way it should be . . . .assuming the parents aren't a couple of wackos, that is!


Later,
Art

You are so right Art, there is nothing wrong with kids having respect for people at all....in fact I wish we could see more of that now days. I think most people had a problem with some of the writing when it came to the boys not responding in a more "real" way once in a while to their parents. I'm one of those people that find that it would have been more realistic to have them "go ape" once in a while as Wally would say. It's only human and though I wasn't born until 1972, I imagine some kids did sound off sometimes.
I think it would have been very normal of them to write it in the script for a very interesting response from Ward and June.

I can think of one episode where I felt that June was VERY wrong, but yet she never thought so. The episode was "The Visiting Aunts". First off June told Aunt Martha over the phone that they would all be home and to come over. I felt that was her first mistake because she didn't take into consideration that the guys may have other plans and Martha should have given them a few days notice....it would have been the polite thing to do.
Second, both Ward and June agreed that Aunt Martha and her snooty friend wouldn't be there long and then they could go on to the carnival after they left...THAT WAS THE PLAN! So what does June do? Knowing the boys were promised this, she insisted that these two uptight women stay for lunch! For this, I felt she was very wrong and Ward should have pulled her aside and told her that they would not be staying for lunch and they would be taking the boys to the carnival as planned because they stayed long enough for her to visit. Now this was one episode where the boys acted alot more normal with their feelings by pouting in the end after the women FINALLY left a few hours later.

[MickeyMac]

The only thing that annoys me is that they didnt finish this series on DVD.

[Hughsgirl]

The only thing that annoys me is that they didnt finish this series on DVD.

You and me both Mickey!

[Tweety]

...And Wally's haircut was hilarious!!! Could you imagine if he wore that haircut with that crazy suit he bought?:lol:

lol, yeah, that haircut was hilarious...and I loved the bouncy swing music they played every time the camera took a close-up shot of Wally's haircut.

[Tweety]

I guess one thing that irritated me is how dang gullable Beaver was to get into stuff with Larry. He would know darn well that he shouldnt be doing something but Larry would talk him right into it. At least Gilbert was a little sneakier. As for the person who asked if Angela Valentine was ever seen. She was never seen along with Larry's father and sister.


IIRC, Larry's father actually was seen in one episode...I don't know the name of it, but it's the episode in which Beaver's class puts on some kind of a play, and all the kids are animals or trees (I think Beaver was supposed to be a canary or something, and he ends up switching places with Whitey or someone, I forgot the details).

Anyway, in that episode, Larry can be seen talking to his dad backstage after the show (I don't remember if Mr Mondello had a speaking part or not, but he was definitely there).

As far as I know, that's the only time Larry's father appeared on camera during an episode. But it was an amazing running gag to have him always out of town at crucial times. Sheer genius on the part of the writers.

[MickeyMac]

lol, yeah, that haircut was hilarious...and I loved the bouncy swing music they played every time the camera took a close-up shot of Wally's haircut.


I think that was the writers way of trying to push the whole 50's rebellion with the music and the haircut.

[catlover79]

The only thing that annoys me is that they didnt finish this series on DVD.
Hear, hear!! :nod: I also agree that June was pretty smothering. She was always nervous and overprotective. How Ward and the boys managed to stay (relatively) sane around her boggles the mind!! :eek:

[tjays]

The only thing that ever annoyed me was when Beaver went to visit the garbage mans son and when they went to visit Beaver. June actually seemed a little snobbish about the whole thing and also seemed shocked that the garbage mens children were actually clean and well behaved. I now see it as just being protective. Basically I love the show and love ALL the characters.

[Tap Dancer]

It was really annoyinng to me when June would ask questions to Ward. Ward would your father have done.... Ward do you think the Beaver is having a good time?(at the school dance) Ward where do you think the Beaver is now?(when beaver goes across america) I feel like saying Ward why o why does June ask so many questions?
I know. Sometimes I think, "Wasn't she ever a child? Can't she figure it out?" :rolleyes:

[snelson]

the thing that really bugged me was ward's temper like when he didn't believe beav's story about eddie's dog ripping his pants. another thing is how stupid larry mondello was he always got beaver into trouble. maybe if his father was around more ofter he wouldn't have been a bad child.

we did see larry's father in the play episode and angela valentine in baby picture.

[Hughsgirl]

I know. Sometimes I think, "Wasn't she ever a child? Can't she figure it out?" :rolleyes:

I think in some ways June was the type of wife that hung on to her husband's every word and somehow needed his reassurance. IDK, that's how I see June at times. Though it was annoying at times, I did understand because June seemed to have had a sheltered life with Aunt Martha practically raising her and I think as the years went on she was still in the learning stages of life and leaned on Ward for more guidence because of her sheltered childhood. In some ways I don't think she would have been so uptight and downright frightened with raising girls. it seemed that raising the boys scared the living daylights out of her at times.

My god, can you imagine what she was like on her wedding night with Aunt Martha's ways drilled into her head?:lol:

[snelson]

aunt martha was extremely old fashioned. june did kind of model after her but she changed when she met ward. remember when she mentioned she went to a boxing or wrestling match that would have made martha faint.

[Hughsgirl]

aunt martha was extremely old fashioned. june did kind of model after her but she changed when she met ward. remember when she mentioned she went to a boxing or wrestling match that would have made martha faint.

Oh yeah, the boxing match at the Garden...LOL! Somehow I could never picture June at an event like that either. June may have let up some when she married Ward but not completely and not without his help and she gets really intense when Martha visits.
Martha is like the intrusive mother in law who seems to cause intesity between Ward and June each time she visits. They don't really fight, but that's because Ward is extremely compassionate of June's feelings for her aunt and he don't want to upset her. I wish they would have just once had Ward tell her to mind her own business.

[Torgo]

we did see larry's father in the play episode and angela valentine in baby picture.

In the same episode with the baby pictures- During the scene where Miss Landers tells the students to thank Angela Valentine for coming up with the idea for the class project, all the kids turn and look at a girl(here you only see the back- blonde pony tail, dark colored dress), then in the next scene Beaver is standing in the hallway with friends, and you see that girl walk out and you can see her face.

[Torgo]

Larry used to be my favorite of Beaver's friends but the more I watch him, the more he irritated me. You'd think after as many times as he got Beaver into trouble, that he would lay off. I know they just wanted to have a good time, but it seemed like he thought Beaver was the most gullible one of all. Plus, that time that Beaver didn't want to tell him that Ms. Landers was coming over for dinner. Larry dragged it out of him and right after Larry swore not to tell, he promptly told Whitey and Gilbert! :mad: I have wanted to strangle Larry many times!

It's not Larry's fault that Beaver is gullible or gives in to peer pressure easily. If Beaver didn't want to tell Larry about Ms Landers he wouldn't have, Beaver knows Larry therefore he knows Larry can't keep a secret. Beaver could have said no and stood his ground, but he never did....then again if Beaver never got into these messes half the fun of the show would be gone.

[Torgo]

selfish about going to the baseball game when Ward had to choose which son to take, getting mad at his mother because she made him go to the store

Yes, because no teenager has ever been selfish toward their sibling, or gotten mad when their mother asked them to do something. Yep, in the entire history of teenagers has no teenager ever gotten mad over nothing then stomped off to their room and slamming the door....unless I was the only teenager to act like a brat for no reason :happyface

[Torgo]

IIRC, Larry's father actually was seen in one episode...I don't know the name of it, but it's the episode in which Beaver's class puts on some kind of a play, and all the kids are animals or trees (I think Beaver was supposed to be a canary or something, and he ends up switching places with Whitey or someone, I forgot the details).

Anyway, in that episode, Larry can be seen talking to his dad backstage after the show (I don't remember if Mr Mondello had a speaking part or not, but he was definitely there).

As far as I know, that's the only time Larry's father appeared on camera during an episode. But it was an amazing running gag to have him always out of town at crucial times. Sheer genius on the part of the writers.

I just watched that episode again, and you're right that is Larry's dad. The dad doesn't have a speaking part, but Larry does call him dad.