If The Show Had Continued On

[Corvetteguy]

Does anyone else wonder what the show had been like if it had continued on until about 1969 or 1970 ? I think the show would of went to color around 1965 and by that time Wally would of proably married Mary Ellen while still in college and since they couldn't afford a place, they would of had to live in June & Wards guest room ( like Robbie & Katie did on My 3 Sons). Beaver would be a awkward high school student getting into teenage hijinxs with Gilbert, Richard, and Whitey and have dating issues like Wally. Then proably around 1966/67 Wallly & Mary Ellen would have a baby and they would of had to adjust to being parents, while Ward & June offer their experience as parents, but Ward would let Wally be his own man and keep a safe distance in running things, but of course June would want to be totaly involved in her grandchilds uprbringing. I think the show would skip over the Vietnam turmoil of the lte 60's and live in their suburban world (like My 3 Sons). I say by 1968 Beaver would tie the knot and find that married life is not all fun & games, but he see's the happiness that June & Ward has, he would realize he wants the same thing in his marriage. :happyface

[HaskellGirl]

Wow, if that were the case, Wally would be married at about age 20, and Beaver would be married at age 18!!!!! People did (and sometimes still do) get married that young though, so its not unrealistic.

Although the interesting thing is, according to NLITB, Beaver had his first son around 1971, so I'm assuming he did get married sometime between the years 1968 to 1971. Hey, you never know. It mighta been a shotgun wedding.;)

I think if the show had continued, it may very well have addressed more controversial themes. I think your scenarios are very likely as well.

[BrandonS]

I hope, that if it had continued, it wouldn't have addressed more controversial themes, because I don't think that's the show's strong point. I think its strong point is a kind of innocence it possesses. The world of LITB is "better than real." The Cleaver's are the ideal family, they believe very strongly in doing the right thing, and there is no question what the right thing is. The Cleavers inhabit a world which is better than real, and that many of us wish we lived in. We're not likely to attain it, but it's probably something to aim for. At least that's how I see it.

[HaskellGirl]

Well, I think the show was helped in the fact that it ended when it did. It COULD be so innocent, because it was a show about kids. Its a show FOR everyone, but its about children. But what happens when everyone grows up?? It can't be in the same style as it always was. Of course, the example given is My Three Sons, but I think the inherent charm of LITB would have to at least slightly shift. At least if they wanted to keep viewers. I'm definately not saying the show would have become Roseanne or anything!!!!!

[BrandonS]

I just think that they inhabited a fictitious, perfect world and would not have liked to see them move into the real, imperfect world. Seeing them makes me think, what they have might be attainable, which is a happy thought.

[John Sterren]

THANK GOD IT ENDED WHEN IT DID!!

If it had actually gone ahead, say, into the ghoulish era of Richard Nixon, it would probably have been pretty close to what SCTV came up with in their brilliant parody: Ward a broken-down drunk, June having an affair with Fred Rutherford, Eddie gay, Wally an out-of-work bankrupt, and Beaver even more ugly and annoying than he became toward the end of the real series.

[Richard Nixon had a way of bringing out the worst in people. :talk: As Ed Harris as E. Howard Hunt says in "Nixon": "Richard Nixon is the dark searching for the dark."]

With Jerry Mathers as he is/was in that final dreadful 7th season, the show is unwatchable. A loooong way down from the great, sweet show it is in its first two years.

[*InThisMoment*]

I'm glad it ended when it did they were geting too old for the beav to get in to trouble as if he was still 8 yrs old dont get me wronge I love the show but it ended when it should of.