The number of episodes per season was not consistent and varied greatly. The first season had 35 episodes, seasons two and three had 32 episodes each, season four had only 26 episodes and the last season had 29 episodes. I think there might have been some problems with the network during season four, thus the season ended up short. There probably should have been 30 episodes in the last season but they ended up making only 29.

Another unusual thing is the show switched to color episodes three seasons early. Hazel must have had a high budget to allow approval for color episodes starting with the 1962-63 season. Realistically, the only season of Hazel that should have been in color was the 1965-66 season, although that season could have been black and white also. The first season 1961-62 being the only black and white season (even that season had one color episode) looks out of place with the others since they switched to all color episodes sooner than usual.

So there were inconsistencies during the making of Hazel, there apparently was no pattern to follow and they basically went with the flow. 154 episodes over 5 seasons averages out to 30.8 episodes per season.

It also had more different openings than anyother sitcom for its time....basically due to the sponsor....they also paid the extra $$$$ for the color episodes so the car would be portrayed in a more realistic way...in many of the openings the family was shown around the car, getting in the car, getting groceries out of the car, etc!

Also don't forget about the season 5 total cast change and network change...don defore and whitney blake left the show and hazel worked for mr. b's brother, and a very young ann jillian (It's A Living" was a semi-regular cast member.

I also believe Shirley Booth owned a piece of the show...

I think Ozzie and Harriet may have it beat in openings changing due to sponsor! :lol:

I think Ozzie and Harriet may have it beat in openings changing due to sponsor! :lol:

No I actually think Hazel holds the title, Hazel had many real outdoor elaborate filmed openings, and had several per season! the basic nelson opening was still coming out from the door, I don't count endorsements.

Yep there were a number of different openings, and three different theme songs were used, there might have been more but three I can recall for sure. I actually liked the cast changes as the 5th season is my favorite. Don DeFore is the main thing lacking in season five, he is sorely missed. What I dislike most is the color episodes in seasons 2, 3, & 4. I guess the sponsor (Ford motor company) wanted color episodes but Hazel was still being made like a black and white show so the color episodes just didn't look right. The last season was a different story, I would have preferred black and white episodes for the first four seasons and then the color episodes for the last season only.

Another thing is that many episodes from seasons 2 and 3 (not sure about other seasons) had no laugh track, a real oddity for the time!

I've never seen the show. Was it any good?

I've never seen the show. Was it any good?

Hazel is a good show, not great, but good. I wouldn't recommend watching too many episodes in one sitting, Shirley Booth's Hazel character can get a little overbearing after awhile. The show has retained a high level of early 1960's nostalgia, which to me is it's greatest asset along with the addition of Lynn Borden for the final season. She is lovely! :D

No I actually think Hazel holds the title, Hazel had many real outdoor elaborate filmed openings, and had several per season! the basic nelson opening was still coming out from the door, I don't count endorsements.


oh well, we will just disagree on this :lol:
That Nelson out the door opening actually didn't come until around 1957-58.
But in any case, it's a such a little thing.

After awhile, you just wonder why didn't Mr. B just out and fire that Hazel!
:lol:

After awhile, you just wonder why didn't Mr. B just out and fire that Hazel!
:lol:


I normally would say because if he did, Mrs B. would make him sleep in his own bed. But he ALREADY IS, thanks to the censors.

Funny, how on Hazel, they had twin beds, meanwhile over at Don's old series, Ozzie and Harriet were sharing a bed :D

Hazel was based on a comic strip created by Ted Key (who also created
Mr. Peabody and Sherman for Jay Ward's Rocky & His Friends).

After awhile, you just wonder why didn't Mr. B just out and fire that Hazel!
:lol:


ROFL.

She was too pushy with Mr B.

In Today's world, Hazel won't last that long on a job.


no boss will put up with her!

Nope, no boss would.

Too interfering....too damn nosy!!

"But Mr. B, Missy so had her heart set on getting that coat for Christmas....I'll buy it myself and you can take it out of my salary and I'll put your name on it....."

:lol:

Shirley and my Dad owned a piece of the show.

Was maybe the reason Mr. B put up with Hazel is that she helped raise Mrs. B.? Somehow I thought I saw an episode or heard somewhere where there were ties between them and so she really was like family??? Am I dreaming?

Yes, that's the story, Hazel helped to raise Mrs. B.

Well you all would have loved to hear my Dad (Mr. B) tell the story about when they were shooting a bedroom scene and my Dad got out of the bed and accidentally farted extremely loud (keep in mind, as camera's are rolling a set is dead silent)...there was, according to my Dad, the longest pregnant pause on record with dead silence and then... somebody way in the back of the set couldn't hold their laughter and started laughing uncontrollably until it became contageous and the whole set was roaring...He said it took more than an hour of retakes to get the scene because everytime they'd start up again someone would burst out laughing! :-)
RD4

Has anyone ever seen any pictures of Shirley Booth in her later years or of her home by Cape Cod? I loved her, she was great, so real.
Thanks
Rene'

Well you all would have loved to hear my Dad (Mr. B) tell the story about when they were shooting a bedroom scene and my Dad got out of the bed and accidentally farted extremely loud (keep in mind, as camera's are rolling a set is dead silent)...there was, according to my Dad, the longest pregnant pause on record with dead silence and then... somebody way in the back of the set couldn't hold their laughter and started laughing uncontrollably until it became contageous and the whole set was roaring...He said it took more than an hour of retakes to get the scene because everytime they'd start up again someone would burst out laughing! :-)
RD4

That's a funny story. Do you have any blooper reels from that show or the series in general?

Nope, no boss would.

Too interfering....too damn nosy!!

"But Mr. B, Missy so had her heart set on getting that coat for Christmas....I'll buy it myself and you can take it out of my salary and I'll put your name on it....."

:lol:
You have to remember that Hazel worked for Mrs B's family since Mrs B was a little girl. Mr B knows that Missy and Hazel love each other dearly, so he would never fire Hazel.

In this day and age......that would mean nothing

but yes, I understand all of this......of course Dorothy had to remind Hazel now and then that George was the head of the household, so she needed to respect him. Out of love, both Hazel and Mr B put up with one another. Even though Mr B, IMO, put up with a lot more guff from Hazel than anyone should from an employee.