I am enjoying watching season one after a long time. I am reminded of why I liked this show in the first place: good characters/actors.

Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares are great as siblings Jeff and Mary. Their dialog and behavior is the most realistic for shows of this type. Their cutdowns aimed at each other remind me of the days with my younger brothers. Jeff is all boy: witty, active, loud, mischievious. Mary is a typical teen girl: self-absorbed, whiny, preening and insecure. Both kids are loving and respectful.

Of course, Donna is perfect, but she can wear jeans while cleaning the house (unlike June Cleaver), and get annoyed with the kids and Alex at times. She is the rock of the family.

Alex is a great dad and husband. He is handsome and also provides a comedic element without being slapsticky. The addition of his medical practice being in the house adds charm and extended storylines and makes this sitcom unique.

I recommend this show if you like family sitcoms of the 50s/60s. :)

Yeah call it wholesome if you must, but I totally dig this show.

Yeah call it wholesome if you must, but I totally dig this show.
:yeahthat

I'm about half way through the first season and love that the shows aren't edited. It's a great show and I hope they do all the seasons.

Just watched the first episode today.....I never got to see Donna Reed in syndication as a child and my exposure to it on Nick at Nite was limited so this is in essence, a brand new series for me and I really enjoyed it. I'll be watching more of season 1 as time goes on. Just wished I had more free time to give towards classic TV! :D

I first saw this show on Nick at Nite, and watched it all the time. They first aired this when I was 12 and stopped showing it about the time I got out of high school, so I sorta grew up with this show. Sadly I have not seen it since. I am going to have to request this from my library.

I put this on my christmas list, if I don't get it I'll buy it myself.

Oh comedyfreak--it's a must! you will be delighted!! Shoot, I've learned a long time ago, if you really want something, you have to buy it for yourself!
Don't risk getting the same old cologne :lol:

Been watching more episodes and I've fallen in love with this series! :)

Oh comedyfreak--it's a must! you will be delighted!! Shoot, I've learned a long time ago, if you really want something, you have to buy it for yourself!
Don't risk getting the same old cologne :lol:

Been watching more episodes and I've fallen in love with this series! :)


Easier said than done


I just wish I had the funds to go out and buy all the TV shows DVD sets taht I like.

Well I'm not saying I buy every set--I save via gift certificates through surveys and reward programs. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have 3/4 of the collection I have now.

Sheesh......

I always put them on my Christmas lists, birthday list, Mother's day lists. I think my childrten have finally got the message, I don't want "stuff" and dust collectors, I want old tv show dvd's. This is something I enjoy and want and it's just for me. I hope they release season 2 soon. They were releasing "The Real McCoys" at a fast rate but suddenly stopped after season 3. I know it's an old show, but when they first started, they said they were committed to all 6 seasons. I sure hope Donna Reed does all seasons as I will definitely be getting them all.

Well I'm not saying I buy every set--I save via gift certificates through surveys and reward programs. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have 3/4 of the collection I have now.

Sheesh......



I would well I would buy all the TV show DVD sets of the programs I like. It beats what they are showing on television now.

I always put them on my Christmas lists, birthday list, Mother's day lists. I think my childrten have finally got the message, I don't want "stuff" and dust collectors, I want old tv show dvd's. This is something I enjoy and want and it's just for me. I hope they release season 2 soon. They were releasing "The Real McCoys" at a fast rate but suddenly stopped after season 3. I know it's an old show, but when they first started, they said they were committed to all 6 seasons. I sure hope Donna Reed does all seasons as I will definitely be getting them all.


Well Arts Alliance America is committed to doing all the seasons owned by the Donna Reed estate, which is the majority of the seasons. I'm not sure if Sony still owns/controls the last 2 seasons. Maybe someone else can answer that.

I sure hope the do them all. I'm almost through the first season and there was about 5 episodes I don't have and didn't remember ever seeing. I really love this show!

Watched more episodes today including the Thanksgiving episode (A Guest in the House) and A Very Merry Christmas (TV Land used to show this on its Merrython a few years back). I'm so pleased with this show and how rewarding it has been watching it.

I'm just watching these eps for the first time (just got S1 on DVD out of the library). I'm lovin' this show!! :cool: I grew up watching Shelley Fabares on Coach, but never saw her in the role that first made her famous (until now). I almost cried at the episode with the baby left on the family's doorstep!! Quite a serious topic for a sitcom episode back then!

I really need to finish season 1.......but I'll get there. got too many to get through LOL

I was amused by the many squabbles Mary and Jeff had. Being the older sister of a pesty younger brother, I could relate. Their arguments were very realistic. :lol:

All this talk is making me miss this show more. I havent seen it since I was 18 and that was when Nick at Nite stopped showing it.

At least we still have DVDs of the classics. :cool:

thank goodness!!!!!!

I wish RTN (or RTV now) would buy some more library product and expand its sitcom offerings.

Season 2 is every bit as enjoyable as Season 1. Season 3 comes out in December, and Season 4 is planned for release in May. That's half the series in less than two years on DVD!! :cool: :D

I'm on the waiting list for season 3. Amazon said it will be out in early November! I am glad to hear season 4 won't be far behind.

The first 4 seasons are pretty solid, then in season 5 things change. Mary goes to college but reappears occasionally, Trisha is "adopted," Jeff sings and neighbors Midge & Dave are added.

The later seasons feature Jeff as a teen, Trisha getting into mischief and Donna and Midge with storylines. I like these too, but I prefer the ones when Jeff and Mary are young.

I just dig the whole show.

when did Bob Crane join the cast? Was that the last season or the season before that?

I think I read somewhere once that Donna Reed hated playing the "perfect housewife" in that show.

when did Bob Crane join the cast? Was that the last season or the season before that?
I think he joined the show around 1962-63, which is the same time Shelley Fabares left the cast (even though she would often guest star).

I think I read somewhere once that Donna Reed hated playing the "perfect housewife" in that show.
Donna really fought for the scripts to be more real - and to deal with deeper topics. There are a lot of parallels with TDRS and Bewitched. Both Donna and Elizabeth Montgomery were the stars married to the show's producers (Tony Owen and William Asher, respectively), both shows were produced by Screen Gems, both lasted 8 seasons, both aired on ABC and both real-life marriages ended not long after their shows did.

I still have to watch season 1. I have other shows I'm catching up with, I'm so behind. I love this show.

I have season 3 pre-ordered, but I have yet to crack open season 2--still in the shrinkwrap. I'll get to it one day soon :)

I enjoyed the first two seasons very much - I can't wait for Season 3!! :cool: :D

Currently enjoying Season 2 in marathon spurts! one episode "The Punishment" even had the Screen Gems Torch Lady at the end (someone was asleep at the switch!) since they cut off the Screen Gems logos since Sony is not behind these releases.

Currently enjoying Season 2 in marathon spurts! one episode "The Punishment" even had the Screen Gems Torch Lady at the end (someone was asleep at the switch!) since they cut off the Screen Gems logos since Sony is not behind these releases.
Jude, have you seen "Mary's Growing Pains" yet? That's my favorite episode of S2. :cool:

Don't think so.........I'm up to "Broken Spirit" next to watch.....

Don't think so.........I'm up to "Broken Spirit" next to watch.....
Let me know when you see "Mary's Growing Pains". I loved it!!!!!!

oh I will.......Gotta get watch these since season 3 is soon on the way :lol: