Found out today that the show "Leave it to Beaver" didn't do well in the ratings when the show aired on network television from 1957 to 1963. Just starting to watch the show on Antenna TV and I think it's really good for a show that aired almost 60 years ago. All of the characters great and the funniest character is Wally's friend Eddie. Wonder why this show had trouble catching on in the 1950's when it wasn't much competition in those days on television.

It's one of those shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island that became a lot bigger in syndication than the original run.

It's one of those shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island that became a lot bigger in syndication than the original run.

Yeah I see it's complete on DVD and it's on my buy list before 2016

I discovered in in reruns in the 1970's. One of the best 1950's sitcoms.

I discovered in in reruns in the 1970's. One of the best 1950's sitcoms.


Just wish the shet came on at 8pm and after:lol:

I first discovered it way back in the 70s when a local station(channel 10, Sol if you see this) used to show the reruns in the wee, wee hours of the morning on Saturdays (the time always varied depending on when their movie ended but it was always -let's see-I guess 3 to 4 or 4:30 am). Then in 1980 the same station started showing it weekday mornings at 9:30. (I remember reading in the paper at that time that a lot of young people were starting to discover it.)

Yeah I see it's complete on DVD and it's on my buy list before 2016
Sol, I thought you said on here once that you don't like black-and-white sitcoms.

Sol, I thought you said on here once that you don't like black-and-white sitcoms.

Only 2 from 50's


Leave to Beaver

Honeymooners

Glad you discovered it ! It really is a good show!

That surprises me that is wasn't higher in the ratings back than! I know my Dad loved and always watched LITB first run! He was happy when my sister and I started watching it!

I first discovered it way back in the 70s when a local station(channel 10, Sol if you see this) used to show the reruns in the wee, wee hours of the morning on Saturdays (the time always varied depending on when their movie ended but it was always -let's see-I guess 3 to 4 or 4:30 am). Then in 1980 the same station started showing it weekday mornings at 9:30. (I remember reading in the paper at that time that a lot of young people were starting to discover it.)


Treky, I remember at one time early 80's when it was on around noon weekdays . I was still living in Philly than. It came on along with Mc Hales navy and Gomer Pyle if I remember correctly? I thought on channel 48,29 or 17?

It's weird to me that if the ratings were never that good it ran for 7 seasons. That certainly wouldn't ever happen today! I think it's one of the best family sitcoms ever. I mean sometimes the episodes were kind of silly and corny but at least they are good family viewing. I just find it hard to believe that it wasn't more popular originally when from what I can tell it wasn't any different from other sitcoms back then.

But yeah sometimes a show really becomes a "hit" only later in reruns. It's the same story with the original Star Trek. It only originally ran for 3 seasons, and NBC wanted to cancel it after season 1 and season 2 and finally did cancel it after season 3. I've read in its original run it never even made it into the top 20. And it was only saved from cancellation the first two times by a small loyal fan base doing a letter writing campaign to NBC.

Ed.

Leave It to Beaver ran for six full 39-week seasons (234 episodes), had its debut on CBS on October 4, 1957. The following season, the show moved to ABC, where it stayed until completing its run on June 20, 1963. During the whole of the show's run, the series was shot with a single camera on black-and-white 35mm film.

Although the show never broke into the Nielsen ratings top-30 nor won any awards, it placed on TIME magazine's unranked 2007 list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of all-time."

Great show,and it's one of the few shows I can think of that does not have even one weak episode.They're all good,some better than others of course.As far as the show not doing good in the ratings.Lets say it only got 15-20 million households viewing it every week,and I'm just guessing,it could have been a lot more.Considering the population of the country back than was less than half of what it is now,it still got a lot of viewers during it's initial run even though it may not have been a ratings winner.

Treky, I remember at one time early 80's when it was on around noon weekdays . I was still living in Philly than. It came on along with Mc Hales navy and Gomer Pyle if I remember correctly? I thought on channel 48,29 or 17?


All this time and I'm just finding out you used to live in philly? Lol

All this time and I'm just finding out you used to live in philly? Lol


I told you before I thought? I've been away since 1985 though! :)

I told you before I thought? I've been away since 1985 though! :)

I knew it was something about you I liked:)

I knew it was something about you I liked:)


;) :) :wave:

I agree. I razz on the show from time to time but I'll watch it when its on. Although I think the newer ones, maybe the last season are not as good as the earlier seasons but thats just me. Its a good show and I think it gets buried when you talk about good shows of the 1950s. Its usually I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners but LITB belongs up there.

With this series and others of its era, like The Donna Reed Show and Father Knows Best, a lot of love within the families comes across well and overrides the frequent sibling squabbling.

Time goes on:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/16/article-1321231-0BA4FB47000005DC-401_468x266.jpg

I'm not certain that June approved of the look Wally was trying to pull off here... ;)

With this series and others of its era, like The Donna Reed Show and Father Knows Best, a lot of love within the families comes across well and overrides the frequent sibling squabbling.

Time goes on:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/16/article-1321231-0BA4FB47000005DC-401_468x266.jpg

I'm not certain that June approved of the look Wally was trying to pull off here... ;)


Wally looks damm good to be close to 70

They spent most of their time on ABC, which didn't have strong affiliates so they didn't expect too much to keep a show on the air.

Ozzie and Harriet ran for 14 years and a sitcom record 435 episodes on ABC and was ranked in the year-end Top 30 once.

Make Room for Daddy ran 4 years on ABC and never hit the Top 30 but became a Top 10 hit when it moved to CBS.

Treky, I remember at one time early 80's when it was on around noon weekdays . I was still living in Philly than. It came on along with Mc Hales navy and Gomer Pyle if I remember correctly? I thought on channel 48,29 or 17?yes, channel 48 used to show it in the mid-80s at I think 12:30. I remember I was working then so I used to tape that, GOMER PYLE: U.S.M.C., and THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW which they also used to show on weekdays.

Wally looks damm good to be close to 70


Wally is almost 70? That is hard to believe.

Wally is almost 70? That is hard to believe.Considering Leave it to Beaver aired in the 50s and Wally played a teenager then it makes sense.

Since it was mentioned LITB was on ABC, that explains the ratings.

I check ratings from both 50's and 60's shows from time to time, and you would be surprised how few shows from ABC are on the top 20 or top 30 list.

I am currently watching Marcus Welby reruns, and the reason I am mentioning this is that MD was ABC's first show to hit no. 1 in 1970-1971.

Since it was mentioned LITB was on ABC, that explains the ratings.

I check ratings from both 50's and 60's shows from time to time, and you would be surprised how few shows from ABC are on the top 20 or top 30 list.

I am currently watching Marcus Welby reruns, and the reason I am mentioning this is that MD was ABC's first show to hit no. 1 in 1970-1971.


What channel are you watching Marcus Welby on? I haven't seen it since Cozi took it off !

:crazy: Considering Leave it to Beaver aired in the 50s and Wally played a teenager then it makes sense.


Of course it does. Its just hard to believe that you can remember or see him when he was a teenager.

What channel are you watching Marcus Welby on? I haven't seen it since Cozi took it off !

I live in Canada, and it is on a station called Vision TV.

It's at least one classic TV show I get, since overall classic TV has really gone downhill.

I admit I'm jealous of all the classic TV shows the viewers in the US talk about on these boards.

I live in Canada, and it is on a station called Vision TV.

It's at least one classic TV show I get, since overall classic TV has really gone downhill.

I admit I'm jealous of all the classic TV shows the viewers in the US talk about on these boards.

Dianne,

I share your pain tremendously. I keep reading here about all of these great stations and the shows they keep churning out and all we get up here is crap! I don't expect this to change for at least 2 years when the new pick and pay system will be in place and that way Canadians can watch and pay for whatever they want and maybe by then things can improve. But it will still take a lot of time and I'm not sure I have much patience left.

It's weird to me that if the ratings were never that good it ran for 7 seasons. That certainly wouldn't ever happen today!

Ratings are only one factor when a network considers renewing or cancelling a show.

If it's attracting a large audience desirable to advertisers, then a show doesn't have to be a ratings blockbuster to stay on the air.

Also, one has to consider that Leave it to Beaver faced stiff competition from shows on other networks also.

Ratings are only one factor when a network considers renewing or cancelling a show.

If it's attracting a large audience desirable to advertisers, then a show doesn't have to be a ratings blockbuster to stay on the air.

Also, one has to consider that Leave it to Beaver faced stiff competition from shows on other networks also.


What stiff competition in 1957???

What stiff competition in 1957???

From Wikipedia:

In spite of solid and consistent ratings, Leave It to Beaver never climbed into the Nielsen's top-30 though similar sitcoms of the period like Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, The Real McCoys, and Dennis the Menace managed to do so.

Leave It to Beaver faced stiff competition in its time slots. During its next to last season, for example, the show ran against The Defenders, a program examining highly charged courtroom cases about abortion and the death penalty. In its final season, the show was up against Perry Mason and Dr. Kildare but was in the ABC line-up with television greats The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Donna Reed Show, and My Three Sons.

From Wikipedia:


Father Knows Best succeeded because it was no Internet lol

Father Knows Best succeeded because it was no Internet lol

And they're showing a marathon on Antenna TV of that lame show for the fourth year in a row on Father's Day. Beaver would have been a much better choice.

And they're showing a marathon on Antenna TV of that lame show for the fourth year in a row on Father's Day. Beaver would have been a much better choice.


You are so right

You are so right


I "third" that! Leave it to Beaver would be a way better marathon than Father Knows best! ;)

I "third" that! Leave it to Beaver would be a way better marathon than Father Knows best! ;)


I may watch since it was stated it was SO GOOD back in the 50's and the fact that it was chosen to air on father's day

Leave it to beaver is awesome!! (A lesson with every show)

I may watch since it was stated it was SO GOOD back in the 50's and the fact that it was chosen to air on father's day

The late seasons of Father Knows Best were more to my liking than the early ones.

Sometimes people quickly dismiss the series as an idealized view of middle-class American life, but the characters are actually pretty good. They have their moments of sarcasm, anger, foolishness, etc. Margaret, the mom, is definitely the one on a path to sainthood -- but she has her moments of frustration.

The difference between the two series: Leave It to Beaver focuses on immediate problems instigated either by Beaver or the boys' friends, while Father Knows Best is about more general goings on.

Once in a while though, FKB has some similarities -- like when Kathy takes on the neighborhood's shoe shining, only to neglect to keep track of the shoes' owners. That could easily have been a Beaver plot.

I can relate to Kathy as being the youngest, relate to Bud as girl-crazy, and to dad Jim as an aging guy who sometimes wants to recapture the past. And then you have Margaret and Betty, both very easy on the eyes.

Dont forget Beaver only had 2 boys on the show where Father Knows Best had 3 kids, 2 girls and a boy, so there is a different plot to the show and they had maybe more different storylines because they had one more character.

Something about Father knows best IDK why, but this show never appealed to me! I liked Robert Young much better as Marcus Welby for some reason. And to me the kids didn't seem like they had much chemistry with each other. Didn't seem like real siblings! And the oldest daughter was kind of snotty and mean! I watched an ep one time where she was really mean to the little sister!

FKB was similar to the Donna Reed show but I like Donna Reed much better, seems more lively, FKB kind of is depressing to me for some reason!