Has these seasons ever been in syndication?

I am not 100% certain, but I do believe that only Season 8 was.

Any of my few Season 6 & 7 episodes are all from film transfers.

I have all of the Season 8 episodes and the ones that are not from film are from a NYC station and perhaps a Pittsburgh station. I don't recall having any Season 8 Nick at Nite episodes, but not sure about that.

I know a Cleveland station was airing episodes in the mid-80's, but I don't know which seasons were being shown.

I think seasons 5 thru 7 were omitted from the Nick at Nite package. I'm pretty sure season 8 was included. Right now seasons 6 thru 8 are held by Sony, as I understand it, and are pretty well in limbo.

i thought so because i surely don't remember ever seeing any episodes with bob crane when tv land aired the donna reed show in the early 2000s

Nick at Nite aired Seasons 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8. Season 4 was not syndicated that's why the DVD release was titled THE LOST EPISODES. Seasons 6 and 7 with Bob Crane were not in syndication. I too only own a handful on old VHS tapes that came from film prints and not in the best shape.

Didn't the ABC Daytime reruns include all the seasons in the '60s?

I think ABC daytime showed all the seasons. I know they had season 7, because some of the few episodes I have, derived from film, have the ABC daytime openers on them. These openers differed from the originals--they did not have Bob Crane or Ann McCrea in the opening credits.

Maybe we who have some season 6 thru 8 episodes could compare notes on what we have. I have several season 6 episodes, and a few season 7 and 8 episodes, varying in quality.

Sony just needs to stop being lazy...convert seasons 6-8 to digital...sell the rerun rights to Me-TV and allow MPI the DVD rights.

Maybe we who have some season 6 thru 8 episodes could compare notes on what we have. I have several season 6 episodes, and a few season 7 and 8 episodes, varying in quality.

Here is my missing list for Seasons 6 & 7. I have all of Season 8, but would like upgrades or ones from film that are w/o/c.

Donna Reed Show
Season Six (1963-1964)
187 - The Playmate
188 - Brighten the Corner
190 - House Divided
191 - The Boys in 309
192 - The Bigger They Are
193 - It Grows on Trees
194 - Mary Comes Home
195 - Post Time
196 - Sweet Mystery of Wife
200 - Moon Shot
201 - Nice Work
202 - First Addition
203 - The Combo
207 - Will the Real Chicken Please Stand Up
209 - Home Sweet Homemaker
210 - Team Work
212 - Pandemonium in the Condominium
213 - A Day for Remembering
214 - One Little Word
215 - Love Letters Are for Burning
216 - Four's a Crowd
217 - My Son, the Catcher
218 - The Pros and the Cons

Season Seven (1964-1965)
221 - Play Ball
222 - Who's Who on 202
223 - The Daughter Complex
225 - Instant Family
227 - Circumstantial Evidence
228 - Anyone Can Drive
229 - Surprise! Surprise!
234 - Overture in A Flat
239 - The Windfall
245 - The Unheroic Hero
246 - The Mysterious Smile
247 - The Rolling Stones

Sony just needs to stop being lazy...convert seasons 6-8 to digital...sell the rerun rights to Me-TV and allow MPI the DVD rights.

Thank you, Jude, for helping to keep this dream alive and getting the word out there. Maybe, someday :)

i thought so because i surely don't remember ever seeing any episodes with bob crane when tv land aired the donna reed show in the early 2000s

Bob Crane on the Donna Reed Show sounds quite interesting.

I know I can look it up, but what character did Crane play?

he played Dr. Dave Kelsey, and his wife was Midge, played by Ann McCrea. Both appeared in the original season 7 opening credits. Both started their roles in the equally elusive season 6. They bought the house next door to the Stones'. The Stones had supposedly known them for many years, since there was a flashback episode to before the Kelseys were married. I think Bob Crane appeared in s fifth season episode, as a doctor also, but possibly with a different name.

Bob Crane left the role after season 7 (to play the lead in Hogan's Heroes). Ann McCrea continued into the final season, but was not in the opening credits.

Thank you, Jude, for helping to keep this dream alive and getting the word out there. Maybe, someday :)


Thanks...the Facebook page has over 1200 likes currently. I will keep on pressing on!!

Thanks...the Facebook page has over 1200 likes currently. I will keep on pressing on!!

Sony included 2 Season 8 episodes, "Four on the Floor" & "No More Parties", on a DVD included with "specially marked boxes" of a few General Mills cereals back about 10 years ago. I bought a box and let my housemate eat the cereal. I was just buying it for the DVD. Other cereals had 2-episode discs of other Sony series like Barney Miller & Married with Children.

Yep, I had that DVD...those were 2 edited versions

I'm pretty sure seasons 6-8 HAVE NOT been in syndication. I think the issue has to do with syndication rights. It's the same issue with My Three Sons

I've always wondered about these seasons. I've never been able to find them on trading sites. Hopefully one day they'll get a DVD release.

Come on Sony---give MPI the rights to 6, 7, & 8!!! What good is it for Sony to hold these and not do anything with them. Maybe Sony and MPI are in talks.

Why doesn't Sony turn over the rights for seasons 6,7, and 8 to MPI? Has anyone heard an official reason? You would think Sony would be happy to give it to MPI and let them make some money for Sony. MPI has done a great job on seasons 1 thru 5. As mentioned before, hopefully Sony and MPI are discussing things.

Today, I found a few episodes from the final season on YouTube that were taped off TV Land. If I find any more, I'll post them here. With YouTube, you have no idea how long they will be up there so enjoy them while you can:


7x1 - Operation Anniversary (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXS9UuzDbgM)

7x2 - Dad Drops By (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NanUWuAVZlU)

8x22 - The Return Of Mark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xy0dWvQdCk)

8x23 - Is There A Small Hotel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOvDRD68VYg)

8x24 - No More Parties, Almost (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7qk8J4NI9E)

8x25 - So You Really Think You're Young at Heart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7qk8J4NI9E)

8x26 - Byline Jeffrey Stone (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLIkF_rXOsA) (Series finale with guest star Lesley Gore)

Check out the series finale: they misspell Lesley Gore's name in the closing credits.

They probably wanted more money then MPI was willing to pay, that was what happened with Fox and Shout over Rhoda. Shout! released all but the last season, when they tried to pick up the last year Fox jacked the price. Shout wasn't willing to pay so it never was released.

I much preferred Donna's look from the 50s and early 60s episodes, when her hair was darker and more natural. By the end of the show, her hair was lighter and sprayed into an unnatural-looking helmet!

Do 6-8 still even exist?

They do, Sony is sitting on them and won't license them or release them. One of their lovely ploys to get more money for them.

They do, Sony is sitting on them and won't license them or release them. One of their lovely ploys to get more money for them.
TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

Trust me, once they break MPI who has done beautiful releases of seasons 1-5. Will see them released.

TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

I just wish Donna Reed and her husband's ingenious contract, would have let them regain ownership to the final seasons as well. I guess they couldn't swing it. But the fact that the family owns seasons 1-5 is incredible.

Something must have changed several years ago--Sony used to control more than just seasons 6 thru 8...they also had at least 1 thru 3 as well.

Sony (the corporate successor to Screen Gems) once had the rights to distribute the whole series. During that time, they distributed seasons 1,2,3,5, and 8 in syndication. However, Donna Reed's original five-year contract called for the rights to revert to her after a certain period of time (I believe 40 years). Notice that the fine print under "The Donna Reed Show" title in the opening credits lists the copyright belonging to "Todon Productions", Donna's production company.

When Donna renewed her contract for season 6, the deal changed. Now, the copyright is credited to "Screen Gems" productions. Todon was still listed in the closing credits, but some percentage of ownership changed. My guess is that Donna gave up some equity in return for a higher salary and/or not having to pay for as much of the production costs. And part of that new deal must have been that the rights to those episodes did not revert back to her.

So as a result, the show is owned by two separate entities. Donna's estate now distributes all of seasons 1-5. Sony won't distribute 6-8 or release it on DVD. Antenna TV tried to get seasons 6-8 and were unable to.

Antenna not getting the rights to air seasons 6 thru 8 may be a legality. I don't think I've ever heard of a "spilt" series, where one entity owns and syndicates some seasons, and another entity owns and also syndicates the remaining seasons. The post above is the most logical, and obvious situation. The DVD release situation can probably be solved, eventually...but I can't imagine the syndication being solved, unless Sony would sell the rights and the DR estate would be willing to buy them. DR must be a cash cow for MeTV--I'd bet they're not paying much for the rights to it...and it's probably doing reasonably well for them.

I've noticed those Todon Production copyrights in small print. I do have a few season 6 episodes...they changed the opener right after Shelley Fabares left the show a few episodes into the 6th season.

I just pulled my DVD where I have a few 6th season episodes. Episode 6-11 has Copyright MCMLXI Todon Of California Inc., and episode 6-12 has Copyright MCMLXIII Screen Gems Inc. Both of these episodes are derived from 16 mm prints, and are the ABC network originals. The 1961 copyright from the 4th season is explained by Screen Gems being sloppy and too lazy to change the opener. I'm sure the ownership deal and change took place at the start of the 6th season, as described above...SG was too lazy to change the opener/(C) year/copyright owner until they HAD to change it when Shelley Fabares departed (they removed her from the opener and added Patty Petersen).

Sony included 2 Season 8 episodes, "Four on the Floor" & "No More Parties", on a DVD included with "specially marked boxes" of a few General Mills cereals back about 10 years ago. I bought a box and let my housemate eat the cereal. I was just buying it for the DVD. Other cereals had 2-episode discs of other Sony series like Barney Miller & Married with Children.

Those special edition DVDs of Sony television series' distributed with General Mills cereals also included Mad About You.

Sony just needs to stop being lazy...convert seasons 6-8 to digital...sell the rerun rights to Me-TV and allow MPI the DVD rights.

Easier said than done.

The reasons behind withholding certain television series' from distribution on home video and/or in syndication (including, nowadays, streaming rights) are multifaceted, could be due to lacking of music clearances, some party or parties holding out for financial reasons, etc. Or there could be some more complex reason(s) behind the withholding of a TV series from general distribution.

There could even be something of a prohibitive nature as seemingly ridiculous as an actor in a filmed work having a special codicil attached to her/his contract preventing one season of a TV series from being distributed for a certain number of years following that party's death, etc., to avoid potential of embarrassment while the party and/or her/his beneficiaries remain alive. In a case involving such a heavy-handed stipulation, it could require a crane ;) to have the restriction removed. The law can work in strange and mysterious ways (to the uninformed).

he played Dr. Dave Kelsey, and his wife was Midge, played by Ann McCrea. Both appeared in the original season 7 opening credits. Both started their roles in the equally elusive season 6. They bought the house next door to the Stones'. The Stones had supposedly known them for many years, since there was a flashback episode to before the Kelseys were married. I think Bob Crane appeared in s fifth season episode, as a doctor also, but possibly with a different name.

Bob Crane left the role after season 7 (to play the lead in Hogan's Heroes). Ann McCrea continued into the final season, but was not in the opening credits.

So actress Ann McCrea's situation in the eighth season of The Donna Reed Show was similar to that of actress Edna Skinner in the fourth season of Mister ED following the death of actor Larry Keating, the latter who portrayed neighbor "Roger Addison," the husband of Skinner's character ("Kay Addison") in the series, in that each actress was released from her contract following special circumstances involving actors (who portrayed spouses of their characters) who suddenly departed each respective series. Skinner remained for five episodes (and with credit-only for a sixth episode) into the fourth seaopsn, along with Jack Albertson reprising the role of her brother (music producer "Paul Fenton") in three of those five episodes, before Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael were brought aboard as new neighbors "Colonel Gordon Kirkwood" (a retired Air Force officer who had been the commander of "Wilbur Post," presumably in either World War II or the Korean conflict) and "Winnie Kirkwood" for most of the fourth and the fifth season of Mister ED.

Similarly, Ann McCrea had little reaosn left to remain a neighbor of the "Stones" in "Hilldale" after the character of her physician husband (portrayed by Bob Crane) departed the series for the grayer pastures of "Stalog 13" in Hogan's Heroes. And with not much developed for either actress their respective roles were eventually written out of each series. Although, to be frank, Skinner's "Kay Addison" was much more interesting and contributed more to the humor of Mister ED than did McCrea's ditzy character of "Midge Kelsey," a generic neighborette.

There is an upload of "Play Ball," the third episode (with guest stars Don Drysdale, Leo Durocher and Willie Mays of the Los Angeles Dodgers) in the seventh season of The Donna Reed Show, on YouTube. But be forewarned the upload is of poor quality, merely a video shot (and at an angle to boot, rather than a straightforward perspective of the TV screen) playing the file transferred from 16mm film, rather than a direct file upload. I have seen these instances before on YouTube, which may only be accounted for by the single term of "laziness."

Easier said than done.

The reasons behind withholding certain television series' from distribution on home video and/or in syndication (including, nowadays, streaming rights) are multifaceted, could be due to lacking of music clearances, some party or parties holding out for financial reasons, etc. Or there could be some more complex reason(s) behind the withholding of a TV series from general distribution.

There could even be something of a prohibitive nature as seemingly ridiculous as an actor in a filmed work having a special codicil attached to her/his contract preventing one season of a TV series from being distributed for a certain number of years following that party's death, etc., to avoid potential of embarrassment while the party and/or her/his beneficiaries remain alive. In a case involving such a heavy-handed stipulation, it could require a crane ;) to have the restriction removed. The law can work in strange and mysterious ways (to the uninformed).

I get your drift. I noticed when MeTV resuscitated the long-missing season 8 episodes a few years ago, the single episode with Crane in it was skipped. Crane was murdered in June 1978, over 41 years ago--maybe the codicil is 50 years but who knows. If a codicil is indeed the hangup, it probably covers the season(s) he is under contract; therefore, his few appearances in an earlier season (I think S5) are still aired. The season 8 episode is probably leftover from season 7, and therefore still not aired.

Just for the record, Bob Crane guests (in the same role/Dave) in at least 2 season 5 episodes that are included in the DVD and Syndication packages:

Season 5 episode 26 "The Two Doctors Stone"
Season 5 episode 29 ''Friend and Neighbors"