So which do you prefer: George Wilson or John Wilson?

I actually like them both. I also think it's cool that instead of replacing the actor who played as "George Wilson"- they brought in a new character, his brother instead.

I agree that both were very good in their roles as "George Wilson" (Joseph Kearns) and "John Wilson" (Gale Gordon).

In most cases, people always prefer the first actor to play a particular role - I think they look at the second person as an "outsider" - for example, most people seem to prefer Dick York, rather than Dick Sargent, as "Darrin Stevens" on Bewitched (a little trivia here: Dick Sargent was actually the first choice of Elizabeth Montgomery, and her husband William Asher, to play Darrin when the series was first being cast. Unfortunately, Sargent was unable to take the role due to other commitments, so Dick York was given the part instead).

One exception is when the original person plays the role for only a short period of time - such as Beverly Owen, the original "Marilyn Munster". She left before the end of the first season, and was replaced by Pat Priest.

Yea, I see what you mean. I can't help being a bit biased about "Bewitched" myself and actually prefer Dick York, even though Sargeant did OK.

As for "Marilyn Munster"- offhand only Pat Priest is the one I can vision. I'm sure I've seen some eps with Beverly Owen, but can't remember those eps very well (haven't seen em since the 80's).

Paula
Formerly "FOL and DS fan 4ever"

My favorite Mr. Wilson has got to be George. He just had such a great personality, petty, stuffy, proud, involved, angers easily, exasperated at Dennis, and is the only one who seems to be bothered that Dennis is such a brat. I'm a big fan of Gale Gordon too, but I thought he was too nice to Dennis and also Mr. Mitchel seemed less deferential to John Wilson than to George. I think you could tell the actor who played Henry like Joseph Kearns better, he seemed more friendly and you can catch him laughing at Joseph Kearns in his scenes with him. He seemed to enjoy Kearns portrayal and his funny actions he added. Besides, no one can yell for Martha or blow wind out of his mouth through flapping lips better than George Wilson when he's exasperated. Kearns is definitly a favorite of mine. Never did understand why Dennis's parents seemed to be so blind as to Dennis's bratty actions. Only Mr. Wilson was properly horrified.

Actually Gale Gordon looked more like the Mr. Wilson in the cartoon than Joe Kearns did, but Joe Kearns was better as Mr. Wilson, IMO.

I loved Joseph Kearns as Mr. Wilson. He was persnickity, irritable, and just plain funny. Nobody could yell "Great Scott!!" better than Kearns. I loved it when he delivered that line!

I never saw a Gale Gordon episode, so I can't tell which is actor is better.

I liked joesph kerns better as well there are some episodes i like though with gale gordon

I liked Joseph Kearns better. His pants went all the way up (almost to his chest). He was so funny....... :lol:

George Wilson was the best !!

His facial expressions were classic when Dennis made a major screwup!! To this day, I continue to bust out laughing even though I've seen these episodes over and over.

:D MY VOTE IS GEORGE WILSON !!

I preferred George. Sometimes he acted more of a child than Dennis. Like when they appeared on that kid's show together.

George Wilson always.

Joseph Kearns

I liked both characters, but George was my favorite.

George Wilson

George Wilson(Joeseph Kearns)...i thought he was a better actor, and he was much funnier then John


hey was John wilson, George's brother? i can't remember been so long since i've seen the show

No doubt...Joe Kearns. Great actor.

Gale Gordon was a great actor too, but nobody could really step into Kearns' shoes.

I guess #1 was ok, but, he wasnt anything like the character in the comic....strange when you look at how they tried to make the rest of the cast mirror images of the strip characters

I guess #1 was ok, but, he wasnt anything like the character in the comic....strange when you look at how they tried to make the rest of the cast mirror images of the strip characters

While Joseph Kearns did an excellent (and hilarious) job as TV's first Mr. Wilson, I do agree that he was nothing like the comic-strip Mr. Wilson.

Not only did Kearns not LOOK like the comic-strip Mr. Wilson, but he didn't ACT like him either. The comic-strip Wilson didn't act in the fussbudget "Felix Unger" manner that Kearns' Wilson did....it was an entirely different type of person, but again, Kearns was brilliant in the role.

Do you know who I think would make a GREAT Mr. Wilson in a new version of "Dennis"? David Schramm, the heavy-set actor who played Roy Biggins on the "WINGS" sitcom. Not only would he LOOK like the comic-strip Wilson (only with more hair), but he could do an excellent job of getting steamed at Dennis!

Are you kidding? Joesph Kerns by a widdddeeee margin.

Joseph Kearns made me laugh !! Gale Gordon didn't do anything for me.

Joseph Kearns but Gale Gorden resembled the comic strip version of Mr. Wilson.

Joseph Kearns as George Wilson was THE BEST!! The way he yelled
Great Scott!!!! and MAAARRTTHHAAAA !! still makes me laugh to this day.
Let's not forget the times when Dennis would drive Mr. Wilson so crazy that he would have to take his nerve medicine (spoon shaking and everything)... sometimes a DOUBLE dose of nerve medicine!

While I liked Gale Gordon I liked Joseph Kern's George Wilson better.He got so easily agitated by Dennis but I also felt he really did care about Dennis as well it was just that George's temperment was a little on the brittle side.

Joseph Kearns was definitely the best Mr. Wilson by a country mile! He played the part of a short tempered neighbor turned off by most children with perfection. I loved it every time he'd puff out his cheeks as if he were about ready to blow up or when he'd shout "good grief" or "great scot".
He was a riot in episode #71. First, while the barber was falling down and fainting after spotting Dennis & his friends in his window wearing their spaceman suits, he shaved off a center strip of hair on the back of Wilson's head. Then later he had Dennis's space helmet stuck on his head and then the fire department had to rescue him from being locked in his bathroom and being brought down the ladder with the space helmet still stuck on his head and in his shorts in front of all his neighbors then running inside embarrassed after a reporter took his picture. Real funny stuff! :lol:

While Joseph Kearns did an excellent (and hilarious) job as TV's first Mr. Wilson, I do agree that he was nothing like the comic-strip Mr. Wilson.

Not only did Kearns not LOOK like the comic-strip Mr. Wilson, but he didn't ACT like him either. The comic-strip Wilson didn't act in the fussbudget "Felix Unger" manner that Kearns' Wilson did....it was an entirely different type of person, but again, Kearns was brilliant in the role.

Do you know who I think would make a GREAT Mr. Wilson in a new version of "Dennis"? David Schramm, the heavy-set actor who played Roy Biggins on the "WINGS" sitcom. Not only would he LOOK like the comic-strip Wilson (only with more hair), but he could do an excellent job of getting steamed at Dennis!

You're right; David Schramm does look a lot like Mr. Wilson in the comic strip.