Would it have changed the show if there had been an older sister and not a brother?

More sibling fighting and probably another bedroom. It'd be interesting to see a female version of Eddie.

It wouldn’t have been the same at all. As you pointed out separate bedrooms. It would also have not worked to have Casey Adams as Ward and the other kid as Wally. Actually I don’t know how the pilot had any future unless they knew they just needed new actors.

The pilot was pretty bad. Connelly or Mosher probably said, we have work to do. More auditions.

Basically it would have been FATHER KNOWS BEST.

The male setup of LITB went perfectly with the unique tone and plot lines of the show.

Right with Bud and his two sisters, Princess and Kitten.

A major difference between LITB and FKB is that Best has scripts about the adults. LITB does not--all scripts revolve around Wally, Beaver, and/or their friends. We only find out about the adults' lives and personalities incidentally--the story is never about them.

LITB is unique in those times, in that regard--the other kid show, Dennis the Menace, also has scripts about the adults--mostly Wilson.

at least we got great humor from Larry always talking about his sister - the poor girl !