From another thread.

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6020449#post6020449

Both women are portrayed as college-educated, soft, and sometimes almost childish. They are not portrayed as leaders in any sense of the word.

Both can get dressed up and be glamorous and hold their own at a social event.

I think Margaret is the dippier of the two.

What do you think, are they portrayed as normal women for their time, or have they been written to act more childish?

There was an interesting skit on Saturday Night Live years ago that mocked the way June's character was written to portray her as a selfless matriarch, almost to the point of being self destructive. That made me want a wife just like June.

I don't believe that it (the actual program, not the skit) was a realistic portrayal for the period, so much as it was the package the program was trying to sell that "bonne vie" myth to the viewer.

I've often wondered how many Americans might have actually dressed up in suits and pearls just to watch the show, wanting to be a part?

More the merrier https://i.imgur.com/iQ9xwFC.gif

Margaret can be kind of dippy (like when she tried to put one over on the family by acting like she was running a hospital building project).

But as I've written before she'd put on an old dress and bandanna, and crawl around vacuuming. I can see my mother of that time doing the same.

She'd lose patience with the kids at times, and yell at them. Very realistic for the time. But that's of course in the writing.

I think June was vacuuming once, and that was of course with her pearls on. In the older episodes she (and Ward) were more casual, but she became more prim and proper as time went on. She rarely lost her temper, and avoided disciplining for the most part.

So, all in all, I'd say Margaret was a more realistic portrayal.

Margaret who? From what show? I clicked on the links ( and link within the link ) and it basically loops around in a circle.

Margaret who? From what show? I clicked on the links ( and link within the link ) and it basically loops around in a circle.

When you click on a link it takes you to the Father Knows Best forum. That Margaret.

I wish I could watch FKB to see the comparison. As it is, I haven't seen an episode since the 1970s, IIRC.

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=403360

I was watching an episode of Too Close for Comfort recently, in which Mrs. Muriel Rush was vacuuming wearing a nice dress & heels. Of course it could be dismissed as a quick clean-up -- but actually she borrows a sheet from Henry's newspaper, takes out the full bag of dirt, and wraps it (for disposal) while on the floor...! If ever there's a job that calls for old clothes, it's emptying the vacuum cleaner...!

I was watching an episode of Too Close for Comfort recently, in which Mrs. Muriel Rush was vacuuming wearing a nice dress & heels. Of course it could be dismissed as a quick clean-up -- but actually she borrows a sheet from Henry's newspaper, takes out the full bag of dirt, and wraps it (for disposal) while on the floor...! If ever there's a job that calls for old clothes, it's emptying the vacuum cleaner...!

"Honey, I'm all set to go to the dance. How do i look?"

"Oh, you look beautiful, dear. I love that new gown!"

"Now, just let me make a few passes with the vacuum, change the bag, and we'll be on our way."