Ron Howard's comments on LITB

[MichaelMartinD]

I just picked up a copy of THE BOYS: A MEMOIR OF HOLLYWOOD AND FAMILY by Ron and Clint Howard, published quite recently, in 2021. I did not know about this book but saw a copy at my library's book sale and snapped it up. Lots of interesting material about the filming of TAGS and the relationships with the cast.

However, at one point in the book Ron recalls himself as a child comparing himself to other child actors on TV of the time. I was very dismayed by what he had to say about LITB. Here is the quote:

"I concluded that, in terms of acting prowess, I was second only to Johnny Crawford. Jay North I respected as more or less an equal. The rest? In my cocky state, I concluded that they weren't on my level. Johnny brought a truthfulness to his performance, an honesty that seemed lived in. The actors on Leave It to Beaver, which began in 1957, were hamstrung by how dated their format was. That show struck me as corny, synthetic TV that encouraged a forced, mannered brand of acting."

I am dumbfounded by these remarks and by what Howard could possibly mean by faulting the LITB actors for "forced, mannered" acting. Wasn't the show notable for its low-key, dry humor and understated performances? And what does he mean by LITB having a "dated format"? The show was very up-to-date in its filming style, just as was TAGS. I am very disheartened by Howard's comments and don't understand why he had to include an invidious comparison with LITB in his memoir about TAGS. I will be interested to hear what others think about this.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by MichaelMartinD

I just picked up a copy of THE BOYS: A MEMOIR OF HOLLYWOOD AND FAMILY by Ron and Clint Howard, published quite recently, in 2021. I did not know about this book but saw a copy at my library's book sale and snapped it up. Lots of interesting material about the filming of TAGS and the relationships with the cast.

However, at one point in the book Ron recalls himself as a child comparing himself to other child actors on TV of the time. I was very dismayed by what he had to say about LITB. Here is the quote:

"I concluded that, in terms of acting prowess, I was second only to Johnny Crawford. Jay North I respected as more or less an equal. The rest? In my cocky state, I concluded that they weren't on my level. Johnny brought a truthfulness to his performance, an honesty that seemed lived in. The actors on Leave It to Beaver, which began in 1957, were hamstrung by how dated their format was. That show struck me as corny, synthetic TV that encouraged a forced, mannered brand of acting."

I am dumbfounded by these remarks and by what Howard could possibly mean by faulting the LITB actors for "forced, mannered" acting. Wasn't the show notable for its low-key, dry humor and understated performances? And what does he mean by LITB having a "dated format"? The show was very up-to-date in its filming style, just as was TAGS. I am very disheartened by Howard's comments and don't understand why he had to include an invidious comparison with LITB in his memoir about TAGS. I will be interested to hear what others think about this.

He did say in his cocky state. I think LITB was always praised by how natural the kid actors where. I always thought LITB and TAGS were pretty close in quality.

[stevea]

He seems to be describing what he thought of himself at the time. I suppose as time went on and TAGS, and maybe he, got more accolades, it could swell a kid actor's head. Just as could be and was written into sitcom scripts, such as when a kid makes a winning touchdown.

That said, there's no reason to think he doesn't still hold that "swelled head" opinion.

I'm not sure what he means by a dated format. It's a single camera sitcom with a laugh track, as was TAGS. He doesn't appear to be saying it's a product of its time; if he were, it's true of both shows.

With regard to to his comparisons of the specific talents of the kid actors he mentions, I'd say they all, including Ron, are about on a par with each other. We all know Howard's standout scenes, like in the bird episode. I could point out Mathers' outstanding scenes, too--such as an escalating frenzy Beaver went into when fleeing from the dinner table, about his freckles. And there are tit-for-tat others. Ron places himself on a par with Jay North (they acted together in the first season of Dennis the Menace); surely he doesn't give Jay more prowess than Mathers (he groups all the LITB actors together). That's flat out wrong.

As all four grew older in their roles I think their performances aged away from the cute kid personas, and by time they all reached their final seasons, they were pretty much still on a par.

And Clint, younger than all of them--I'm not as familiar with him, as his main show, Gentle Ben, has kind of faded from memory. He had extra roles in TAGS--not enough to judge from. I don't know how Ron would rate him--even though it's his brother, I'm sure, in Ron's mind, Ron is still at the top of the group.

[vitoscotti]

It's sort of refreshing to hear someone like Ron Howard to actually give an honest opinion about his and his contemporaries acting abilities. I'd rather hear an honest opinion than today's fake praising everyone in fear of getting cancelled.

[Duster76]

Let's state this plainly, Ron Howard has no right to compare himself with Jay North, Johnny Crawford, Jerry Mathers or Tony Dow, his character was not a lead character. North was playing the lead character, Dennis the Menace depended on his performance. Jerry Mathers was playing the lead character, LITB depended on his performance and the performance of Tony Dow. Johnny Crawford while not playing the lead character had the second most important role on the show, his performance was critical to the success of The Rifleman. Howard was a flop when he played the lead character in Happy Days, his role was reduced with Henry Winkler taking over the lead.

Howard was good in TAGS but Opie was not the lead character, that a whole different level of acting and he never demonstrated he could pull that off.

[biffbronson]

Ron stating "how dated their format was" when commenting on LITB is ironic, because that series was actually innovative for TV by taking the children's perspective -- something that hadn't been done when series like Ozzie & Harriet, Father Knows Best, and Make Room for Daddy were formulated.

Anyway, generally I think it's bad form for someone in the entertainment industry to call into question or even denigrate other entertainers' work or talents. One could argue that there were far more "corny" aspects of Happy Days than LITB, although likely Ron's take is that in a way HD was satirizing the "dated" way of life that took place in late '50s/early '60s U.S.

Either way, if one finds a series "corny" it has much more to do with the creators & writers than the actors. Roy Clark & Buck Owens were great musicians on the corny Hee Haw for example.

[ThisLittlePiggy]

I would like to have more context for this quote. Without further context at this point, I'm not crazy about his comments on Leave it to Beaver.

[MichaelMartinD]

Originally Posted by stevea

He seems to be describing what he thought of himself at the time. I suppose as time went on and TAGS, and maybe he, got more accolades, it could swell a kid actor's head. Just as could be and was written into sitcom scripts, such as when a kid makes a winning touchdown.

That said, there's no reason to think he doesn't still hold that "swelled head" opinion.

He at least strongly implies that he still thinks this way about LITB; he never says that his views changed. And in the entirety of the book Jerry Mathers is mentioned in passing one other time, Tony Dow never, nor anyone else from LITB.

[MichaelMartinD]

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

I would like to have more context for this quote. Without further context at this point, I'm not crazy about his comments on Leave it to Beaver.

The quote comes in the context of Howard reminiscing about how his confidence and knowledge - and cockiness - as a child actor grew as he continued his work on TAGS and other shows and movies. He had previously mentioned hanging out and forming a friendship with Jay North.

To me, his statements about LITB could not be more wrongheaded. Howard misses the irony that often underlay the supposed "corniness" of the show as well as how innovative the show was. And good points made about the difference between being a lead and being a supporting player. For my money Mathers showed far greater range than Howard. I'm amazed that Howard can denigrate LITB and at the same time speak favorably of DENNIS THE MENACE. OK, so he was friends with Jay North and not apparently with Jerry Mathers, but let's keep a sense of proportion here. Howard should be in the business of celebrating the early sitcom in general, not finding fault and making criticisms that are to my mind misinformed. At least, Howard could have provided a more balanced critique from the point of view of himself as an adult. The comments seem slightly self-serving to me.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

I don't think Mathers or LITB ever got as pukey as latter-day Andy Griffith or Happy Days, or Howard in them. He never rose an inch above the level of those shows in their declining years.

The actors on Leave It to Beaver, which began in 1957, were hamstrung by how dated their format was. That show struck me as corny, synthetic TV that encouraged a forced, mannered brand of acting

I think that I understand what he's saying here: I think that Andy Griffith and Dick van Dyke Show were written at a more sophisticated level than what came before. That doesn't mean the actors couldn't be above that level. I think all the extended kids cast on LITB was above that level.

[ThisLittlePiggy]

Originally Posted by MichaelMartinD

The quote comes in the context of Howard reminiscing about how his confidence and knowledge - and cockiness - as a child actor grew as he continued his work on TAGS and other shows and movies. He had previously mentioned hanging out and forming a friendship with Jay North.

To me, his statements about LITB could not be more wrongheaded. Howard misses the irony that often underlay the supposed "corniness" of the show as well as how innovative the show was. And good points made about the difference between being a lead and being a supporting player. For my money Mathers showed far greater range than Howard. I'm amazed that Howard can denigrate LITB and at the same time speak favorably of DENNIS THE MENACE. OK, so he was friends with Jay North and not apparently with Jerry Mathers, but let's keep a sense of proportion here. Howard should be in the business of celebrating the early sitcom in general, not finding fault and making criticisms that are to my mind misinformed. At least, Howard could have provided a more balanced critique from the point of view of himself as an adult. The comments seem slightly self-serving to me.

Wow. Well, now that I have some context, I'm surprised Ron Howard would have said what he did. I agree with your points. So he's friends with Jay North. Glad to hear it. But why disparage the Beaver Boys? He's really wrong for that. And he's not right either. (I always knew Opie was kind of a brat!)

[TSMIV]

Ron's just trying to keep his progressive-liberal credibility by dissing LITB (it's their favorite show to trash) and he's probably never seen more than a few minutes of LITB. Frankly, none of these old guys should be dissing each other's work since the ever shrinking fanbase for all of these shows are the same people. Maybe Jerry made more money per episode than Ron did and he's still jealous!

[stevea]

It's not an honest assessment, since he places himself on a par with Jay North because they worked together and became friends.

I agree, he's probably seen very little LITB; surprisingly, he's evidently seen quite a bit of The Rifleman.

[ThisLittlePiggy]

Wally was a heartthrob. I don't think Richie Cunningham was. It could be some sort of jealousy. LOL

[stevea]

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

Wally was a heartthrob. I don't think Richie Cunningham was. It could be some sort of jealousy. LOL

Jealousy could be his middle name. I'd imagine Henry Winkler isn't one of his favorite people, either.