Episode Reviews - 36th - 39th episodes produced - season 6 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stevea · 03-19-2026, 06:17 PM

Production No. 16187 - "Wally's Practical Joke"

Wally and Eddie are about to leave the Cleaver driveway, in Eddie's car, to go over to Mary Ellen's--"where all the chicks are," according to Eddie. Eddie starts his car and a cherry bomb explodes in his engine. Eddie is irritated, but Wally thinks it's a harmless, funny joke. They see Lumpy running away, laughing.

They transfer to Wally's car--and--same thing. Now Eddie sees the humor, but later, he and Wally, with Beaver there in the boys' room also, plot revenge. They toss out varying ideas, but Eddie comes up with the harmless idea of tying a chain to Lumpy's rear axle, so he just burns rubber in the Rutherford driveway, going nowhere.

After Eddie and Wally rig the chain, they run to a neighbor's house--Eddie faking Julie's voice, asking Lumpy to come over. Then they run back to watch the action, or lack thereof.

Instead of burning rubber, the chain holds and the axle separates from the car. After Lumpy screams for daddy, Fred comes out and finds the chain, with the Cleaver name on it. Later, Fred presents the evidence to Ward, and Wally offers to repair the car, with Eddie grudgingly going along with the idea. After some comedic mishaps, the job is done.

As the episode closes, Beaver has rigged Wally's bed to collapse as he lies down on it.

Production No. 16188 - "The All-Night Party"

It's high school graduation time, and the gang is having an all-night party at the country club. Eventually, Wally convinces Ward and June to let him go to it, with his date, Kathy Gregory. But first he must convince Kathy's grumpy, strict father to go along with it. After Wally's visit, he okays her going to the party.

After a few shots of the party, we focus on the gang leaving. Outside, a drunk staggers around, and pushes Kathy into a fountain--she's not injured, but is soaked. Later, Wally tries to explain to her father what happened, but he throws Wally out and grounds Kathy. After things calm down the next day, Wally goes over and calmly explains what happened, to Mr. Gregory's satisfaction.

Production No. 16189 - "Beaver Sees America"

The Cleavers want to send Beaver on a bus tour of the country, but after a visit to his girlfriend, Mary Margaret, Beaver wants to stay home. It appeared they were about to kiss on her porch swing, when Gilbert interrupted. He offered to teach her how to water ski, cementing Beaver's feelings even more.

Later Beaver confesses to Wally why he doesn't want to go. He tells Beaver she's batting in the World Series while he's still in the pony leagues. Irritated, he tells Wally she's a nice girl. Eddie stops by, and advises Beaver to tell his parents he'll be homesick.

Wally advises Ward and June what Beaver has been up to, and that Mary Margaret is an operator who has both Beaver and Gilbert panting over her.

Next day, Ward has lunch with Gilbert's father and convinces him to send Gilbert on the bus tour, too. This convinces both boys to take the trip together.

Production No. 16190 - "Family Scrapbook"

To close the series, the Cleavers look through a scrapbook, and we see various scenes of the boys growing up over the years. It's the first scripted series to have a definite final episode. Airdate: June 20, 1963.

biffbronson · 03-20-2026, 05:35 PM

"Wally's Practical Joke" -- I found this episode to be remarkably funny and as having the perpetrators pulling one of the most malicious acts ever portrayed in a sitcom -- especially considering they pranked one of their closest friends...! Justified to some extent though as it was retaliatory and the result was not as anticipated.

The faking of Julie's voice and Lumpy's response to the call were particularly hilarious.

03-19-2026, 06:17 PM	#1
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,056	Episode Reviews - 36th - 39th episodes produced - season 6 Production No. 16187 - "Wally's Practical Joke" Wally and Eddie are about to leave the Cleaver driveway, in Eddie's car, to go over to Mary Ellen's--"where all the chicks are," according to Eddie. Eddie starts his car and a cherry bomb explodes in his engine. Eddie is irritated, but Wally thinks it's a harmless, funny joke. They see Lumpy running away, laughing. They transfer to Wally's car--and--same thing. Now Eddie sees the humor, but later, he and Wally, with Beaver there in the boys' room also, plot revenge. They toss out varying ideas, but Eddie comes up with the harmless idea of tying a chain to Lumpy's rear axle, so he just burns rubber in the Rutherford driveway, going nowhere. After Eddie and Wally rig the chain, they run to a neighbor's house--Eddie faking Julie's voice, asking Lumpy to come over. Then they run back to watch the action, or lack thereof. Instead of burning rubber, the chain holds and the axle separates from the car. After Lumpy screams for daddy, Fred comes out and finds the chain, with the Cleaver name on it. Later, Fred presents the evidence to Ward, and Wally offers to repair the car, with Eddie grudgingly going along with the idea. After some comedic mishaps, the job is done. As the episode closes, Beaver has rigged Wally's bed to collapse as he lies down on it. Production No. 16188 - "The All-Night Party" It's high school graduation time, and the gang is having an all-night party at the country club. Eventually, Wally convinces Ward and June to let him go to it, with his date, Kathy Gregory. But first he must convince Kathy's grumpy, strict father to go along with it. After Wally's visit, he okays her going to the party. After a few shots of the party, we focus on the gang leaving. Outside, a drunk staggers around, and pushes Kathy into a fountain--she's not injured, but is soaked. Later, Wally tries to explain to her father what happened, but he throws Wally out and grounds Kathy. After things calm down the next day, Wally goes over and calmly explains what happened, to Mr. Gregory's satisfaction. Production No. 16189 - "Beaver Sees America" The Cleavers want to send Beaver on a bus tour of the country, but after a visit to his girlfriend, Mary Margaret, Beaver wants to stay home. It appeared they were about to kiss on her porch swing, when Gilbert interrupted. He offered to teach her how to water ski, cementing Beaver's feelings even more. Later Beaver confesses to Wally why he doesn't want to go. He tells Beaver she's batting in the World Series while he's still in the pony leagues. Irritated, he tells Wally she's a nice girl. Eddie stops by, and advises Beaver to tell his parents he'll be homesick. Wally advises Ward and June what Beaver has been up to, and that Mary Margaret is an operator who has both Beaver and Gilbert panting over her. Next day, Ward has lunch with Gilbert's father and convinces him to send Gilbert on the bus tour, too. This convinces both boys to take the trip together. Production No. 16190 - "Family Scrapbook" To close the series, the Cleavers look through a scrapbook, and we see various scenes of the boys growing up over the years. It's the first scripted series to have a definite final episode. Airdate: June 20, 1963.

03-20-2026, 05:35 PM	#2
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,579	"Wally's Practical Joke" -- I found this episode to be remarkably funny and as having the perpetrators pulling one of the most malicious acts ever portrayed in a sitcom -- especially considering they pranked one of their closest friends...! Justified to some extent though as it was retaliatory and the result was not as anticipated. The faking of Julie's voice and Lumpy's response to the call were particularly hilarious.