Substitute Father

[stevea]

I agree about not knowing what some words meant around that age. I remember walking with my dad and I saw a word on a telephone pole and he told me it was a word not to be used, or something to that effect.

And I like this episode but I also like to come up with other ways some episodes could have gone.

[Tankeryanker]

I always seem to miss this one. Maybe I fall asleep or something. I have seen it at least twice

I am okay with Wally trying to act like Ward around June. That is kind of all he knows to do. Its like having training wheels. He will eventually create an adult relationship with his mother on their terms with their own ways of doing things together.

[CosmicCharlie]

Wally's written dialog with June was pathetic, and he reciting it was just as bad. Maybe related to the sit com writer of director ? (Robert Reed would have protested !)

[Scrabjan1]

Aside from what Beaver said to Arthur was the other plot of Wally being in charge. I guess Ward wanted Wally to take care of Beaver so June didn’t have to. Wally was pretty good talking to Miss Landers about how Beaver knows better but he should have inquired about Arthur tripping Beaver which caused the altercation. The worst dialogue was when Wally told June when she’s ready he’ll cut her another piece of meat. She tells Wally to bring the roast into the dining room. Gave Beaver and June a chance to talk. Then Wally walks in with the platter of meat and says he doesn’t know if he can cut it, it’s so big. (Right you need a cutting board)
Huh? He just carved the roast and now it’s smaller. Too funny!

[stevea]

I also thought it was silly dialog when W&J were on the phone and she asked him to bring Wally something special. He asked why and she said she didn't know but because he cut the roast so well.

She didn't know? Beaver had finally told her what happened.

[Scrabjan1]

Yeah the substitute writers wrote Substitute Father. Guess June didn’t want to go into the whole swearing incident on the phone. The funniest part is that Ward isn’t on the phone as he was already home in Minnesota or Michigan working on his tree farm. Hugh always got an early start at the end of the season to go home. Too bad they had Wally say such inane dialogue as it didn’t seem natural. ‘Gee this roast is so big I don’t know if I can carve it.’

[stevea]

This always happens on sitcoms, but when Wally goes to get the roast, he's gone for quite awhile--long enough for Beaver to tell June the story.

June: "Where's Wally? Is he out butchering another cow?"

[Scrabjan1]

That’s a riot. That happens a lot how someone disappears long enough to let the other actors interact. Like in Beaver’s Report Card when Eddie, Lump and Wally come through the door and Wally says he’s going to change his clothes. Why would he do that?

This moment gives Eddie and Lump the opportunity to intercept Beaver’s report card and change the mark. I’m surprised Gilbert didn’t look at his card since the envelope was open. However as I recall our report cards came home in a manila envelope not sealed.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Scrabjan1

That’s a riot. That happens a lot how someone disappears long enough to let the other actors interact. Like in Beaver’s Report Card when Eddie, Lump and Wally come through the door and Wally says he’s going to change his clothes. Why would he do that?

Especially since they ended up not knowing what they were going to do.

Wally might have put on the wrong ensemble.

[Scrabjan1]

Yeah if he came down in Ward’s tuxedo or a bunny suit at least you knew they were headed to a party. Or maybe if he changed into his white shorts and blue sweater with his racquet they were playing tennis. I can see Wally up on the landing changing his shirt waiting for his cue to come back.

[stevea]

They were just going to "mess around."

Eddie: Wait, guys, I need to go home and change, too. But first I need to wipe down the pen in the den.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Scrabjan1

I can see Wally up on the landing changing his shirt waiting for his cue to come back.

I think one time on Father Knows Best the camera caught Lauren Chapin huddled at the top of the stair to nowhere.

[Scrabjan1]

LOL! I never knew that when an actor went up a flight of stairs they were going to a place off stage. My favorite blooper on LITB is that man’s foot in Parking Attendants. (Has since been edited out) and the bony hand on the door in Garage Painters.

[stevea]

I always mention, I think in Wally's Practical Joke, the boys (and I think Eddie) are going upstairs and the camera catches a big boom mike above.

I always say at this point near the end, the film editor just let it go.

[Tankeryanker]

Judy Norton mentions how in the Waltons they would just hug the walls upstairs and wait for the cue to come out as if they were coming out of a room.