Beaver the Athlete - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Waterston_Fan · 11-27-2007, 02:39 PM

Just saw this episode.. I liked it.

I don't understand how June can overlook the D in physical Education...

I liked Ward showing Beaver how to do the somersaults.. hehe... I am suprised that June would let Ward work with Beaver till nightfall!! What is wrong with her!!

Also, I don't understand the time either and Ward coming home.. Ward came home at 7:45? And he tells Beaver when they find him it's 8:15? What? I think there was a blooper with the time... Doesn't make any sense...

I liked the part where Ward carried Beaver to his room and their talk before that.

Do you guys think Ward was too hard on Beaver about his D?

I don't.

Why did Wally have to say he 'dad was yelling at the Beaver,' He does that I've just noticed and to me Ward wasn't yelling at Beaver but just asking questions.

Janice · 11-28-2007, 01:18 AM

I enjoyed the episode too. I think it was strange of June, for asking Ward to not say anything to Beaver about the D on his report card. A D is a D is a D, even if it's surrounded by As and Bs. I didn't get that one at all. I noticed the time thing. I guess Ward worked late, or a blooper.

I don't think Ward was hard on Beaver at all about the D. He was very understanding and not tough enough. The episode had a nice little moral message as many of the shows did. Beaver found out the hard way that he can't joke his way out of situations for long, as he tried to at baseball practice. It was hilarious how Judy made fun of Beaver, lol. Being from Boston, I loved the Ted William's reference by Ward.

tdr · 11-28-2007, 05:32 PM

All this goes along with Beaver's character flaw of having a great fear of being the one picked on, the one different. He tries to turn being the poorest hitter into being the biggest clown, when he doesn't even know he would be the poorest hitter. Judy is an almost impossible character to like, but you can't deny she had Beaver pegged here... "Are you doing that because you're trying to be funny? or are you doing it because you're not any good?" But it is believable that Beaver would go secretly to 'practice' his hitting and disregard the time because of his fear of being the back end of a horse. Once when I was 9 or 10 I didn't know how to skate, but I said I would go with this group of guys, and for a week I put on some old skates that had belonged to my sister and 'skated' on our small patio, where no one could see me except family. It was for that same reason; I didn't want to be the only one who couldn't skate well enough to make laps around the rink. For the most part it worked; I fell down 6 or 7 times, but the other guys fell down 3, 4 or 5.

But I agree that June shouldn't have wanted to just ignore that Beaver got a D in anything, and was more concerned about him getting dirty than about improving his grade and his coordination... like she was once greatly concerned when Wally was playing baseball against a team that had a 1st baseman who had been sick recently; she wanted him to stay well away from him, and Wally said, "Well, gee Mom, if you hit the ball you have to run the bases." And referring to getting sick.. Ward comments that the way Beaver was sweating in the cool air when he found him, it will be a 'wonder' if he doesn't get pneumonia. Yeah, sure! Even today many people still have such ideas about what causes various illnesses. If Beaver had the pneumacoccal infection, it wouldn't matter what he was doing if he didn't take antibiotics or something to kill it. If he did not, he was actually less likely to contract it by being alone than by being in a crowd.

I don't remember the reference to Ted Williams by Ward, but he was still the biggest name in baseball then, though near the end of his career. And this was probably filmed in 1958, the last year he won a batting title, at age 40. Are you sure the Boston Red Sox were really vicitim of the "curse of the bambino" or was it the curse of Ted Williams, since they finally did win a World Series (and now another) after he croaked? [that's a joke all the way

]

Janice · 11-29-2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

Are you sure the Boston Red Sox were really vicitim of the "curse of the bambino" or was it the curse of Ted Williams, since they finally did win a World Series (and now another) after he croaked? [that's a joke all the way

]

Interesting theory.

Janice · 12-01-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

Why did Wally have to say he 'dad was yelling at the Beaver,' He does that I've just noticed and to me Ward wasn't yelling at Beaver but just asking questions.

I just watched the episode where Wally and Beaver stay home alone, while their parents go away for the night. The tub overflows and damages the ceiling. At one point in the episode, Ward asked Wally a question about Beaver, over the phone, and Wally stated that, "Mom already hollered at him about that." It simply wasn't true. June never scolded, raised her voice or anything remotely close to hollering. It seems to be an odd figure of speech for Wally.

Waterston_Fan · 12-01-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I just watched the episode where Wally and Beaver stay home alone, while their parents go away for the night. The tub overflows and damages the ceiling. At one point in the episode, Ward asked Wally a question about Beaver, over the phone, and Wally stated that, "Mom already hollered at him about that." It simply wasn't true. June never scolded, raised her voice or anything remotely close to hollering. It seems to be an odd figure of speech for Wally.

Yes it sure is!!! Kinda annoying too...

I don't hear it on other TV shows either.

Janice · 12-01-2007, 07:09 PM

There was an odd exchange on the overflowing tub episode. At the breakfast table, while June was preparing the meal, Wally asked his father if he could get a monkey. Ward acted like Wally had just commented on the weather, and said, "No". Wally told Ward that in that case, he wouldn't save his allowance to buy one.

It had no significance to the episode whatsoever. I haven't seen nearly enough episodes to know if that's a running gag or something, but it sure was strange.

Janice · 12-14-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

I don't remember the reference to Ted Williams by Ward, but he was still the biggest name in baseball then, though near the end of his career. And this was probably filmed in 1958, the last year he won a batting title, at age 40.

I watched the episode from 1960, Beaver's Library Book. The final scene was with Wally and Beaver. Wally was holding a basketball and made a nice comment about Bob Cousy, who as you probably know, played for the Boston Celtics, (1950-1963).

With the Ted Williams, and now the Bob Cousy reference, I'm starting to wonder if someone on the show (actor, director, producer, writer, etc.) had ties to Boston. I know that Mayfield was a fictional town, but are we ever given a clue to the geographical location? It could be a coincidence, but it has me thinking.

tdr · 12-14-2007, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

...Wally asked his father if he could get a monkey. Ward acted like Wally had just commented on the weather, and said, "No". Wally told Ward that in that case, he wouldn't save his allowance to buy one.

It had no significance to the episode whatsoever. I haven't seen nearly enough episodes to know if that's a running gag or something, but it sure was strange.

You say this as if you have not seen the episode "Beaver's Monkey," in which Beaver does get a monkey named Stanley. No, getting a monkey is not a running joke, but I think it's right there in the 3rd season eps TVLand is showing now that this ep appears; and in case you haven't seen it I won't spoil it for you

.

As for references to Boston sports personalities, I think they were just going with big names. Also mentioned at times on LITB are Johnny Unitas, Warren Spahn, the Green Bay Packers and the Lakers, and Beaver and 2 buddies got in trouble for calling Don Drysdale long distance.

Janice · 12-14-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

You say this as if you have not seen the episode "Beaver's Monkey," in which Beaver does get a monkey named Stanley. No, getting a monkey is not a running joke, but I think it's right there in the 3rd season eps TVLand is showing now that this ep appears; and in case you haven't seen it I won't spoil it for you

.

No, I haven't seen that episode. Given that, it's understandable that such an exchange would seem off-the-wall. I didn't know the show made references to previous shows, in that manner or degree anyway. You can spoil it for me if you want.

Janice · 12-14-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

As for references to Boston sports personalities, I think they were just going with big names. Also mentioned at times on LITB are Johnny Unitas, Warren Spahn, the Green Bay Packers and the Lakers, and Beaver and 2 buddies got in trouble for calling Don Drysdale long distance.

There goes my big theory.

Torgo · 12-19-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

There was an odd exchange on the overflowing tub episode. At the breakfast table, while June was preparing the meal, Wally asked his father if he could get a monkey. Ward acted like Wally had just commented on the weather, and said, "No". Wally told Ward that in that case, he wouldn't save his allowance to buy one.

It had no significance to the episode whatsoever. I haven't seen nearly enough episodes to know if that's a running gag or something, but it sure was strange.

There are various episodes where Wally will ask one of the parents for something, or permission to do something- like asking if he can get a tattoo.

Waterston_Fan · 12-19-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

There are various episodes where Wally will ask one of the parents for something, or permission to do something- like asking if he can get a tattoo.

Usually when he asks one parent for something, depending on what it is, they say, they will need to talk about it...

Like if Beaver asked June if he can go somewhere, she would tell him that she would have to talk to Ward. Or if Ward is being asked he would say he would have to talk to June.

11-27-2007, 02:39 PM	#1
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	Beaver the Athlete Just saw this episode.. I liked it. I don't understand how June can overlook the D in physical Education... I liked Ward showing Beaver how to do the somersaults.. hehe... I am suprised that June would let Ward work with Beaver till nightfall!! What is wrong with her!! Also, I don't understand the time either and Ward coming home.. Ward came home at 7:45? And he tells Beaver when they find him it's 8:15? What? I think there was a blooper with the time... Doesn't make any sense... I liked the part where Ward carried Beaver to his room and their talk before that. Do you guys think Ward was too hard on Beaver about his D? I don't. Why did Wally have to say he 'dad was yelling at the Beaver,' He does that I've just noticed and to me Ward wasn't yelling at Beaver but just asking questions.

11-28-2007, 01:18 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I enjoyed the episode too. I think it was strange of June, for asking Ward to not say anything to Beaver about the D on his report card. A D is a D is a D, even if it's surrounded by As and Bs. I didn't get that one at all. I noticed the time thing. I guess Ward worked late, or a blooper. I don't think Ward was hard on Beaver at all about the D. He was very understanding and not tough enough. The episode had a nice little moral message as many of the shows did. Beaver found out the hard way that he can't joke his way out of situations for long, as he tried to at baseball practice. It was hilarious how Judy made fun of Beaver, lol. Being from Boston, I loved the Ted William's reference by Ward.

11-28-2007, 05:32 PM	#3
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	All this goes along with Beaver's character flaw of having a great fear of being the one picked on, the one different. He tries to turn being the poorest hitter into being the biggest clown, when he doesn't even know he would be the poorest hitter. Judy is an almost impossible character to like, but you can't deny she had Beaver pegged here... "Are you doing that because you're trying to be funny? or are you doing it because you're not any good?" But it is believable that Beaver would go secretly to 'practice' his hitting and disregard the time because of his fear of being the back end of a horse. Once when I was 9 or 10 I didn't know how to skate, but I said I would go with this group of guys, and for a week I put on some old skates that had belonged to my sister and 'skated' on our small patio, where no one could see me except family. It was for that same reason; I didn't want to be the only one who couldn't skate well enough to make laps around the rink. For the most part it worked; I fell down 6 or 7 times, but the other guys fell down 3, 4 or 5. But I agree that June shouldn't have wanted to just ignore that Beaver got a D in anything, and was more concerned about him getting dirty than about improving his grade and his coordination... like she was once greatly concerned when Wally was playing baseball against a team that had a 1st baseman who had been sick recently; she wanted him to stay well away from him, and Wally said, "Well, gee Mom, if you hit the ball you have to run the bases." And referring to getting sick.. Ward comments that the way Beaver was sweating in the cool air when he found him, it will be a 'wonder' if he doesn't get pneumonia. Yeah, sure! Even today many people still have such ideas about what causes various illnesses. If Beaver had the pneumacoccal infection, it wouldn't matter what he was doing if he didn't take antibiotics or something to kill it. If he did not, he was actually less likely to contract it by being alone than by being in a crowd. I don't remember the reference to Ted Williams by Ward, but he was still the biggest name in baseball then, though near the end of his career. And this was probably filmed in 1958, the last year he won a batting title, at age 40. Are you sure the Boston Red Sox were really vicitim of the "curse of the bambino" or was it the curse of Ted Williams, since they finally did win a World Series (and now another) after he croaked? [that's a joke all the way ]

12-01-2007, 07:09 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	There was an odd exchange on the overflowing tub episode. At the breakfast table, while June was preparing the meal, Wally asked his father if he could get a monkey. Ward acted like Wally had just commented on the weather, and said, "No". Wally told Ward that in that case, he wouldn't save his allowance to buy one. It had no significance to the episode whatsoever. I haven't seen nearly enough episodes to know if that's a running gag or something, but it sure was strange.