Strange Dialog on "Beaver's Poem" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 02-13-2012, 03:33 AM

No, I don't mean the over-dub of Beaver being in the 3rd grade. The reason for that is the episode was shot at the end of the previous season. To air it with proper chronology, they dubbed 3rd grade over 2nd grade.

Watch the scene with Beaver, Wally, and June in the boy's bedroom and they are all helping make the beds. Wally says, "Hey Mom? How come you're having us make our beds on Saturday? Is company coming or something?"

June says, "No, your father made a special appointment to go down to Beaver's school to talk to Mrs. Rayburn to talk about that poem he wrote, (or didn't write.")

Beaver says, "Dad's gonna talk to Mrs. Rayburn? He's gonna get me in all kinds of trouble!"

June says, "No he isn't Beaver. He's gonna straighten everything out."

The strange thing is, Why would June have the boys make their beds just because Ward went down to the school? That makes no sense! Leave it to Beaver is praised for its brilliant scene writing and continuity in sequence and story telling. However, in this case, making the bed has nothing to do with where Ward is or what he is doing!

Some continuity would be needed after Wally inquires about making the beds. June could say, "Aunt Martha's coming later", or something like that. Than, Beaver or Wally could say, "Where's Dad?" and THAN have June get into the discussion of Ward going down to Beaver's school to talk about the poem.

I think the script wanted Barbara, Jerry, and Tony, to be together to have the discussion about the poem. The writers might have wanted to have June doing something so she's making the beds. One extra line like I said above, would have made the scene perfect.

Jack

tdr · 02-19-2012, 12:48 AM

I agree that question and answer does not make good sense. But I don't have a copy of that ep, and are you sure Wally's line isn't something like "...is Dad bringing company home or something?" Or else, maybe something was just cut out. And, of course, there are almost always omitted lines in an original script, because the writers, directors, and actors know not everything is going to make the final cut, and it's harder to make up or extend a line while shooting than to omit something to bring it down to the proper minutes and seconds; so occasionally there is an example like this that doesn't come out well. There is only so much time to put the whole ep "in the can."

Jack1000 · 02-19-2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

I agree that question and answer does not make good sense. But I don't have a copy of that ep, and are you sure Wally's line isn't something like "...is Dad bringing company home or something?" Or else, maybe something was just cut out. And, of course, there are almost always omitted lines in an original script, because the writers, directors, and actors know not everything is going to make the final cut, and it's harder to make up or extend a line while shooting than to omit something to bring it down to the proper minutes and seconds; so occasionally there is an example like this that doesn't come out well. There is only so much time to put the whole ep "in the can."

When I saw it on the DVD, which is uncut, that is how I remember it. Seems like something got past the post-production crew there. Maybe the script editor did just a little too much on that scene.

Jack

1960'sTVfan · 02-19-2012, 11:54 AM

Maybe June had the boys make their beds and have their room presentable just in case Ward came home after the meeting at school and Mrs. Rayburn was with him. Perhaps that's what the writers had in mind with this particular dialog sequence. June was probably thinking "I'd better have the boys make their beds and straighten their room in case Mrs. Rayburn decides to stop by".

1960'sTVfan · 02-19-2012, 05:02 PM

Another episode with strange dialog is the 3rd season episode School Sweater. In the middle part of the episode, Wally says to his parents that he and Beaver are going to try and dig up the gopher in the yard. The way Wally says that line, you would think the gopher was mentioned earlier in the episode but there is no mention of it. Watching the episode on the DVD, it's difficult to tell if there is anyplace where something might have been edited out.

On the 3rd season DVD, some episodes are close to 26 minutes while some others are only 24:55. I don't know if the shorter episodes have been edited, but the run times do make me skeptical.

Jack1000 · 02-19-2012, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Maybe June had the boys make their beds and have their room presentable just in case Ward came home after the meeting at school and Mrs. Rayburn was with him. Perhaps that's what the writers had in mind with this particular dialog sequence. June was probably thinking "I'd better have the boys make their beds and straighten their room in case Mrs. Rayburn decides to stop by".

LOL!

If you thought Beaver was nervous when Ms. Landers came for dinner, he would be SHOCKED if Ward showed up with Mrs. Raybern......unannounced! Good explanation for the uneven dialog.

Jack

Jack1000 · 02-19-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Another episode with strange dialog is the 3rd season episode School Sweater. In the middle part of the episode, Wally says to his parents that he and Beaver are going to try and dig up the gopher in the yard. The way Wally says that line, you would think the gopher was mentioned earlier in the episode but there is no mention of it. Watching the episode on the DVD, it's difficult to tell if there is anyplace where something might have been edited out.

On the 3rd season DVD, some episodes are close to 26 minutes while some others are only 24:55. I don't know if the shorter episodes have been edited, but the run times do make me skeptical.

I frequent other Leave it to Beaver forums, and there is a Shout Factory rep who said that the DVD's are uncut. It is possible that if there was a "gopher" scene, it might have been edited before release of the episode, maybe because it did not fit anywhere. How long does "School Sweater" run on DVD? This would be a good question for the rep!

Jack

1960'sTVfan · 02-20-2012, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1000

I frequent other Leave it to Beaver forums, and there is a Shout Factory rep who said that the DVD's are uncut. It is possible that if there was a "gopher" scene, it might have been edited before release of the episode, maybe because it did not fit anywhere. How long does "School Sweater" run on DVD? This would be a good question for the rep!

Jack

School Sweater runs about 25:15 on the DVD, so it's possible something is missing because several 3rd season episodes run close to 26 minutes. Years ago when I saw the School Sweater episode in syndication, I seem to recall the gopher in the yard being mentioned early on in the episode. It's been many years and it could also be my imagination, I don't know for sure. But I remain skeptical about the episode run times on the 3rd season DVD. Some episodes are only 24:55 or slightly over 25 minutes while others are close to 26 minutes, that just doesn't sound right.

1960'sTVfan · 02-20-2012, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1000

LOL!

If you thought Beaver was nervous when Ms. Landers came for dinner, he would be SHOCKED if Ward showed up with Mrs. Raybern......unannounced! Good explanation for the uneven dialog.

Jack

Yep June would not want to scare Beaver and have him think Mrs. Rayburn might be coming over, so she just had the boys make their beds without offering an explanation.

tdr · 02-20-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

... you would think the gopher was mentioned earlier in the episode but there is no mention of it.

Somehow that does remind me that gophers were mentioned quite a few times on LITB. In the first season's "Train Trip," the first Mr. Haskell (who played the role as if he were an amateur comedian) is telling Ward the story Beaver and Wally gave the train conductor and he says, "That little Gopher of yours...." In 2nd season, "Beaver's Rabbit," they at first set that trap for what they think is a gopher eating their flowers, and Ward says "Gophers are a bit like boys-- they're very curious." Then, in another 3rd season (I think) ep, Wally is the blind date chairman who arranges Jill Bartlett (Beverly Washburn)'s date with himself, and Eddie describes her as a gopher-- "yeah, she's good-lookin'...if you like gophers!" and Beaver continues to carry that demeaning description on-- "How can you tell is a gopher's having a good time?"

Maybe they stopped bringing up gophers after the 3rd season; or at least I can't remember any such denotation. This may have nothing to do with it, but wasn't Hugh Beaumont from Minnesota-- the "Gopher State?" If it's not just a random animal they thought of to dig up or compare people with, maybe it's the use of the word for a "go-for"-- a worker in an environment like a warehouse or a field who 'goes for' whatever is needed; moving equipment, retrieving parts, banding or packing things...

02-13-2012, 03:33 AM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Strange Dialog on "Beaver's Poem" No, I don't mean the over-dub of Beaver being in the 3rd grade. The reason for that is the episode was shot at the end of the previous season. To air it with proper chronology, they dubbed 3rd grade over 2nd grade. Watch the scene with Beaver, Wally, and June in the boy's bedroom and they are all helping make the beds. Wally says, "Hey Mom? How come you're having us make our beds on Saturday? Is company coming or something?" June says, "No, your father made a special appointment to go down to Beaver's school to talk to Mrs. Rayburn to talk about that poem he wrote, (or didn't write.") Beaver says, "Dad's gonna talk to Mrs. Rayburn? He's gonna get me in all kinds of trouble!" June says, "No he isn't Beaver. He's gonna straighten everything out." The strange thing is, Why would June have the boys make their beds just because Ward went down to the school? That makes no sense! Leave it to Beaver is praised for its brilliant scene writing and continuity in sequence and story telling. However, in this case, making the bed has nothing to do with where Ward is or what he is doing! Some continuity would be needed after Wally inquires about making the beds. June could say, "Aunt Martha's coming later", or something like that. Than, Beaver or Wally could say, "Where's Dad?" and THAN have June get into the discussion of Ward going down to Beaver's school to talk about the poem. I think the script wanted Barbara, Jerry, and Tony, to be together to have the discussion about the poem. The writers might have wanted to have June doing something so she's making the beds. One extra line like I said above, would have made the scene perfect. Jack
	Last edited by Jack1000; 02-16-2012 at 01:23 AM.

02-19-2012, 12:48 AM	#2
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I agree that question and answer does not make good sense. But I don't have a copy of that ep, and are you sure Wally's line isn't something like "...is Dad bringing company home or something?" Or else, maybe something was just cut out. And, of course, there are almost always omitted lines in an original script, because the writers, directors, and actors know not everything is going to make the final cut, and it's harder to make up or extend a line while shooting than to omit something to bring it down to the proper minutes and seconds; so occasionally there is an example like this that doesn't come out well. There is only so much time to put the whole ep "in the can."

02-19-2012, 11:54 AM	#4
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,115	Maybe June had the boys make their beds and have their room presentable just in case Ward came home after the meeting at school and Mrs. Rayburn was with him. Perhaps that's what the writers had in mind with this particular dialog sequence. June was probably thinking "I'd better have the boys make their beds and straighten their room in case Mrs. Rayburn decides to stop by".

02-19-2012, 05:02 PM	#5
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,115	Another episode with strange dialog is the 3rd season episode School Sweater. In the middle part of the episode, Wally says to his parents that he and Beaver are going to try and dig up the gopher in the yard. The way Wally says that line, you would think the gopher was mentioned earlier in the episode but there is no mention of it. Watching the episode on the DVD, it's difficult to tell if there is anyplace where something might have been edited out. On the 3rd season DVD, some episodes are close to 26 minutes while some others are only 24:55. I don't know if the shorter episodes have been edited, but the run times do make me skeptical.