What are your top 10 episodes?

[MichaelMartinD]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this board. I wanted to share my current top ten favorite LITB episodes. (Mind you, the list is always changing, since I keep revisiting this wonderful show on DVD!). The list is in roughly chronological order.

1. "Most Interesting Character": Love the heartwarming moment at the end when Ward reads Beaver's essay.

2. "Mother's Day Composition": A rare June-centered episode, in some ways June's equivalent of "Most Interesting Character".

3. "Larry Hides Out": A great example of what made LITB so great: thanks to superb writing and acting, a mundane situation (Larry runs away from home and hides in the Cleavers' bathtub) becomes a hilarious caper story. And we get some great Larry/Ms. Mondello interactions!

4. "Beaver's Dance": Makes an interesting philosophical point: sometimes the most significant experiences we have as children are those which take place outside of the structures and strictures imposed by adults.

5. "Wally and Dudley": The story of Dudley, a "different" sort of kid who doesn't fit in but who has a secret talent, is touching. I always sort of identified with Dudley.

6. "In the Soup": How could I leave off this classic? Great on all levels: plot, visuals, acting.

7. “Beaver's Doll Buggy”: Don't ask me why, but I've always found this episode charming and well-written.

8. "Tennis, Anyone?": One of Wally's more "mature" episodes, a great love triangle story well plotted and written.

9. "The Parking Attendants": This one is brimming with great social satire, especially from Eddie and the Rutherfords.

10. "Box Office Attraction": Another of Wally's "mature" episodes, and a superb one which pushed the thematic envelope for LITB.

[Scrabjan1]

Hi Michael I'm new to Sitcoms Online but not new to Beaver, which I've loved for many many years.

I agree with 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10. I think one of my favorites is Most Interesting Character and how Ward reads that composition at the breakfast table. I would include Beaver's Short Pants for that ending when Beaver kisses Ward but I can't endure poor Beaver having to eat lunch in that broom closet. Poor kid was tortured.

I liked any episode where a social subject was featured like you mentioned Box Office Attraction.

I like Beaver and Andy especially and the one with Chopper Cooper staying the weekend. I also like any episode where Eddie is featured so I love Summer in Alaska, Eddie Quits School and Eddie Moves Out. Ken Osmond saved the show in the 6th season and I always loved Hugh he had some great lines.

[MMR]

Here we go, my personal top ten, in reverse order.

Didn't include "In the Soup" but that doesn't mean it or any other episode isn't great.

10. "Party Invitation" - Something about a second-grade boy at an all-girl party. If this had happened in the eighth grade he might have enjoyed the experience.

9. "Farewell to Penny" - I think just about every grammar school boy knew a girl like Penny.

8. "Wally and Dudley" - I was rooting for Dudley all through this one.

7. "Un-Togetherness" - Wally backed out of a family vacation because he wanted to be around Lori Ann. But it turns out Lori Ann is going on a family vacation and knew she'd offend her mother by not going.

6. "The Book Report" - Gilbert at his best, and a lecture by Mrs. Rayburn.

5. "Music Lesson" - Ward learns a lesson in this one. He realizes he made a fuss about Wally on the baseball team and Beaver didn't want to disappoint.

4, "Part-Time Genius" - Interesting, the "smart" kid in the school didn't want a fuss about him. In one of the later season episodes Beaver and friends wanted to do well on the I.Q. test so they wouldn't be sent away to another school.

3. "Larry's Club" - Memorable lecture by Ward about the reasons for forming or not forming a club.

2. "The Visiting Aunts" - The boys learn that family comes first, even over going to the carnival with friends.

1. "Sweatshirt Monsters" - My favorite scene, with Beaver in the monster sweatshirt and close-ups of his three friends in school shirts laughing at him. Plus *two* great lectures by Ward, one when he's still angry, one when he's cooled down.

[Scrabjan1]

How could I forget Music Lesson and that same tune Beaver plays over and over. I think Mr. Willets (Willet) should have encouraged Beaver a bit more and maybe talked to his parents about taking lessons outside of school like Whitey. He had potential and never squeaked the clarinet.

[MMR]

Originally Posted by Scrabjan1

How could I forget Music Lesson and that same tune Beaver plays over and over. I think Mr. Willets (Willet) should have encouraged Beaver a bit more and maybe talked to his parents about taking lessons outside of school like Whitey. He had potential and never squeaked the clarinet.

Now that you mention "Music Lesson," one of the later season episodes, "The Younger Brother," was on the same idea. Beaver tried out for the park basketball program, didn't perform well, and left the program by "mutual agreement" the first day. But he didn't tell Ward, who dropped by to see him play and was told about the situation in front of Fred.

[Torgo]

In no order:

Bachelor at Large
Box Office Attraction
Beaver Takes a Bath
Beaver's Long Night
Beaver's Old Buddy
The Pipe
Beaver Plays Hooky
Larry's Club
The Haunted House
Train Trip

[CanICallYouDad]

I can't name 10

1) Eddie's Girl
2) Wally's Suit ?
3) Train Trip

will add to as I check them out

[RetroGuy2000]

Lots of good ones, but the bowl of soup episode sticks out in my mind as the funniest "Beaver" moment.

[Cincy Guy]

"Beaver and Andy" should be on the list. It is hard to deal with the subject of alcoholism especially in a sitcom that features children. That was especially true at the time this aired - February, 1960, but it was done by all with taste and dignity.

[Sweathog]

1. The Sweatshirt Monsters
2. Uncle Billy
3. Uncle Billy's Visit
4. The School Picture
5. The Hypnotist
6. The Book Report
7. Tell It To Ella
8. Ward's Baseball
9. Long Distance Call
10. Beaver, The Hero

[Scrabjan1]

There are so many good ones but I'll mention a few I liked.

Beaver and Andy
The Grass is Always Greener
Beaver's Short Pants
Eddie's Credit Card
Larry Hides Out
Found Money
June's Birthday
Wally's Birthday (when Beaver bought the bow and arrow)
Voodoo Magic
Box Office Attraction
I think my all time favorite episode is Most Interesting Character because of that composition that Ward reads at the table.

[Scrabjan1]

Originally Posted by MMR

Now that you mention "Music Lesson," one of the later season episodes, "The Younger Brother," was on the same idea. Beaver tried out for the park basketball program, didn't perform well, and left the program by "mutual agreement" the first day. But he didn't tell Ward, who dropped by to see him play and was told about the situation in front of Fred.

Kind of reminded me also of Beaver's Skates when he bought those skates and instead of telling Ward they were too big he pretended to be going to the skating rink until Ward caught him in a lie.