Season 4 Episode 1 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Scrabjan1 · 01-10-2019, 12:41 PM

Usually in a new season for a popular TV show the first episode is a real big deal. You want to keep the audience watching. I think Beaver Won’t Eat was a real disappointment. The next episode Beaver’s House Guest ( Chopper) should have been number 1.

Beaver Won’t Eat was just ridiculous. Making him eat cold sprouts as there was no “radar range.” The restaurant scene was really poorly done. Everybody gets their dinner and Ward is still looking around at the faces of everybody at the table never even considering looking at his dinner. That weird buttinsky lady interfering and some of the patrons staring at their table. That lady in back of Beaver on the wall stares at their table the whole time. Otis offering to change to another vegetable and June saying “no.” The real problem was when you order a meal in a restaurant you always get to choose your type of potato or at least you get to choose your vegetable and there were peas and carrots just plain dumb. They planned it so he would not get to choose his own vegetable. Then he says he can walk home and Wally says he’ll go with him.

I know they tried to teach kids to eat their vegetables but it made J and W look foolish.

stevea · 01-10-2019, 04:06 PM

Yeah I noticed the staring lady at the back wall.

"Mr. Uh Uncle Dave" was the first episode in production number order. "Buttinsky Lady" was number 4. So airing them out of order was ABC's choice, for some reason. I would have chosen "What's That Idiot Doing Up On The Soup Sign?" first, but it probably wasn't filmed yet.

MichaelMartinD · 01-11-2019, 10:41 AM

I agree that Chopper should have been the first episode of the season. ABC really messed up by airing them out of order.

"Beaver Won't Eat" has one funny moment, when Eddie says to Beaver "Hold the fort, kid, they're ready to crack!" (if I remember correctly).

Torgo · 01-11-2019, 12:08 PM

Why didn't Miss Landers come over to the table and say 'Hi' to the Beav?

stevea · 01-11-2019, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrabjan1

Usually in a new season for a popular TV show the first episode is a real big deal. You want to keep the audience watching. I think Beaver Won’t Eat was a real disappointment. The next episode Beaver’s House Guest ( Chopper) should have been number 1.

Beaver Won’t Eat was just ridiculous. Making him eat cold sprouts as there was no “radar range.” The restaurant scene was really poorly done. Everybody gets their dinner and Ward is still looking around at the faces of everybody at the table never even considering looking at his dinner. That weird buttinsky lady interfering and some of the patrons staring at their table. That lady in back of Beaver on the wall stares at their table the whole time. Otis offering to change to another vegetable and June saying “no.” The real problem was when you order a meal in a restaurant you always get to choose your type of potato or at least you get to choose your vegetable and there were peas and carrots just plain dumb. They planned it so he would not get to choose his own vegetable. Then he says he can walk home and Wally says he’ll go with him.

I know they tried to teach kids to eat their vegetables but it made J and W look foolish.

The waitress offered to switch to peas or carrots. Otis did the same. Why would W&J (who were obviously embarrassed, and even said so) reject the offer TWICE? I would have taken it the first time. Ward could have just said, OK Beaver, I'm holding you to your promise. Next time your mother serves sprouts, you'll eat them.

I agree also, even back then, you'd have a choice of vegetables. Even if the sprouts were the vegetable of the day (I can't imagine), the menu would have a few more choices.

The real issue in this episode was June. We had a training class at work years ago, and the instructor's pet phrase was, don't sweat the small stuff. She took a stand, but she went way overboard.

BTW, does anybody really like these things?

Scrabjan1 · 01-11-2019, 05:42 PM

A while ago I bought some sprouts. I steamed them and put butter on them and they were okay. Not very popular though and lousy cold.

What food item can you not eat? I never tried squid or beets but I don’t like them. I only recently started to like asparagus.

stevea · 01-11-2019, 05:45 PM

I don't think I could bring myself to choke down a beet. Another one that was popular in New England, that I wasn't familiar with until a visit with relatives, was kale. UGH!

MichaelMartinD · 01-11-2019, 07:46 PM

Brussels sprouts roasted are not bad at all. Rutebagas and parsnips are excellent underrated vegetables.

stevea · 01-11-2019, 07:49 PM

I'll buy that. I could deal with almost anything but beets. So far no one has come to their defense.

Scrabjan1 · 12-02-2019, 10:27 AM

I still agree with my original post. Didn’t want to start a new “thread” about this weird episode. I also think June went overboard about such a silly request. The weirdest moment was June finally looking down at her plate and Ward’s bobblehead moving back and forth. No one stares at faces when their meal arrives. Those nosy patrons listening to their conversation. Loved seeing Otis and surprised he wasn’t hunched over the bar.

Eddie also walked right into the house without knocking. Why did he ask where Mr. Cleaver was? That was weird.

stevea · 12-02-2019, 07:27 PM

I also noticed Eddie just walking in, and the odd question. Was he casing the joint?

Here's how the first few episodes should have been played by ABC, going by production order:

1. "Beaver's House Guest"
2. "Beaver Becomes A Hero"
3. "Beaver's Freckles"
4. "Beaver Won't Eat"
5. "Beaver's Big Contest"
6. "Wally, the Lifeguard"

Why the suits checking the episodes picked the Brussels sprouts episode as first is beyond me.

CosmicCharlie · 05-17-2026, 04:50 PM

Revisiting- Beaver Won't Eat

June should have told Beaver - eat just one - and let it go - she was at her worst here

At the restaurant, your there to eat what you LIKE - June & Ward were Jerks

If it were me at the house table, I would have eaten a few sprouts and then stuck my finger down my throat and threw up all over the table - but thats just me lol

btw the restaurant food looked gross, the mash potatoes were instant and MUSH, and the Roast Beef looked like Salisbury steak (hamburger)

I'd rate his clunker in the Top 5 Worst

as posted

Why the suits checking the episodes picked the Brussels sprouts episode as first is beyond me

MichaelMartinD · 05-18-2026, 08:09 AM

"At the restaurant, your there to eat what you LIKE - June & Ward were Jerks"

You make a good point. W & J were acting like they were in charge, at their own dinner table! Takes away from the pleasurable experience of dining out.

Tankeryanker · 05-18-2026, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

So far no one has come to their defense.

Thats because I haven't read this one before. The beet cavalry is here.

I LOVE BEET JUICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I juice a beet, oranges and carrots for a yummy morning juice.

I haven't used this yet, but I do have it.

https://sunwarrior.com/products/orga...b2281f06&_ss=r

stevea · 05-18-2026, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tankeryanker

Thats because I haven't read this one before. The beet cavalry is here.

I LOVE BEET JUICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I juice a beet, oranges and carrots for a yummy morning juice.

I haven't used this yet, but I do have it.

https://sunwarrior.com/products/orga...b2281f06&_ss=r

I gotta admit, that does sound good. And you don't have to swallow one of those things.

About the sprouts (re-reading the comments above): Since some of that commentary from 2019, I've been to friends' house for dinner, and the guy is the cook in the house--and whatever he did to the Brussels sprouts they were really good. They were probably roasted as mentioned by Michael Martin.

Another comment about the episode: I think the buttinsky lady was shown as Netta Packer in the cast. I'm wondering if she's related to Doris Packer, who played Mrs. Rayburn.

01-10-2019, 12:41 PM	#1
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Season 4 Episode 1 Usually in a new season for a popular TV show the first episode is a real big deal. You want to keep the audience watching. I think Beaver Won’t Eat was a real disappointment. The next episode Beaver’s House Guest ( Chopper) should have been number 1. Beaver Won’t Eat was just ridiculous. Making him eat cold sprouts as there was no “radar range.” The restaurant scene was really poorly done. Everybody gets their dinner and Ward is still looking around at the faces of everybody at the table never even considering looking at his dinner. That weird buttinsky lady interfering and some of the patrons staring at their table. That lady in back of Beaver on the wall stares at their table the whole time. Otis offering to change to another vegetable and June saying “no.” The real problem was when you order a meal in a restaurant you always get to choose your type of potato or at least you get to choose your vegetable and there were peas and carrots just plain dumb. They planned it so he would not get to choose his own vegetable. Then he says he can walk home and Wally says he’ll go with him. I know they tried to teach kids to eat their vegetables but it made J and W look foolish.

01-11-2019, 12:08 PM	#4
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,017	Why didn't Miss Landers come over to the table and say 'Hi' to the Beav?
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

01-10-2019, 04:06 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,170	Yeah I noticed the staring lady at the back wall. "Mr. Uh Uncle Dave" was the first episode in production number order. "Buttinsky Lady" was number 4. So airing them out of order was ABC's choice, for some reason. I would have chosen "What's That Idiot Doing Up On The Soup Sign?" first, but it probably wasn't filmed yet.

01-11-2019, 10:41 AM	#3
MichaelMartinD Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 23, 2013 Posts: 573	I agree that Chopper should have been the first episode of the season. ABC really messed up by airing them out of order. "Beaver Won't Eat" has one funny moment, when Eddie says to Beaver "Hold the fort, kid, they're ready to crack!" (if I remember correctly).

01-11-2019, 05:42 PM	#6
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	A while ago I bought some sprouts. I steamed them and put butter on them and they were okay. Not very popular though and lousy cold. What food item can you not eat? I never tried squid or beets but I don’t like them. I only recently started to like asparagus.

01-11-2019, 05:45 PM	#7
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,170	I don't think I could bring myself to choke down a beet. Another one that was popular in New England, that I wasn't familiar with until a visit with relatives, was kale. UGH!

01-11-2019, 07:46 PM	#8
MichaelMartinD Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 23, 2013 Posts: 573	Brussels sprouts roasted are not bad at all. Rutebagas and parsnips are excellent underrated vegetables.

01-11-2019, 07:49 PM	#9
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,170	I'll buy that. I could deal with almost anything but beets. So far no one has come to their defense.

12-02-2019, 10:27 AM	#10
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	I still agree with my original post. Didn’t want to start a new “thread” about this weird episode. I also think June went overboard about such a silly request. The weirdest moment was June finally looking down at her plate and Ward’s bobblehead moving back and forth. No one stares at faces when their meal arrives. Those nosy patrons listening to their conversation. Loved seeing Otis and surprised he wasn’t hunched over the bar. Eddie also walked right into the house without knocking. Why did he ask where Mr. Cleaver was? That was weird.

12-02-2019, 07:27 PM	#11
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,170	I also noticed Eddie just walking in, and the odd question. Was he casing the joint? Here's how the first few episodes should have been played by ABC, going by production order: 1. "Beaver's House Guest" 2. "Beaver Becomes A Hero" 3. "Beaver's Freckles" 4. "Beaver Won't Eat" 5. "Beaver's Big Contest" 6. "Wally, the Lifeguard" Why the suits checking the episodes picked the Brussels sprouts episode as first is beyond me.

05-17-2026, 04:50 PM	#12
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,416	Revisiting- Beaver Won't Eat June should have told Beaver - eat just one - and let it go - she was at her worst here At the restaurant, your there to eat what you LIKE - June & Ward were Jerks If it were me at the house table, I would have eaten a few sprouts and then stuck my finger down my throat and threw up all over the table - but thats just me lol btw the restaurant food looked gross, the mash potatoes were instant and MUSH, and the Roast Beef looked like Salisbury steak (hamburger) I'd rate his clunker in the Top 5 Worst as posted Why the suits checking the episodes picked the Brussels sprouts episode as first is beyond me

05-18-2026, 08:09 AM	#13
MichaelMartinD Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 23, 2013 Posts: 573	"At the restaurant, your there to eat what you LIKE - June & Ward were Jerks" You make a good point. W & J were acting like they were in charge, at their own dinner table! Takes away from the pleasurable experience of dining out.