Jerry Mathers on how the first show was almost banned from the airwaves - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmoopie · 07-11-2019, 06:46 AM

Interesting interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul1dZ0eRVcY

CosmicCharlie · 07-18-2019, 09:20 PM

The Beav is still cool ! I'd like to meet him ... !

Good Find

Scrabjan1 · 07-19-2019, 07:54 AM

Unfortunately Jerry wasn’t always the best source of Beaver info. Sometimes he got all the facts wrong and it was printed in his book. He maybe should watch the episodes like Rusty did. He loves telling that toilet tank story.

stevea · 07-19-2019, 08:04 AM

That, and the most interesting character essay, are etched in his mind.

Then he bungles stuff, like the (incorrect) "fact" that we don't know Miss Landers' first name.

It fascinates me when people aren't fans of their own show. Like Marlo Thomas and her "commentaries" on the That Girl DVDs. Such interesting comments as "I haven't seen this in years."

Scrabjan1 · 07-19-2019, 03:32 PM

Are you saying Marlo Thomas hasn’t a clue about That Girl. I never really watched it. Her voice bothered me.

I saw an interview with Jerry and Tony and Jerry monopolizes the conversation telling those stale anecdotes about the first show to let a toilet pass the censors and how Ken took a bullet as a cop. I think his memory is gone whereas Rusty’s is great. I wonder if Jerry would have recognized Sue Randall, probably not. I like on the 50th anniversary interview with the cast and the rumor that Eddie and June had married, how Ken said he would have married Barbara in a minute.

stevea · 07-19-2019, 03:44 PM

Maybe Rusty's memories are fonder (and more accurate) because he actually got out when he wanted to. Jerry stayed on, but in the last half of the series, he was just going through the motions.

Marlo shouldn't have done commentaries on "her" show. She really added nothing--laughed a few times, and made comments about being unfamiliar with the episode. The producer with her, Bill Persky, was way more interesting.

They should have brought Rusty in to do commentaries on the first three seasons of LITB, on the DVD set. I'll bet he would have done it.

Mr. Television · 07-19-2019, 03:52 PM

I've noticed that fans seem to remember a lot more things than the actors do who actually appeared in the shows. It's probably because we've watched them in syndication for years while the actors barely ever watch them.

stevea · 07-19-2019, 03:57 PM

Very true. The fact that Rusty Stevens watches is more the exception than the rule.

The one common thread among all the LITB actors is that there never was anything negative about their experiences.

Scrabjan1 · 07-20-2019, 08:49 AM

Right too bad Jay North as Dennis couldn’t have had as good an experience as the cast of Beaver. I find what happened to him as a young actor appalling and hope these days he’s found some peace and happiness.

stevea · 07-20-2019, 10:34 AM

There are a lot of child actor sob stories. Like Billy Gray, Patty Duke, Kim Fields. The one that really drew my sympathy was Jay North. He was a really good little actor, yet all he got was grief and abuse from that aunt. From what I've read he's resolved his issues, with the help of Paul Petersen, (who notified him of Rusty Hamer's suicide) which is great. So he won't go the way of Rusty Hamer and Dana Plato.

MichaelMartinD · 07-22-2019, 12:33 PM

That's one of the things I love about LITB, the fact that nobody involved with it has any negative things to say about it and there were no "scandals." It's almost like the show is surrounded by a golden halo. It's true that Stephen Talbot made some negative comments about the show some years ago, but he eventually came around.

stevea · 07-22-2019, 01:22 PM

I didn't like the Gilbert character (who would?), but Talbot's acting was fine. His dad probably got him the job. He had a lot of other bit parts but this was probably his most regular acting job, as a kid. ISTR reading about him coming around, maybe there was a thread here about it.

I agree, there are virtually no other shows with the whole cast getting along, and having no negative feelings about their show.

MichaelMartinD · 07-24-2019, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I didn't like the Gilbert character (who would?), but Talbot's acting was fine. His dad probably got him the job. He had a lot of other bit parts but this was probably his most regular acting job, as a kid. ISTR reading about him coming around, maybe there was a thread here about it. .

As I recall, Stephen participated in an online discussion with Jerry about the show, and he seemed to have a positive attitude about it.

Schmoopie · 08-01-2019, 04:12 AM

I watched that episode today, called Captain Jack and it was actually the second episode (on the DVD anyway), but it was cute and I did see the scene where Wally lifted the toilet cover and put the alligator in there to swim around. But they didn't show the actual toilet.

Scrabjan1 · 08-01-2019, 03:32 PM

Imagine if June decided to clean the toilet and flush? Maybe Capt Jack would have just sunk a bit in the tank no septic threat. I think Capt. Jack is the episode when Ward is kissing June’s neck as she stirs water at the stove. That never happens again.

07-11-2019, 06:46 AM	#1
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Jerry Mathers on how the first show was almost banned from the airwaves Interesting interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul1dZ0eRVcY
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-19-2019, 03:52 PM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,136	I've noticed that fans seem to remember a lot more things than the actors do who actually appeared in the shows. It's probably because we've watched them in syndication for years while the actors barely ever watch them.
	__________________ Sonny

07-22-2019, 12:33 PM	#11
MichaelMartinD Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 23, 2013 Posts: 580	That's one of the things I love about LITB, the fact that nobody involved with it has any negative things to say about it and there were no "scandals." It's almost like the show is surrounded by a golden halo. It's true that Stephen Talbot made some negative comments about the show some years ago, but he eventually came around.
	Last edited by MichaelMartinD; 07-22-2019 at 04:10 PM.

07-22-2019, 01:22 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,387	I didn't like the Gilbert character (who would?), but Talbot's acting was fine. His dad probably got him the job. He had a lot of other bit parts but this was probably his most regular acting job, as a kid. ISTR reading about him coming around, maybe there was a thread here about it. I agree, there are virtually no other shows with the whole cast getting along, and having no negative feelings about their show.
	Last edited by stevea; 07-24-2019 at 08:58 AM. Reason: corr.

07-18-2019, 09:20 PM	#2
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,493	The Beav is still cool ! I'd like to meet him ... ! Good Find

07-19-2019, 07:54 AM	#3
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Unfortunately Jerry wasn’t always the best source of Beaver info. Sometimes he got all the facts wrong and it was printed in his book. He maybe should watch the episodes like Rusty did. He loves telling that toilet tank story.

07-19-2019, 08:04 AM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,387	That, and the most interesting character essay, are etched in his mind. Then he bungles stuff, like the (incorrect) "fact" that we don't know Miss Landers' first name. It fascinates me when people aren't fans of their own show. Like Marlo Thomas and her "commentaries" on the That Girl DVDs. Such interesting comments as "I haven't seen this in years."

07-19-2019, 03:32 PM	#5
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Are you saying Marlo Thomas hasn’t a clue about That Girl. I never really watched it. Her voice bothered me. I saw an interview with Jerry and Tony and Jerry monopolizes the conversation telling those stale anecdotes about the first show to let a toilet pass the censors and how Ken took a bullet as a cop. I think his memory is gone whereas Rusty’s is great. I wonder if Jerry would have recognized Sue Randall, probably not. I like on the 50th anniversary interview with the cast and the rumor that Eddie and June had married, how Ken said he would have married Barbara in a minute.

07-19-2019, 03:44 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,387	Maybe Rusty's memories are fonder (and more accurate) because he actually got out when he wanted to. Jerry stayed on, but in the last half of the series, he was just going through the motions. Marlo shouldn't have done commentaries on "her" show. She really added nothing--laughed a few times, and made comments about being unfamiliar with the episode. The producer with her, Bill Persky, was way more interesting. They should have brought Rusty in to do commentaries on the first three seasons of LITB, on the DVD set. I'll bet he would have done it.

07-19-2019, 03:57 PM	#8
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,387	Very true. The fact that Rusty Stevens watches is more the exception than the rule. The one common thread among all the LITB actors is that there never was anything negative about their experiences.

07-20-2019, 08:49 AM	#9
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Right too bad Jay North as Dennis couldn’t have had as good an experience as the cast of Beaver. I find what happened to him as a young actor appalling and hope these days he’s found some peace and happiness.

07-20-2019, 10:34 AM	#10
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,387	There are a lot of child actor sob stories. Like Billy Gray, Patty Duke, Kim Fields. The one that really drew my sympathy was Jay North. He was a really good little actor, yet all he got was grief and abuse from that aunt. From what I've read he's resolved his issues, with the help of Paul Petersen, (who notified him of Rusty Hamer's suicide) which is great. So he won't go the way of Rusty Hamer and Dana Plato.

08-01-2019, 04:12 AM	#14
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I watched that episode today, called Captain Jack and it was actually the second episode (on the DVD anyway), but it was cute and I did see the scene where Wally lifted the toilet cover and put the alligator in there to swim around. But they didn't show the actual toilet.

08-01-2019, 03:32 PM	#15
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	Imagine if June decided to clean the toilet and flush? Maybe Capt Jack would have just sunk a bit in the tank no septic threat. I think Capt. Jack is the episode when Ward is kissing June’s neck as she stirs water at the stove. That never happens again.