Beaver Won’t Eat

[Scrabjan1]

This is not a good episode to start off a new season. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be but it wasn’t a good choice. I thought June acted strangely especially in the restaurant. She seemed so hostile and was always angry at Ward. When she asked Beaver at the restaurant if he was having a good time it was peculiar.

Ward not looking at his plate of food was very odd. The only funny part was when Ward said “I think we’ve had all the happiness we can stand.”

[stevea]

Another thing that was out of character for June was her actual disciplining. It's rare when she exacts a punishment, and when she does, it really doesn't fit the "crime." Ward was right.

And they start this season off with a goof, in the reference to the babysitter as Mrs. Bronson.

The best thing about this episode was the final kitchen scene, where Ward admits parents can make mistakes.

[Cx]

Not to be contrary for contrary's sake, but this is one of my favorite episodes, other than the fact of forcing food, but more on that later.

All the other conversation, the humor, some of it dark, was great. Extra bonus points for seeing "Otis Campbell" as the Maitre 'D. My favorite parts are:

At home at the dinner table when Ward and Wally are discussing football plays and Ward is basic blowing June off when she's asking him to chime in on her scolding of Beaver's refusal to eat. His quarter-hearted comments to Beaver because June is interrupting he and Wally's football talk.

Eddie's role in this episode. Cracked me up.

I also got a kick out of Ward's "I think we’ve had all the happiness we can stand" line.

Forcing food on Beaver was a stupid hill June picked to die on. Like other's have noted, she was quite the hard-ass in this episode. I don't think she cared about Beaver's nutrition, as much as a battle of will she was determined to win. People can and do come around to later liking a food they don't, and she should have never done that. As far as I'm concerned, forcing somebody to eat food that repulses them is a form of assault.

[stevea]

We all love this show, and we tend to pick things apart. But, seriously, this IS a classic episode, and virtually everyone knows the episode, as many people as In the Soup, I'd guess.

Your reference to Otis cracked me up, as I've made references to Maitre'd Otis before.

We've also gotten a lot of laughs in other threads about the buttinsky lady in the restaurant, and some of the things June COULD have said to her.

I think you're right about force-feeding food, and especially exacting a punishment. She could have taken him aside and reprimanded him for hiding the sprouts in his pocket. I can do like Wally and choke them down, but I certainly wouldn't choose them from a menu.

[Cx]

Great comments.

Another thing I noticed in the restaurant was one of the other patrons was a dead ringer for Miss Landers.

[stevea]

I also liked this dialog:

Ward: Pretend they're little heads of lettuce.

Beaver: I don't like those either.

An old adage Ward could have used with June and her concern: Don't sweat the small stuff.

[Scrabjan1]

I really do not like this episode at all. As far as I’m concerned it was completely out of character for June to be perturbed over Beaver not eating. Many times the boys ask to be excused with a plate full of food. In the early episodes the boys take their plates out to the kitchen with uneaten food and wasted milk. In Larry Hides Out June comments on a clean plate. So making a big deal about him leaving some food not eaten was, for me, poorly written.

I think Barbara should have had an opinion about the script but they wouldn’t care what she thinks. I particularly thought June looked uneasy in the restaurant and so annoyed with Ward. At least in Beaver Runs Away they argued about something important.

[stevea]

She generally thought Beaver wasn't eating well. It was like a train gathering speed--Ward and Wally are engrossed in sports, and Ward ignores her, and the "problem." Then she comes back in and see the sprout in the pocket. Ward is still ignoring her and makes token, short remarks. She's as irritated with him as she is with Beaver. Temperature's rising! So this is her time--last night's carrots would probably have been a better time to pick the fight (I made this part up). But she's had it up to here--with both of them. So she loses it and takes her stand.

I can see it happening.

[CosmicCharlie]

Alas ! Justification For Us All !! (YES ?)

We all feel June is a SNOOP !

In the kitchen scene June Ask Ward to "take a peek thru the crack in the door, maybe he's eating" Then they both spy on Beav.

Then Eddie startles them !

Eddie says "I hope I didn't interrupt what you were peeking at !

June is clearly Not Happy. Big Scowl on her face !

Eddie says "Well I guess if you can't trust a child you do have to spy on him !

AGAIN June is clearly Not Happy. Bigger Scowl on her face !

Ward says "KID"


I would say from that scene, the June Snooping was an on going thing throughout the show ... not just a coincidence in writings ?

[stevea]

That's a funny scene. Eddie barges in and nails them. Always ready with a jab!

Yes June is always snooping. The weirdest is inspecting the trash can contents in the boys' room.

[Cx]

Originally Posted by stevea

She generally thought Beaver wasn't eating well. It was like a train gathering speed--Ward and Wally are engrossed in sports, and Ward ignores her, and the "problem." Then she comes back in and see the sprout in the pocket. Ward is still ignoring her and makes token, short remarks. She's as irritated with him as she is with Beaver. Temperature's rising! So this is her time--last night's carrots would probably have been a better time to pick the fight (I made this part up). But she's had it up to here--with both of them. So she loses it and takes her stand.

I can see it happening.

Very plausible, and well stated analysis.

June may have had a good point in the broadest sense, but she took a hit to her credibility by overplaying the "mom card". Ward says to her ( when she blows up about Beaver's eating habits ) "I think he eats as well as any other kid" or somesuch thing. June replies that she doesn't care about that; that she wants Beaver to to what she wants him to do, because he's her son.

Pretty much takes the rationality out of it.

[70s show watcher]

barbra billinglsey once said in an interview that this is one of her least fave eps

[CosmicCharlie]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

barbra billinglsey once said in an interview that this is one of her least fave eps

Hmmm - her fav ! not mine not close

Some kids & people actually gag on foods they dislike - even upchuck - now that could have made this episode memorable (?)

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by stevea

We all love this show, and we tend to pick things apart. But, seriously, this IS a classic episode, and virtually everyone knows the episode, as many people as In the Soup, I'd guess.

Your reference to Otis cracked me up, as I've made references to Maitre'd Otis before.

We've also gotten a lot of laughs in other threads about the buttinsky lady in the restaurant, and some of the things June COULD have said to her.

I think you're right about force-feeding food, and especially exacting a punishment. She could have taken him aside and reprimanded him for hiding the sprouts in his pocket. I can do like Wally and choke them down, but I certainly wouldn't choose them from a menu.

I totally agree this is one of the classic episodes. And June was so out character being this adamant. I felt sorry for the poor Beav as I dislike Brussels Sprouts myself. That and beets are pretty much the only two vegetables. Would have been nice if she had let them sub carrots instead. And the little goof did actually find the sprouts weren’t so bad to his palate. I’ve progressed to the point that I can eat them when they’re blended into a salad raw and shredded. So glad I came across this thread.

And I jut loved the old lady in the restaurant. You could see June was using all her self-control to not tell that older woman to mind her f’g business.

[tdr]

I like this episode because it shows June a bit out of character. Parents do sometimes disagree on priorities. June once didn't care that Beaver got a D in P.E., while Ward took Beaver outside and tried to teach him tumbling because of it. It was good to see the table turned and see how June reacts to Ward's shrug-it-off attitude to something she considers important and a growing problem (that's a pun if want it to be).

In addition, who is the only one who has a right idea in the episode? Well, Ward at first, but he refused to contradict June as to the price Beaver had to pay. Wally just told Beaver he was dumb for not liking Brussels sprouts-- "I like 'em; lots of people like 'em-- why don't you like 'em?" And that's too dumb on Wally's part. Just about everybody has foods they don't like-- asking them to explain why is a nonsense question (if not, pick one you don't like and explain why!). The waitress and the restaurant manager had no good approach, but wanting everybody to be happy (if so, why didn't they ask what vegetables each wanted?). The busybody stuck her nose in where it was none of her affair. That leaves Eddie Haskell, who knew June and Ward were peaking at one of their sons, and then he told Beaver he need not worry about missing the game because they would let him suffer for a while and then offer him a deal to let him go after all. Eddie was the one who was right-- if we discount his entering through the kitchen door without knocking and being invited in.