Jerry Mathers reveals the reason Leave It to Beaver ended early

[TMC]

https://www.metv.com/stories/jerry-m...o-beaver-ended

The series could've continued!

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TMC

https://www.metv.com/stories/jerry-m...o-beaver-ended

The series could've continued!

I question the validity of the information supplied by Jerry Mathers for this 1983 interview that originally appeared in the Buffalo News. Jerry claims that the producers turned down a proposal from ABC to continue the series as an hour long show that would be filmed in color. There is no supporting evidence to suggest this information is accurate. To begin with CBS experimented with an hour long sitcom during the 1962-63 TV season (Fair Exchange) and that series bombed. On top of that there were only two regular series filmed in color for the 63-64 season on ABC, so why would the network be interested in expensive set redesigns for a series now entering its 7th season. Beaver was never a top 30 hit so this maneuver would seem risky for the ratings challenged ABC. I'd have to see some verification from other sources before buying this story.

[Dude111]

I want Beaver to tell us where they lived

Mayfield but what state??

Does anyone know where they filmed this?? Thats gotta be where they lived!!

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I question the validity of the information supplied by Jerry Mathers for this 1983 interview that originally appeared in the Buffalo News. Jerry claims that the producers turned down a proposal from ABC to continue the series as an hour long show that would be filmed in color. There is no supporting evidence to suggest this information is accurate. To begin with CBS experimented with an hour long sitcom during the 1962-63 TV season (Fair Exchange) and that series bombed. On top of that there were only two regular series filmed in color for the 63-64 season on ABC, so why would the network be interested in expensive set redesigns for a series now entering its 7th season. Beaver was never a top 30 hit so this maneuver would seem risky for the ratings challenged ABC. I'd have to see some verification from other sources before buying this story.

I had heard the rumor of a desire by ABC to keep the show and do color, but not the hour-long thing.

Neither makes sense. Another reason to doubt the color thing: ABC ceded My Three Sons to CBS a few years later, because they refused to foot the cost of color. And Sons had high ratings at that time, plus the fact that season (1965-1966) was the one where many shows went to color.

Mathers' memory of the show is faulty--that shows in his book, And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

[cd637299]

If there were a season 7, the plots would twist and turn….

Wally would be away in college, Eddie & Lumpy either joining him or at a separate college. Beaver would be in high school, Gilbert & friends may have gone to another HS, etc.

Based on all that, AND if it were an hour long, it might have become a dramedy a la The Bradys. I just cannot imagine what stories could be written, with all the changes. Also, if “mainstay” Ozzie & Harriet didn’t go color until 1965, I could imagine a brouhaha at ABC if “Beaver” went color first.

I have an Oct 1963 TV Guide and I know “Greatest Show on Earth” on ABC was filmed in color—but I don’t know the other series. What was it? I saw an ABC News Special in color, but not a series.

cd

[stevea]

Originally Posted by cd637299

If there were a season 7, the plots would twist and turn….

Wally would be away in college, Eddie & Lumpy either joining him or at a separate college. Beaver would be in high school, Gilbert & friends may have gone to another HS, etc.

Based on all that, AND if it were an hour long, it might have become a dramedy a la The Bradys. I just cannot imagine what stories could be written, with all the changes. Also, if “mainstay” Ozzie & Harriet didn’t go color until 1965, I could imagine a brouhaha at ABC if “Beaver” went color first.

I have an Oct 1963 TV Guide and I know “Greatest Show on Earth” on ABC was filmed in color—but I don’t know the other series. What was it? I saw an ABC News Special in color, but not a series.

cd

The only other color show was probably "The Flintstones." I think their first color show was "The Jetsons" in 1962. IIRC at some point The Hollywood Palace went color but that miught have been later.

The Ozzie color is an oddity, since ABC probably knew their time was nearly up. My theory is that Ozzie ponied up for that.

Oh, and about season 7 of Beaver--I think they would have found a way to keep Wally residing at the Cleaver house, in the same room. Maybe he would have ended up going to a local college, along with Eddie.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by cd637299

If there were a season 7, the plots would twist and turn….

Wally would be away in college, Eddie & Lumpy either joining him or at a separate college. Beaver would be in high school, Gilbert & friends may have gone to another HS, etc.

Based on all that, AND if it were an hour long, it might have become a dramedy a la The Bradys. I just cannot imagine what stories could be written, with all the changes. Also, if “mainstay” Ozzie & Harriet didn’t go color until 1965, I could imagine a brouhaha at ABC if “Beaver” went color first.

I have an Oct 1963 TV Guide and I know “Greatest Show on Earth” on ABC was filmed in color—but I don’t know the other series. What was it? I saw an ABC News Special in color, but not a series.

cd

Wagon Train on Monday night was in color. Interestingly enough it was expanded from 60 minutes to 90 minutes in 1963-64. The series was switched back to an hour in 64-65, moved to a new night and went back to black and white (as it had been in 62-63 and before).

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by stevea

The only other color show was probably "The Flintstones." I think their first color show was "The Jetsons" in 1962. IIRC at some point The Hollywood Palace went color but that miught have been later.

The Ozzie color is an oddity, since ABC probably knew their time was nearly up. My theory is that Ozzie ponied up for that.

Oh, and about season 7 of Beaver--I think they would have found a way to keep Wally residing at the Cleaver house, in the same room. Maybe he would have ended up going to a local college, along with Eddie.

Just reposting my comments to cd637299:

"Wagon Train on Monday night was in color. Interestingly enough it was expanded from 60 minutes to 90 minutes in 1963-64. The series was switched back to an hour in 64-65, moved to a new night and went back to black and white (as it had been in 62-63 and before)".

If I remember correctly Joey Bishop was switched from color to black and white when it moved from NBC to CBS.

[cd637299]

Ah I see it in my old TV Guide. Indeed, both “Wagon Train” and “Greatest Show on Earth” were on ABC and in color.

The following 3 shows began in B&W, then color, then back to B&W again. Except for Wagon Train, it was a case of change of networks:

Wagon Train
Joey Bishop Show
The Price Is Right (Bill Cullen version)

Always good for a trivia question. “The Flintstones” on ABC was in its second color season; “Jetsons” was already canceled. I was only referring to live-action series.

cd

[stevea]

Originally Posted by cd637299

Ah I see it in my old TV Guide. Indeed, both “Wagon Train” and “Greatest Show on Earth” were on ABC and in color.

The following 3 shows began in B&W, then color, then back to B&W again. Except for Wagon Train, it was a case of change of networks:

Wagon Train
Joey Bishop Show
The Price Is Right (Bill Cullen version)

Always good for a trivia question. “The Flintstones” on ABC was in its second color season; “Jetsons” was already canceled. I was only referring to live-action series.

cd

I forgot about Wagon Train. There were a few color episodes on NBC in the early years, it switched to ABC in a 90 minute color version, and i think it went back to an hour black and white version.

Joey Bishop began on NBC in black and white with a few color episodes sprinkled in, reformatted for two color seasons, and switched networks to CBS for a final black and white season.

[1960'sTVfan]

I think the series ended at the right time with Wally graduating from High School and Beaver graduating from Grammar School.

But if there had been a 7th season, a possible interesting scripted scenario is with Wally now being several miles away at college, he would still be in the show but only on a part time basis and not appear in every episode. Probably a few episodes would focus on Wally as he adjusts to college life. Other episodes would focus on Beaver and his pals adjusting to life as High Schoolers. Eddie Haskell would still be in Mayfield, instead of leaving for college he elected to take a job locally after High School and Eddie would basically fill the role of Beaver's older brother whenever Wally wasn't around. The 7th season Eddie would have been a little more mature/serious and less of a smart ass wise guy as he was previously. Just a few thoughts on what a 7th season could or might have been like.

To me, a most amazing thing about Leave It To Beaver is that they filmed 39 episodes in each of the six seasons. As far as I know, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, no other American TV sitcom equaled the achievement of 39 episodes each in six consecutive seasons.

[Dude111]

Did they ever make any colour episodes with Leave it to Beaver?

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Dude111

Did they ever make any colour episodes with Leave it to Beaver?

Nope, no color episodes.

[DEH55]

there is a interview with Jerry on youtube and he said the reason the show ended was that the cast had signed 6 year contracts and they would have to be renewed with everyone getting raises and the producers were not willing to do that so the bosses just said that 6 seasons would be fine and that was the end of the run.

[Dude111]

SAD......... What a good show with a lesson EVERY EPISODE!!!!!