LITB -- Two Shows?

[John Sterren]

Hi, everyone. And Happy Thanksgiving!

First, let me say that I'm a huge fan of this show, and I say that to try to avoid flames based on this post.

I'm a huge fan of what I see as the first "incarnation" of "Leave It To Beaver". Perhaps this has already been discussed at this fine board, but I thought I'd throw it out and see what the rest of the fans think about it.

Aside from one obvious answer -- namely, Jerry Mathers growing up into an rather awkward adolescence --, I've always wondered what were the reasons for the DRAMATIC shift in tone, look, and -- IMHO -- quality of "Leave It To Beaver". And it can be absolutely marked as to when this happens: when the Cleavers move into the second house.

In "First House" incarnation, everything is different. Ward is a handsome, even dashing figure. (Reminiscent of basketball coach Pat Riley.) He seems a very relaxed, happy man with a good life. And the boys obviously adore him. June -- what a looker! Her style is clearly based on the mid-50s Grace Kelly look, and the sweet thing is that she carries it off beautifully. She's witty, graceful, and very much in love -- and in lust -- with her husband. That's one of the first MAJOR things that goes out the window when the Cleavers move into that new airplane hanger of a house -- the sexy, fun, adoring relationship between June and Ward. At its best, worthy of comparison to one of the better screwball comedy couples of the 1930s. Why in the world did they get rid of this? Why did they change Ward from a stylish, man-about-town into a cranky, always worried, humorless stiff? And what they did to June was worse! Everything she wore in the first house was beautiful, especially her hairstyle. After that, she became this dull, washed-out mannequin. With the worse hair possible from that time. (Yes, I know that the hairstyles of the early 1960s could be ridiculous, but not always. Look at Jacqueline Kennedy as one very stylish example.)

And the boys. Yesterday, TV Land showed one of the sweetest shows in the history of TV: "The Hunting Jacket". Here were two boys who were in love with life, always thinking about what was the right thing to do(and often failing). Caring more about others then themselves. "The Hunting Jacket" is a perfect example of this.

But then the family moves -- and the boys become different. Often nasty, selfish, looking at their parents as these old fogies who don't understand anything about fun and life(and considering what they turned June and Ward into, I guess the boys were on to something). Wally becomes this obnoxious Big Man on Campus. Beaver becomes this Big Man On Campus wannabe. And their friends!! Couldn't the boys have at least one friend who wasn't a butthead? Eddie, Lumpy, Larry, Whitey, Richard, Gilbert. Holy-moly! What happened to the very cool Chester? Or the adorable Chuey? Or the incredibly cute Benji?

Who were the producers of the show trying to appeal to, once the show became a hit? I really would like to know the answer to that, because once they decided to base the show on a "kids are more fun and smarter than their parents" theme, the show really went downhill. Just take a look at the show. The first two years, the show glistens with an almost Fassbinderian white glow. Just look at the way the characters are photographed in that first house! Gorgeous. Then they move -- and everything seems as if it had been shot in someone's garage. The same is true of the music. There's that lovely, sad melody they use in the first two years -- then after they move, it's never used again.

So as a big fan of what this show was in its first incarnation, I would love to hear from you guys about what I see as a very big change in the tone and quality. Did something happen? Did they change writers/producers/studios/sponsors?

(And I sincerely hope that I didn't ruffle any feathers. )

[HaskellGirl]

I can't type too much, because I broke me finger (typing this with one hand), but I love the show in all its seasons. I don't know, it just seems to me that at first it was a "fifties" show, and then became a "sixties" show. It's difficult to explain, just that some aspects became prioritized while others didn't, and I think it was a sign of the times. Also, let's face it, kids in general become less precious and more self-centered as the enter adolecense, so that part is realistc. I know what you are saying though, but like Beaver said, "It's the kind of thing you can only have once."

[goldie]

Hi there John -

An insightful post.

I absolutely agree that the entire tone of the show changed when the Cleavers moved. Isn't it odd that a show can be so vastly different from one season to the next? I often wonder what's in the mind of the "powers that be" when they decide to alter such a successful formula.

I myself have thought the same things many times: how Ward was so youthful looking and acting (although he was in his late 40s) and easygoing, wore more casual clothes and seemed to relate more to the youth of the boys; June just sparkled - her dresses were beautifully feminine, her accessories were lovely, and she portrayed a wider range of emotions. The boys were sweet, considerate, and caring. The home seemed so comfortable.

And I too, noticed the melody to which you refer. To make sure I'm correct, you mean the music that played in the background during a heartwarming moment between Ward and the boys? I had wondered if many people paid attention to that. It was such a nice piece to hear played, and it truly conveyed the emotion.

Yes, Beaver did indeed become quite awkward as happened with so many situation comedies - that transition from cute to awkwardly goofy. In true life, one would wonder how a kid like Beaver could get into so many messes as he got older, particularly considering that Ward and June were so intelligent and responsible. But of course, it's what the show was about.

Your references to Pat Riley, Grace Kelly, and a "white glow" are interestingly perceptive.

(Speaking of Jacqueline Kennedy, don't you think that Laura Petrie's look on the DVD show was reminiscent of JK?)

I do however, (good-spiritedly) disagree with you on one point: I never thought of Wally as being obnoxious. Is there something particular upon which you base your perception?

I've never liked the "kids are smarter than their parents" formula - it's often infuriating and not the least bit entertaining - at some point in television history, that's more what situtation comedies came to be about and it always makes the parents appear incredibly oblivious and uncaring, and the kids simply rude and disrespectful.

Just wanted to offer my opinions and comments to your post. Don't really have any specific answers as to why LITB changed so, but those first two seasons were definitely the best.


Peace ~

[FOL85NatandMrsGRock]

the reaosn i think it changed so much is becuase when Leave it to Beaver moved from the "first house" to the "second house" they had moved stations... they went from CBS (1st house) to ABC (2nd house) and so i think that they might have added a few new members to the crew (whether it be writing or directing) and so they changed the viewing of the characters... IMO you cannot take the same show and move it from one station to another safely. It always becomes "different" no matter how well they think they know the series, characters, and actors. This makes the fans suffer in the fact that so much has changed, but as you had asked, two shows? Probably yes... and it's probably easier for some to look upon it as that way... but to those who like BOTH ways, it's not that hard!

[frani]

This is really a fascinating topic and I love all the posts. I think one thing to remember is that this discussion just speaks to how really good this show is. The show never changed because they brought in "Little Oscar" or some insipid long lost relative of June's or had June get pregnant or, well, you get the point. They moved. People, especially young families, move and they made it seem very natural. Yes, there is a great shift in tone and i think that speaks as much to the show finding a different rhythm than it does to just changing houses. For example, Eddie is really developed in the later eps as is Lumpy. In the early eps, the show is really about this sweet young family with two little boys and how they handle the typical scrapes of boyhood. As the boys grow, they simply couldn't keep doing that, right? I think the progression of the characters felt very true. I think the sixth and final season felt a little forced with the jazzy music, etc. but that's i guess why it couldn't continue.
I have forgotten how adorable and heartwarming those early eps are, but what happens is that by the time the later eps air, i'm involved with the characters as they are then.
thanks everyone for such interesting posts to read.
Happy Thanksgiving.

[BBF]

Wow, another Arkansan (i notice you're from AR)! (I'm in Arkansas) Interesting point John!