Tell it to Ella Episode Question? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 12-19-2003, 12:29 AM

Guys,

I just saw the "Tell it to Ella" episode. This is the one where Beaver writes to a newspaper advice columnist when he is not allowed to go out on school nights, but his two friends Mike and Kevin can. Good writing and acting. My question is about the episodes tag. Amazingly, I don't remember the tag sequence and saw it tonight:

Beaver comes home from a (football?) game and says "We won." Wally says he's sorry he couldn't go because he had a date. Beaver says, he saw a column in Tell it to Ella. that said fathers and sons should spend more time together. Beaver says, "I put it in Dad's den so that he would see it." Wally says, 'Yea, that's what Dad told me to do."

Wally's last line is a bit ambiguous. Does this imply that Ward asked Wally to write to Dear Ella to try to get better communication between Beaver and Ward regarding the school night conflict? Beaver sure seems happy in the tag. Or at least content, considering the contents of this episode. The episode seems to offer too much of a "happy ending." Beaver explains how he learned not to take outside advise from people at the dinner table before the tag scene. There is no talk of Beaver and Ward going to any kind of game together between that scene and the tag. (Unless something was cut here by TV Land)

Is there too much of an over positive course change here? Did Ward just give in to Beaver and they went to the game together on a school night? Or maybe it was a Friday Night or Saturday Night game? Nothing is mentioned. I might be missing something in the tag.

If Beaver says he put the paper in the den for Ward to see, Wally's statement would make no sense unless Wally wrote to Ella to explain the situation. Beaver's reaction to Wally's line, "That's what Dad told me to do." creates a suprised reaction on Beaver's face as well! Let's assume Wally did indeed write to Ella for advice to create a positve compromise for Beaver and Ward to do something together. I thought the moral of the episode was not to take advice from strangers and to trust the judgments of your parents. So, what does Wally's last line mean? Clarification anyone?

Jack

junecleaver · 12-19-2003, 12:22 PM

i didn't understand it either, my mom said it was cut, i ain't suprised!

Jack1000 · 12-19-2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by junecleaver
i didn't understand it either, my mom said it was cut, i ain't suprised!

Does your Mom know it was cut, or just assume as I do that there should be something else there? (This is where original prints of the show would be great!) On the other hand, maybe that is the way it was, because the look of Beaver's face is like....."What???"

If they ever do an on-line interview with cast members this would be one episode that I would question them about!

David Butler directed that episode and he was one of the series better directors. It's like the writers were going for something really big and memorable in that tag, but I don't get it!

These are the kind of things that drive show fanatics like us CRAZY! E-bay sometimes has uncut 16MM prints of the show for sale! But I don't know if they are copied onto a VCR tape, or if you need one of those old real to real projectors.

Does your Mom remember the scene that was supposed to be there if there is a cut?

We have enough people on the board, so I am sure that someone will find the answer in time!

Jack

junecleaver · 12-19-2003, 03:26 PM

she knows its cut, unfortunately she hasn't seen the original in a loooong time so she can't remember what the scene was. i know there have gotta be some people on this board that has seen the originals!

Bugiddle · 12-20-2003, 03:41 AM

Jack,

I saw this episode this afternoon when they replayed it. I was watching it very carefully after reading your post. I believe that Wally's reply after Beaver says he put the paper in the den for dad to see was actually, "Yeah, that's what dad told me you did" or something like that - implying that Ward had seen Beaver put the paper in the den, or had deduced that it was Beaver that had put it there for him to see it, anyway. Still sort of ambiguous, but I think the tag line makes a little more sense now.

As far as Beaver and Ward going to the ball game together - I can't remember if they said it was a school night or not. I think that it was a Friday or Saturday night, though, just because Wally said he had had a date that night.

MikeZ · 12-30-2003, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack1000

These are the kind of things that drive show fanatics like us CRAZY! E-bay sometimes has uncut 16MM prints of the show for sale! But I don't know if they are copied onto a VCR tape, or if you need one of those old real to real projectors.

Jack

Yes, you would. Either that, or take the film to a place that processes video, and have it transfered to VHS, or even better, to DVD.

1954Boomer · 12-31-2003, 02:56 AM

Hi Jack,

Just to concur with Bugiddle, I am almost positive that Wally said to Beaver, "Yeah, that's what dad told me you did," which would imply that Ward and seen Beaver 'plant' the paper with the Tell it to Ella column in the den.

Hopefully you will be able to rest easier now!

Jack1000 · 10-17-2008, 05:17 PM

We have ME-TV here in Milwaukee WI, and they have been showing Leave it to Beaver ALMOST uncut. I finally saw "Tell it to Ella" and saw two scenes that have been cut by TV Land. (They totaled about 2 minutes in length.)

After Mike and Kevin are talking outside the house, with Beaver trying to hide the paper when Ella publishes Beaver's letter taking Ward and June's side, you see Ward walk up, take the paper from Beaver just as he is about to hide it in the bushes. The cut scene has Mike and Kevin talking in the hall at school. Beaver comes around the corner and says, "Hey you rats, why did you run away from my Dad when he came up to us this morning?" Mike says: "Look Kev, he's still in one piece." Kevin says, "Yea, we didn't want to stick around and see you get clobbered." Beaver says, "I didn't get clobbered. my Dad left the house before he could see it. (The letter.) Remember, to avoid June seeing it, he says he needs to take the paper to school for Current Events? He shows Mike and Kevin the paper, one says, "You got it!" Beaver says something like, "yea, just in time." Than they leave, and Beaver now desperate to get rid of the evidence for good, throws the paper in the trash. The next scene is at dinner, where Ward reveals that he say Beaver's letter at the barber shop (which is intact.)

The other cut scene DOES have Beaver and Ward returning home from a football game. Beaver says, "Thanks for taking me to the game Dad, even though it wasn't on a school night." Ward says, "Oh that's fine Beaver, say you better get upstairs, it's getting late. Beaver says goodnight, and the next scene is the conversation with Beaver and Wally mentioned above, which finally has some continuity to it!

Jack

Waterston_Fan · 10-17-2008, 05:45 PM

I thought that Beaver could have just run away in this episode since he felt his parents were being unfair.

Or even the episode where he ignores June, he could have run away but he didn't.

Hughsgirl · 10-18-2008, 10:08 PM

I don't think they were being unfair at all. He missed curfew when they did allow him to go out.

Schmoopie · 10-19-2008, 06:32 AM

I don't remember this episode, but I'm sure I've seen it. I think that is so stupid for TV networks to cut time off of MADE FOR TV shows just to add commercials (and often confuse everyone in the process!)! Just insane! If they are made for TV to begin with, why not just run the whole thing and add the commercials in? Or even extend the program time!?

Next time I get a chance I'll pay close attention to this eppy and see if I notice anything unusual!

Andrea

stevea · 10-20-2008, 12:43 PM

If you can record episodes from different networks, you can often 'construct' more complete episosdes. I once reconstructed the final ep., Scrapbook, from local TV and TVLand. Both had deleted different scenes. I did this on VHS but have since done it on the DVD recorder for a couple of "Diff'rect Strokes" episodes.

You'd be surprised if you haven't tried this--they delete full scenes, sometimes one or 2 minutes.

The worst Beaver edit I can recall is the one where Beaver buys June the Ooh La La blouse. TVL cuts the whole scene where Miss Landers explains where the kids are going, and why. Next thing we know they are somewhere singing.

12-19-2003, 12:29 AM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Tell it to Ella Episode Question? Guys, I just saw the "Tell it to Ella" episode. This is the one where Beaver writes to a newspaper advice columnist when he is not allowed to go out on school nights, but his two friends Mike and Kevin can. Good writing and acting. My question is about the episodes tag. Amazingly, I don't remember the tag sequence and saw it tonight: Beaver comes home from a (football?) game and says "We won." Wally says he's sorry he couldn't go because he had a date. Beaver says, he saw a column in Tell it to Ella. that said fathers and sons should spend more time together. Beaver says, "I put it in Dad's den so that he would see it." Wally says, 'Yea, that's what Dad told me to do." Wally's last line is a bit ambiguous. Does this imply that Ward asked Wally to write to Dear Ella to try to get better communication between Beaver and Ward regarding the school night conflict? Beaver sure seems happy in the tag. Or at least content, considering the contents of this episode. The episode seems to offer too much of a "happy ending." Beaver explains how he learned not to take outside advise from people at the dinner table before the tag scene. There is no talk of Beaver and Ward going to any kind of game together between that scene and the tag. (Unless something was cut here by TV Land) Is there too much of an over positive course change here? Did Ward just give in to Beaver and they went to the game together on a school night? Or maybe it was a Friday Night or Saturday Night game? Nothing is mentioned. I might be missing something in the tag. If Beaver says he put the paper in the den for Ward to see, Wally's statement would make no sense unless Wally wrote to Ella to explain the situation. Beaver's reaction to Wally's line, "That's what Dad told me to do." creates a suprised reaction on Beaver's face as well! Let's assume Wally did indeed write to Ella for advice to create a positve compromise for Beaver and Ward to do something together. I thought the moral of the episode was not to take advice from strangers and to trust the judgments of your parents. So, what does Wally's last line mean? Clarification anyone? Jack

10-17-2008, 05:17 PM	#8
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	We have ME-TV here in Milwaukee WI, and they have been showing Leave it to Beaver ALMOST uncut. I finally saw "Tell it to Ella" and saw two scenes that have been cut by TV Land. (They totaled about 2 minutes in length.) After Mike and Kevin are talking outside the house, with Beaver trying to hide the paper when Ella publishes Beaver's letter taking Ward and June's side, you see Ward walk up, take the paper from Beaver just as he is about to hide it in the bushes. The cut scene has Mike and Kevin talking in the hall at school. Beaver comes around the corner and says, "Hey you rats, why did you run away from my Dad when he came up to us this morning?" Mike says: "Look Kev, he's still in one piece." Kevin says, "Yea, we didn't want to stick around and see you get clobbered." Beaver says, "I didn't get clobbered. my Dad left the house before he could see it. (The letter.) Remember, to avoid June seeing it, he says he needs to take the paper to school for Current Events? He shows Mike and Kevin the paper, one says, "You got it!" Beaver says something like, "yea, just in time." Than they leave, and Beaver now desperate to get rid of the evidence for good, throws the paper in the trash. The next scene is at dinner, where Ward reveals that he say Beaver's letter at the barber shop (which is intact.) The other cut scene DOES have Beaver and Ward returning home from a football game. Beaver says, "Thanks for taking me to the game Dad, even though it wasn't on a school night." Ward says, "Oh that's fine Beaver, say you better get upstairs, it's getting late. Beaver says goodnight, and the next scene is the conversation with Beaver and Wally mentioned above, which finally has some continuity to it! Jack
	Last edited by Jack1000; 11-15-2008 at 05:36 AM.

10-19-2008, 06:32 AM	#11
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I don't remember this episode, but I'm sure I've seen it. I think that is so stupid for TV networks to cut time off of MADE FOR TV shows just to add commercials (and often confuse everyone in the process!)! Just insane! If they are made for TV to begin with, why not just run the whole thing and add the commercials in? Or even extend the program time!? Next time I get a chance I'll pay close attention to this eppy and see if I notice anything unusual! Andrea
	__________________ 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

12-19-2003, 12:22 PM	#2
junecleaver Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2003 Location: i'm a southerner! :D Posts: 1,298	i didn't understand it either, my mom said it was cut, i ain't suprised!

12-19-2003, 03:26 PM	#4
junecleaver Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2003 Location: i'm a southerner! :D Posts: 1,298	she knows its cut, unfortunately she hasn't seen the original in a loooong time so she can't remember what the scene was. i know there have gotta be some people on this board that has seen the originals!

12-20-2003, 03:41 AM	#5
Bugiddle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 19, 2003 Posts: 229	Jack, I saw this episode this afternoon when they replayed it. I was watching it very carefully after reading your post. I believe that Wally's reply after Beaver says he put the paper in the den for dad to see was actually, "Yeah, that's what dad told me you did" or something like that - implying that Ward had seen Beaver put the paper in the den, or had deduced that it was Beaver that had put it there for him to see it, anyway. Still sort of ambiguous, but I think the tag line makes a little more sense now. As far as Beaver and Ward going to the ball game together - I can't remember if they said it was a school night or not. I think that it was a Friday or Saturday night, though, just because Wally said he had had a date that night.

12-31-2003, 02:56 AM	#7
1954Boomer Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 18, 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 482	Hi Jack, Just to concur with Bugiddle, I am almost positive that Wally said to Beaver, "Yeah, that's what dad told me you did," which would imply that Ward and seen Beaver 'plant' the paper with the Tell it to Ella column in the den. Hopefully you will be able to rest easier now!

10-17-2008, 05:45 PM	#9
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	I thought that Beaver could have just run away in this episode since he felt his parents were being unfair. Or even the episode where he ignores June, he could have run away but he didn't.

10-18-2008, 10:08 PM	#10
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I don't think they were being unfair at all. He missed curfew when they did allow him to go out.

10-20-2008, 12:43 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,731	If you can record episodes from different networks, you can often 'construct' more complete episosdes. I once reconstructed the final ep., Scrapbook, from local TV and TVLand. Both had deleted different scenes. I did this on VHS but have since done it on the DVD recorder for a couple of "Diff'rect Strokes" episodes. You'd be surprised if you haven't tried this--they delete full scenes, sometimes one or 2 minutes. The worst Beaver edit I can recall is the one where Beaver buys June the Ooh La La blouse. TVL cuts the whole scene where Miss Landers explains where the kids are going, and why. Next thing we know they are somewhere singing.