Welcome to the Please Don't Eat the Daisies Online. Please Don't Eat the Daisies was a situation comedy that aired on NBC television from 1965-1967.
What's New:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jean Kerr, a playwright and author who wrote with
self-deprecating humor about show business and suburbia and had a
best-seller in "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," has died at age 80.
Kerr died Sunday in White Plains. The apparent cause was pneumonia,
her son said.
Kerr wrote entertainingly about show business. She mused about what to
say when having lunch with a prospective producer -- order a drink so
you look relaxed, but don't touch it lest he think you're an
alcoholic. Anticipating negative reviews of her latest work, she
wrote: "If I have to commit suicide, I have nothing but Gelusil."
(That's an antacid.)
But she also had a gift for finding humor in the common anxieties of
suburbia and married life. She cheerfully acknowledged doing most of
her writing in the family car, parked several blocks away from the
chaos of several children and pets.
Kerr collaborated with her husband, the late drama critic Walter Kerr,
on several Broadway plays and wrote others on her own.
Her 1961 comedy, "Mary, Mary," about a divorced couple who ultimately
reconcile, became one of the longest-running productions of the
decade. It had more than 1,500 Broadway performances.
Butt Kerr is probably best known for "Please Don't Eat the Daisies,"
an eclectic compilation of her writings about everything from her pet
dogs to the oddities of their house in Larchmont.
The book, published in 1957, was turned into a movie with Doris Day
three years later and became a situation comedy that ran on NBC form
1965 to 1967.
She also wrote "The Snake Has All the Lines" (1960), "Penny Candy"
(1970) and "How I Got to Be Perfect" (1978).
She and her husband made their Broadway writing debut in 1946 with
"Song of Bernadette," a dramatization of the novel about a young
Frenchwoman canonized after allegedly seeing visions of the Virgin
Mary.
It was not a success, nor was her solo writing effort two years later,
a comedy called "Jenny Kissed Me," about a priest who finds his
household disrupted by the arrival of his housekeeper's niece.
But the couple's 1949 revue "Tough and Go" was praised by critics. The
show included a sketch of "Hamlet" performed as a musical comedy.
Her husband died in 1996 at 83.
Jeff and Joe Fithian with Ladadog - 1965
Joe and Jeff Fithian at the Hollywood Collectors Show - June 24th, 2001
Please Don't Eat the Daisies can be seen sporadically on Turner South
Turner South is a southern regional
network owned by Ted Turner started in October 1999. It's available in Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina and parts of North Carolina. They air mostly
MGM owned shows and movies including Please Don't Eat the Daisies, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,
Dr. Kildare, Gilligan's Island, CHiPS, etc. as well as Atlanta Thrashers hockey and
Atlanta Hawks basketball. They are currently in negotiations with several satellite companies
to carry the channel - you can call DIRECTV 1-800-DIRECTV and/or the DISH Network
at 1-800-333-DISH and request it.
For the schedule of upcoming episodes, please see the Turner South website
A word of warning for those of you taping episodes - the games they air often run long or end early so they move everything up or back on their schedule so be sure to allow plenty of room on your vcr timer! I know this from personal experience!
Broadcast History:
First Telecast: September 14, 1965
Last Telecast: September 2, 1967
Cast:
Joan Nash............................Patricia Crowley
James (Jim) Nash.....................Mark Miller
Kyle Nash............................Kim Tyler
Joel Nash............................Brian Nash
Tracey Nash..........................Joe Fithian
Trevor Nash..........................Jeff Fithian
Marge Thornton.......................Shirley Mitchell
Herb Thornton (1965-1966).......... .Harry Hickox
Herb Thornton (1966-1967)............King Donovan
Ed Hewley (1965-1966)................Dub Tyler
Martha O'Reilly......................Ellen Corby
Dean Gerald Carter (1966-1967).......Bill Quinn
Ethel Carter (1966-1967).............Jean Vander Pyl
Summary:
Based on the best-selling book and popular 1960 Doris
Day movie of the same title, Please Don't Eat the Daisies was author
Jean Kerr's story of an unusual suburban family. Jim Nash was a professor
of English at Ridgemont College in Ridgemont, New York, the community in
which he lived with his family. Wife Joan was a newspaper columnist
who hated housework, didn't like to cook, and was totally unconcerned about
how her traditional suburban housewife neighbors felt about it.
She got up at noon and did whatever moved her at the moment. Completing
the household were the four Nash children, all boys, including mischievous
seven-year-old twins; Martha, the family maid; and a huge 150-pound sheepdog
named Ladadog. The Thorntons were next-door neighbors of the Nashes.
Theme Songs/Video Clips:
Theme Songs:
Video Clips:
Theme by Jeff Alexander, arranged by John Lane
Television's Greatest Hits, Vol. 5
Includes the Please Don't Eat the Daisies 2nd season theme song - 65 total tv themes
For more information and to order:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000GOX/ref=nosim/happydaysonline
Looking for the 1960 Please Don't Eat the Daisies movie on VHS tape?
The movie starred Doris Day, David Niven, Janis Page, and Spring Byington.
Bright film based on Jean Kerr's stories about a drama critic and his family. Doris sings title song;
her kids are very amusing, as are Byington (the mother-in-law), Kelly (housekeeper), and especially
Paige as a temperamental star. Later a TV series. CinemaScope.
For more information and to order online:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6304546270/ref=nosim/happydaysonline
They sometimes are out of stock, so you can also also try the eBay auction website - just
search for Please Don't Eat the Daisies there
Internet Movie Database entry for the movie - includes a cast list and some other information
Picture Gallery:
34 photos currently available in the gallery, click here
Episode Guide:
58 total episodes were made during the show's two year
run on NBC:
Biographies/Where are they now?:
Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen - has
some additional Patricia Crowley photos and information
Jeff & Joe have five older brothers and sisters. They began appearing in
television commercials when they were a year old.
In June 2001, the twins appeared at a Hollywood Collectors Show. They said they did
the cruise ships for 20 years and they now work on dude ranches (one in Arizona and two
in Montana).
Internet Movie Database Entry for Joe Fithian
Related link: Moviedogs
Memorabilia:
Read the article "She'll settle for daisies" and view another photo
Search eBay for Please Don't Eat the Daisies Memorabilia and Photos
Additional information:
Links:
Tim's TV Showcase - Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Internet Movie Database entry for Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Looking to buy or sell Please Don't Eat the Daisies photos or other memorabilia or any other kind of memorabilia? Try eBay, click below:
Search eBay for Please Don't Eat the Daisies Memorabilia and Photos
If anyone has any further information on show, cast members, or any pictures - please e-mail me.
© 1998-2023, Sitcoms Online
1. My Eldest Child (original airdate 09/14/65)
Joan has written a revealing newspaper article about the foibles of her husband, thinking it would be published under
an assumed name..but everyone in town finds out about it and thinks it's extremely funny- except Jim. (this episode was filmed in black & white, all others were in color)
2. How About Two Gorillas? (09/21/65)
Although Jim and Joan can't act or sing, they reluctantly agree to stage an act for the school
amateur night; then they learn that they'll be on stage with parents who are professional entertainers. Mrs. Podesta: Jeanne Arnold,
1st Cop: William Zuckert, 2nd Cop: Vince Howard. (re-aired 05/17/66)
3. Who's Kicking That Gong Around? (09/28/65)
Amid the noisy chaos of family life Joan has to meet a deadline for her newspaper
column. She retreats to the bell tower and there she's marooned when the ladder is accidentally
removed. Irv Watts: Robert Nichols, Huggins: Robert Ball, Briggs: Charles Lampkin. (re-aired 05/10/66)
4. Dinner on the Rocks (10/05/65)
Although cooking isn't Joan's forte, she thinks it might be fun to go all out and make
a memorable meal for Jim's college dignitaries. She plans a clambake- but forgets to check with
the weatherman.
5. We're Bigger Than They Are, But... (10/12/65)
No one at school and no one at home, not even their parents can tell the twins apart, and the
twins decide that they've got a great thing going. Backett: Alan Hewitt, Mrs. Podesta: Jeanne Arnold, Miss Meredith: Regina Groves. (re-aired 05/24/66)
6. Look's Who Talking (10/19/65)
When Joan buys baby clothes for a friend's shower, the boys start spreading the rumor
that their mom's expecting. Jim and Joan are the last to hear about it, and it takes a broken fence post, a dented fender
and a flooded basement for her to convince Jim she's not expecting. Rob Miller: Roy Stuart, Mabel: Connie Sawyer, Alice Miller: Maurine Dawson, David: Clint Howard, Mrs. Miles: Nina Roman. (re-aired 06/14/66)
7. The Big Train (10/26/65)
During a raging thunderstorm the Nashes summon plumber Hewley, who frightens everyone by
telling the story that this storm strikes every 10 years on the same date...and causes someone to disappear each time. (re-aired 07/05/66)
8. Two Seats on the Moon-Shot (11/02/65)
Joan is waiting for Jim at a restaurant when a man with a concealed camera offers her
an expense-paid trip to New York. All she has to do is put on a blond wig and a new jacket-
and convice Jim she's not his wife. Crawford: Steve Franken, Cooper: Gene Blakely, Waiter: Fritz Feld. (re-aired 06/28/66)
9. Shape Up or Ship Out (11/09/65)
Joan gives the older boys the task of taking care of the twins, and the boys invoke military precision to prove who's more responsible. Joan
ends up thinking she's raising two sons for the White House and two for the Foreign Legion. Hastings: Ned Glass. (re-aired 04/26/66)
10. Somewhere George is Calling (11/16/65)
To earn enough money to buy anniversary gifts for their parents, Kyle and Joel conduct paid tours through their
turreted old house. George: Reginald Denny, Emma: Nydia Westman.
11. Don't Fool Around With the Man Upstairs (11/23/65)
Joel and his friend Hank fall prey to temptation and go to a carnival instead
of Sunday school, and Joel invents an ingenious tale for his folks. Hank Miller: Glen Kessler.
12. Of Hitches and Stitches and Big Round Dogs (11/30/65)
Jim's sister is getting married in 48 hours, and Joan- who missed out on a big wedding- is
determined to shoot the works, even sewing the gown herself. But Jim can see she's overworked
when she swears she sees 2 Ladadogs. The Rev. Mr. Dickinson: Bill Zuckert.
13. Very, Very Huckleberry (12/07/65)
The boys are planning to go to sea in a rickety raft they're building in the backyard,
and to Joan's astonishment Jim approves of the project. Commander MacIntyre: Oliver McGowan, Dorie: Bonnie Franklin, Mrs. MacIntyre: Mary Jackson, Hastings: Ned Glass, Andy: Bill Girard. (re-aired 05/03/66)
14. It's Lad By a Nose (12/14/65)
One of the boys has an allergy, and gloom invades the household when the doctor
traces it to Lad..and says he has to go. Dr. Krebbler: Pat MCCaffrie, Miss Reece: Janet Waldo.
15. The Big Brass Blonde (12/21/65)
A former movie queen is considering a play written by Joan and produced by Jim for her
Hollywood comeback attempt, and the Nashes are anxiously awaiting her opinion. Kitty: Audrey Meadows, Stan Seymour: Gilbert Green.
16. Swing That Indian Club (12/28/65)
Kyle's black eye from defending his younger brothers wins praise from his folks and he decides
he's ready to become a man. Meanwhile Joan is making elaborate preparations to play hostess for his club, unaware that he wants to quit the club
to join up with the older guys. David: Clint Howard, Butcher: Michael Flatley, Max: Steve Cagan, Boy: Rory Stevens, Pooley: Mark Sherwood.
17. The Pied Piper of Ridgemont (01/04/66)
After seven years in Africa hunting big game, Joan's father is coming to visit. First he sends a man-eating plant and then he
arrives at 5AM! Michael Sullivan: J. Pat O'Malley, Mrs. Newhall: Reta Shaw, Express Man: Arthur Malet, Messenger: Glen Eckenroth. (re-aired 06/07/66)
18. Say Uncle (01/11/66)
The twins see their dad go into a tailor shop and talk to Illya Kuryakin as he comes out. Because their spy manual says
that 'anyone can be a spy provided he eats the proper breakfast' they're sure that Dad is a secret
agent. When Mom overhears Jim ordering dynamite on the phone, she starts to believe it too. With permission from U.N.C.L.E. Napoleon
Solo and Illya Kuryakin make cameo appearances. Delivery Man: Dan Seymour, Tailor: Theo Marcuse, Dynamite Man: Charles Lane. (re-aired 05/31/66)
19. Nobody's Perfect (01/18/66)
Preoccupied with an article she's writing, Joan neglects to pay an overdue parking
ticket. When she finds Jim thrown in jail, she's sure it's because of that. Court Clerk: Jonathan Hole, Judge: Paul Newlan, Desk Sergeant: Stanley Adams, Detective: Robert Brubaker. (re-aired 06/21/66)
20. My Good Friend, Whatsisname (01/25/66)
Jim frantically tries to recall the name of a former schoolmate whom he has invited to dinner. Alvin Pratt: Edward / Ed Asner, Terry: Melinda Plowman.
21. The Monster in the Basement (02/01/66)
The Nash's ancient, temperamental furnace conks out on a freezing day, just before the visit
of Jim's college board chairman. Morton Gregory: Leon Ames. (re-aired 08/02/66)
22. Wring Out the Welcome Mat (02/15/66)
The Nashes' leaky roof and need for constant repairs on the house convinces them that the ancient home is a white elephant they'd be
better off selling. Carol Baker: Pat Carroll, Robert Wolfe: Gene Blakely, Phillips: Robert Gibbons. (re-aired 07/19/66)
23. Move Over, Mozart (02/22/66)
Joan is surprised to learn that Joel has an unusual aptitude for music and he may even
have the makings of a child prodigy. Miss Feather: Alice Ghostley, Conductor: Jeff Alexander.
24. Who's Walking Under the Bed? (03/08/66)
It's a big day at the Nash household, and a sleepless night. Jim's raise recommendation goes
to the dean and Lad is about to become a dad. Mrs. McGuire: Enid Markey, Terry: Melinda Plowman, Dean Vaughn: Grandon Rhodes. (re-aired 08/09/66)
25. How Now, Hausfrau? (03/15/66)
A newspaper columnist renowned for destroying reputations wants to interview Joan, and he
suspects that the zany household episodes she writes about in the paper are untrue. Mal Huntley: Robert Emhardt, Wally: Jesse White. (re-aired 08/30/66)
26. Big Man on Campus (03/22/66)
An unsigned one-act play triggers misunderstandings in the house. Joan finds a play
she wrote in a pile of student's manuscripts that Jim brought home to study, and when Jim criticizes
a badly written play, she thinks he's referring to hers. Cathy Lynn: Laurie Sibbald, Peter Hyde: Harlan Warde, Dorie: Bonnie Franklin, Hastings: Ned Glass, Jo Anne: Stacy Maxwell. (this
episode was originally scheduled to air 02/08/66 but was pre-empted unexpectedly) (re-aired 07/12/66)
27. The Magnificent Muldoon (03/29/66)
Taking their father's lecture on tolerance to heart, the twins invite a hobo home
for dinner and a bath- on the night that Jim's entertaining his boss. Muldoon: Burgess Meredith, Dean Vaughn: Frank Wilcox, Mrs. Vaughn: Shirley O'Hara. (re-aired 07/26/66)
28. The Leaning Tower of Ridgemont (04/05/66)
After examining the Nash's castle-like home, the building inspector concludes that the
ancient structure must come down, and the family has one week to move out. Grace Woddman: Judi Meredith, Arnold: Howard McNear, Simmons: Peter Leeds. (re-aired 08/23/66)
29. Mine Is the Luck of the Irish (04/12/66)
Joan's father invites the Nashes to spend their vacation in Arizona- where they'll have
a chance to invest in a uranium mine. Michael J. Sullivan: J. Pat O'Malley, Jud: Robert Easton, Ben: Harvey Lembeck.
30. Night of Knights (04/19/66)
A local news story about the Nash house having an old house is laughed off by
the family until strange things start happening.
31. The Purple Avenger (09/17/66) (Season 2)
The twins' TV idol is coming to town and his visit spells disillusion for the boys. He was
Joan's old beau and a notorious bumbler. Purple Avenger: Dom De Luise, Photographer: Vince Howard, Davey: Clint Howard. (re-aired 06/17/67)
32. My Mother's Name Is Fred (09/24/66)
Complications multiply when Joan uses a man's pen name to sell a story to a girlie magazine
that doesn't accept female authors. Then the magazine decides to do a story on the new author. Sutton: Louis Quinn, Mickey: George Ives, Miss Keegan: Doroty Neumann, Sam: Don Penny. (04/29/67)
33. A-hunting We Will Go (10/01/66)
Jim, not the outdoor type, is ordered by the dean to entertain a visiting playwright, a well-known
fanatic of he-man supporting endeavors. Roland Cunningham: David Brien.
34. At Home With the Family (10/08/66)
The house is in a turmoil when Jim tells Joan that they are about to be the subject of a college TV show. She feverishly
writes a script for herself and the boys. Paul: Hans Conreid, Sheldon Carp: Peter Helm. (re-aired 07/01/67)
35. The Holdouts (10/15/66)
The boys are demanding a fat percentage of the money Joan got for an article she wrote about
their antics. Larry: Sheldon Golomb. (re-aired 07/08/67)
36. Trouble Right Here in Ridgemont City (10/22/66)
Joan and Marge's friendship is strained when they both claim ownership of a winning
raffle ticket.
37. Black Is the Color Of My Love's Eye (10/29/66)
One black eye leads to another when Joel gets a shiner - from the neighborhood
girls! Tom Cromwell: Arch Johnson, Sam Cromwell: Cindy Eilbacher, Alice Comwell: June Dayton, Principal: Harry Ellerbe. (re-aired 06/24/67)
38. My Son, the Genius (11/05/66)
When Joel's IQ test shows him to be a flowering genius, Jim is determined not to let him
become a problem child. Corey: Sterling Holloway, Phil Bennett: Woodrow Parfrey. (re-aired 07/29/67)
39. The End Of the Trailer (11/12/66)
The dean wants to buy Jim's camping trailer but Jim doesn't want to unload the lemon on
a friend. So he shows the dean some slides of a family outing plagued by the miserable trailer
that came complete with a bear and skunk. Dean Carter: Bill Quinn, Mrs. Carter: Jean Vander Pyl.
40. My Son, the Actor (11/19/66)
Joel and Kyle are eagerly volunteering for acting roles in the school play, but Jim
and Joan don't see any signs of talent in either of them. When Joel fails to get the part, they
try to repair his wounded pride.
41. Of Haunted Houses, Little Boys, and a Ghost Named
Malcolm (11/26/66)
The boys discover a strange old character while exploring a haunted house; the
silver-tongued drifter turns out to be a ghost from Jim and Joan's past, and he sets out to make
the Nash house his temporary home. Malcolm Dorrington: Harry Townes, Terry: Melinda Plowman, John: Jimmy Bates. (re-aired 05/13/67)
42. And What Does Your Husband Do? (12/03/66)
Jim feels like an outside in his own home when Joan is named 'Woman Writer of the Year'. She's getting tons of publicity; he's getting
tired of being ignored. TV Interviewer: George Fenneman, Sara: Trudi Ames. (re-aired 07/22/67)
43. Just For Laughs (12/10/66)
A typical day in the Nash household: How not to extricate two small boys from a locked bathroom, and How
not to get Mom's hand out of the garbage disposal after she drops her ring into it. Harold Hewley: Robert Easton, Frank: Charles Briles, George: Kevin O'Neal, Susan: Candace Howard. (re-aired 05/06/67)
44. The Guardian (12/24/66)
Frantic Joan hurries to the auction featuring her sons' artwork- she's out to retrieve
the family's tax returns which are accidentally glued to the masterpiece. With Charlie Ruggles.
45. Peace, It's Wonderful (01/07/67)
Havoc ensues in the Nash household when Jim and Joan are drawn into their neighbors' family squabble
and end up in their own argument. (re-aired 05/20/67)
46. The Silent Butler Spoke (01/14/67)
Joan's article on a second chance for ex-cons may backfire- Her agent persuades her to hire
a reformed burglar as a butler. Then the Nashes nervously note the man's abundant interest in their antiques. Harry: Whit Bissell.
47. The Cupid Machine (01/21/67)
Joan signs up with a computer dating service to research an article, and her marriage is threatened when
she itemizes her idea of the perfect man. Richard Webster: Donald Harron.
48. The Thing's the Play (01/28/67)
Jim's professional reputation hangs in the balance when he picks Joan's unfinished play for a state
competition. After his fellow professors accuse him of nepotism, he has to spark Joan into finishing
the third act. Arlie: Joe Fiedler.
49. The Officer Of the Court (02/04/67)
Legal antics get out of hand when Herb juggles two cases for the Nashes- Negotiating
a better teaching contract for Jim, and suing Joan for $25,000 on behalf of local
women who believe that her article about overly amorous women refers to them. Dean Carter: Bill Quinn, Mrs. Swanson: Reta Shaw, Nancy: Bee Tompkins,
Penny: Evelyn King. (re-aired 06/03/67)
50. None So Righteous (02/11/67)
The Righteous Brothers are in town for a college concert and when they're mobbed by fans at the hotel, they
seek refuge at the Nash house. It happens that Joan and Jim are rehearsing for a PTA musical,
and when Jim is late for the show, the Righteous Brothers fill in. Jerry: Paul Petersen, Alex: Alex Romero, Terry:
Melinda Plowman. Songs: Sticks & Stones, Something You Got, Along Came Jones- (Righteous Brothers) Singing in the
Rain, Queen of the House (Joan) If I Had a Hammer (Righteous Bros. & the twins) King of the Road (Jim, Joan & Righteous Bros.) (re-aired 05/27/67)
51. Remember Lake Serene? (02/18/67)
Joan and Marge engage in a sneaky plan to marry off a happy bachelor, and end up complicating
domestic relations in their own households. Stefanie Powers makes a cameo appearance. Bob: Jack Kelly, Penny: Carol Byron, Gloria: Maureen Arthur.
52. Pest In the House (02/25/67)
While his house is fumigated, Herb is the Nash houseguest; he threatens to turn the home into a disaster area
by insisting on doing his fair share of the household chores. Mrs. Bailey: Kathleen Freeman, Bailey: Harry Hickox. (re-aired 08/05/67)
53. Help Wanted, Desperately (03/04/67)
The new maid's boundless enthusiasm is matched only by her wild notion of what the job should
be, and the Nashes suspect she's planning to make their home eligible for a disaster area government
grant. Martha: Ellen Corby, Mabel: Mary Treen. (re-aired 08/12/67)
54. Just While You're Resting (03/11/67)
The new maid, all heart and no help, is costing Joan all the time she set aside for
extra-curricular activities. She's too much trouble to keep, but too lovable to fire. Martha: Ellen Corby, Lydia: Majel Barrett. (re-aired 08/19/67)
55. When I Was a Young Man (03/25/67)
When Kyle asks for $1.50 to take a girl to a dance, Jim takes him back to the Nashes' broke-but-happy
newlywed days. In flashbacks we see Jim & Joan acquire Lad when he was a pup, learn that Kyle
is on the way, and in the hospital after he was born. Rose Melnis: Naoimi Stevens, Irving Melnis: Sammy Smith, Doctor: Jason Wingreen, Nurse #1: Sharyn Hillyer, Nurse #2: Irene Martin. (re-aired 07/15/67)
56. Professor, Please! (04/01/67)
Jim is bewildered and Joan is irate- a drama student with a crush on Jim
is waging a brazen campaign to come between them. Anna: Lori Martin. (re-aired 08/26/67)
57. A Matter Of Concentration (04/08/67)
Jim's wounded pride causes a chill in the house after Joan buys lavish gifts for
everyone. He's not content with wearing the pants in the family; he wants to buy them
too. Herb's hypnotic talents help patch it up.
58. The Day the Play Got Away (04/22/67)
Jim takes a sabbatical to write a play and begins an ordeal of self-doubt. He can't
concentrate on writing, and his brilliant replacement has taken over his pet project at school. Howard: Bobs Watson. (this episode was unexpectedly
pre-empted on 04/15/67).
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