Original title
Father Knows Best
Released
10/3/1954
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy, Family
Production companies
Columbia Pictures Television
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
6
Number of episodes
203
Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.
In 1959 the producers were approached to do a U.S. Savings Bond benefit for the American Federation of Labor and the Treasury Department. Though never aired on television, it was distributed to schools, churches, and civic groups. Extremely rare copies can still be found.
Bud tries to learn how to dance from a book for his first school dance.
Jim tells his family to help others which leads to complications.
Jim buys Bud a motor scooter but Margaret won't let him have it.
Jim gets tickets to an important football game, and picks one of the kids to go with him—only to be blackmailed by an important client (who wants to go to the game, too) out of one of his tickets. He then tries frantically to find a second one.
Bud moves out, but discovers he can't clean, cook, or take care of himself.
Jim comes to believe that he is over the hill.
Bud becomes increasingly paranoid when Kathy (who has a fascination with the new washing machine, and puts everything in there) places a letter addressed to him by the police department in the washing machine, and ruins the letter, so he doesn’t know why he is asked to be there within seven days.
Kathy writes the best poem in the fourth grade on what Thanksgiving means to her, and Jim builds the poem up in his mind to unreasonable expectations for a fourth grader. When he actually finds out what the poem consists of, his hopes for Kathy’s future are deflated and he disparages the poem to Margaret, unwitting that Kathy has overheard.
Jim's weekend retreat, just he and his wife, seems like a perfect idea, at first. But he doesn't want to pass this on to the kids when he learns that the kids have plans with them; and then when the kids take the news too easy, Jim and Margaret are befuddled. They leave, but soon they start thinking about their kids and after reaching the lodge they want to phone in - but no one answers the call...
Jim becomes worried that things between Betty and a new male friend of hers are getting too serious.
Jim and Margaret rarely disagree on anything. But when he finds out Margaret signed them up to take dancing lessons, Jim refuses to do so, and ends up defiantly going to his old club, leaving her to take lessons alone.
Jim takes the family into the woods to cut down their own tree, and they become stranded there.
Kathy discovers a wounded Sparrow on the windowsill of the house—which she then considers hers—and the whole family becomes involved in trying to help it get better.
Jim receives a traffic ticket and Bud is appointed to be judge on that day.
An unwanted visitor that won't leave spoils Kathy's birthday party.
Bud is deemed a snob by the girls in school because he won’t speak to any of them. When Jim talks it over with him, he discovers that Bud‘s real problem is that he becomes tongue-tied around them.
After making a big deal about people keeping their word, Jim is forced to put his words into practice to set a good example for his family.
Jim wants to give up his office job in order to move into the country to lead a quiet, and less stressful, life as a farmer. Margaret doesn't think that he means it seriously, but he crosses more lines to fulfill his dream than he ever has before.
Jim is happy to learn his kids are planning to enter him in a Father of the Year contest. But things, of course, don’t go smoothly.
Even though finances have grown a little tight in the Anderson household, Jim buys Margaret a mink coat that ends up being more trouble than it’s worth.
Margaret tries to get her cousin and her boyfriend married.
Margaret's cousin (from the previous episode) is set to wed in the Anderson household, but things go wrong, due to the nervousness of the prospective bride and groom, and the wedding is called off. Poor Bud is reeled in to do a stand-in for the bride at the rehearsal.
Jim tries to help the children regain their confidence.
Bud injures himself, so Jim delivers the papers on his route to avoid Bud being fired.
Kathy and Betty fight for the attention of the same man.
Margaret worries the entire day over what will become of Bud’s future if he doesn’t develop good character. This is tied in with a baseball game Bud is trying to get to play in.
Jim tries to encourage Bud to take after him in salesmanship.
Jim comes home tired one day and is harangued by the kids. So, he and Margaret set up new rules to give him some time to relax—but it ends up backfiring.
A new highway is getting built, and for that the old community hall is going to be pulled down. That's something Jim wouldn't like to see since the hall is a historical monument, and also, memories from his youth are connected with this hall. Everyone from the family sees how much the hall means to Jim, and they use different ways to organize help.
Bud loses a job to a boy who fakes his resume, which leads him to believe it is alright to do this himself
Margaret is forced to invite a woman who makes her uncomfortable because she is Jim's friend's wife.
Bud learns that the girl he likes is dating his best friend.
Kathy gets a new magic set, from a trade with a friend, and becomes convinced she can truly wield magic.
Betty has recently taken up tennis at school and is chosen for a photo shoot for the paper. This causes friction between her and her doubles partner, Eula, who is the team’s best player.
Bud is accused of cheating because he is suddenly getting high grades in class.
After commenting on a sitcom (“Father Does It Again”) the family watches together one night, Jim speaks about how TV fathers are often portrayed as dumb in comparison with their families. Later, he plans on going hunting and starts believing that Margaret and the kids are secretly trying to get him to stay.
When Jim gets an invitation to a dance for his class reunion—class of ‘33—the kids start behaving as if their parents are ancient. Then, when the kids at their alma mater treat them the same, Jim and Margaret deal with the thought of getting older.
Bud gets irritated by a girl (whom he refers to as “Dumb Dora”) who has a crush on him, hurts her feelings when his irritation leads to cruelty, and must make amends.
Margaret has a premonition of danger for Jim’s upcoming business trip, and tries to get Jim to postpone it. But Jim believes it’s a bunch of superstitious nonsense, and insists on going anyway.
Tate Idsen saves a stagecoach from savage Indians in a flashback sequence.
Bud gets in trouble when his latest friend turns out to be a kleptomaniac.
Betty is indignant when Jim arranges a date for her with an old insurance salesman buddy’s son, Carter.
Jim comes home early from work, after a long, hard day, and expects to gain comfort from his family, but is quickly disillusioned when they all are too absorbed in their own interests and tasks to pay attention to him. This just makes his mood more sour and he declares at dinner that if he must, he will become a tyrant. This leads to unwelcome consequences.
Bud is having trouble in school and the family are hard-pressed to find out why. Eventually, Jim and Margaret come to the conclusion that, since he’s entered high school, he’s lost his confidence over being constantly compared to Betty and her accomplishments.
Betty gets a job to pay for a new, expensive formal for the Cinderella Ball at the country club.
Jim has a bet with Betty and Margaret concerning human nature, integrity and the man painting their house—Mr. Everett.
Bud seems determined not to go to a Senior/Freshman dance that is Sadie Hawkins-themed.
Betty becomes irritable with her family as she goes through an existential crisis.
Bud new friend won't leave the Anderson house because he has no family.
The family tries to think up excuses to keep from going to Margaret's family reunion.
Betty decides to become an engineer. Doyle: Roger Smith. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin.
Betty and her boyfriend refuse to see again after Jim and his father fight.
Margaret admits before the PTA that she can't control her children.
Former baseball star Duke Snider appears in this episode. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Sandy: Tommy Ivo. Bramer: Kenneth Tobey. Kippy: Paul Wallace.
Jim fights the elements to collect plants for Kathy's nature folder. Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray.
The family member who doesn't tattle for one week will receive ten dollars.
Kathy finds a receipt for $25 from the adoption center and believes she was adopted.
Bud tries to prove he's not tied to his mother's apron strings. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Elinor Donahue, Lauren Chapin. Georgia: Denise Alexander.
On a dude ranch, Betty falls in love with a cowboy only to discover the relationship won't last.
Jim tries discouraging Betty from taking her own apartment. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Jean: Donna Jo Gribble.
The Andersons entertain an aspiring writer---aspiring for 30 years. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Harper: Herb Butterfield.
Betty announces that she doesn't want a birthday party or presents.
To teach Bud a lesson, Jim gives him ten dollars a week for allowance, but he's not to spend the money on anyone else but himself.
Jim and Margaret complain about the children's sloppy clothes. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Dotty: Yvonne Lime.
Betty's esteem is low after another girl gets all the attention she used to get.
The Andersons try bringing an old man out of his dream world. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Mr. Lydom: Don Beddoe. Mrs. Lydom: Mary Adams. Kippy: Paul Wallace.
The boss's son goes to work in Jim's office. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Ward: Willis Bouchey.
A Spanish immigrant, Frank, fixes the Andersons lawn and then charges a high price.
The Anderson family becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island.
Bud tells the family they are to set up for a lawn party that is tomorrow.
While listening to Buds short wave radio the family overhears a distress call from a boat.
Bud squanders Jim's money at a carnival. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Lauren Chapin. Burt: Dick Foran. Kippy: Paul Wallace.
Betty's new boyfriend, a jet pilot, is transferred to Alaska.
Looking for adventure, Bud travels to a neighboring town. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Kippy: Paul Wallace.
The Anderson home is disrupted by a visit from actor Cornel Wilde. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Hansen: Lloyd Corrigan.
Bud buys a car for $10. Jim: Robert Young. Margaret: Jane Wyatt.
When Bud receives a traffic ticket he is forced to become a crossing guard.
Bud - a hero? A chain reaction of events, starting with a girl who wants to use Bud to make her boyfriend jealous leads to Bud preventing a bank robbery, making him the hero of the town.
3Apr57 Betty becomes flower queen and wins a track race all in the same day.
Kippy takes credit for a church donation Bud made, and Bud plans to get even.
Jim and Margaret takes care of a baby Betty is baby-sitting so she can go out.
Henry Pruett, a traveling salesman on tour, accidentally knocks on the door of Margaret: she, Jim and Henry attended college together and he was a promising man back then - on his way to become a doctor. But all he is now is the salesman (and a bad one too) and that's embarrassing for him and he decides to keep it a secret. But Margaret and Jim find out about this anyway.
Bud gets advice from Jim on how to win over Judy, while she is asking Margaret.
Margaret tries to help a young woman overcome her fear of having a baby.
Jim and Margaret are called in to help Margaret's dad, who's about to hand over his printing office and retire. The main reason is his groggy health lately, but it seems that giving up his office is the actual source for this problems.
Sageman helps the Andersons regain their self-confidence.
Bud must decide if he should stand up for a teacher or join the class in a revolt.
Betty tutors a football player who will escort her to a dance as payment.
Margaret receives a new house which she plans to rent out.
Bud becomes the chairman for the planning of his high school picnic.
The Anderson's gardener, Frank, is forced to get a real job and then winds up in court.
Margaret enrolls in an English class in college and is put in Betty's class.
Bud is not able to play in the football game because he wouldn't go to bed early.
Kathy competes in an essay contest judged by Greer Garson.
Jim tries to teach Margaret how to drive a car.
Bud is given the pleasure of raising Kathy when he says they are doing it all wrong.
Betty is going through a phase where she thinks selfishness is the sole motivator in people's lives.
When Kathy finds a horseshoe and she wishes for a horse, and gets one.
A girl thinks Bud is going into the Army and throws a going away party.
At summer camp Kathy rebels after her counselor, Betty, keeps pushing her to do better.
Bud practices the bongo drums to impress his new girlfriend.
Jim can either attend a business meeting or see Kathy read his biography.
Betty has two dates for the same night and doesn't plan to break either one.
Bud practices mind reading, and Betty tries to make the debating team.
The family gets mad when Margaret keeps helping a furniture maker and his wife.
Bud is in trouble when he is accused of causing damage to a neighbor's property.
26Feb58 Betty teases Bud saying he is sloppy when some very influential people come over.
The Anderson's cousin, Milly, arrives for a visit and to look at the college.
Bud believes that his father is henpecked when he willingly does everything Margaret wants him to.
Betty tries to help an old man fix up his restaurant so he isn't evicted by Jim's company.
Bud falls in love with an older woman at the grocery store who is married.
Chaos strikes when Betty hides a pair of skates for a friend of hers.
A very talented dog shows up and takes residence in the Anderson's house.
When Jim plans to build a case for trophies, and Margaret sets out to win a medal.
Betty tries to use her feminine wiles on a young man to get him to take her out.
Jim is bombarded with questions when he is getting ready for a business trip.
When Bud meets a successful business man who quit school and Bud plans to do the same.
Bud is chosen as the most popular boy in his class at school.
Betty tries to make a man remove a hedge that blocks the view on a road.
Betty and Ralph plan to get married, but find it is not as happy as they thought.
Bud thinks Betty has an ulterior motive when she is kind to him.
Kathy's new boyfriend is more interested in Jim than of Kathy.
Bud prepares for the arrival of the homecoming queen.
Frank tries to console Kathy by telling her that his family are entertainers.
Jim tries to teach the children a lesson when they are constantly not planning ahead.
Betty talks Jim and Margaret into getting married again for their anniversary.
Bud finds a dent on the back of the car he is watching for a friend.
Betty plays the founder of Springfield's wife in a play of what really happened.
An Indian exchange student arrives for the weekend from Betty's college.
In a raffle, Margaret wins a car and uses it to help the orphans home.
Jim attempts to get the family to broaden their horizons and disaster strikes.
The family recalls as they are putting up the Christmas tree, how Jim wanted them to cut their own tree, and in the process got stranded in a cabin.
Jim becomes the coach of Bud's basketball team.
Kathy is elected by the family to control Bud's lawn moving company.
5Jan59 Bud must do a good deed for an English report and ends up resenting the whole world.
Uncle Charlie believes the children are spoiled when they forget Jim's birthday.
Bud gets into hot water when he tries to buy Margaret a bottle of expensive perfume.
Leo visits and takes advantage of the whole family until something surprising happens.
When Bus refuses dates, the girl launch an anti-Bud campaign.
Bud tries to save Betty from her boyfriend but Betty resents the help.
Kathy says she wants to be treated as if she was an adult.
Jim learns that he is to be appointed as an outstanding person in the community.
Betty is faced with a hard decision that will affect her future.
Margaret must decide to attend a luncheon or go with Jim on an important trip.
Bud has a hard time when he must decide between two girls to take to the prom.
The Anderson's are visited by an author on African Culture.
Strange things begin to happen when Jim's dreams start to come true.
Bud tries to impress a wealthy girl by taking her to an expensive restaurant.
Bud regrets writing a bad article about a professor after the professor finds the article.
This is a recut version of episode 5 with the same name where Bud goes out on his own and tries to make good.
Bud blames his professor when it appears he will not pass Physics.
The Andersons act out a detective story when the television breaks down.
1Jun59 Bud feels that there is no use for tradition so he starts to break all traditions.
While on the way to visit Margaret's parents, the car breaks down leaving the family stranded on a deserted road.
Bud falls in love with his college French professor.
Frank is chosen to represent the town at the opening of a park, but when the town council meets Frank, they want another person to represent their city- someone who looks more like an average American.
Betty becomes involved with a young lawyer pretending to be the owner of a radio store.
Bud decides to date the coach's daughter in order to make sure he gets on the football team.
Jim's plans for a quiet bicycle trip end up with Jim and Margaret arguing
Bud tells Kathy about the job he didn't get when another boy faked his credentials.
Jim and Margaret tease one another about people they dated as their college reunion nears.
The family tries to change Kathy from a tomboy into a beautiful girl.
Bud wants a part-time job at a service station in order to get enough money to buy a boat.
Both Jim and Kathy are doublecrossed by their friends.
Margaret tricks the family into believing that she has been elected chairwoman of the children's clinic building program.
Betty wins a trip to Hollywood because she looks like a famous movie star.
This is a recut version of episode 30. It is not part of the current syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
Betty is campaigning for safe driving, while Bud is accused of reckless driving.
A reporter visits the family in order to do an article on family togetherness.
Betty competes in the college fencing tournament.
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.
Betty arranges a match between Frank and a worker in a flower shop.
Jim is surprised by his family's lack of interest when he is named Father of the Year.
When Bud reaffirms and old man's belief in life, he decides to open his own insurance company and hire Bud as his assistant.
Bud invests money in a phony stock scheme and winds up losing fifty dollars
The Andersons get a check from an admirer and must find out which member of the family the check was meant for.
While Kathy is trying to repair her birth certificate frame, she recalls the time she thought she was adopted.
Kathy destroys a picture of a family competing against hers in a photo contest
Bud falls in love with his English Tutor
Betty dates a boy everyone regards as a loser
Betty becomes frustrated when every college contest she enters, she loses to Cliff Bowman, who may even steal her job, too
Bud spends more money than he has in order to impress a girl in Chicago.
Betty is caught in the middle of an argument between two of her friends who are planning to marry.
When Kathy refuses to graduate from high school, the family tells her about Betty's reluctance to graduate from High School, too. This is a recut version of episode 63. It is not part of the syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
