Original title
The Danny Thomas Show
Released
9/29/1953
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy
Production companies
CBS, T & L Productions, Marterto Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
11
Number of episodes
335
Danny Thomas, an entertainer, tries to balance his home life with the needs of his career, with hilarious results.
The Danny Williams clan welcomes the first grandchild.
Danny buys a new doll for Terry and brings it home, expecting her to be happy about it, but instead finds that Margaret is making her a new dress for a school dance—and Terry, at age eleven, is too old for dolls.
Margaret finally gets her second honeymoon with Danny, but a friend needs him to open for him in Atlantic City, the same place where the honeymoon is taking place. A flashback occurs which tells what happened on their first honeymoon in 1941. In the end, the Williams' get their honeymoon.
Margaret’s mother starts feeling like she’s forgotten, and taken for granted, when she’s called up time-after-time just to babysit.
When Danny forgets his and Margaret’s wedding anniversary and is stuck in the doghouse, he reminisces about a simpler time and their first anniversary, before his success in show business.
Margaret and Danny become exasperated by an unwanted guest who won’t leave and who causes all sorts of problems for the two—but the kids adore him, and, later, they become fond of him, as well.
Danny showers the children with money, and drops plenty of hints, for them to get a present for his birthday. But the children don't understand, and spend it on the custodian of the building, who was once a sailor.
When an old college friend of Margaret’s comes to visit her, and she starts to compare her life with her successful friend’s, she becomes unhappy with her own life. Afterwards, Danny takes an unfortunate jab at her, and she decides to accept a job that the friend had previously offered her.
While about to start a relaxing vacation with just Margaret and himself, Danny finds himself stuck with a houseguest who’s the winner of a publicity stunt his agent submitted him for.
Rusty becomes cynical about Santa Claus and Christmas, and Danny gets stuck, on Christmas Eve, in Detroit because of a small clause in his contract.
Danny takes the kids with him to Toledo, and the stories he tells them about his childhood days and friends there, they discover, are off the mark when they meet several of his old acquaintances.
Margaret unnecessarily works herself up to be jealous of Danny and an old girlfriend of his.
After dispensing a lecture to the kids on unselfishness, Danny discovers that they have brought a bum, albeit an emeritis college professor, into the house without his knowledge.
Margaret’s three friends in her Wednesday bridge club brag to her about the presents their husbands gave them for Valentine’s Day, and she feels the need to defend Danny for a simple tape recorder she ostensibly got. Later, he hears something on said tape recorder and decides to change up her birthday present.
Danny loses his confidence, so Margaret enlists the kids to help restore it.
Margaret is away from home on jury duty, Louise is out with a cold, and Danny is having back issues, so Terry wants to take over her mother’s role in the house—but Danny thinks she’s still too young.
Margaret decides to teach Danny a lesson when he breaks another promise to the kids.
Danny has to make a decision about whether to get a nose job to get a Hollywood contract.
Margaret’s curmudgeonly aunt comes to visit when Margaret invites her over to try to reconcile her and her mother.
Terry is walking on a cloud when she is asked out by the president of the student council. Danny doesn't know what to do when he finds out the only reason he is dating Terry is so her father will perform at their school dance. After the news is broken to her, Terry is heartbroken.
Margaret feels as if she lives perpetually in the shadow of Danny and his fame.
Danny and Margaret are going on a trip to Boston and they hire a governess. Grandma shows up to take care of the care unexpectedly. Grandma and the governess have completely different ideas of how to handle the children.
Danny wants Rusty to cut all his curls off after he gets in a fight because of them.
The family takes a vacation to Baraboo, Wisc. to visit the couple that took care of Margaret when her parents were on the road. Danny has a hard time dealing with the quiet on the farm. Rusty goes to find arrowheads and gets lost.
Danny gets carried away with Margaret's accounts of sightseeing in London. He begins to dream that he is Robert Browning.
Margaret's mooching cousin, Carl, visits the Williams. He quickly moves in, and makes Danny very upset. Danny finally puts his foot down, and reshapes his character. The once lovable Carl becomes a hard worker, but he is no longer any fun. Danny finally gives in to his children (and Margaret), and Carl becomes as lovable as ever.
Danny is at a loss when daughter Terry balks at appearing in a school play. Even the son of a former vaudeville partner prefers a medical career to show business.
Controversy brews at the Williams house while Uncle Tonoose visits. When Terry is not tapped to join a soroity she would like to join due to her heritage, her uncle teachs her a big lesson.
Songwriter Harry Ruby offers his services as accompanist on Danny's USO tour.
Danny showers the children with money to give them a hint about getting a present for his birthday. But the children don't know,and spend it on the custodian of the building, who was once a sailor. They buy him a shirt. In the tag, the children perform a play due to Danny's love of the arts.
Danny makes the supreme sacrifice when son Rusty complains he's the only Cub Scout in the pack not represented at the den-mother meetings.
Danny runs into family problems after he takes a look at daughter Terry's diary. He has a hard time deciding whether or not he should let Terry known what he has done.
Danny goes to see Rusty's fourth-grade teacher, Miss Lorraine Andrews. He doesn't approve of her method of teaching at all. She, in turn, says that singing in a night club is much easier than teaching school. Danny challenges her to prove it, and she shows up to prove her point. The next day Danny brings her an apple as a peace offering, and they reconcile, but Danny manages to re-offend her yet again by minimizing the importance of her profession. After her emotional outburst, Danny writes ""I AM A DOPE"" repeatedly on the blackboard.
For his birthday, Danny makes a special trip home from his tour of night-club engagements. He is somewhat disappointed when it appears daughter Terry and son Rusty have forgotten this momentous event!
Terry decides to quit school in favor of a modeling career, much to Danny's dismay. He connives to discourage her from leaving school without arousing her suspicion.
Danny's popularity disrupt Danny and Kathy's honeymoon.
Danny finds himself in the middle of a family controversy when daughter Terry begins to resent her new stepmother. Now that Kathy does all the things for Danny that Terry used to do, the teenager feels left out and unwanted by the family.
When Danny learns that his Uncle Tonoose is about to visit, he's afraid that the family patriarch might not approve of his bride Kathy.
Terry, as chairman of her school's Heart Fund dance, is forced to choose between Dinah Shore and Kathy as vocalists for the event. Kathy is confident she can fill the bill because of her brief career as a high school band singer.
Rusty re-acquaints his new little sister with the methods used to soft-soap parents.
Danny and Kathy attempt to show that they are as young and spry as ever by indulging in an all-night dancing spree, followed by a morning of golf and tennis
Danny's father-in-law loves fishing, a sport Danny knows nothing about. In an attempt to impress the testy old gent, Danny burns the midnight oil studying the art of fishing - and comes up with all the wrong answers.
Danny's son Rusty is discouraged when the owner of a lost wallet rewards him with only a curt "Thank You." Danny attempts to restore his son's faith in human nature and almost loses his own wallet in the process.
Terry gets a job at a local dress shop. But Danny doesn't realize that she resents his attempts to help her.
Family unity is threatened when Terry asks Danny to play the role of a cultured gentleman for the benefit of her sorority sisters. The sorority committee taxes Danny's temper and almost loses Terry her most valued friend.
Danny and his father-in-law offer to help Rusty finance his entry in the Soapbox Derby.
Kathy thinks Danny is sending the wrong message to Rusty, who is running for Class President and is using his father's suggestion to throw a rally, replete with lots of ice cream and Danny's telling jokes, to 'buy' votes for Rusty.
When Danny and Kathy disagree and argue about who proposed to whom, Mr. Daly urges Danny not to apologize to his daughter.
Danny reads an article about teenagers running away to get married. As a result he gets worried over his own teen-aged Daughter, Terry. Then he finds out she is going steady with a boy named Walter, which only worries him more.
Chaos ensues when, because of Kathy's forgetfulness, Danny and Kathy dine with the Wolfs, where they weren't invited, much to the dismay of Mr. and Mrs. Fox, where they were invited.
Rusty balks when Danny won't give him $15 for a model airplane, but Kathy and Danny promise Linda a locket from the tooth fairy.
Danny fully expects to perform at Rusty's Cub Scout show for the third consecutive year and is annoyed at be asked again, until he finds he's been replaced by Jack Benny.
After Uncle Tonoose, family matchmaker, has married off his last relative, he comes to visit Kathy and Danny and announces that he wants to lead the life of a playboy.
When Danny tries to calm a terrified Linda, who needs her tonsils removed, he soon needs some consolation himself.
Tension mounts between Danny and Dinah Shore, when they are slated to open at different nightclubs on the same night.
On the eve of a 20 year reunion with old Toledo chums, Danny is feeling a bit smug at his great success with one year of high school while he friends completed their education. The tide turns when the group reunites and Danny learn that Charlie is an eminent surgeon, Harry, a prominent NASA scientist and Joe, a senior member of the diplomatic corps.
Bored with her housewife routine, Kathy accepts a glamorous job at a fashion magazine.
After encountering a group of wayward young men, who possess huge musical talent, Danny intervenes with school authorities to put them on the straight and narrow, with a view towards launching their show business career.
When Lucy and Ricky Ricardo pay a visit to the Williams family, Danny makes the mistake of advising Ricky to halt Lucy's shopping sprees by closing all of her charge accounts.
Uncle Tonoose travels from Toledo with Danny's cousin, Stephen, in tow, asking Danny to scratch Stephen's itch for a show business career.
After Danny lectures the children on the meaning of helping the less fortunate, Rusty and Linda bring "Kentucky Cal," a lonely drifter, home for dinner. Kathy and the kids become attached to the colorful Cal, but Danny wants to know more about this mysterious character.
Danny is outraged when Rusty and Linda are assigned minor roles in their school's upcoming production of "Alice in Wonderland" and argues with Mrs. Foster, the play's director. When she resigns in a huff, Danny takes over, only to find himself with Bob Hope, whose nephew has also been cast, offering his own unique style of 'shtick' while advising Danny on his direction.
When Kathy's friend takes in a Norwegian exchange student, Danny, missing his teen aged daughter, Terry, who's away at college, decides to sign on as well. When the authorities deem the Williams' household unsuitable because of Danny's profession, Danny, Rusty, Linda and Kathy set out to change their thinking and are determined to house their very own student.
Danny awaits the arrival of Italian exchange student, Gina Minelli, with great anxiety. The Williamses do everything they can to welcome the shy and homesick girl, but Danny, particularly, makes all the wrong, albeit, well intentioned moves. Inevitably, he stumbles upon the right tack and a very happy Gina feels very much at home.
Danny receives a letter from his old and beloved friend and mentor, Otto Nielsen, telling him that his daughter, Shirley, is in New York, hoping to land a job at the Copa. Danny is dismayed when he meets Shirley, a brassy, gum chewing girl who can't sing. When a worried Otto shows up at the Copa, he doesn't recognize the beautiful and innocent daughter who left home three weeks earlier. After some attitude, wardrobe and vocal adjustments, Danny is captivated by Shirley and sees a bright future for her in show business.
As Gina attempts to adapt to the American high school social scene, Danny takes it upon himself to help her get the attention of the star football player.
Rusty turns to Danny and Kathy for advice when he becomes smitten with a cute girl at school.
Gina is thrilled to learn that her idol, Frankie Laine, is performing with Danny at the Copa. She and her friend ask him if he would perform at their high school dance and Mr. Laine, who has taken a shine to Gina, consents. Gina is overjoyed, but as she's getting ready for her exciting evening, Kathy, a former nurse, notices that Gina is down with the measles. Danny promises Gina that Frankie Laine will come back to the Williamses apartment to sing to her after the dance, but Frankie says he has other plans.
Danny takes a ribbing from Phil and Harry, both confirmed bachelors, when they ask Danny along on a fishing trip, but know that he must ask Kathy's permission to go. When Danny protests that this is not true, things get even stickier when the men go back to the Williams' apartment and Kathy tells Danny that she's made vacation plans, without consulting him.
When suave Mario Firenze, a young man from Gina's hometown, arrives at the Williamses, he charms everyone with his continental ways. He takes an interest in a befuddled Gina, who tells Danny and Kathy that his family are aristocrats and that he would never give her the time of day back in Palermo. Everything is clarified when Gina receives a letter from her mother, warning her that Mario has traveled to New York to use Gina and enlist Danny and his show business connections to further his singing career.
Danny is furious with Phil, when he loses all of the material for Danny's opening at the Copa. The two cross swords and Danny fires Phil. Kathy intervenes when she goes to visit Phil, who has found the missing jokes and song parodies. Phil hands over the envelope and Kathy puts it in her purse, which she subsequently loses. Kathy's in a panic when she breaks the news to Danny, who characteristically explodes. In the midst of their bickering, the building doorman produces Kathy's handbag.
Kathy's grandfather comes to visit the Williamses, but Grampa must be watched. He is on a very strict diet, but insists on eating everything that's not good for him. After admonishing him and cajoling him, Danny uses some psychology. Danny gives him carte blanche to eat whatever he wishes, but Grampa refuses. He confesses to Kathy and Danny that he enjoys the thrill of the hunt and comes to realize and understand that he must comply with his doctor's orders.
Danny decides to become a canidate for abbot of the Friars Club. He discovers that he must first win the backing of rival groups within the organization.
One night after Danny's show, an enthusiastic and very wealthy fan comes backstage, requests that Danny do his act all over again for him and promises to take him to the most expensive dinner in New York. Danny politely refuses, but the gentleman is persistent -- the next day, the Williams' apartment is inundated with expensive gifts for everyone, much to Danny's extreme annoyance. That evening, the gentleman visits the Williams' apartment, to apologize for his behavior and it becomes increasingly evident to all that this is a kind and lonely man.
As the battle of the sexes heats up between Danny and Kathy, Gina gets a phone call to tell her that she's been nominated to run for Class President. It's wonderful news, except she's running against her steady boyfriend, Buck. Danny backs Buck and Kathy helps Gina in their respective campaigns, until some ugly leaflets are floated around the school urging students to "Vote American." Buck is hurt for Gina and steps aside and Gina accepts to the applause of every student assembled in the school auditorium.
When a dozen kittens are delivered to the Williamses, Danny realizes that, yet again, he's the victim of one of Charley Halper's practical jokes. Danny plots his revenge when he suggests to Charley that they engage Muriel Schultz, the Williamses chubby, temporary maid, suggesting to Charley that's she's beautiful and hugely talented. Muriel is a performer and takes her Copa debut very seriously and Danny soon realizes that she will be hurt by all of this and Danny and Kathy figure a way out of all of this.
Nobody gives Linda's imaginary friend, Mr. Jumbo, a second thought until a school psychologist visits Danny and Kathy and suggests that Linda cannot separate fantasy from reality and faults Danny for all of this. Danny does all he can to spend quality time with his daughter, but when pressed, Linda will not admit that Mr. Jumbo is a figment of her imagination. Danny threatens to spank her for lying to him, but she is literally saved by the bell, when "Mr Jumbo," a new doorman at an adjacent building is at the door.
Danny went past a stopsign in the small town of Mayberry, because there was no crossroad. Sheriff Andy Taylor comes and arrests Danny. He said the town council had decided to make a crossroad there, but there was only enough money for a stopsign. Danny demands to see the Justice of the Peace. At this, Andy takes out a sign and says he's the Justice of the Peace. By now Will Hoople, the town drunk, has come in and locked himself in his jailcell. Andy explains he gets drunk everyday, and he arrests himself for it. Will had been deputized to do this to himself! Danny finally agrees with his wife and decides to the ordianry fine of $5 to $10. He takes out a huge wad of cash, and he gives him more money and more money. Danny doesn't care if Andy is robbing him, after all he's a big time star. Andy sees this as a time to get more money, and tells Danny he has to pay $100 or spend 10 days in jail.
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