Father Knows Best

An iconic family series that celebrates old-fashioned values and offers warm-hearted life lessons that are just as timeless as ever.

tv-g

Season 1

28:40

Bud Takes Up The Dance

Bud uses an old book to teach himself to dance in time for his very first date and his very first dance.

25:11

Lesson In Citizenship

Jim sets out to teach his layabout kids a proper life ethic.

28:41

The Motor Scooter

Jim and Margaret disagree on whether Jim should buy Bud a motor scooter.

28:28

Football Tickets

Jim and Margaret go to the big football game every year. This year, Margaret finds she cannot go and Betty is promised the ticket.

25:25

Live My Own Life

Bud feels beleaguered by his parents and siblings, and believes he is ready to take responsibility for his own life.

25:29

Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation

Jim wants to play badminton, but his kids see him as too old for such things.

28:17

Bud's Encounter With The Law

Kathy’s on a tear, throwing everything she can get her hands on into her new “spaceship,” a.k.a the family washing machine.

25:28

Thanksgiving Day

When Kathy writes a prize-winning Thanksgiving poem, Jim envisions his “Kitten” as the next Emily Brontë.

28:18

Second Honeymoon

Jim and Margaret could use some time away from the house, so they plan a weekend getaway.

25:53

Typical Father

Betty is falling hard for a new guy, and it upsets her father.

25:29

Margaret Goes Dancing

Margaret is sure she could never get Jim to agree to take dancing classes with her.

28:39

The Christmas Story

In an attempt to remind his family of the real meaning of Christmas, Jim decides the Andersons will cut down their own Christmas tree this year.

28:15

Sparrow In The Window

When Kathy discovers an injured sparrow on the windowsill, the family takes the little bird in to nurse it back to health.

28:48

Boy's Week

After Kathy breaks another window, Jim is committed to teaching his kids about personal responsibility.

28:39

A Friend Of Old George's

The family plans a special dinner for Kathy’s birthday, but an uninvited guest arrives and throws off everything she’d been looking forward to.

25:48

Bud The Snob

Bud is getting a reputation as a snob; his difficulty in talking with girls is being misinterpreted as standoffishness.

24:50

The Promised Playhouse

Jim demands that his family start living up to the promises they’ve made to people.

25:50

Jim The Farmer

Feeling stressed out from all the pressure at work, Jim decides to give up his job, move to the country and become a farmer.

25:14

Father Of The Year

The Springfield paper hosts a Father of the Year contest, but the Anderson kids struggle to find words to describe the “best dad in the world.”

28:43

The Mink Coat

Money’s tight, and Jim urges the family to budget, then gets a rare chance to buy Margaret a mink coat for less than half the usual price.

25:43

The Matchmaker

Margaret wages a campaign to get her cousin’s boyfriend to propose. Though Louise is hesitant to “trap” Tom, Margaret is sure she knows what to do..

28:44

Bud The Bridesmaid

Cousin Louise is marrying at the Andersons’. When nerves keep her from the rehearsal, Margaret goes all-out and Bud has to stand in as the bride.

28:39

Proud Father

After he runs into a friend who brags about his overachieving children, Jim wants to help inspire his own brood to acts of greatness.

28:29

Father Delivers The Papers

Customers complain about Bud’s paper route. When Mr. Collins tells Jim, he promises Bud will do better if given another chance.

25:38

No Partiality

Kathy demands equal rights with Betty and Bud. Jim agrees and says that whatever Betty gets to do, Kathy gets to do too.

28:29

Close Decision

Bud is slacking off—he’s not doing his chores and he’s put off memorizing a poem to recite in church. Margaret insists he skip his softball game and catch up on his work, but Jim sneaks him out.

Season 2

25:54

Art of Salesmanship

Bud thinks he can earn money fast by selling sauce-boats. He goes into business fast but soon finds that it is harder than he thought. He wants to give up.

25:57

Father's Private Life

Jim believes his kids should solve their own problems, so he carves out private time, hoping they’ll learn to handle things on their own.

25:56

Lessons in Civics

The county wants to build a new highway right through the old community hall.

25:56

First Disillusionment

Bud is upset because he has lost a job to another boy.

25:56

Woman in the House

Jim wants to invite a friend of his over to the Anderson home.

01:26:16

New Girl at School

There is a new girl at school and it is love at first sight for Bud Anderson.

01:25:28

Kathy Makes Magic

Kathy trades her skaters for a magician's box.

01:25:49

Advantage to Betty

Betty is excited her tennis team has made the championships.

01:25:33

The Big Test

For once in his life Bud has studied hard for a big test.

01:25:31

Father is a Dope

Jim becomes paranoid after watching a family sitcom on television.

01:25:28

Spirit of Youth

Betty, Bud and Kathy are convinced that Mom and Dad are very old.

25:56

Bud, the Ladykiller

At school a dorky classmate of Bud’s has a crush on him.

01:25:31

Margaret's Premonition

Margaret's recent predictions have convinced that family that she has psychic powers.

01:25:25

Stage to Yuma

Robert Young opens by saying “the family is on vacation this week,” then introduces what’s clearly a Western pilot for a completely different show.

01:26:20

Bad Influence

Bud has a new friend. Unfortunately, his new friend is a kleptomaniac and Bud gets blame for his friend’s actions.

01:26:32

Betty Hates Carter

Jim has decided to play match maker for his daughter for an upcoming ball.

01:25:20

Jim, the Tyrant

Jim has had a bad day at work. When he comes home from the office his mood is amplified when the family ignores him

01:25:24

Betty's Brother

Because of the large age difference between Kathy and Betty, it was been easy for Kathy to be proud to have a sister like Betty.

01:26:13

Betty Earns a Formal

Jim refused to buy a formal dress for the dance for Betty because it cost too much money.

01:26:14

The House Painter

The Andersons are getting their house painted, sparking a family bet and a debate between Betty and Jim about pride in work vs. chasing the dollar.

01:26:16

Bud, The Wallflower

Bud is depressed because he has not been invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance at school. He decides to plan a camping trip.

01:26:14

The Bus to Nowhere

Betty has been depressed for over a week. No one has been able to cheer her up. Betty seems to be facing a personal crisis and is searching for the meaning of life.

01:26:14

Kathy, The Indian Giver

Kathy feels left out as the youngest; Bud and Betty won’t play with her. Tired of dolls, she wishes for a real baby sister to keep her company.

01:26:14

The Historical Andersons

Bud is given an assignment to write an essay about a great man from the War of Independence.

01:26:22

The Grass is Greener

In college Jim spent so much time with his four college pals that they were known as the Four Musketeers. One of his college pals is in town.

01:26:18

The Persistent Guest

Bud has a new friends that he has invited to stay over night at the Anderson Home.

01:25:23

Family Reunion

Margaret is excited about her family reunion. Her excitement is not shared by the family. They have found all kinds of excuses to prevent them from going.

01:25:21

Family Dines Out

Betty’s new friend, Elouise, is upper class. Betty worries she can’t keep the friendship unless Elouise thinks they’re from the same social class.

01:26:15

Bud, The Boxer

Eddie Jarvis is the school bully. He challenges Bud to a boxing match.

01:25:17

Betty, Girl Engineer

After a job fair, Betty decides she would like to be an engineer.

01:25:22

The Martins and the Coys

Betty and her boyfriend are getting along wonderful until his father and Jim have a fight. After the fight, he refuses to see her ever again.

01:26:14

Dilemma for Margaret

Margaret is candid about some minor issues with her children.

01:25:22

Hero Father

Bud impresses his classmates when his father gets Duke Snider make a visit to Springfield.

01:25:20

Father, the Naturalist

Kathy is excited because if she can find five more herbs, her folder will be complete and she can get her promotion to tribe princess.

01:25:22

The Ten Dollar Question

Jim and Margaret, tired of tattling, offer $10 to the child who goes a whole week without tattling on siblings.

01:25:24

Adopted Daughter

Kathy finds a $25 receipt from an adoption center and is convinced she’s adopted. She’s determined to get Jim and Margaret to confess the truth.

01:25:05

Betty's Graduation

Approaching Junior High’s end, Kathy feels anxious. Jim reassures her Betty felt the same before High School graduation, but Kathy’s fears remain unresolved.

Credits

Cast: Elinor Donahue, Lauren Chapin, Billy Gray, Jane Wyatt, Robert Young

Narrator:

Writer: Dorothy Cooper

Directed By: James Neilson

Genres

For Ages 11 to 12, For Ages 8 to 10, Family Friendly, Classic, Kids and Family, Dramas

Father Knows Best

An iconic family series that celebrates old-fashioned values and offers warm-hearted life lessons that are just as timeless as ever.

Season 1

Season 1

Season 2

Season 2

Credits

Credits

Genres

Genres

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