LEAVE IT TO BEAVER: NO TIME FOR BABYSITTERS (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about the Cleaver family -- Ward and June and their two sons, Wally and Theodore, known as "the Beaver."

June, Ward, and Wally are all going out on Friday night, and Ward considers leaving Beaver home alone without a babysitter. Ward and June try to talk to Beaver about staying home alone; he believes he is too old for a babysitter and he’ll be fine. He brags to his friends Gilbert and Richard that he’ll be without a babysitter that Friday, and invites them to come over that night so he can prove it. His friends are skeptical, yet intrigued.

A worried Ward and June cave in and contact a teenage girl named Judy to be Beaver’s babysitter. Beaver is upset at being given a babysitter after all, and June sends Wally to talk to him about it. Wally tries to convince Beaver that it isn’t a big deal and that he’s at an “awkward age.” Gilbert and Richard accept Beaver’s invitation to come over specifically to check if he will have a babysitter; he is too embarrassed to tell them otherwise. That night everyone goes out and Judy arrives, much to Beaver’s displeasure. Ward has to bring him downstairs so he’ll introduce himself.

Beaver mopes while Judy attempts to endear herself to him. She convinces Beaver that she realizes his frustration at being treated like a little kid. Gilbert and Richard show up and Judy agrees to hide in the kitchen when they enter. Beaver lets them in and tries to convince them that he’s alone in the house. They start to believe him when June calls, forcing Beaver to fake a phone conversation to deflect her, leaving her confused and worried. Judy hides out back while Gilbert and Richard check the kitchen, and then they decide to go home. Beaver and Judy call back June to straighten things out. Beaver warms up to Judy, and the two of them reach an understanding. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: October 7, 1961 8:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:24:17
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: B:45525
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1957-1958; ABC - 1958-1963
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Joe Connelly … Producer, Created by
• Bob Mosher … Producer, Created by
• David Butler … Director
• Dick Conway … Writer
• Roland MacLane … Writer
• Barbara Billingsley … Cast, June Cleaver
• Hugh Beaumont … Cast, Ward Cleaver
• Tony Dow … Cast, Wally Cleaver
• Jerry Mathers … Cast, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver
• Barbara Parkins … Cast, Judy
• Richard Correll … Cast, Richard
• Stephen Talbot … Cast, Gilbert