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Jerry Mathers said 'Leave It to Beaver' is situational comedy, not a documentary of the '50s
"They were writing situational comedy. So, there were things that were stretched that would [never] happen."
When watching Leave It to Beaver, it's normal to feel a wave of nostalgia. For some people, the show brings back memories of a simpler time. Many believe the show gave insight into how American families were during the earlier decades. They saw a tight-knit, middle-class family with parents that allowed their children to express themselves and learn valuable lessons.
Although these families were all over the nation, Leave It to Beaver wasn't trying to recreate this All-American family image. Jerry Mathers believes that the series is not a documentary of the '50s. During an interview with the Television Academy, Mathers shared his views on the show's concept.
He began by focusing on what he thought was interesting. "The boys [were] always sent up to change for dinner and were always told to go up and wash," he said. "And people would say, 'that never happened,' but, Mr. Connelly, I would go over every once in a while to his house, his kids would go [upstairs] and wash and put on clean clothes [before dinner]."
Mathers is referring to one of the show's writers, Joe Connelly. He then went on to talk about how Connelly and the show's other writer, Bob Mosher, were aware that Leave It to Beaver was one of the first shows about an American family, especially from a child's point of view, to be seen worldwide.
"Some of the shows that were family shows [only] showed in the United States, but they didn't have worldwide recognition," the actor added. "So they were very cautious of presenting [the] United States in a very good light. Leave It to Beaver has played in 91 languages in 127 countries."
Mathers noticed that the landscape of sitcoms has changed since the show's debut and believes that many series similar to Leave It To Beaver are reality-based, even if they're situational comedies.
"If you watch most of the shows today, they're done by stand-up comedians, and they're 'Set up, set up, joke,'" he said while talking about sitcom formats. "Leave It to Beaver is not like that. There are no big laughs in the show. The comedy comes out of the situations [based] on the characters. It's not joke-orientated."
Although the series was family-centered and filmed during the '50s, Mathers said the show was not trying to portray life during that time.
"Leave It to Beaver is not a documentary of the '50s. Since we were filmed during that time, [viewers] thought that [we were trying to portray how the world was at that time]. It wasn't that. They were writing situational comedy. So, there were things that were stretched that would [never] happen. But, it's not a documentary."
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PENNY WOODS (KAREN SUE TRENT )
BOTH APPEARED IN THE LEAVE IT TO BEAVER EPISODE CALLED BEAVER AND
IVANHOE.
MICKEY MOUSE CLUB THEME SONG TO THE MEMORY OF ACTRESS
CHERYL HOLDRIDGE WHO PLAYED
JULIE FOSTER ON LEAVE IT TO
BEAVER NORMA ON THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MOUSEKETEERS ON
THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB.
... hunting jacket .. always hit me ...
It's my contention that they did this in conscious imitation of the Last Supper. One can just imagine whichever disciple was responsible for making the dinner reservations. "So this is for 'Christ', party of thirteen, but we'd like a table for 26 so we can all sit in a row on one side so our friend Mike can paint our picture. Oh, and if possible we'd like non-spill salt shakers; seems one of our number is a little clumsy and always knocks them over."
play WALLY.
Noise Pollution and is also garbage
polluting the world just like some of the garbage on TV TODAY is
Polluting the world.
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"So they were very cautious of presenting [the] United States in a very good light" (perhaps out of context), but....would that include the cautious non-portrayal of the " toilet." Funny how times have changed.
To add to the conversation, I remember watching it in primetime and it was just a fun, entertaining Series! We didn't imagine ourselves doing most of those things. So yes, the story was of course built around the plot. But (IMO) I saw elements of those parents in mine, who were stern and expected polite manners and respect. My mom was very much like the Cleavers stay-at-home mother. But there were many single parent homes who lived a different experience, but didn't detract from the other.
In these reflective times it has come under criticism by those who seem to be perfectionists and sadly, complainers. But look at all the alternative formats as well. Why knock Leave It To Beaver when it's celebrating a positive model, in the company of alternatives, as well?
TV show. I wish that Chester Anderson
(Buddy Hart) Tooey Brown (Tiger Fafara)
Bill Scott (David Kent)Judy Hensler
(Jeri Weil) and Larry Mondello (Rusty
Stevens ) had not disappeared from the
show. Penny Woods (Karen Sue Trent)
Also left LEAVE It To Beaver later but I think that her last episode was Beaver
The Bunny Instead of Farewell To Penny.