Father Knows Best

Season 2

TV-G

The popular radio show comes to life in this hit sitcom about a wise family man, Jim Anderson, his common-sense wife Margaret and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy. Whenever the kids need advice on anything at all, they can always turn to their father, because father knows best.

37 Episodes

Art of Salesmanship
E1
Art of SalesmanshipJim tries to encourage Bud to take after him in salesmanship.
Father's Private Life
E2
Father's Private LifeJim 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.
Lessons in Civics
E3
Lessons in CivicsA 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.
First Disillusionment
E4
First DisillusionmentBud applies for a job in a sports department. His resume has some embellishments, but his father tells him to only tell the truth. When he applies, he does not get the job because someone else embellished their resume and was hired.
Woman in the House
E5
Woman in the HouseVirge, an old friend of Jim's visits Jim at work and announces he and his wife have moved to Springfield. Jim & Margaret invite the couple to dinner. While Virge is well liked and enjoyed, his wife is not so pleasant.
New Girl at School
E6
New Girl at SchoolA new family moved into the area. They have a son Kathy's age and a daughter Bud's age. Kathy and Grover become friends. Bud and his friend Joe both like April. Turns out April is a flirt who tries to get all the boys to do her bidding.
Kathy Makes Magic
E7
Kathy Makes MagicKathy trades her skates for a friend's magic set, and then believes she can make anything disappear or change appearance as long as she waves the magic wand. When she does magic while Bud tries smoking a cigar, she thinks she made Bud sick.
Advantage to Betty
E8
Advantage to BettyA newspaper reporter takes pictures and writes an article for the paper on the school's tennis team. The picture is Betty, the rawest member of the team, and it looks like she is the champion player. The team captain is not happy.
The Big Test
E9
The Big TestBud is accused of cheating because he is suddenly getting high grades in class.
Father Is a Dope
E10
Father Is a DopeAfter 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.
Spirit of Youth
E11
Spirit of YouthWhen 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, the Ladykiller
E12
Bud, the LadykillerWhen a classmate calls Bud, he is rude to her because she is the least popular girl in school and considered a nerd. Jim finds out Bud was rude and tells Bud he has to apologize. Bud tries, but the girl does not accept his apology.
Margaret's Premonition
E13
Margaret's PremonitionMargaret has a few lucky coincidences about things she thinks about and things that happen. Everyone tells her she has premonition and she starts to believe it. She makes a prediction about Jim and he does not want to follow her advice.
Stage to Yuma
E14
Stage to YumaRobert Young plays the role of Tate Ibsen, one of six passengers riding a stagecoach through Arizona in the year 1860. One passenger has been convicted of murder and is handcuffed to a deputy. Tate Ibsen's plan to spring him loose before they reach the Yuma Penitentiary runs into complications when the stage is attacked by Indians.
Bad Influence
E15
Bad InfluenceBud gets in trouble when his latest friend turns out to be a kleptomaniac.
Betty Hates Carter
E16
Betty Hates CarterBetty is indignant when Jim arranges a date for her with an old insurance salesman buddy’s son, Carter.
Jim, the Tyrant
E17
Jim, the TyrantJim 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.
Betty's Brother
E18
Betty's BrotherBud 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 Earns a Formal
E19
Betty Earns a FormalIt seems like only bills are coming in the mail, and everyone is asking for money. When Betty asks for money to buy a dress for a country club dance, Jim tells her to earn the money herself. She gets a job but no one knows where.
The House Painter
E20
The House PainterThe Andersons hire someone to paint the house. Jim and Margaret have a discussion about whether someone does the job for the money or for the sense of accomplishment. They make a bet to see who is right, and then ask the painter why.
Bud, the Wallflower
E21
Bud, the WallflowerBud is upset that none of the girls asked him to the Sadie Hawkins Dance. He feels he has become unpopular. Bud decides to plan a camping trip the same day as the dance as a way to show he does not care.
The Bus to Nowhere
E22
The Bus to NowhereThe last few days Betty has no fun, she's sullen and does nothing. No one gets through to her, not even her parents. Betty faces a personal crisis when she has to find answers, basically, to the meaning-of-life question. The only way out for her is to put Bud's story (which he has written as an assignment) into reality: Enter a bus and go as far as the money takes her.
Kathy, the Indian Giver
E23
Kathy, the Indian GiverKathy trades her baby doll for a neighborhood friend's baby sibling.
The Historical Andersons
E24
The Historical AndersonsBud has to write a paper on a historical figure from the Independence War. Jim suggests an ancestor - Major Nathaniel Anderson, and says he must be important if he was a major. Bud researches, and finds the major was a minor in the war.
The Grass is Greener
E25
The Grass is GreenerJim is excited to tell his family that his college friend Charlie is being interviewed on television. Charlie is quite successful. The more Jim talks about Charlie's success, the more Jim feels he is not a success.
The Persistent Guest
E26
The Persistent GuestBud new friend won't leave the Anderson house because he has no family.
Family Reunion
E27
Family ReunionThe family tries to think up excuses to keep from going to Margaret's family reunion.
Family Dines Out
E28
Family Dines OutThe Andersons face a dilemma when Betty promises a wealthy friend that they will attend an exclusive charity dinner on the same night that Bud needs the family to eat at the modest drugstore counter where he has just gotten his first job.
Bud, the Boxer
E29
Bud, the BoxerBud tries to avoid a bully at school, but Jim tells Bud he cannot avoid his problems forever. Jim suggests the boys get in a boxing ring to be sportsmen. Bud wins, and joins the boxing team. Soon, Bud starts to become a bully.
Betty, Girl Engineer
E30
Betty, Girl EngineerBetty's school hosts a career day where the students can sign up to intern at a job to see what the business world is like. The counselor assumes she wants a secretary job, but Betty says she wants the engineer position.
The Martins and the Coys
E31
The Martins and the CoysJim has an argument with a customer about his insurance which was cancelled. Jim and Mr Tyler decide they no longer need to contact each other. However, Betty is dating Mr Tyler's son. The situation is awkward.
Dilemma for Margaret
E32
Dilemma for MargaretMargaret admits before the PTA that she can't control her children.
Hero Father
E33
Hero FatherFormer 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.
Father, the Naturalist
E34
Father, the NaturalistJim fights the elements to collect plants for Kathy's nature folder. Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray.
The Ten Dollar Question
E35
The Ten Dollar QuestionThe family member who doesn't tattle for one week will receive ten dollars.
Adopted Daughter
E36
Adopted DaughterKathy finds a receipt for $25 from the adoption center and believes she was adopted.
Betty's Graduation
E37
Betty's GraduationBetty's high school graduation is approaching and there is a lot to do. Betty starts to think the best days of her life are now over and does not want to graduate.