Father Knows Best

Season 5

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.

38 Episodes

Vine Covered Cottage
E1
Vine Covered CottageBetty's boyfriend Ralph asks Jim for permission to propose to Betty. Jim says a cautious comment that Ralph is a great guy. Betty & Ralph talk about marriage and think it is a great idea - until they start seeing the reality of marriage.
Be Kind to Bud Week
E2
Be Kind to Bud WeekBud thinks Betty has an ulterior motive when she is kind to him.
Kathy's Romance
E3
Kathy's RomanceKathy's new boyfriend is more interested in Jim than of Kathy.
Voice From the Past
E4
Voice From the PastBud is nominated for the decorating committee for homecoming week. He wants a new approach from other years. Jim warns him not to be disrespectful. Bud finds Jim's old school yearbook and sees Jim played pranks when he was in school.
Frank's Family Tress
E5
Frank's Family TressThe Andersons' gardener, Fronk, says he has no family to visit, so he spends his vacation working on the Andersons' yard. Kathy feels sorry he has no one in his life. Fronk does not want her to feel bad, so he makes up a family.
Always Plan Ahead
E6
Always Plan AheadJim tries to teach the children a lesson when they are constantly not planning ahead.
Second Wedding
E7
Second WeddingBetty talks Jim and Margaret into getting married again for their anniversary.
Bud, the Caretaker
E8
Bud, the CaretakerBud finds a dent on the back of the car he is watching for a friend.
Betty, the Pioneer Woman
E9
Betty, the Pioneer WomanBetty plays the founder of Springfield's wife in a play of what really happened.
Fair Exchange
E10
Fair ExchangeChanthini, an exchange student from India, spends a weekend at the Anderson home with her classmate Betty. The children struggle to make her welcome, but succeed only in making her feel like an outsider.
Bud, the Snob
E11
Bud, the SnobThe show is told in flashbacks to when Bud was really shy around girls. Bud's classmates thought he was a snob. Jim talked Bud into having a masquerade party to show he is not a snob.
Margaret Wins a Car
E12
Margaret Wins a CarMargaret buys a raffle ticket to help for the local orphanage, and wins a car. When publicity shots are taken, the orphanage director reprimands Margaret for having so much and not giving more to the orphanage.
The Great Experiment
E13
The Great ExperimentJim attends a meeting where the speaker's topic is to get more out of life and find out what is going on in their world. Jim becomes enthused and tries to pass this philosophy on to his family - who still have routine items to do.
The Christmas Story
E14
The Christmas StoryThe family recalls as they are putting up the Christmas tree, how Jim wanted them to cut their own tree, and in the process got stranded in a cabin.
The Basketball Coach
E15
The Basketball CoachBud and his friends get a sponsor for their basketball team, and they have a former college basketball player lined up for coach. But the coach's employer transfers him to another town and the boys ask Jim to be the replacement.
Kathy, Girl Executive
E16
Kathy, Girl ExecutiveKathy is elected by the family to control Bud's lawn moving company.
The Good Samaritan
E17
The Good SamaritanBud has a school assignment to do a good deed for someone unknown. As he finds someone to help, he either gets rejected or his good deeds backfire on him. When one deed turns to disaster, his father finds a way to turn it around.
The Ideal Father
E18
The Ideal FatherThe Andersons get their kitchen repainted. Also, Jim purchases items for the children they have been wanting, but the next day they all forget his birthday. Margaret gets upset at their alternative plans and asking for more favors.
Big Shot Bud
E19
Big Shot BudMargaret does a favor for Bud and he wants to give her a thank you gift. He buys perfume using Sunday School money because he knew his boss will pay him later that day. However the boss is out of town and Bud needs the money in the morning.
Hard Luck Leo
E20
Hard Luck LeoJim's cousin Leo visits so he can look for a job in Springfield. Leo is known as Hard Luck Leo. Despite job and apartment leads from the family, it seems nothing works out. Betty soon realizes Leo does not want anything to work out.
Bud, the Campus Romeo
E21
Bud, the Campus RomeoWhen Bus refuses dates, the girl launch an anti-Bud campaign.
Crisis Over a Kiss
E22
Crisis Over a KissAs Bud comes home from a date, he sees one of Betty's boyfriends trying to kiss Betty against her wishes. He comes to the rescue, but Betty really did not want to be rescued. Bud tries to be the romantic man with his date.
Kathy Grows Up
E23
Kathy Grows UpKathy is tired of being treated as a child. She tries including herself on dates with her brother and sister. Betty and her boyfriend agree to take Kathy and her friend to dinner with them, but the plans fall through and Kathy is crushed.
A Man of Merit
E24
A Man of MeritJim hears he may be awarded the Hall of Merit. He is excited and starts preparing his acceptance speech. Margaret hears the same information and starts making celebration plans. In the evening, everyone waits for word of his being selected.
Betty Makes a Choice
E25
Betty Makes a ChoiceBetty is faced with a hard decision that will affect her future.
It's a Small World
E26
It's a Small WorldJim is asked to be a speaker at an Insurance Convention and asks Margaret to go with him. Margaret has another commitment and stays home. Margaret later changes her mind and goes to NY. Confusion arises as Jim and Margaret try to meet up.
Two Loves Has Bud
E27
Two Loves Has BudBud's girlfriend Joyce breaks up with him and returns his gifts. He is upset until he sees the new girl in the neighborhood. Bud courts the new girl, giving her gifts Joyce returned. Then Joyce apologizes and wants to get back together.
An Extraordinary Woman
E28
An Extraordinary WomanThe Anderson's are visited by an author on African Culture.
The Art of Romance
E29
The Art of RomanceThe show is told in flashbacks to the time when Bud needed advice on how to convince Judy to go out with him. At the same time, Judy is asking advice from Betty on how to get Bud to ask her out.
Formula for Happiness
E30
Formula for HappinessStrange things begin to happen when Jim's dreams start to come true.
Bud and the Debutante
E31
Bud and the DebutanteBud's car breaks down and Molly passes by and offers a ride. The next day, Bud is driving Molly's expensive car and going places paid for by Molly. Jim talks to Bud about not taking advantage of Molly just because her family is rich.
The Promised Playhouse
E32
The Promised PlayhouseA flashback show about building a playhouse for Kathy.
The Meanest Professor
E33
The Meanest ProfessorBud regrets writing a bad article about a professor after the professor finds the article.
Live My Own Life
E34
Live My Own LifeThis is a recut version of episode 5 with the same name where Bud goes out on his own and tries to make good.
Bud Has A Problem
E35
Bud Has A ProblemBud blames his professor when it appears he will not pass Physics.
The Great Anderson Mystery
E36
The Great Anderson MysteryThe Andersons are all entranced in a television mystery show when a tube blows in the back of the TV before the show ends. With the unknown end of the show, the family tries to figure out what happened based upon what they already watched.
Margaret Goes Dancing Flashback
E37
Margaret Goes Dancing FlashbackMargaret wants Jim to take her dancing. She tries to trick him into dance lessons.
The Gold Turnip
E38
The Gold Turnip1Jun59 Bud feels that there is no use for tradition so he starts to break all traditions.