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.

32 Episodes

  • A Day in the Country
    A1
    A Day in the CountryThe family prepares for a trip to a family reunion. Jim finds a shortcut on a map they can travel to Margaret's family home. Alas, it is a rarely traveled road and their car breaks down. Jim walks to a small town and tries to find help.
  • Bud Branches Out
    A2
    Bud Branches OutBud falls in love with his college French professor.
  • The Gardener's Big Day
    A3
    The Gardener's Big DayFrank is chosen to represent the town at the opening of a park, but when the town council meets Frank, they want another person to represent their city- someone who looks more like an average American.
  • The Imposter
    A4
    The ImposterBetty returns a defective radio to a store and mistakes a customer for the store owner. She leaves without realizing Tom is a customer. The store owner gives Tom a replacement radio, and he takes it to Betty without correcting his identity.
  • Bud Plays It Safe
    A5
    Bud Plays It SafeBud tries out for a position on the football team and bemoans the fact that the coach does not notice him. Betty tells Bud that the coach's daughter notices him. Bud decides to ask the daughter on a date as a way to get close to the coach.
  • Bicycle Trip for Two
    A6
    Bicycle Trip for TwoKathy does an inspection of the house for fire safety. The attic does not pass the test. Jim & Margaret start a clean up and find things from their younger days. They decide to go bicycling to relive some of those younger days.
  • First Disillusionment
    A7
    First DisillusionmentBud tells Kathy about the job he didn't get when another boy faked his credentials.
  • Margaret's Old Flame
    A8
    Margaret's Old FlameListening to a radio broadcast of a homecoming gathering, Margaret & Jim remember their college years, dating, and previous boy- & girl-friends, other homecomings, etc. Margaret gets flower and a mysterious former boyfriend.
  • Kathy Becomes a Girl
    A9
    Kathy Becomes a GirlThe family tries to change Kathy from a tomboy into a beautiful girl.
  • Bud, the Willing Worker
    A10
    Bud, the Willing WorkerBud wants a part-time job at a service station in order to get enough money to buy a boat.
  • Turn the Other Cheek
    A11
    Turn the Other CheekJim acts as a mentor to a new, young insurance agent and asks him over for dinner. Bart feels that he can jump ahead of all the steps up the ladder and ends up stepping on Jim. Kathy feels the same way about one of her friends.
  • Good Joke on Mom
    A12
    Good Joke on MomMargaret gets a letter about a Children's Clinic being built and that she is the General Chairman of the Building Committee. She realizes it is a mistake, but when her family ridicules the idea and her skill, she pretends she accepted it.
  • Betty's Double
    A13
    Betty's DoubleBetty wins a trip to Hollywood because she looks like a famous movie star.
  • Father, the Naturalist
    A14
    Father, the NaturalistThis is a recut version of episode 30. It is not part of the current syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
  • Bud Hides Behind a Skirt
    A15
    Bud Hides Behind a SkirtBetty is campaigning for safe driving, while Bud is accused of reckless driving.
  • Togetherness
    A16
    TogethernessAn insurance magazine is going to interview the Andersons for an article in the magazine. The story will focus on their family unity and solid family life. Unfortunately, when the reporter shows up, the family is at odds with each other.
  • Second Best
    A17
    Second BestBetty competes in the college fencing tournament.
  • Kathy's Big Deception
    A18
    Kathy's Big DeceptionIt seems that all of Kathy's friends have a boyfriend for the community picnic. She has a crush on George, one of her classmates, but does not think he likes her. She decides to make up a boyfriend for the picnic so she looks popular.
  • Cupid Knows Best
    A19
    Cupid Knows BestKathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.
  • The Big Test
    A20
    The Big TestBetty arranges a match between Frank and a worker in a flower shop.
  • Jim's Big Surprise
    A21
    Jim's Big SurpriseJim tells the family to be home at 4:00 for a big surprise. As the family waits for the announcement, everyone has their own idea of what it will be. Each thinks it will be something that benefits just them.
  • Time to Retire
    A22
    Time to RetireJim must tell Arthur, a co-worker in the insurance company, that he has to retire as he has reached retirement age. Jim invites him to dinner with the Andersons and Arthur is full of energy. This only makes it harder for Jim to tell him.
  • Bud, the Speculator
    A23
    Bud, the SpeculatorBud invests money in a phony stock scheme and winds up losing fifty dollars
  • The $500 Letter
    A24
    The $500 LetterThe Andersons receive a $500 check in the mail. A former neighbor wants to thank an Anderson for a kindness, but did not remember which one did it. The Andersons try to remember who might have done a favor for him, and what the favor was.
  • Adopted Daughter
    A25
    Adopted DaughterWhile Kathy is trying to repair her birth certificate frame, she recalls the time she thought she was adopted.
  • Family Contest
    A26
    Family ContestKathy destroys a picture of a family competing against hers in a photo contest
  • Love and Learn
    A27
    Love and LearnBud falls in love with his English Tutor
  • Blind Date
    A28
    Blind DateBetty is embarrassed when her friends make fun of Rudy because they think he is inferior to them. She chastises her friends and leaves the soda shop. Her friends decide to play a joke on Betty by setting her up on a blind date with Rudy.
  • Betty's Career Problem
    A29
    Betty's Career ProblemBetty is about to graduate from college and hoping to win the Scholastic Achievement Award. Cliff, another student who is an achiever like Betty, wins the award. Now, they are both up for the same job after their graduation.
  • Bud Lives It Up
    A30
    Bud Lives It UpBud spends more money than he has in order to impress a girl in Chicago.
  • Not His Type
    A31
    Not His TypeBetty is caught in the middle of an argument between two of her friends who are planning to marry.
  • Betty's Graduation
    A32
    Betty's GraduationWhen Kathy refuses to graduate from high school, the family tells her about Betty's reluctance to graduate from High School, too. This is a recut version of episode 63. It is not part of the syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
  • Robert YoungJim Anderson
  • Jane WyattMargaret Anderson
  • Elinor DonahueBetty Anderson
  • Billy GrayBud Anderson
  • Lauren ChapinKathy Anderson

Get Plex on Your Devices

Free on 20+ platforms. Pick yours.
See all supported devices →