Father Knows Best

- Season 5

(1958)

Betty'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.

Betty has to write a report of a literary figure who benefited from the help of a sibling. This gets Betty to wondering if she should be kinder and friendlier to Bud. Bud figures something is up.

Kathy makes a big announcement - she has a boyfriend named Burgess. Of course, he does not know he's her boyfriend yet. She invites him over, but he seems more interested in Jim than her.

Bud 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.

The 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.

Weary of their children's last minute crises from poor planning, Jim and Margaret cook up a scheme to return the favor.

Having learned they were originally married at home, Betty prods her parents into having a second wedding but this time in a church.

Bud is given charge of watching a neighbor's car while he is out of town. Bud is only to start the car every few days and not drive it around town. Alas, he drives it and the car gets scratched.

As part of Springfield's Founder's Day celebration, Betty volunteers to accompany and assist chauvinistic Tom Wentworth on a difficult 12-mile trek pulling a heavy cart.

Chanthini, 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.

The 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 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.

Jim 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 Anderson's are preparing for the holidays. As they decorate the tree, they recall the story of how they managed to get that particular tree.

Bud 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.

Bud wants to form his own company for a lawn mower service. Jim and Margaret agree, but put Kathy in charge of the operation.

Bud 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 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.

Margaret 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.

Jim'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.

While at the malt shop, Bud overhears three girls talking about him, all wanting to ask him to the Girls Ask Dance. He starts thinking he is a real catch and wants to play the odds.

As 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 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.

Jim 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 is trying out for a part in a college play but the competition is tough. It also seems Betty and the other competitor got off on the wrong foot.

Jim 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.

Bud'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.

Jim receives a book in the mail that was written by a former classmate of his. She is a doctor who practices in Africa. Now, Dr Brown visits Springfield to see Jim.

The 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.

Jim has a strange dream that involves a television broadcast, a mysterious intruder named Charles Barter, and the formula for happy living. In the days that follow, the dream seems to come true.

Bud'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.

A flashback show about building a playhouse for Kathy.

Bud is stuck with having to write an article for the school paper about a teacher he doesn't like.

A flashback episode about a time when Bud wanted to move out on his own because he was grown up already.

Bud is not doing well in physics this year in school and blames the teacher. When Betty starts dating the teacher, Bud thinks his grade will improve because they are going out.

The 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 wants Jim to take her dancing. She tries to trick him into dance lessons.

Bud gets ready to graduate from school, but is annoyed at doing the same activities and ceremonies as every other graduation class. He fights against all the traditions everyone follows.