Father Knows Best

S1E1 Bud Takes Up The Dance

Bud uses an old book to teach himself to dance in time for his very first date and his very first dance.

S1E2 Lesson In Citizenship

Jim sets out to teach his layabout kids a proper life ethic.

S1E3 The Motor Scooter

Jim and Margaret disagree on whether Jim should buy Bud a motor scooter.

S1E4 Football Tickets

Jim and Margaret go to the big football game every year. This year, Margaret finds she cannot go and Betty is promised the ticket—until Jim offers it to someone else.

S1E5 Live My Own Life

Bud feels beleaguered by his parents and siblings, and believes he is ready to take responsibility for his own life.

S1E6 Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation

Jim wants to play badminton, but his kids see him as too old for such things.

S1E7 Bud's Encounter With The Law

Kathy’s on a tear, throwing everything she can get her hands on into her new “spaceship,” a.k.a the family washing machine.

S1E8 Thanksgiving Day

When Kathy writes a prize-winning Thanksgiving poem, Jim envisions his “Kitten” as the next Emily Brontë.

S1E9 Second Honeymoon

Jim and Margaret could use some time away from the house, so they plan a weekend getaway.

S1E10 Typical Father

Betty is falling hard for a new guy, and it upsets her father.

S1E11 Margaret Goes Dancing

Margaret is sure she could never get Jim to agree to take dancing classes with her.

S1E12 The Christmas Story

In an attempt to remind his family of the real meaning of Christmas, Jim decides the Andersons will cut down their own Christmas tree this year.

S1E13 Sparrow In The Window

When Kathy discovers an injured sparrow on the windowsill, the family takes the little bird in to nurse it back to health.

S1E14 Boy's Week

After Kathy breaks another window, Jim is committed to teaching his kids about personal responsibility.

S1E15 A Friend Of Old George's

The family has a lovely dinner and special event planned for Kathy’s birthday. She’s been looking forward to it, but an uninvited visitor upsets the best-laid plans.

S1E16 Bud The Snob

Bud is getting a reputation as a snob; his difficulty in talking with girls is being misinterpreted as standoffishness.

S1E17 The Promised Playhouse

Jim demands that his family start living up to the promises they’ve made to people.

S1E18 Jim The Farmer

Feeling stressed out from all the pressure at work, Jim decides to give up his job, move to the country and become a farmer.

S1E19 Father Of The Year

The Springfield newspaper is sponsoring a Father of the Year contest. The Anderson children set out to write the winning essay, but can’t find the words to describe the “best father in the world.”

S1E20 The Mink Coat

Money is tight and Jim lectures the family on fiscal responsibility. The next day he is presented with an extraordinary opportunity to buy Margaret a mink coat for less than half the regular price.

S1E21 The Matchmaker

Margaret wages a campaign to get her cousin’s boyfriend to propose. Though Louise is hesitant to “trap” Tom, Margaret is sure she knows what to do and takes over.

S1E22 Bud The Bridesmaid

Cousin Louise is getting married in the Anderson home. Margaret is going all-out on the wedding. When a case of wedding jitters keeps Louise out of the rehearsal, Bud has to stand in for the bride.

S1E23 Proud Father

After he runs into a friend who brags about his overachieving children, Jim wants to help inspire his own brood to acts of greatness.

S1E24 Father Delivers The Papers

The customers on Bud’s paper route have been complaining about him to his boss. When Mr. Collins tells Jim about it, Jim assures him that Bud will fulfill his duties if he gives him another chance.

S1E25 No Partiality

Kathy demands equal rights with Betty and Bud. Jim agrees and says that whatever Betty gets to do, Kathy gets to do too.

S1E26 Close Decision

Bud is slacking off—he’s not doing his chores and he’s put off memorizing a poem to recite in church. Margaret insists he skip his softball game and catch up on his work, but Jim sneaks him out.