10 Plus Stars.
Thank you to METV for running this way classic episode, probably the best of the entire series, if not for any sitcom in the early 60s. Everything clicks, and I agree with the last reviewer, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER fans always begin a conversation with this episode. In terms of tv history, it would have to be a Top 10 entry, which is saying a lot, comparable to the iconic candy factory episode on I LOVE LUCY. Heavy competition.
The fun fact about episodes like this, the story is always simple. Wally is throwing a teen party, and doesn't want Beave budding in --so Beave will spend the night at Whitey's house. BUT what happens on the way???
There's a giant (and you have admit, very interesting) billboard with a lady holding a delicious, steaming bowl of soup. Actually cup of soup production may have increased around the country because of this episode.
Whitey (Stanley Fafara) kind of, sort of challenges Beave to climb all the way up there to see if it's REAL? Even as a kid, I thought that was an outrageous thing to do... But Beaver does the deed and gets stuck as stuck can be. The proverbial question; WHY is it always Beave?
Can you believe it, and the scene is realistically done. Production notes indicate the episode was the most expensive to produce, about $40,000, which would be about 412,000 dollars today. Keep in mind, an average tv episode (in 2024) costs over a million dollars to make, giving you an idea of Hollywood inflation! They actually got away cheap.
Whitey, who generally played a cool friend, shows another side of himself, like Larry Mondello. Beave looks down at him from the billboard and snaps, "There's nothing in here, you're a dumb kid!" Whitey comes back with a priceless smirk and replies, "Yaaaa. I'm a dumb kid...!"
What a laugh out loud scene. Thank you to Norman Abbott, nephew of comedian Bud Abbott, who directed a ton of hit sitcoms, such as SANFORD AND SON.
Veteran actor Harry Holcombe plays Mr. Whitney, who played a judge on many episodes of PERRY MASON. A super trivia note about actress Lenore Kingston who plays Whitey's mom. She was the laughing lady in Jim Backus' (GILLIGANS ISLAND) famous gag record called "Delicious" released in 1958. Listen for it, it's funny.
A gotsta' see from start to finish, and watch Ward marvel at the bizarro circumstances. Also featuring a lot of extra actors (in the street below), with a good shot of one of Universal's street sets as the camera pulls back. A real gem, and we still love Whitey.
Remember, the magic word is ZESTO.
SEASON 4 EPISODE 32 remastered. Get the box set for this.