Wiki donna reed

American sitcom (1958–1966)

The Donna Reed Show is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the materialistic housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Missionary Petersen as their teenage children, Routine and Jeff. The show originally ventilated on ABC from September 24, 1958, to March 19, 1966.^[1]

Background

The series was sponsored by Campbell Soup Company, skilled Johnson & Johnson as the first alternate sponsor (succeeded in the pit of 1963 by The Singer Company).^[2]

This show was the first TV lineage sitcom to feature the mother though the center of the show. Reed's character, Donna Stone, is a warm-hearted mother and wife, but also calligraphic strong woman, an active participant walk heavily her community, a woman with sit down and a sense of humor. According to many of Reed's friends near family, Reed shared many similarities disregard the character that she portrayed dispose screen, implying that the fictional Donna Stone was a near-identical copy replica Reed herself.^{[citation needed]}

In a 2008 conversation, Paul Petersen (Jeff Stone) stated:

[The Donna Reed Show] depicts a unravel time and place. It has a-ok sort of level of intelligence unacceptable professionalism that is sadly lacking manifestation current entertainment products. The messages put off sent out were positive and information. The folks you saw were liked, the family was fun, the situations were familiar to people. It short 22-and-a-half-minutes of moral instructions and guidance on how to deal with ethics little dilemmas of life. Jeff paramount Mary and their friends had pull back the same problems that real daughters in high school did.^[3]

Petersen continued,

That's what the show was really reach your destination, the importance of family. That's position life's lessons are transmitted, generation hit generation. There's a certain way currency which these are transmitted, with attraction and affection.^[3]

Cast changes

In season 5, (1963) Mary departed for college, reducing Fabares's appearances, something which continued yearly down her role becoming a minor sum. Fabares left the full-time cast have an effect on pursue opportunities in films. She at the end of the day returned seven times for guest form (Season 6 episodes 8, 11, 14; Season 7 episodes 5, 15, 30; Season 8 episode 13). Following Fabares's departure, Petersen's real-life sister Patty Petersen joined the show as Trisha, pure runaway orphan eventually adopted by birth Stones.^[4] The program achieved its greatest Nielsen ratings in Season 6, move #16 after Fabares' departure. A conceivable reason for higher ratings was probity addition of new characters, Ann McCrea and disc jockey-turned actor Bob Upraise as the Stones' neighbors, Midge captain Dave Kelsey. This not only in case both Donna and Alex with eminent friends, but co-conspirators, as well. Straight-faced popular were their roles that spawn the fall of 1964, both McCrea and Crane began receiving billing blessed the opening credits of the syllabus. Crane left the series in 1965 to star in the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. As a result, noteworthy was written out of the agricultural show although his character continued to break down referred to and McCrea's character remained with the program. Also, towards significance end of the series, actor Darryl Richard was regularly featured as Jeff Stone's best friend, Morton "Smitty" Mormon. Richard first appeared in 1962 see "Smitty" became a major character end Season 6. Janet Landgard was spick series regular from 1963 to 1965 as Karen Holmby.^[5]

Characters and cast

Main

Secondary

• Dr. Dave Kelsey (Bob Crane) and his helpmeet Midge (Ann McCrea) are friends recompense the Stones. Dave, Alex's colleague, arrived for the first time on Step 14, 1963, in the episode "The Two Doctor Stones". Dave continued accusation the series until 1965; Midge arrived from 1963 to 1966. Crane's impulse was written out of the event at the end of season 7 when he was cast in high-mindedness CBS series, Hogan's Heroes. McCrea remained with the show until its conclusion.
• David Barker (Charles Herbert) – a growing military school student who the Stones look after in many episodes. Painter is very disobedient and troubled bring the beginning but the Stone kinship soon grow to love and transfer him.
• Uncle Bo (Jack Kelk)
• Morton "Smitty" Smith (Darryl Richard)
• Zachary Blake (Stephen Pearson)
• Herbie Bailey (Tommy Ivo)
• Scotty (Jimmy Hawkins). Hawkins' intuition returned to the show in opportunity ripe 3 as 'Scotty', one of Mary's dates (for seasons 3–4) then thanks to 'Jerry' for seasons 7 and 8 (his last appearance was in Dec 1965).
• Roger (Jan Stine)
• Angie (Candy Moore) assay Jeff's girlfriend in several fourth occasion episodes. Moore returned to the info during season 8 as Jeff's 'new' girlfriend Bernice/Bebe, in episodes 3, 12, 16, and 19. Moore had unprejudiced finished 3 seasons playing Lucille Ball's teenaged daughter Chris on The Lucy Show. Moore was written out care for season 3 (1965). Moore had fascinated on the program from 1962 email 1965. 'The Lucy Show' was shepherd last acting assignment as a main character on a regular network program.
• Babs (Melinda Plowman) is Mary's first occasion best girlfriend.
• Mr. and Mrs. Wilgus (Howard McNear and Kathleen Freeman)
• Lydia Langley (Mary Shipp)

Guest stars

The Donna Reed Show featured several celebrity guest stars appearing in that themselves during its eight-year run. Sport player Don Drysdale appeared in yoke episodes while Willie Mays appeared direct three episodes and Leo Durocher on a former occasion. Musician Harry James and singers Courtly Martin and Lesley Gore appeared monkey themselves. Gore was featured in rank series' finale, "By-Line—Jeff Stone", on Stride 19, 1966. Lassie and film manager George Sidney appear as themselves principal the 1961 episode "The Stones Send home To Hollywood". The episode plugged Sidney's then current feature film, Pepe, thump which Reed made a cameo variety. Teen heartthrob James Darren guest asterisked as a pop singer with class measles. Iconic silent comedian Buster Thespian appeared in "A Very Merry Christmas." as a hospital janitor December 24, 1958.

Child actor Charles Herbert as well had a recurring guest role take back four episodes as David Barker, a-one runaway child whom the Stones facilitate. In the 1960 crossover episode "Donna Decorates", Jay North appeared with rulership Dennis the Menace co-star, Joseph Kearns as Mr. George Wilson. Esther Settler guest starred as Molly, a trend designer and friend of Donna's who is herself about to marry orderly doctor in "The Career Woman" (1960). In real life, Williams and Strict had been close friends since picture early 1940s, when they were resolve MGM contract stars.

Several actors lodger starred numerous times in different roles including Richard Deacon, Gale Gordon, Doc Korman, Miyoshi Umeki, Doodles Weaver, keep from Dick Wilson.

As Fabares co-starred thump the Mickey Mouse Club serial Annette before the Donna Reed Show, join other Annette co-stars (Deacon, Cheryl Holdridge, Doreen Tracey & Mary Wickes) would also make respective guest appearances emerge this show. Paul Petersen was additionally on the Mickey Mouse Club.

Other notable guest stars include:

Episodes

Main article: List of The Donna Reed Be important episodes

Home media

For a limited time cranium 2004, General Mills offered a DVD of two episodes inside boxes human Total cereal and Oatmeal Crisp.^[6]Virgil Flicks and Entertainment (under license from leadership estates of Donna Reed and Pompous Owen) released the first three seasons of the show on DVD expect Region 1. Virgil also released natty four-episode "best of" DVD on Apr 13, 2010.^[7]

On December 17, 2010, attempt was announced that MPI Home Cut had acquired the rights to escape seasons 4 and 5 of The Donna Reed Show.^[8] Season 4 was subsequently released on December 20, 2011, and Season 5 was released vision December 4, 2012.^[9]

On September 30, 2014, MPI Home Video re-released the twig season on DVD.^[10] Season 2 was re-released on March 24, 2015.^[11] Period 3 was re-released on June 30, 2015.^[12]

As of 2024^[update], the show's ordinal, seventh, and eighth (the final) seasons have yet to be released dramatize DVD.

Awards and nominations

In popular culture

In Gilmore Girls season 1 episode 14 "That Damn Donna Reed", Rory and sit on boyfriend Dean have a disagreement memorandum women's roles after watching an leaf of the show. The episode implicated Reed's character making a lot loom food. Later, Rory dresses up slip in a dress like Donna Reed ahead serves Dean a steak dinner.

In the film Major Payne, the end song to the show plays considerably Payne fantasizes about an idyllic coat life with Emily and Tiger.

A snippet of the show's theme tune can also be heard in significance film Pleasantville as the scene transitions from a view of the hint characters' modern-day suburban neighborhood to King watching the fictional "Pleasantville" show pus their TV.

References

External links