Tales From The Father Knows Best set Unlike most sitcoms yesterday and today which give actors some room for ad libs and minor word changes, Peter Tewksberry, the man who ran the production of Father Knows Best with "an iron hand," would allow no variance from the printed script and, according to cast members, every "the" and "and" in the lines must be read exactly, even if the performer had problems with what acting teachers call "the flow." How much this contributed to Father Knows Best being the definitive family sitcom (received better by critics than the Leave It To Beaver and My Three Sons counterparts) is arguable

Many ad libs went on to be classics. Louise Lasser, before she became Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman for Joan Darling and Norman Lear, ad libbed "I know" to a symptom bemoaning husband in a Nyquil commercial. The ad became much beloved by viewers, as Lasser ultimately did in the late night soaper. Over at the Lear camp. Bonnie Franklin oft revised certain aspects of the script to One Day At A Time as did Esther Rolle, a devout Christian, in her portrayal of Florida in Good Times (she frequently objected to TV son JJ's dialog because, Rolle contended, certain screenplay was a bad role model for young Afro-Americans).

Some improvisating caused problems for the "improvisator." Who can forget comedian Soupy Sales libs asking kids to reach into their daddy's wallet and sending him the money. His daytime kidvid comedy sketch show was cancelled by Metromedia, the syndicator, enter Uncle Floyd (Floyd Vivino) in Jersey to take his place. Comic Jackie Mason adlibbed a finger gesture that got him booted off The Ed Sullivan Showm and leave it to Lucy to adlib the then censored word "pregnant," CBS dared not cancel it's enormous ratings getter and Desi's "Leetle Ricky" was on the scene.

Ad libs were a big part of The Honeymooner's success as well as The Dean Martin Show Jackie and Dino had one thing in common: they didn't rehearse, much to the dismay of their cast, in Dean's case, The Goldiggers, a bevy of sassy lipped gals. You can see Jackie Gleason as the master of ad libs on Oldies Television's channel 11, Honeymooner's Bloopers and Dean's aee on his mail order DVD collections.

No show was as tight to the script as Father Knows Best. Every one of Jim Anderson's "Oh, Bud"'s were as written, as were Bud's Well. Golly Dad's and calling his older sister Tallulah instead of Betty, every one of Kathy's whines, Betty's indignant huffs, Mom's reprimands and Dad's "wisdomry" were as written. Perhaps the closest tight screenplay reign was Hawaii Five-0, Jack Lord oversaw production and every "Book-em, Dano"'s were scripted. "The Lord's Prayer," (the "Our Father..."), which Jack Lord insisted cast and crew pray with him before each shoot commenced, also scripted. But it must have reached the heart of the Higher Power. Hawaii Five-0 was a huge, long running success and you can watch episodes at cbs.com

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