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
From Season 1: Betty and Kathy feud over the attention of a high school idol
FATHER KNOWS BEST (CBS)
Originally Aired October, 1953
Robert Young (Jim Anderson), Jane Wyatt (Margaret),
Elinor Donahue (Betty), Billy Gray (Bud), Lauren Chapman (Kathy)
RATE THIS OLDIES TV CLIP
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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