Mixed Feelings

[GeeBee]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this show and the TV movie that spun it off. Maybe I shouldn't even be posting this on the show's board since my ultimate feelings about TNLITP tend to be a bit on the negative side, but I'll go for it anyway.

When the TV movie "Still The Beaver" first came out in the 80's, I couldn't wait to see it. I was a big LITB fan and I found the idea of a reunion thrilling. When I saw the movie, I was indeed fascinated by seeing a follow-up on all of the well known characters from the classic show. Yet, looking back on it, the overall premise was a bit cynical and in some ways seemed to mock the innocence of the original show.

Beaver was in a marriage that failed miserably, his two sons didn't respect him, the mother of his children didn't seem to want to be a mother, and Wally was having problems with impotency (or was it fertility?). Okay, there's nothing inherently evil about any of those subject matters, but in the Cleaver family? The supporting characters such as Eddie, Lumpy, Larry, etc. went from being idiosyncratic youths that had a lot to learn to maladjusted adults who seemed like they would never grow or mature. All of the former child characters that were grown appeared to become charctitures of themselves which cast a rather pessimistic shadow on the original series. At the same time, I did feel that the movie was interesting and worth watching.

However, I think it was a bigger mistake to make it into a TV series. Seeing the same sad versions of these adult-children every week was just... well... sad. I'm not as familiar with the Disney version of the show, but when it came to TBS, there were many aspects that I did not like. Although the plots tended to revolve around the children, the grown-ups (except for June) were dopes who had nothing to offer them. In one episode, Beaver had to bribe his youngest son with money to do what he was told and you got the feeling that if June were not in the house, Beaver would have had no control over his children at all.

Then there was Eddie. I suppose the writers thought it was logical that a nasty kid should grow up to be a nasty adult, but somehow as an adult, Eddie's character seemed much darker. He was involved with crooked contract deals, sent his son away to military school because he didn't follow some house rule, it was implied that Eddie was cheating on his wife, and it was frightening to think of him as anyone's father. What happened to the optimistic words of Ward and June that "there may even be hope for Eddie"?

Of course, one could argue that the biggest problem with all of this was that Ward Cleaver was not there. He was certainly a major character in the original series. Hugh Beaumont had died and it is difficult to see anyone else playing that role. It's also difficult to imagine Ward Cleaver in such a now chaotic family and cynical circle of people.

I noticed that towards the end of the series, the writers seemed to be desperately trying to recapture some of the old magic. They had one episode as a black and white flashback about Ward and June dating (with different actors, of course). Another episode was dedicated to the long lost pilot of LITB. I think they may have getting a little desperate.

Ultimately, I think the original LITB was a magical show that only comes up once in a lifetime. I'm not sure there is any way to do a reunion without ruining some of its charm. A part of me is glad they made a reunion movie, but a part of me just wishes they had left LITB alone. JMO

[HaskellGirl]

VERY interesting post!!! I can totally see your point. Leave it to Beaver and The New Leave it to Beaver are very different shows. Leave it to Beaver is a classic. The New Leave it to Beaver didn't have the same magic, but it was still a fun show. To me anyway. But having said that, I am SO glad they made NLITB. I think overall, it was actually a very good show. Not the same as the original, but still very good. It was actually my most favorite show growing up, and its still one of my favorites.

The thing with me though, is that I saw the new series before I ever saw the classic, and I fell head over heels in love with the show. This is when I was still in elementary school. And it wasn't just the kids that I was interested in, the adults were very appealing as well. When I discovered the original series, not only did I fall in love with it, but it made me appreciate the new series even more. Because I saw these weren't just new characters, but a continuation. I am still so thankful that I got to see these characters as children AND adults. How amazing is that??

I think the fact that their lives aren't perfect brings realism to the show. Not the same type of realism as the original. The original was real in the sense that situations were very real and honest. The new series lacked that same simplistic charm in many cases (it was more aware of itself AS a sitcom than the original), but the fact that the adults have problems is realistic, IMO.

I don't agree that the adults were dopes. Wally, in fact, was the adult that most of the children went to (his own kids, Beaver's kids, and Eddie's as well), and he usually listened and gave them good advice. Beaver became a stronger character, more adult and self-confident as the show went on. I think in Jerry Mather's book, he included a quote from Brian Levant, the creator, about how Beaver ended up being a pretty good father, and I agree with that.

Now, onto Eddie Haskell...I can TOTALLY see where you are coming from. Its dissapointing and almost heartbreaking that he was so depraved as an adult, especially since his situation in the new show was even better than in the old. In the original series, there was indications that his home life wasn't the best. In the new series, he has a very sweet wife, and his son Freddie, who started out being a doppleganger of his father, actually ended up taking after his mom and being very genuine. Yet, like you mentioned, it was indicated that he cheated on his wife, and wasn't appreciative of his children.

But at the same time, past all the sitcom Eddie's-a-wise-guy-who went-even-badder humor, there are moments of the new series where the humanness inside shines through. There are moments when you can see that he really loves his wife and children. Ken Osmond and Eric Osmond had many wonderful father-and-son bonding moments onscreen as Eddie and Freddie Haskell.

I think another thing to remember in comparing the adults of the old show to the new show is that with the exception of June and Ward, and maybe the teachers, a lot of the adults in the original series had personal quirks of their own. Look at Mrs. Mondello and Fred Rutherford for example.

Overall, I think the new series was a great idea, although some of the episodes could have been done better. I love both series and I'm still so thankful for both of them.