User Reviews

After the first few minutes, it looks this is going to be yet another "Why does "Larry Mondello" keep making life miserable for our Innocent "Beaver?" This time, Beaver - despite all that's gone on in the past - trusts Larry to keep a secret. Yeah, right. Two seconds after Larry finds out Beaver's mom has invited "Miss Landers" over for dinner, he breaks his vow of silence and tells all the kids. Very soon, word gets around school that Beaver is the "teacher's pet.," something no boy wants to be labeled.

However, the story doesn't turn out to be a "Teacher's Pet" story, although Larry and the boys still do another really stupid thing, like hide out in a tree spying on Miss Landers and the Cleaver family during dinner. However, they are fortunate: they have the nicest, prettiest and most mature teacher ever who they'll ever have.....and handles the situation in a very nice manner. What exactly happens, I won't say.

The only uncomfortable moments in the episode are when Miss Landers arrives at the Cleaver home. Beaver, especially, doesn't know what to say. It gets a little tense. Small talk, as you all know, can look forced and be awkward. However, once Ward calls everyone for dinner, things settle down until a late surprise by Larry and his pals.

When it's over, you just want to give Miss Landers a big hug and tell her what a wonderful person she is. I'll always remember the young Sue Randall for her part in this role as the famous (for Beaver fans) "Miss Landers."

One of my favorite LITB episodes. Brilliant performance by Jerry Mathers. Love when comic actors are put in uncomfortable situations. Another bad move by June. All turned out well. Classic Larry the rat. Must be 20 years since last seeing it. Funny bit, Beaver amazed at Ms Landers toes. My only complaint is it went by too fast.

Some funny lines.

Beaver- You look good too Ms Landers. I never saw your arms before.

Wally- Miss Landers? Is it true Andrew Johnson was the only President to be impeached?

Beaver- (While raising his hand for permission to speak) Ms Landers? Would you like another glass of water?

Gilbert- What are those things hanging from her ears?

Gilbert- Look she's got toes!

Beaver is always talking about Miss Landers; as far as Beaver is concerned she is the best teacher in the whole building. Ward and June figure she must be young; no, she is pretty old because when she was a kid she didn't have television. And after listening to Ward reminisce about his childhood, June steals a page and invites Miss Landers over for dinner. No, she doesn't consult with anyone.

At school that day, Miss Landers asks Beaver to stay after school, and all the kids wonder what he did: Judy figures Beaver is being expelled. Miss Landers just wants to thank Beaver for having his mother invite her over for dinner this evening. Larry has stayed behind to find out what Beaver did. Beaver tells Larry that his mother invited Miss Landers to dinner. Larry sees a litany of things that could go wrong from the kids seeing Beaver as teacher's pet (Larry would never tell anyone, ever), or Miss Landers being served bad food and getting "toenail" poisoning, to Mr. Cleaver saying a bad word. Although Larry says he would never tell anyone, it took Larry about five seconds to betray Beaver and tell Whitey.

At home Beaver is anxious and he wants Wally to take a bath and use mom's soap so he will smell good. Beaver is also directing his dad as what to do and say and wear. When Ward tries to comfort Beaver by telling a story about his dropping a ham, Beaver moves into panic mode.

Behind the scenes Larry is selling the right to see Miss Landers at Beaver's for a quarter. Larry gets two takers in Whitey and Gilbert.

Miss Landers arrives and is informed the Cleavers will be having a barbecue outside on the patio. For now Miss Landers is invited to have a seat on a sofa while June gets the canapes. Beaver is left alone with Miss Landers for a few awkward moments that get more awkward as Beaver searches for a topic of conversation. Conversation doesn't improve when Wally arrives. And then Ward blows Beaver's admonition not to say soups on when dinner is ready. As the evening progresses conversation becomes easier, and everyone seems to be relaxing and enjoying the dinner. When Beaver and Miss Landers are left alone outside, Miss Landers asks Beaver what should they do about the three boys hiding up in a tree.

When confronted, Larry, Whitey, and Gilbert come down at Miss Landers request. Miss Landers addresses the boys about their spying during a wonderful dinner she was having with the Cleavers. Whitey says it is all Larry's fault and he charged them a quarter each to watch a teacher eat. When Ward returns from being inside, the boys figure they are really in for it now. But Miss Landers says the boys just happened to drop by; Ward invites them to join them for dessert.

The evening went well. Ward and June can't figure out where the three boys came from. June says it was like they just dropped out of the sky. Wally tells Beaver that he was impressed by Beaver's teacher and how she handled everything and was so nice. Beaver agrees but figures Larry is probably feeling really bad right now.

When I was a boy, I never thought of teachers as real people. They were somehow different. They really had our respect. To this day I credit my fifth-grade teacher for the successes in my life. He helped me to feel good about myself and turned me into the reader I still am. Without his encouragement and belief in me, I fear which paths I might have followed.

Back then I recall the shock I felt when one summer I found my civics teacher painting houses to earn extra money; and then I met my biology teacher working in the men's department of a local department store, also to earn needed money. These men influenced my life in so many ways. I couldn't understand why they would need money. Of course, I had no idea of what they were being paid as teacher either. I don't believe students are as naïve as I was in my youth. God knows it seems no one has respect for teachers or appreciates the influence they can have. Que lastima.