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The Best Episodes of Father Knows Best

Every episode of Father Knows Best ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Father Knows Best!

Binge this in 4d 5h•Peaking at 8.7/10

Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Father Knows Best Season 2 Episode 26 - The Persistent Guest
    8.7/10(105 votes)

    #1 - The Persistent Guest

    S2:E26

    Bud’s new friend, Fred, won't leave the Anderson house.

    Director:William D. Russell
    Writer:Paul West

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  2. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 21 - Short Wave
    8.7/10(104 votes)

    #2 - Short Wave

    S3:E21

    While listening to Bud’s short wave radio, the family overhears a distress call from a boat.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Paul West

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  3. Father Knows Best Season 5 Episode 31 - Bud and the Debutante
    8.7/10(63 votes)

    #3 - Bud and the Debutante

    S5:E31

    Bud tries to impress a wealthy girl by taking her to an expensive restaurant.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Father Knows Best Season 6 Episode 28 - Blind Date
    8.7/10(71 votes)

    #4 - Blind Date

    S6:E28

    Betty dates a boy everyone regards as a loser

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Father Knows Best Season 4 Episode 1 - Follow the Leader
    8.6/10(65 votes)

    #5 - Follow the Leader

    S4:E1

    Bud must decide if he should stand up for a teacher or join the class in a revolt.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Father Knows Best Season 5 Episode 36 - The Great Anderson Mystery
    8.6/10(56 votes)

    #6 - The Great Anderson Mystery

    S5:E36

    The Andersons act out a detective story when the television breaks down.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Father Knows Best Season 2 Episode 5 - Woman in the House
    8.5/10(82 votes)

    #7 - Woman in the House

    S2:E5

    Margaret is forced to invite a woman over who makes her uncomfortable because she is Jim's friend's wife.

    Director:William D. Russell
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  8. Father Knows Best Season 4 Episode 11 - Mr. Beal Meets His Match
    8.5/10(63 votes)

    #8 - Mr. Beal Meets His Match

    S4:E11

    Betty is going through a phase where she thinks selfishness is the sole motivator in people's lives.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Father Knows Best Season 2 Episode 27 - Family Reunion
    8.4/10(59 votes)

    #9 - Family Reunion

    S2:E27

    The family tries to think up excuses to keep from going to Margaret's family reunion.

    Director:William D. Russell
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  10. Father Knows Best Season 5 Episode 33 - The Meanest Professor
    8.4/10(48 votes)

    #10 - The Meanest Professor

    S5:E33

    Bud regrets writing a bad article about a professor after the professor finds the article.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Father Knows Best Season 1 Episode 12 - The Christmas Story
    8.3/10(115 votes)

    #11 - The Christmas Story

    S1:E12

    Jim takes the family into the woods to cut down their own tree, and they become stranded there.

    Director:William D. Russell
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 11 - The Great Guy
    8.3/10(63 votes)

    #12 - The Great Guy

    S3:E11

    Bud and Kippy get a job working at a newspaper.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  13. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 15 - The Angel's Sweater
    8.3/10(74 votes)

    #13 - The Angel's Sweater

    S3:E15

    Jim’s sister comes for Christmas, and the kids are less than thrilled—particularly, Kathy.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  14. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 19 - Brief Holiday
    8.3/10(66 votes)

    #14 - Brief Holiday

    S3:E19

    Margaret takes a small, much-needed break from her daily duties.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  15. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 22 - Carnival
    8.3/10(61 votes)

    #15 - Carnival

    S3:E22

    Bud squanders Jim's money at a carnival.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 25 - An Evening to Remember
    8.3/10(74 votes)

    #16 - An Evening to Remember

    S3:E25

    The Anderson home is disrupted by a visit from actor Cornel Wilde.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 30 - The Spelling Bee
    8.3/10(64 votes)

    #17 - The Spelling Bee

    S3:E30

    Kathy is apprehensive about the prospect of competing at the county spelling bee.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Roswell Rogers

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  18. Father Knows Best Season 4 Episode 3 - The Good Neighbor
    8.3/10(51 votes)

    #18 - The Good Neighbor

    S4:E3

    Margaret receives a new house which she plans to rent out.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Father Knows Best Season 5 Episode 30 - Formula for Happiness
    8.3/10(55 votes)

    #19 - Formula for Happiness

    S5:E30

    Strange things begin to happen when Jim's dreams start to come true.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Father Knows Best Season 6 Episode 1 - A Day in the Country
    8.3/10(58 votes)

    #20 - A Day in the Country

    S6:E1

    While on the way to visit Margaret's parents, the car breaks down leaving the family stranded on a deserted road.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Father Knows Best Season 6 Episode 22 - Time to Retire
    8.3/10(48 votes)

    #21 - Time to Retire

    S6:E22

    When Bud reaffirms and old man's belief in life, he decides to open his own insurance company and hire Bud as his assistant.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 14 - The Good Prospect
    8.2/10(54 votes)

    #22 - The Good Prospect

    S3:E14

    The Andersons try bringing an old man out of his dream world.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Father Knows Best Season 3 Episode 33 - Class Prophecy
    8.2/10(62 votes)

    #23 - Class Prophecy

    S3:E33

    Henry Pruett, a traveling salesman, knocks on the Anderson’s door. It turns out she, Jim and Henry all attended college together.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Father Knows Best Season 4 Episode 21 - Revenge is Sweet
    8.2/10(48 votes)

    #24 - Revenge is Sweet

    S4:E21

    26Feb58 Betty teases Bud saying he is sloppy when some very influential people come over.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Father Knows Best Season 4 Episode 26 - Tell It to Mom
    8.2/10(51 votes)

    #25 - Tell It to Mom

    S4:E26

    Chaos strikes when Betty hides a pair of skates for a friend of hers.

    Director:Peter Tewksbury
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Persistent Guest" is the best rated episode of "Father Knows Best". It scored 8.7/10 based on 105 votes. Directed by William D. Russell and written by Paul West, it aired on 3/7/1956. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Short Wave".