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The Best Episodes of Father Knows Best

Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:CBS

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

Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.
Episodes
203
Avg. Rating
7.5
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
7.0
7.3
8.0
8.5
7.7
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.4
7.8
8.4

Filter By Season (6)

Season 1 posterSeason 1
Season 2 posterSeason 2
  • The Persistent Guest
    8.7/10(85)
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    #1 - The Persistent Guest

    Season 2 Episode 26

    Aired 3/7/1956

    Bud new friend won't leave the Anderson house because he has no family.

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Short Wave
    8.7/10(90)
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    #2 - Short Wave

    Season 3 Episode 21

    Aired 1/30/1957

    While listening to Buds short wave radio the family overhears a distress call from a boat.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Blind Date
    8.6/10(61)
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    #3 - Blind Date

    Season 6 Episode 28

    Aired 4/18/1960

    Betty dates a boy everyone regards as a loser

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • An Evening to Remember
    8.5/10(59)
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    #4 - An Evening to Remember

    Season 3 Episode 25

    Aired 2/27/1957

    The Anderson home is disrupted by a visit from actor Cornel Wilde. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Hansen: Lloyd Corrigan.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Follow the Leader
    8.5/10(57)
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    #5 - Follow the Leader

    Season 4 Episode 1

    Aired 9/25/1957

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Bud and the Debutante
    8.5/10(55)
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    #6 - Bud and the Debutante

    Season 5 Episode 31

    Aired 4/13/1959

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
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  • The Spelling Bee
    8.4/10(54)
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    #7 - The Spelling Bee

    Season 3 Episode 30

    Aired 4/17/1957

    No description available

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Good Neighbor
    8.4/10(41)
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    #8 - The Good Neighbor

    Season 4 Episode 3

    Aired 10/9/1957

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Mr. Beal Meets His Match
    8.4/10(54)
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    #9 - Mr. Beal Meets His Match

    Season 4 Episode 11

    Aired 12/11/1957

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Great Anderson Mystery
    8.4/10(50)
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    #10 - The Great Anderson Mystery

    Season 5 Episode 36

    Aired 5/18/1959

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Betty's Birthday
    8.3/10(48)
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    #11 - Betty's Birthday

    Season 3 Episode 7

    Aired 10/24/1956

    Betty announces that she doesn't want a birthday party or presents.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Meanest Professor
    8.3/10(42)
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    #12 - The Meanest Professor

    Season 5 Episode 33

    Aired 4/27/1959

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Bud, the Willing Worker
    8.3/10(47)
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    #13 - Bud, the Willing Worker

    Season 6 Episode 10

    Aired 12/7/1959

    Bud wants a part-time job at a service station in order to get enough money to buy a boat.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Time to Retire
    8.3/10(43)
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    #14 - Time to Retire

    Season 6 Episode 22

    Aired 3/7/1960

    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: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Christmas Story
    8.2/10(96)
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    #15 - The Christmas Story

    Season 1 Episode 12

    Aired 12/19/1954

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

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Woman in the House
    8.2/10(65)
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    #16 - Woman in the House

    Season 2 Episode 5

    Aired 9/28/1955

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

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: Roswell Rogers

    Comments

    0
  • Family Reunion
    8.2/10(48)
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    #17 - Family Reunion

    Season 2 Episode 27

    Aired 3/14/1956

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

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Brief Holiday
    8.2/10(56)
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    #18 - Brief Holiday

    Season 3 Episode 19

    Aired 1/16/1957

    No description available

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Carnival
    8.2/10(51)
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    #19 - Carnival

    Season 3 Episode 22

    Aired 2/6/1957

    Bud squanders Jim's money at a carnival. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Lauren Chapin. Burt: Dick Foran. Kippy: Paul Wallace.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Crisis Over a Kiss
    8.2/10(48)
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    #20 - Crisis Over a Kiss

    Season 5 Episode 22

    Aired 2/9/1959

    Bud tries to save Betty from her boyfriend but Betty resents the help.

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Formula for Happiness
    8.2/10(49)
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    #21 - Formula for Happiness

    Season 5 Episode 30

    Aired 4/6/1959

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

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Big Test
    8.1/10(59)
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    #22 - The Big Test

    Season 2 Episode 9

    Aired 10/26/1955

    Bud is accused of cheating because he is suddenly getting high grades in class.

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: Roswell Rogers

    Comments

    0
  • The Bus to Nowhere
    8.1/10(61)
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    #23 - The Bus to Nowhere

    Season 2 Episode 22

    Aired 2/8/1956

    Betty becomes irritable with her family as she goes through an existential crisis.

    Director: William D. Russell

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Great Guy
    8.1/10(49)
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    #24 - The Great Guy

    Season 3 Episode 11

    Aired 11/21/1956

    No description available

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Angel's Sweater
    8.1/10(63)
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    #25 - The Angel's Sweater

    Season 3 Episode 15

    Aired 12/19/1956

    No description available

    Director: Peter Tewksbury

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0

Best Episodes Summary

"The Persistent Guest" is the best rated episode of "Father Knows Best". It scored 8.7/10 based on 85 votes. Directed by William D. Russell and written by N/A, it aired on 3/7/1956. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Short Wave".