Every season of Father Knows Best ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Father Knows Best!

Bud tries to learn how to dance from a book for his first school dance.

Bud Takes Up the Dance

Jim tells his family to help others which leads to complications.

Lesson in Citizenship

Jim buys Bud a motor scooter but Margaret won't let him have it.

The Motor Scooter

Jim gets tickets to an important football game, and picks one of the kids to go with him—only to be blackmailed by an important client (who wants to go to the game, too) out of one of his tickets. He then tries frantically to find a second one.

Football Tickets

Bud moves out, but discovers he can't clean, cook, or take    care of himself.

Live My Own Life

Jim comes to believe that he is over the hill.

Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation

Bud becomes increasingly paranoid when Kathy (who has a fascination with the new washing machine, and puts everything in there) places a letter addressed to him by the police department in the washing machine, and ruins the letter, so he doesn’t know why he is asked to be there within seven days.

Bud's Encounter With the Law

Kathy writes the best poem in the fourth grade on what Thanksgiving means to her, and Jim builds the poem up in his mind to unreasonable expectations for a fourth grader. When he actually finds out what the poem consists of, his hopes for Kathy’s future are deflated and he disparages the poem to Margaret, unwitting that Kathy has overheard.

Thanksgiving Day

Jim's weekend retreat, just he and his wife, seems like a perfect idea, at first. But he doesn't want to pass this on to the kids when he learns that the kids have plans with them; and then when the kids take the news too easy, Jim and Margaret are befuddled. They leave, but soon they start thinking about their kids and after reaching the lodge they want to phone in - but no one answers the call...

Second Honeymoon

Jim becomes worried that things between Betty and a new male friend of hers are getting too serious.

Typical Father

Jim and Margaret rarely disagree on anything. But when he finds out Margaret signed them up to take dancing lessons, Jim refuses to do so, and ends up defiantly going to his old club, leaving her to take lessons alone.

Margaret Goes Dancing

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

The Christmas Story

Kathy discovers a wounded Sparrow on the windowsill of the house—which she then considers hers—and the whole family becomes involved in trying to help it get better.

Sparrow in the Window

Jim receives a traffic ticket and Bud is appointed to be    judge on that day.

Boy's Week

An unwanted visitor that won't leave spoils Kathy's birthday    party.

A Friend of Old George's

Bud is deemed a snob by the girls in school because he won’t speak to any of them. When Jim talks it over with him, he discovers that Bud‘s real problem is that he becomes tongue-tied around them.

Bud the Snob

After making a big deal about people keeping their word, Jim is forced to put his words into practice to set a good example for his family.

The Promised Playhouse

Jim wants to give up his office job in order to move into the country to lead a quiet, and less stressful, life as a farmer. Margaret doesn't think that he means it seriously, but he crosses more lines to fulfill his dream than he ever has before.

Jim the Farmer

Jim is happy to learn his kids are planning to enter him in a Father of the Year contest. But things, of course, don’t go smoothly.

Father of the Year

Even though finances have grown a little tight in the Anderson household, Jim buys Margaret a mink coat that ends up being more trouble than it’s worth.

The Mink Coat

Margaret tries to get her cousin and her boyfriend married.

The Matchmaker

Margaret's cousin (from the previous episode) is set to wed in the Anderson household, but things go wrong, due to the nervousness of the prospective bride and groom, and the wedding is called off. Poor Bud is reeled in to do a stand-in for the bride at the rehearsal.

Bud the Bridesmaid

Jim tries to help the children regain their confidence.

Proud Father

Bud injures himself, so Jim delivers the papers on his route to avoid Bud being fired.

Father Delivers the Papers

Kathy and Betty fight for the attention of the same man.

No Partiality

Margaret worries the entire day over what will become of Bud’s future if he doesn’t develop good character. This is tied in with a baseball game Bud is trying to get to play in.

Close Decision

Jim tries to encourage Bud to take after him in salesmanship.

Art of Salesmanship

Jim comes home tired one day and is harangued by the kids. So, he and Margaret set up new rules to give him some time to relax—but it ends up backfiring.

Father's Private Life

A new highway is getting built, and for that the old community hall is going to be pulled down. That's something Jim wouldn't like to see since the hall is a historical monument, and also, memories from his youth are connected with this hall. Everyone from the family sees how much the hall means to Jim, and they use different ways to organize help.

Lessons in Civics

Bud loses a job to a boy who fakes his resume, which leads him   to believe it is alright to do this himself

First Disillusionment

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

Woman in the House

Bud learns that the girl he likes is dating his best friend.

New Girl at School

Kathy gets a new magic set, from a trade with a friend, and becomes convinced she can truly wield magic.

Kathy Makes Magic

Betty has recently taken up tennis at school and is chosen for a photo shoot for the paper. This causes friction between her and her doubles partner, Eula, who is the team’s best player.

Advantage to Betty

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

The Big Test

After commenting on a sitcom (“Father Does It Again”) the family watches together one night, Jim speaks about how TV fathers are often portrayed as dumb in comparison with their families.  Later, he plans on going hunting and starts believing that Margaret and the kids are secretly trying to get him to stay.

Father Is a Dope

When Jim gets an invitation to a dance for his class reunion—class of ‘33—the kids start behaving as if their parents are ancient. Then, when the kids at their alma mater treat them the same, Jim and Margaret deal with the thought of getting older.

Spirit of Youth

Bud gets irritated by a girl (whom he refers to as “Dumb Dora”) who has a crush on him, hurts her feelings when his irritation leads to cruelty, and must make amends.

Bud, the Ladykiller

Margaret has a premonition of danger for Jim’s upcoming business trip, and tries to get Jim to postpone it. But Jim believes it’s a bunch of superstitious nonsense, and insists on going anyway.

Margaret's Premonition

Tate Idsen saves a stagecoach from savage Indians in a    flashback sequence.

Stage to Yuma

Bud gets in trouble when his latest friend turns out to be a kleptomaniac.

Bad Influence

Betty is indignant when Jim arranges a date for her with an old insurance salesman buddy’s son, Carter.

Betty Hates Carter

Jim comes home early from work, after a long, hard day, and expects to gain comfort from his family, but is quickly disillusioned when they all are too absorbed in their own interests and tasks to pay attention to him. This just makes his mood more sour and he declares at dinner that if he must, he will become a tyrant. This leads to unwelcome consequences.

Jim, the Tyrant

Bud is having trouble in school and the family are hard-pressed to find out why. Eventually, Jim and Margaret come to the conclusion that, since he’s entered high school, he’s lost his confidence over being constantly compared to Betty and her accomplishments.

Betty's Brother

Betty gets a job to pay for a new, expensive formal for the Cinderella Ball at the country club.

Betty Earns a Formal

Jim has a bet with Betty and Margaret concerning human nature, integrity and the man painting their house—Mr. Everett.

The House Painter

Bud seems determined not to go to a Senior/Freshman dance that is Sadie Hawkins-themed.

Bud, the Wallflower

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

The Bus to Nowhere

Kathy, the Indian Giver

The Historical Andersons

The Grass is Greener

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

The Persistent Guest

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

Family Reunion

Family Dines Out

Bud, the Boxer

Betty decides to become an engineer. Doyle: Roger Smith. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin.

Betty, Girl Engineer

Betty and her boyfriend refuse to see again after Jim and his   father fight.

The Martins and the Coys

Margaret admits before the PTA that she can't control her    children.

Dilemma for Margaret

Former baseball star Duke Snider appears in this episode. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Sandy: Tommy Ivo. Bramer: Kenneth Tobey. Kippy: Paul Wallace.

Hero Father

Jim fights the elements to collect plants for Kathy's nature folder. Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray.

Father, the Naturalist

The family member who doesn't tattle for one week will receive   ten dollars.

The Ten Dollar Question

Kathy finds a receipt for $25 from the adoption center and    believes she was adopted.

Adopted Daughter

Betty's Graduation

Bud tries to prove he's not tied to his mother's apron strings. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Billy Gray, Elinor Donahue, Lauren Chapin. Georgia: Denise Alexander.

No Apron Strings

On a dude ranch, Betty falls in love with a cowboy only to discover the relationship won't last.

Never in Twain

Betty Goes to College

Man About Town

Jim tries discouraging Betty from taking her own apartment. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Jean: Donna Jo Gribble.

The Homing Pigeon

The Andersons entertain an aspiring writer---aspiring for 30 years. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Harper: Herb Butterfield.

Spaghetti for Margaret

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

Betty's Birthday

To teach Bud a lesson, Jim gives him ten dollars a week for    allowance, but he's not to spend the money on anyone else but    himself.

Bud, the Millionaire

Jim and Margaret complain about the children's sloppy clothes. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Dotty: Yvonne Lime.

The Old Days

Betty's esteem is low after another girl gets all the attention   she used to get.

Whistle Bait

The Great Guy

The Family Goes to New York

Betty Goes Steady

The Andersons try bringing an old man out of his dream world. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Mr. Lydom: Don Beddoe. Mrs. Lydom: Mary Adams. Kippy: Paul Wallace.

The Good Prospect

The Angel's Sweater

The boss's son goes to work in Jim's office. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Ward: Willis Bouchey.

The Promising Young Man

A Spanish immigrant, Frank, fixes the Andersons lawn and then    charges a high price.

Margaret Hires a Gardener

The Anderson family becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Swiss Family Anderson

Brief Holiday

Bud tells the family they are to set up for a lawn party that    is tomorrow.

The Lawn Party

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

Short Wave

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

Carnival

Betty's new boyfriend, a jet pilot, is transferred to Alaska.

Betty and the Jet Pilot

Looking for adventure, Bud travels to a neighboring town. Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin. Kippy: Paul Wallace.

Trip to Hillsborough

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.

An Evening to Remember

Bud buys a car for $10. Jim: Robert Young. Margaret: Jane Wyatt.

Bud Buys a Car

When Bud receives a traffic ticket he is forced to become a    crossing guard.

Safety First

Bud - a hero? A chain reaction of events, starting with a girl who wants to use Bud to make her boyfriend jealous leads to Bud preventing a bank robbery, making him the hero of the town.

Bud, the Hero

3Apr57   Betty becomes flower queen and wins a track race all in the    same day.

Betty, the Track Star

The Spelling Bee

Kippy takes credit for a church donation Bud made, and Bud    plans to get even.

Bud, the Philanthropist

Jim and Margaret takes care of a baby Betty is baby-sitting   so she can go out.

Baby in the House

Henry Pruett, a traveling salesman on tour, accidentally knocks on the door of Margaret: she, Jim and Henry attended college together and he was a promising man back then - on his way to become a doctor. But all he is now is the salesman (and a bad one too) and that's embarrassing for him and he decides to keep it a secret. But Margaret and Jim find out about this anyway.

Class Prophecy

Bud gets advice from Jim on how to win over Judy, while she    is asking Margaret.

The Art of Romance

Margaret tries to help a young woman overcome her fear of    having a baby.

Margaret Disowns Her Family

Jim and Margaret are called in to help Margaret's dad, who's about to hand over his printing office and retire. The main reason is his groggy health lately, but it seems that giving up his office is the actual source for this problems.

Grandpa Retires

Sageman helps the Andersons regain their self-confidence.

Shoot for the Moon

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

The Best Seasons of Father Knows Best

The Best Seasons of Father Knows Best

Season 3

Season 2

Season 5

Season 4

Season 1

Season 6