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All Episodes of The Donna Reed Show

Browse all episodes of The Donna Reed Show

Revolves around typical family problems, such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:ABC
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Season 1

  • Weekend Trip
    7.6/1090 votes
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    Weekend Trip

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1958

    In the premiere episode, Donna hopes to get away to a ski weekend with her brood, but pediatrician husband Alex's on-call schedule makes this tricky, especially since one of his young patients, Eddie Barclay (played by one of the Corcoran siblings of Disney film and TV fame; sister Noreen was on "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe), has a mysterious illness and Alex doesn't want to leave him in the care of another doctor.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Phil Leslie

  • Pardon My Gloves
    7.2/1072 votes
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    Pardon My Gloves

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1958

    Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocks Donna's acting in a local play. So, Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Hike
    7.3/1059 votes
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    The Hike

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1958

    Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jay Sommers

  • Male Ego
    7.1/1050 votes
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    Male Ego

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1958

    Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Football Uniform
    7.4/1053 votes
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    The Football Uniform

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/1958

    Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Foundling
    7.4/1058 votes
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    The Foundling

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1958

    A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • Three Part Mother
    7.0/1048 votes
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    Three Part Mother

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1958

    Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Change Partners and Dance
    7.0/1051 votes
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    Change Partners and Dance

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1958

    Mary has a crush on the school basketball star, George, who wants to take her to the prom, but hasn’t asked her because he can't dance.

    Director: James V. Kern

    Writer: N/A

  • Dough Re-Mi
    7.0/1051 votes
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    Dough Re-Mi

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1958

    Donna tries to get a famous concert pianist to perform at a benefit, and, at the same time, Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy. These two seemingly unrelated projects intertwine.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Guest in the House
    7.2/1045 votes
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    Guest in the House

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1958

    A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • The Baby Contest
    7.3/1048 votes
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    The Baby Contest

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/1958

    Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Beaded Bag
    7.3/1047 votes
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    The Beaded Bag

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1958

    When Donna longingly admires a lovely, expensive bag at a store, the saleswoman (along with a female friend of hers) schemes to coax Alex into getting it for her for a birthday gift. But Alex is suspicious that Donna is pulling the strings behind the scenes, instead of being forthright about it.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Busy Body
    6.5/1045 votes
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    The Busy Body

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/17/1958

    Charismatic Uncle Fred visits the Stone family and a brouhaha ensues.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Very Merry Christmas
    8.0/1093 votes
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    A Very Merry Christmas

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/24/1958

    Donna searches for the mysterious person who puts on a Christmas party in the children’s ward at the hospital every year. The quintessential comedian Buster Keaton guest stars.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mary's Double Date
    7.0/1045 votes
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    Mary's Double Date

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 12/31/1958

    Mary's Junior prom is imminent, and she has trouble deciding between two boys on the football team who might ask her. She also dangles another nice boy on a string. But, eventually, the resultant consequences of her selfish decisions come to fruition.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Jeff's Double Life
    7.2/1043 votes
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    Jeff's Double Life

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/7/1959

    After nosy neighbor Mrs. Wilgus (the inimitable Kathleen Freeman) alerts Donna and Alex about Mary having a noisy party while they were out, the kids get lectured about being the children of a doctor, and that they should behave accordingly. Not too long after this, Jeff takes a ride from Mary's troublemaker friend Tommy Hendricks, who doesn't have a license and has taken his father's car out for a joyride, and they get into a minor accident while fleeing a cop.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Nothing But the Truth
    6.9/1044 votes
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    Nothing But the Truth

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/14/1959

    David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • It's the Principle of the Thing
    6.9/1045 votes
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    It's the Principle of the Thing

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/21/1959

    Mr. Popkin won't let Alex treat Joey because he has no money. So, Donna hires him to do repairs around the house, but Alex fires him. Then Donna tries another method to help him get the finances he needs.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jerry Davis

  • Jeff vs. Mary
    6.9/1043 votes
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    Jeff vs. Mary

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 1/28/1959

    Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Have Fun
    7.3/1047 votes
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    Have Fun

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/4/1959

    When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • Donna Plays Cupid
    6.6/1044 votes
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    Donna Plays Cupid

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/11/1959

    Donna decides that Alex’s obstetrician friend, Beau, is a lonely bachelor in need of a mate, so she tries to pair him and her good friend Celia (who has recently broken up with her boyfriend) up.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Love Thy Neighbor
    6.3/1044 votes
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    Love Thy Neighbor

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 2/18/1959

    Donna and Alex help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Wilbur & Celia Wilgus, only for Donna to get caught up in a misunderstanding later.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Report Card
    7.7/1045 votes
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    The Report Card

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 2/25/1959

    Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Boys Will Be Boys
    7.3/1042 votes
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    Boys Will Be Boys

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/4/1959

    David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies, and is invited to stay the night. Later, Jeff is left in charge of David, as everyone else will be gone.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • The Ideal Wife
    7.4/1045 votes
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    The Ideal Wife

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/11/1959

    Donna keeps getting praised for being an excellent wife and mother—so much so, that she, illogically, becomes a bit paranoid that people really mean something negative about her beneath the surface of their words, and fears her kids are taking advantage of her.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mary's Campaign
    6.7/1047 votes
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    Mary's Campaign

    Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 3/18/1959

    Mary drives her family crazy, and worries her mother, in her quest to win the class vice-presidency.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Flowered-Print Dress
    6.8/1039 votes
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    The Flowered-Print Dress

    Season 1 Episode 27 - Aired 3/25/1959

    Donna and Alex dine at a young couple’s home. The couple are still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage, and the experience gives Donna pangs of nostalgia.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • April Fool
    7.2/1046 votes
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    April Fool

    Season 1 Episode 28 - Aired 4/1/1959

    When Buzz Barry, teenage idol (played by James Darren), comes to Hilldale to sing at a concert, he falls ill with the measles and the concert is canceled, leaving Mary and her friends devastated. Then he ends up staying at the Stone’s home to recuperate, causing unexpected complications.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jerry Davis

  • The Parting of the Ways
    6.7/1039 votes
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    The Parting of the Ways

    Season 1 Episode 29 - Aired 4/8/1959

    Mary’s friend Babs confides in her that her parents are having troubles and may be divorcing soon. And, though she’s exaggerating, Donna is unaware of this and problems ensue in their family as a result.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • The Hero
    7.1/1043 votes
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    The Hero

    Season 1 Episode 30 - Aired 4/15/1959

    Alex's roommate, Biff Jameson, comes to Hilldale, and though he charms the family and dazzles Jeff, Alex confesses to Donna that his old pal seems to be off from what he used to be.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • Do You Trust Your Child?
    6.6/1038 votes
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    Do You Trust Your Child?

    Season 1 Episode 31 - Aired 4/22/1959

    Donna gives a speech, at a PTA meeting, on parent/child relationships urging parents to trust their child. Her advice, of course, ends up being tested.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Jerry Davis

  • Grateful Patient
    6.1/1036 votes
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    Grateful Patient

    Season 1 Episode 32 - Aired 4/29/1959

    Alex takes advantage of a tip on the market, and Donna and the kids start making plans for the expected profit.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Testimonial
    6.5/1039 votes
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    The Testimonial

    Season 1 Episode 33 - Aired 5/6/1959

    Donna plans a testimonial dinner to honor Dr. Jason, a long-time denizen of the town and a beloved doctor, who finally intends to retire.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea
    7.1/1041 votes
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    Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea

    Season 1 Episode 34 - Aired 5/13/1959

    The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tomorrow Comes Too Soon
    6.7/1037 votes
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    Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

    Season 1 Episode 35 - Aired 5/20/1959

    After a particularly long week, Donna and Alex long for a weekend alone without kids. But when they get it, it’s not quite how they imagined it would be.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Advice To Young Lovers
    6.3/1037 votes
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    Advice To Young Lovers

    Season 1 Episode 36 - Aired 5/27/1959

    When Mary and George get in a fight over him and her best friend Babs, Donna advises her on how to handle the situation.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: John Whedon

  • Operation Deadbeat
    6.9/1036 votes
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    Operation Deadbeat

    Season 1 Episode 37 - Aired 6/3/1959

    Alex insists Jeff pay back money he owes to develop good character for when he is an adult. Meanwhile, Donna decides to try to get the past due money owed to Alex by his patients.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs