Every season of The Donna Reed Show ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of The Donna Reed Show!

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.

Weekend Trip

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.

Pardon My Gloves

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

The Hike

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

Male Ego

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

The Football Uniform

A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

The Foundling

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

Three Part Mother

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.

Change Partners and Dance

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.

Dough Re-Mi

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

Guest in the House

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

The Baby Contest

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.

The Beaded Bag

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

The Busy Body

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.

A Very Merry Christmas

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.

Mary's Double Date

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.

Jeff's Double Life

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

Nothing But the Truth

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.

It's the Principle of the Thing

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

Jeff vs. Mary

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

Have Fun

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.

Donna Plays Cupid

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

Love Thy Neighbor

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

The Report Card

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.

Boys Will Be Boys

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.

The Ideal Wife

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

Mary's Campaign

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.

The Flowered-Print Dress

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.

April Fool

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.

The Parting of the Ways

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.

The Hero

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.

Do You Trust Your Child?

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

Grateful Patient

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.

The Testimonial

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

Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea

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.

Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

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

Advice To Young Lovers

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.

Operation Deadbeat

Mary does a kind deed by encouraging a shy, insecure fellow student, Kenny, to appear in the school play. When she does, he ends up being paired with her in a dance number. But she regrets her good deed because she’s worried about how they’ll appear next to each other, as he’s shorter than her.

That's Show Business

Donna is too excited to sleep because Alex is giving a speech at a convention. While trying to sleep on the plane, Alex gives Donna a tranquilizer to help her sleep, which leads to an embarrassing chain of events.

Sleep No More My Lady

Donna has trouble deciding whether or not buy a new dress.

A Penny Earned

Jeff's 'friend' Doug keeps getting him into trouble at school, and Jeff silently takes the blame for him because he knows Doug's mother constantly picks on him and wonders why he can't be more like Jeff, who behaves like an innocent cherub at their house.

A Friend Indeed

Alex must contend with overly anxious new parents who constantly call him in a state of panic, thinking that there is something wrong with their baby.

The First Child

Mary wants to meet a boy, so she talks Jeff into going to his kid sister's party.

Going Steady

Alex is hurt that Jeff likes the new neighbor.

The Neighborly Gesture

Donna mistakenly accepts an invitation to 'culture vulture' Lydia Langley's cocktail party, at which Lydia mentions that she also conducts a book discussion group. She goads Donna into joining it and then reporting on Tolstoy's "War and Peace" at her first meeting. Donna then attempts to immerse the whole family in culture.

Nothing Like a Good Book

Jeff's class has a new teacher, Miss McGuinness.  The boys in particular complain that she is too strict, so Donna meets with the new teacher to get matters settled.

Flowers For the Teacher

Jeff's friend, Phillip, has a problem.  He wants to play football, but his mother is over-protective and won't let him.

All Mothers Worry

Jeff finds out the reason why he wasn't made a member of a club:  He is friends with a boy no one else likes.

Jeff Joins a Club

Dilemma in the Stone household:  How to discipline the children without having Donna look like a villian by meting out the punishments, or having Donna look like a squealer when Alex does .

The Punishment

Donna gets cornered into accepting an invitation from a couple that neither she nor Alex really care for.  Alex refuses to go, sparking an argument that they try to keep quiet from the children.

A Difference of Opinion

Alex and Donna chaperone Mary's date with a college man.

The Homecoming Dance

Lately, all Donna has been hearing is how wonderful Alex is, and how lucky she is to be his wife.  After a while, this gets Donna wondering if what people really mean is that Alex got the short end of the stick by marrying her.

The Lucky Girl

Jeff causes problems for everyone else in the house due to his selfishness and inconsideration for others. Because of this he gets a lecture, which he blows off. But then these same issues end up making him go overboard on being a model son when he fears the repercussions of hurting someone.

The Broken Spirit

Mary gets an engagement ring and a phone call from Matt, a freshman at UCLA, but doesn't tell anyone in the family about the ring or why Matt is calling.

So what's going on?  As Donna says, "Alex, our daughter has a secret."

The Secret

Little David Barker is very excited.  His father is getting married and he hopes this means he can leave military school and live in a real home, but things don't work out the way David thought they would.

The New Mother

Donna becomes offended by the way people seem to use the word ‘housewife’ condescendingly.

Just a Housewife

Alex's Uncle Dan takes a break from traveling all over the world.  Jeff likes    the idea of going to Alaska, Saudi Arabia, Malaya, Australia, and doing    whatever he wants, just like Uncle Dan.  Jeff decides to join him.  Will    Donna and Alex allow him to go?  Would you believe, yes?

The Free Soul

Donna and Alex advise a newly married couple after their first big argument.

The First Quarrel

Jeff and his friends get into trouble when they are discovered breaking into an abandoned house.  This prompts Donna and the other mothers to create a nice meeting place for the children.

A Place to Go

A Night to Howl

The Editorial

Alex lays down the law when Jeff and Mary slack off on their responsibilities at home and their schoolwork.  Now Alex is furious when it appears that Mary didn't come home from a bowling date with Roger on time.

The Gentle Dew

Alex's wild room-mate from college is getting married, and Alex is invited to the bachelor party.  Donna doesn't like this idea at all.

The Fatal Leap

Donna makes Jeff take trumpet lessons when she discovers he has perfect pitch.  Jeff would rather be on the track team.

The Perfect Pitch

While Alex was the ""belle of the ball"" with his fantastic dancing at the Woman's Medical Auxiliary Dance, the dance cost more to produce than the income from ticket sales provided. Each member agrees to contribute $27 using her skills in moneymaking to make up the budget shortfall. Donna will sell 54 jars of her    famous pickle recipe at fifty cents per jar and donate the money to the Auxiliary.   Will Donna's plan work?

Pickles for Charity

Mary's Growing Pain

Donna is away and Alex has to manage the house and children.

Alex Runs the House

Donna's old school mate, who has been a single career woman all these years, is now engaged to a doctor.  She visits Donna to see what life is really like for a doctor's wife.

The Career Woman

Jeff starts swapping possessions to pay off a debt. Zack: Mike Montgomery. Mrs. Pruitt: Marjorie Winters. Alvin: Mike Peters. Sprague: Percy Helton. Paul Petersen.

Jeff, the Financial Genius

Mary vows not to go to the school dance unless Ellen has a date for the dance.  Ellen is rather plain so Mary goes to work to transform Ellen into a glamorous young lady.

Mary's Crusade

Donna and Alex have different stories about how they first met.  Also Donna plays matchmaker to a new doctor in town and a pretty nurse at the hospital.

The First Time We Met

Donna tells Emily, the town gossip, that Kay Watson is having a baby. Then Donna learns from Alex that Kay is keeping it a secret so that she can stay working longer. Donna is crushed, knowing that she may have let Kay's secret out.

The Gossip

Sixteen- year-old Petie is home from military school and visiting the Stone family. Petie and Mary have been friends for years, but seeing how beautiful Mary has become, he would now like to be more than just friends. As Alex puts it, ""springtime has come to Petie!"" How can Petie catch Mary's eye?

Love's Sweet Awakening

Aunt Lettie is coming to visit, so Donna and Alex try to find the wedding present she gave them so she would be certain to see it. It would help if they could just remember what it was! And by the way, Alex, can Donna buy a $250 Porcelain Dresden figurine?

The Wedding Present

Jeff wants to keep a cat that followed him home, so can Harry the Cat stay?

The Stone family will decide by using the democratic process.

Cool Cat

The family wants to get away for the weekend. The brochure shows Lakeview Lodge to be a great place to go, so Donna and Alex head up there early with Mary and Jeff to join them later, but Lakeview Lodge turns out to be a major disappointment. Now what can they do?

Weekend

A lady spots Donna and Mary having lunch in a restaurant, so she stops to say hello. She recognized Donna, even though ""it's been 13 years."" Donna doesn't recognize her but is polite and too embarrassed to ask her name. Later, Donna realizes she must find out who the mystery woman was.

The Mystery Woman

Donna tries to redecorate the house, but neighbor boy Dennis Mitchell (Jay North) tries to help her...and ends up making things more of a mess. Donna finally calls Dennis' nearer neighbor Mr.Wilson (Joseph Kearns) to ask if Dennis would help him with anything. (I'm sure Mr.Wilson sympathized.) This was a crossover show-with two people from ""Dennis the Menace"" guesting. It turns out both shows are set in the town of Hilldale...but Dennis probably lived in a different neighborhood than Donna.

Donna Decorates

Nick the Greek is the handyman at the Stone's house. He's still learning how to write English, so he asks Jeff for help in writing a love letter to his girlfriend. Later, Mary finds this love letter in Jeff's handwriting and wonders if Jeff is involved in a new romance.

The Love Letter

Mary's friend Ginny lives in a mansion with a maid, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. Now Ginny is going to spend the weekend at Mary's house. What can Mary do to impress Ginny, with the Stone family having no maid, no pool, no tennis court, and with a wild unruly younger brother Jeff at home?

How the Other Side Lives

Mary is enamored with the new boy at school, Elroy!  Why?  Because he reminds    her so much of what her dad must have been like as a teenager.  Alex can't    see the resemblance at all.

Alex's Twin

Like, are we worried about Mary riding in Scotty's car? After all, its only a hot rod made with parts taken from wrecked cars!

Worried Anyone?

Alex is cited for his research in a Medical Journal article that he tries to read throughout the whole episode, but he's constantly interrupted. Mary gives up boys when Roger and Elroy let a coin toss decide which one will play tennis with her. She decides to become a scientist. Boys are back in her life when she discovers the new boy Stanley mowing their yard and conducting a science project at the same time.

Higher Learning

The Stones' cleaning lady has troubles.  Her baby is sick and her husband lost his job due to illness.  Alex takes care of the baby's health, and Donna hires the husband to do odd jobs in their house.  Now the Stones have troubles.  The twenty dollars that Alex left on the counter for Mrs. Cruikshank's charity  is missing.  Could the handyman be a thief?  Mrs. Cruikshank thinks so and makes Donna wonder if it's true.

Never Marry a Doctor

The tables are turned as Alex becomes a hospital patient, and a difficult one at that.

It Only Hurts When I Laugh

Mary goes to a session at Taffy Cinders Charm School and wins a scholarship to learn how to be a model. Most of the girls who went with Mary also ""won"" scholarships, too! Then the expenses mount up, as she needs the School instruction book, the School grooming aids, etc.

The Model Daughter

Mary is so indecisive, always asking her mother about what clothes to wear which boys to date. Tonight though, she starts making her own decisions when she, Roger, and Larry go out on the town. They go to the Hungry Onion coffeehouse and listen to poetry. They get into money troubles with dinner at the Flamingo Club, and that's when Mary makes the right decision.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Donna heads to a Blaine Women's College reunion, and while she's away, Jeff adopts Duke, the dog.

Donna Goes to a Reunion

Jeff wants a motor scooter like Gordie just got, but Alex won't agree to that. Gordie shows off his riding skill until he drives the scooter into a tree in the Stones front yard. Gordie proceeds to fake a leg injury that puts him in Jeff's bed overnight, with Donna taking care of him. Why would Gordie do that? Does it have anything to do with his new stepmother or his dad giving him anything he wants? Does Donna have an idea about how to help Gordie's mom with this problem? You bet she does!

Someone is Watching

Donna can't fit into the dinner dress she bought a few months ago, and she wants to wear it! She decides it's time to exercise and diet the extra pounds off. Then, Alex notices his tuxedo is a little too tight now, so he decides, well, you get the picture! And will Jeff ever repay the money he borrowed from Mary so she can buy that sweater she's been wanting for a long time. And what do you think happens when she finally does get that sweater and tries it on?

The Lean and Hungry Look

When Donna's letter-to-the-editor about parents needing to make sure that their children follow through by finishing what they start gets published, it prompts Donna to follow through herself.  Now Mary can't play tennis till she finds her lost jacket and returns a library book, and Jeff can't rest till he finds the tire pump he borrowed from a friend.

Character Building

Jeff just can't seem to do anything right --- he slams the door and the angel food cake in the oven droops; his model airplane has cockeyed wings; airplane glue gets on the carpet, so he bleaches it out! The family needs to build up his spirits, so when he does mediocre imitations of movie stars like James Cagney, Peter Lorre, and Edward G. Robinson, he gets all the family's praise. So he decides to enter the upcoming school talent show! Now what can Mary, Donna, and Alex do?

World's Greatest Entertainer

Donna and Alex remember their honeymoon and this wonderful musical tobacco jar for Alex. When the jar is broken, unknown to one another Donna and Mary buy an identical replacement, Alex also finds another one, while Jeff glues the original tobacco jar back together! The Stones now own 3 musical tobacco jars!

Variations On a Theme

Alex needs to go to Hollywood to discuss suggestions for a Children's Clinic,    so the whole family takes the opportunity to go along and see Hollywood, except it rains, for 2 days! They had so much wanted to meet a movie and TV star before they leave, They do!   Also enjoy Donna dreaming that she is a big Hollywood star.

The Stones Go to Hollywood

Donna fills in for the director of Mary's drama group when he is called to Hollywood for a part in a movie.

Donna Directs a Play

Jeff has been complaing that there's nothing to do.  To top it off,  Ricky comes over and brags about how his dad is taking him on an exciting camping trip this weekend.  Now Jeff wants to go camping, but Alex is away at a conference.  So Donna decides to take Jeff and Mary camping at Truesdale Park right in town.  This isn't the kind of camping trip Jeff had in mind.

Trip to Nowhere

The new doctor has a Japanese Geisha girl for a wife. She is constantly seeing to her husband's needs, can't do enough for him. The married couples of Hilldale have a difficult time adjusting to her. Leave it to Donna to ""Americanize"" her in matters of wifely duties.

The Geisha Girl

In a try for more togetherness, Donna signs Alex and herself up for painting lessons.

The Busy People

While driving through Hilldale, Tony Martin is arrested for speeding by a    policeman using radar.  He knows he wasn't speeding, but figures he'll just    pay the fine and be on his way.  In court, Tony sees Donna fighting a parking    meter violation and insisting on a jury trial rather than pay a $2 fine.

Tony decides to ask for a jury trial, too.  It's a matter of man versus    machine:  is the parking meter keeping correct time or did Donna?  Was the    radar unit accurate or not?  Will popular singer Tony Martin sing a song in    this episode?  Yes!

Tony Martin Visits

Aunt Belle's Earrings

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 children.

The Best Seasons of The Donna Reed Show

The Best Seasons of The Donna Reed Show

Season 7

Season 6

Season 5

Season 4

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 8