Ep 1. Beaver's Poem
- October 2, 1958
Beaver's Poem is the first episode of the second season of the American sitcom, Leave It to Beaver. The show originally aired on ABC on October 2, 1958, and was produced by Gomalco Productions.
In this episode, Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver (Jerry Mathers) is assigned to write a poem for his English class. Being just a kid, Beaver struggles to come up with a poem and writes a very simple one that doesn't seem to impress his teacher, Miss Landers (Sue Randall). Miss Landers suggests that Beaver should put more effort into it and be more imaginative.
Beaver goes back home and confides in his mother, June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley), about his predicament. June, being a supportive mother, encourages Beaver to try harder, and she helps him come up with a few ideas for his poem. However, Beaver still doesn't seem to be satisfied with his work.
Meanwhile, Beaver's older brother Wally (Tony Dow) is busy trying to impress his girlfriend. Wally wants to take her to a formal dance, but he doesn't own a suit. Their father, Ward (Hugh Beaumont), helps him out by lending him his old suit. However, Wally is unhappy with the old-fashioned suit and tries to find a way to make it look more modern.
As the deadline for the poem approaches, Beaver is still having trouble coming up with a good one. June suggests that he should take a walk in the park and maybe he'll find inspiration there. While in the park, Beaver meets a bum who recites a poem he had written. The poem, which is about his life on the streets, deeply affects Beaver and he realizes that his own life is much better than that of the bum.
When Beaver gets home, he writes a new poem inspired by the bum's life. The poem is touching and insightful, and Miss Landers is impressed. She even reads it out loud in class, much to Beaver's surprise and delight.
The episode ends with Ward helping Wally fix up his suit and everyone in the Cleaver family happy and proud of Beaver's achievement.
Beaver's Poem is a heartwarming episode that showcases the importance of perseverance and creativity. It also highlights the positive influence that a supportive family can have on a child's education. The show's lighthearted humor and relatable characters make it a timeless classic that families can enjoy together.
