LITB gave us some pretty mediocre acting from some of the child guest stars, but there were also a lot of bright standouts that grab our attention. This episode gives the latter.
I'm not sure what became of her, but young Jennie Lynn as Patty Murdock, plays an impressive brat in this episode. And she clearly knows it. She's the little girl every boy dreads, and Jennie plays her with such casual skill, that it's easy to forget she's acting. She seems more knowing of the humor than a child could be.
Jennie keeps Jerry Mathers on his toes, and that alone makes this episode fun to watch. And kind of scary. Any dude will feel for poor Beav in this one.
8 Reviews
Beaver makes $1.50 the hard way: babysitting a girl.
pensman9 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Wally has a double date scheduled. Somehow Eddie managed to not only get his dad's car but also a date, with a girl. Wally is dating some girl name Marjorie Helene, what happened to Mary Ellen. However, Wally forgot that he's scheduled to babysit for the Murdocks' five-year-old son. Wally convinces his parents that Beaver can stand in for him. June figures she better alert the Murdocks there has been a switch in sitters, but the Murdocks failed to reciprocate. This should be a challenge for Beaver as he is afraid of girls and will be siting for one. Pat Murdock says she's ten which makes her only two years younger than Beaver; but Beaver towers over her and physically looks more like his 16, not 12.
Beaver offers to read to Pat but she wants to play house. That's a girl's game. We'll watch TV. No, house or I'll scream. For good measure, she gives him a practice scream. But when she demands a kiss on the cheek; Beaver says, go ahead and scream. It's bad but Beaver seems to survive. Until Wally and Eddie show up to check on him, and Eddie kids him. When Beaver says that's it; no more playing house. She says she'll scream, and Beaver feeling his life is over, tells her to scream all she wants. Since it's no fun if it doesn't bother him, she stops. The night ends and Beaver makes it home without having to call his parents. But he asks if he can stay home from school tomorrow, he really doesn't want to see that creepy Patty there. June asks Ward if he thinks Beaver was embarrassed having to take care of a girl. If he wasn't replies Ward then he's no son of mine.
At school the next day, Gilbert finds out what happened. Hard not to with Patty following Beaver around. He finally ditches her by going into the boy's locker room. Back at home, Wally's no help, he tells Beaver Patty probably followed him around because she has a crush on him. But Wally comes to the rescue when June asks if Beaver can sit again for the Murdocks. Beaver panics but Wally says he's free Saturday and he'll do it, he believes Beaver is going to the movies with Gilbert or something. Beaver is really grateful to Wally claiming he's like that guy in The Tail of Two Cities who had his head chopped off for his pal. I'm pretty sure Dickens would have appreciated the allusion.
At school, Beaver admits to Gilbert he sort of liked it when Patty was following him around. He had someone he could tell to get lost. Gilbert says he understands, it's like when you get older and you tell your wife to leave you alone. I have no comment to make.
Beaver offers to read to Pat but she wants to play house. That's a girl's game. We'll watch TV. No, house or I'll scream. For good measure, she gives him a practice scream. But when she demands a kiss on the cheek; Beaver says, go ahead and scream. It's bad but Beaver seems to survive. Until Wally and Eddie show up to check on him, and Eddie kids him. When Beaver says that's it; no more playing house. She says she'll scream, and Beaver feeling his life is over, tells her to scream all she wants. Since it's no fun if it doesn't bother him, she stops. The night ends and Beaver makes it home without having to call his parents. But he asks if he can stay home from school tomorrow, he really doesn't want to see that creepy Patty there. June asks Ward if he thinks Beaver was embarrassed having to take care of a girl. If he wasn't replies Ward then he's no son of mine.
At school the next day, Gilbert finds out what happened. Hard not to with Patty following Beaver around. He finally ditches her by going into the boy's locker room. Back at home, Wally's no help, he tells Beaver Patty probably followed him around because she has a crush on him. But Wally comes to the rescue when June asks if Beaver can sit again for the Murdocks. Beaver panics but Wally says he's free Saturday and he'll do it, he believes Beaver is going to the movies with Gilbert or something. Beaver is really grateful to Wally claiming he's like that guy in The Tail of Two Cities who had his head chopped off for his pal. I'm pretty sure Dickens would have appreciated the allusion.
At school, Beaver admits to Gilbert he sort of liked it when Patty was following him around. He had someone he could tell to get lost. Gilbert says he understands, it's like when you get older and you tell your wife to leave you alone. I have no comment to make.
From being babysat to being a babysitter.
dsnow-124 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The one unusual thing I have thought about this episode is how fact Beaver must have matured in a few months.
Earlier in the 5th season in episode two the show is about Beaver being watched by a young girl and Beaver is upset and tries to hide the fact from his friends.
But now suddenly toward the end of the season Beaver is mature enough to watch kids himself.
The funny part is the little girl forcing Beaver to play house with her.
Earlier in the 5th season in episode two the show is about Beaver being watched by a young girl and Beaver is upset and tries to hide the fact from his friends.
But now suddenly toward the end of the season Beaver is mature enough to watch kids himself.
The funny part is the little girl forcing Beaver to play house with her.
Truly cute episode
vitoscotti24 July 2021
Pat (Jennie Lynn) really pours out the cuteness to highlight a very strong episode. 14 year old Jerry Mathers playing 12 year old Beaver is a struggle for him. Unusually strong script for season 5 that's very inconsistent. Good to have Eddie (Ken Osmond) back to perk things up.
June the worrier
KeatsTV1 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Wally made a date with an unknown girl and forgot about his job for their neighbors the Murdochs. After calling his other pals to fill in, Wally is left high and dry so Beaver eagerly steps up despite June's fretting.
Wally tells Beaver what to expect when sitting for the Murdoch's little boy and despite the fact that the Cleaver family knows Chuckie and his family, the Cleavers seem surprised by Patricia Murdoch's existence.
Beaver successfully completes his work assignment despite Mrs. Murdoch's hesitation (who can blame her, Beaver lost her son once during a shoe buying fiasco). Beaver is forced to play house with little Pat and humiliated by Eddie Haskell all for $1.50.
Back at the Cleaver house, June Cleaver's anxiety has kicked into the next gear as evidenced by her pacing the floor in full on high heels, jewelry and makeup in her anxiety over 12-13 Beaver's working a couple of streets over in the comfort of their neighbor's house. Why didn't June get a hobby or some girlfriends? I don't know how Ward stood having her pace the house firing silly questions at him like that.
Wally tells Beaver what to expect when sitting for the Murdoch's little boy and despite the fact that the Cleaver family knows Chuckie and his family, the Cleavers seem surprised by Patricia Murdoch's existence.
Beaver successfully completes his work assignment despite Mrs. Murdoch's hesitation (who can blame her, Beaver lost her son once during a shoe buying fiasco). Beaver is forced to play house with little Pat and humiliated by Eddie Haskell all for $1.50.
Back at the Cleaver house, June Cleaver's anxiety has kicked into the next gear as evidenced by her pacing the floor in full on high heels, jewelry and makeup in her anxiety over 12-13 Beaver's working a couple of streets over in the comfort of their neighbor's house. Why didn't June get a hobby or some girlfriends? I don't know how Ward stood having her pace the house firing silly questions at him like that.
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH -- TEEN STYLE!
tcchelsey19 March 2024
Beave is in the thick of things in this one, all because he helped Wally out by babysitting so he could go on a date.
The "supposed" client is mischievous Chucky (played by Rory Stevens) -- but INSTEAD -- Beaver has to babysit his older sister, Patricia (Jennie Lynn).
Right off the bat, theres trouble ahead when she expects him to play house with her? Or she'll scream! More over, there seems to be an "attraction" and Beaver now has an admirerer who follows him to school and all over the place?
Joseph Hoffman wrote this episode, possibly with THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH in mind, only it's the girl obsessed with the guy --and they're just kids-- but fascinating to watch with a chuckle or two. Popular child actress Jennie Lynn is perfect for this role, a veteran of tv, also appearing on MY THREE SONS.
TV star Marjorie Reynolds makes a surprise guest appearance as Mrs. Murdock. Marjorie was best known as Peg on THE LIFE OF RILEY, and with a long list of movie credits, including THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES, perhaps Abbott and Costello's best film.
10 Stars for excellent acting and writing. Without too much surprise, Joseph Hoffman also wrote for MY THREE SONS and FAMILY AFFAIR.
Curious note; Beave is old enough to babysit at this stage in his life -- though it was only a few episodes back HE needed a sitter?
SEASON 5 EPISODE 27 remastered.
The "supposed" client is mischievous Chucky (played by Rory Stevens) -- but INSTEAD -- Beaver has to babysit his older sister, Patricia (Jennie Lynn).
Right off the bat, theres trouble ahead when she expects him to play house with her? Or she'll scream! More over, there seems to be an "attraction" and Beaver now has an admirerer who follows him to school and all over the place?
Joseph Hoffman wrote this episode, possibly with THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH in mind, only it's the girl obsessed with the guy --and they're just kids-- but fascinating to watch with a chuckle or two. Popular child actress Jennie Lynn is perfect for this role, a veteran of tv, also appearing on MY THREE SONS.
TV star Marjorie Reynolds makes a surprise guest appearance as Mrs. Murdock. Marjorie was best known as Peg on THE LIFE OF RILEY, and with a long list of movie credits, including THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES, perhaps Abbott and Costello's best film.
10 Stars for excellent acting and writing. Without too much surprise, Joseph Hoffman also wrote for MY THREE SONS and FAMILY AFFAIR.
Curious note; Beave is old enough to babysit at this stage in his life -- though it was only a few episodes back HE needed a sitter?
SEASON 5 EPISODE 27 remastered.
Why didn't Wally tell Beaver about Pat?
deblc-9133429 November 2022
The concept of this episode is a good one but some of the details are confusing.
After the arrangements are made for Beaver to babysit, Wally gives Beaver all kinds of advice about handling Chucky, but he never mentions Pat. If Wally had babysat for the Murdocks, before he obviously would have known about the little girl. At the Murdocks home, Pat greets Wally by name and he doesn't appear to be surprised. That doesn't make sense.
Also Beaver says the Murdocks brought him home. In other episodes, they lived nearby or across the street because a very small Chucky wanders into their garage and yard several times.
Sometimes the writers didn't think things through.
After the arrangements are made for Beaver to babysit, Wally gives Beaver all kinds of advice about handling Chucky, but he never mentions Pat. If Wally had babysat for the Murdocks, before he obviously would have known about the little girl. At the Murdocks home, Pat greets Wally by name and he doesn't appear to be surprised. That doesn't make sense.
Also Beaver says the Murdocks brought him home. In other episodes, they lived nearby or across the street because a very small Chucky wanders into their garage and yard several times.
Sometimes the writers didn't think things through.
Babysitting For 50 Cents An Hour
StrictlyConfidential4 March 2021
(*Wally to Beaver quote*) - "Look, all you gotta do is let him know you're the boss."
Beaver ends up babysitting 10-year-old Patricia Murdock instead of her 5-year-old brother, Chuckie.
Patricia puts Beaver at a real disadvantage when she expects him to play house with her. It even gets worse when she becomes really taken by Beaver and starts to follow him to school and gush all over him.
Beaver ends up babysitting 10-year-old Patricia Murdock instead of her 5-year-old brother, Chuckie.
Patricia puts Beaver at a real disadvantage when she expects him to play house with her. It even gets worse when she becomes really taken by Beaver and starts to follow him to school and gush all over him.
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