User Reviews

Wally invites Eddie Haskell over to spend the night. The rest of the household is not looking forward to this, but as Wally says, he has stayed over at Eddie's three or four times, and he feels like he owes Eddie a reciprocal invitation.

When Wally and Eddie play chess later that evening, the two argue, mainly because Eddie "accidentally" overturns the board because Wally was winning. Eddie gets disinvited after he, Wally, and Beaver all get into an argument, and Eddie goes back home. But that's not the end of things.

This episode shows the vulnerable side of Eddie. He doesn't like to be alone, and it's not because he's afraid of ghosts. Eddie actually knows he's a wise guy and that's hard to live with when he's by himself, apparently.

Throughout the series, Eddie says a lot about his "old man" doing this and that - hitting him, disregarding his feelings, etc, a description that doesn't come across when you see Mr. Haskell in person. But then Fred Rutherford was portrayed as a total fake - Praising his son Clarence/Lumpy when around other people and being harsh with him when in private, so who knows what the truth of the situation with Eddie's father really was.

This is a remarkable episode in that it fleshes out and deepens the character of Eddie Haskell. While Eddie had always been the wise guy and all around trouble maker, here we learn why he acts that way. While staying overnight at the Cleavers', Eddie has a fight with Wally over a game of checkers. Having acted in a thoroughly juvenile manner, Eddie is roundly kicked out by Wally. But then the Cleavers discover the reason why Eddie wanted to spend the night in the first place. We discover a new, vulnerable side to Eddie. Ken Osmond is outstanding as always, and he and Jerry Mathers have an unusually candid conversation towards the end in which the wise guy mask finally comes off. Not to be missed!

Any episode with Eddie Haskell is a favourite of mine but this may rank first.

Eddie has created a lot of havoc in the Cleaver household in the past with his many lies, and deceitfulness. Cleavers always forgive him. Eddie spending the night? How could it possibly be a bad episode?

Writer Dick Conway was undoubtedly the personal biographer of Eddie Haskell, and he added yet another interesting slant, which also gives Eddie a more human and vulnerable side.

Eddie spends the night at the Cleavers --and surprisingly -- has his first big fight with Wally. Eddie really, really wants to stay because, in reality, he has a fear of being all alone! An amazing story, but if you dig deep enough, there are lots of tough guys who have embarrassing "secrets." A spot on story if there ever was one.

Ken Osmond has never been better in this role, again showing what a talented young actor was. Ken was a star in his own right who immortalized a tv character, much like Henry Winkler did with Fronzie on HAPPY DAYS.

Wait for the classic ending with Eddie and the Beave. Unforgettable. It's too bad, back in the day, they did not have a special Emmy award category for recurring characters, such as Eddie. Ken would have won.

By the way, Eddie's father is played by popular character actor John Alvin, who frequently appeared on MY THREE SONS, PERRY MASON, later known as the reverend on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Alvin also appeared in some classic films, such as DESTINATION TOKYO. He may also have been a friend of Hugh Beaumont, as both actors began their careers in the 1940s and may have worked together.

It seems to be a familiar cross-over with many of the veteran guest stars on the show.

Thank you, Dick Conway. From SEASON 4 EPISODE 26 remastered.