document_title: A Chorus Line

question_text: who gets the job in a chorus line

question_tokens: who gets the job in a chorus line

text: A Chorus Line

text: Synopsis[edit]

text: The show opens in the middle of an audition for an upcoming Broadway production. The formidable director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the dancers through their paces. Every dancer is desperate for work ("I Hope I Get It"). After the next round of cuts, 17 dancers remain. Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. He wants to learn more about them, and asks the dancers to introduce themselves. With reluctance, the dancers reveal their pasts. The stories generally progress chronologically from early life experiences through adulthood to the end of a career.

text: The first candidate, Mike, explains that he is the youngest of 12 children. He recalls his first experience with dance, watching his sister's dance class when he was a pre-schooler ("I Can Do That"). Mike took her place one day when she refused to go to class—and he stayed. Bobby tries to hide the unhappiness of his childhood by making jokes. As he speaks, the other dancers have misgivings about this strange audition process and debate what they should reveal to Zach ("And..."), but since they all need the job, the session continues.

text: Zach is angered when he feels that the streetwise Sheila is not taking the audition seriously. Opening up, she reveals that her mother married at a young age and her father neither loved nor cared for them. When she was six, she realized that ballet provided relief from her unhappy family life, as did Bebe and Maggie ("At the Ballet"). The scatter-brained Kristine is tone-deaf, and her lament that she could never sing is interrupted by her husband Al finishing her phrases in tune ("Sing").

text: Mark, the youngest of the dancers, relates his first experiences with pictures of the female anatomy and his first wet dream, while the other dancers share memories of adolescence ("Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love"). The 4'10" Connie laments the problems of being short, and Diana Morales recollects her horrible high school acting class ("Nothing"). Don remembers his first job at a nightclub and Judy reflects on her problematic childhood while some of the auditionees talk about their opinion of their parents ("Mother"). Then, Greg speaks about his discovery of his homosexuality and Richie recounts how he nearly became a kindergarten teacher ("Gimme the Ball"). Finally, the newly buxom Val explains that talent alone doesn't count for everything with casting directors, and silicone and plastic surgery can really help ("Dance: Ten; Looks: Three").

text: The dancers go downstairs to learn a song for the next section of the audition, but Cassie stays onstage to talk to Zach. She is a veteran dancer who has had some notable successes as a soloist. They have a history together: Zach had cast her in a featured part previously, and they had lived together for several years. Zach tells Cassie that she is too good for the chorus and shouldn't be at this audition. But she hasn't been able to find solo work and is willing to "come home" to the chorus where she can at least express her passion for dance ("The Music and the Mirror"). Zach sends her downstairs to learn the dance combination.

text: Zach calls Paul, who has been reluctant to share his past, on stage for a private talk, and he emotionally relives his childhood and high school experience, his early career in a drag act, coming to terms with his manhood and his homosexuality, and his parents' ultimate reaction to finding out about his lifestyle. Paul breaks down and is comforted by Zach. Cassie and Zach's complex relationship resurfaces during a run-through of the number created to showcase an unnamed star ("One"). Zach confronts Cassie, feeling that she is "dancing down," and they rehash what went wrong in their relationship and her career. Zach points to the machine-like dancing of the rest of the cast—the other dancers who have all blended together, and who will probably never be recognized individually—and mockingly asks if this is what she wants. Cassie defiantly defends the dancers: "I’d be proud to be one of them. They’re wonderful....They’re all special. I’d be happy to be dancing in that line. Yes, I would...."

text: During a tap sequence, Paul falls and injures his knee that recently underwent surgery. After Paul is carried off to the hospital, all at the audition stand in disbelief, realizing that their careers can also end in an instant. Zach asks the remaining dancers what they will do when they can no longer dance. Led by Diana, they reply that whatever happens, they will be free of regret ("What I Did for Love"). The final eight dancers are selected: Mike, Cassie, Bobby, Judy, Richie, Val, Mark, and Diana.

text: "One" (reprise/finale) begins with an individual bow for each of the 19 characters, their hodgepodge rehearsal clothes replaced by identical spangled gold costumes. As each dancer joins the group, it is suddenly difficult to distinguish one from the other: ironically, each character who was an individual to the audience seems now to be an anonymous member of a neverending ensemble.[1]

text: Musical numbers[edit]

text:
"I Hope I Get It" – Company
"I Can Do That" – Mike
"And..." – Bobby, Richie, Val, and Judy
"At the Ballet" – Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie
"Sing!" – Kristine, Al, and Company
"Montage Part 1: Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" – Mark, Connie, and Company
"Montage Part 2: Nothing" – Diana
"Montage Part 3: Mother" – Don, Judy, Val, Diana, Maggie, Cassie, Al, Sheila, Greg, Paul, and Company
"Montage Part 4: Gimme the Ball" – Greg, Richie, and Company
"Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" – Val
"The Music and the Mirror" – Cassie
"One" – Company
"The Tap Combination" – Company
"What I Did for Love" – Diana and Company
"One" (Reprise)/Bows – Company

text: Original cast album[edit]

text: Issued by Columbia Records (PS33581) containing the following tracks:

text: Side One

text:
"I Hope I Get It" – Company
"I Can Do That" – Mike (Wayne Cilento)
"At the Ballet" – Sheila (Kelly Bishop), Bebe (Nancy Lane), Maggie (Kay Cole)
"Sing!" – Kristine (Renee Baughman), Al (Don Percassi)
"Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love" (Montage) – Company
"Nothing" – Diana (Priscilla Lopez)

text: Side Two

text:
"The Music and the Mirror" – Cassie (Donna McKechnie)
"Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" – Val (Pamela Blair)
"One" – Company
"What I Did For Love" – Diana and Company
"One (Reprise)" Finale – Company

text: Characters[edit]

text:
Zach, the imperious, successful director running the audition.
Larry, his assistant.

text: The Auditionees:

text:
Don Kerr, a married man who once worked in a strip club.
Maggie Winslow, a sweet woman who grew up in a broken home.
Mike Costa, an aggressive dancer who learned to tap at an early age.
Connie Wong, a petite Chinese-American who seems ageless.
Greg Gardner, a sassy Jewish gay man who divulges his first experience with a woman.
Cassie Ferguson, a once successful solo dancer down on her luck and a former love of Zach's.
Sheila Bryant, a sassy, sexy, aging dancer who tells of her unhappy childhood.
Bobby Mills, Sheila's best friend who jokes about his conservative upbringing in Buffalo, New York.
Bebe Benzenheimer, a young dancer who only feels beautiful when she dances.
Judy Turner, a tall, gawky, and quirky dancer.
Richie Walters, an enthusiastic black man who once planned to be a kindergarten teacher.
Al DeLuca, an Italian-American who takes care of his wife.
Kristine Urich (DeLuca), Al's scatter-brained wife who can't sing.
Val Clark, a foul-mouthed but excellent dancer who couldn't get performing jobs because of her looks until she had plastic surgery.
Mark Anthony, the youngest dancer who recounts the time he told his priest he thought he had gonorrhea.
Paul San Marco, a gay Puerto Rican who dropped out of high school and survived a troubled childhood.
Diana Morales, Paul's friend, another Puerto Rican who was underestimated by her teachers.

text: Cut dancers:

text:
Tricia, who has a brief vocal solo.
Vicki, who never studied ballet.
Lois, who dances like a ballerina.
Roy, who can't get the arms right ("Wrong arms Roy").
Butch, who gives attitude in the audition.
Tom, an all-American jock.
Frank, who looks at his feet when he dances ("headband").

text: Production history[edit]

text: The musical was formed from several taped workshop sessions with Broadway dancers, known as "gypsies," including eight who eventually appeared in the original cast. The sessions were originally hosted by dancers Michon Peacock and Tony Stevens.  The first taped session occurred at the Nickolaus Exercise Center January 26, 1974.  They hoped that they would form a professional dance company to make workshops for Broadway dancers.

text: Michael Bennett was invited to join the group primarily as an observer, but quickly took control of the proceedings. Although Bennett’s involvement has been challenged, there has been no question about Kirkwood and Dante’s authorship. In later years, Bennett's claim that A Chorus Line had been his brainchild resulted in not only hard feelings but a number of lawsuits as well.[2] During the workshop sessions, random characters would be chosen at the end for the chorus jobs based on their performance quality, resulting in genuine surprise among the cast.  However, several costumers protested this ending, mainly due to the stress of having to change random actors in time for the finale. This resulted in the ending being cut in exchange for the same set of characters winning the slots.[3] Marvin Hamlisch, who wrote A Chorus Line's  winning score, recalled how during the first previews, audiences seemed put off by something in the story. This problem was solved when actress Marsha Mason told Bennett that Cassie (Donna McKechnie in the original production) should win the part in the end because she did everything right. Bennett changed it so that Cassie would always win the part.[4]

text: Original production[edit]

text: A Chorus Line opened Off Broadway at The Public Theater on April 15, 1975.[5] The capitalized cost, including the two workshop productions, totalled $549,526.[6] At the time, the Public did not have enough money to finance the production so it borrowed $1.6 million to produce the show.[7]  The show was directed and co-choreographed (with Bob Avian) by Bennett. Advance word had created such a demand for tickets that the entire run sold out immediately. Producer Joseph Papp moved the production to Broadway at a cost of $588,889 bringing the total capitalized production cost to $1,138,415,[6] and on July 25, 1975, it opened at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 6,137 performances until April 28, 1990.

text: The original Broadway cast included:

text:
Cast  (in Alphabetical Order)

Role

Awards

Scott Allen

Roy

Renee Baughman

Kristine

Kelly Bishop

Sheila

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (won)  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (won)

Pamela Blair

Val

Wayne Cilento

Mike

Chuck Cissel

Butch

Clive Clerk

Larry

Kay Cole

Maggie

Ronald Dennis

Richie

Donna Drake

Tricia

Brandt Edwards

Tom

Patricia Garland

Judy

Carolyn Kirsch

Lois

Ron Kuhlman

Don

Nancy Lane

Bebe

Baayork Lee

Connie

Priscilla Lopez

Diana

Obie Award for Best Actress (won)  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (nominated)

Robert LuPone

Zach

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (nominated)

Cameron Mason

Mark

Donna McKechnie

Cassie

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (won)  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (won)

Don Percassi

Al

Michael Serrecchia

Frank

Michel Stuart

Greg

Thomas J. Walsh

Bobby

Sammy Williams

Paul

Obie Award for Best Actor (won)  Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (won)

Crissy Wilzak

Vicki

text: In addition, Carole Schweid and John Mineo were understudies named "Barbara" and "Jarad", although they only went on covering other roles. Tim Cassidy also was an understudy for "Bobby".

text: The production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning nine: Best Musical, Best Musical Book, Best Score (Hamlisch and Kleban), Best Director, and Best Choreography, Best Actress (McKechnie), Best Featured Actor (Sammy Williams), Best Featured Actress (Bishop) and Best Lighting Design.[8]  The show won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, one of the few musicals ever to receive this honor, and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of the season.

text: In 1976, many of the original cast went on to perform in the Los Angeles production.  Open roles were recast and the play was again reviewed as the "New" New York Company which included Ann Reinking, Sandahl Bergman, Christopher Chadman, Justin Ross (who would go on to appear in the film), and Barbara Luna.

text: When it closed, A Chorus Line was the longest running show in Broadway history[9] until its record was surpassed by Cats in 1997 and Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera in 2002. According to Baayork Lee in Sean Egan’s James Kirkwood biography Ponies & Rainbows, the first of those shows was artificially elevated above A Chorus Line. She said, "I think they had Cats limping in, keeping it open and do you know I think they were giving tickets away just so that it would stay open, so they would break the record." [10] On September 29, 1983, Bennett and 330 A Chorus Line veterans came together to produce a show to celebrate the musical becoming the longest-running show in Broadway history.[11]

text: Up to February 19, 1990, A Chorus Line had generated US$146 million from its Broadway gross and US$277 million in total U.S. grosses[6] and had 6.5 million Broadway attendees.[12] At the time, it was the second most profitable show in Broadway history after Cats with profits of $50 million (including ancillary income).  75% of the profits went to Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival and 25% to Bennett's Plum Productions.[6] Since its inception, the show's many worldwide productions, both professional and amateur, have been a major source of income for The Public Theater that Papp had founded.

text: By 1991, four of the five original creators had died; Bennett, Kirkwood, and Dante from complications of AIDS-related diseases, and Kleban from cancer.  Hamlisch died in 2012.

text: Subsequent productions[edit]

text: U.S. and international tours were mounted in 1976, including a run in Los Angeles at the Shubert Theatre in Century City.

text: A London production opened in the West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1976. It ran for several years. Jane Summerhays and Geraldine Gardner (aka Trudi van Doorn of the Benny Hill Shows), played Sheila in the London production.[13][14]  The production won the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Musical of the Year 1976, the first year in which the awards were presented. Joan Illingworth was also down to the last two to appear.

text: The original Australian production opened in Sydney at Her Majesty's Theatre in May 1977, and moved to Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre in January 1978. The cast featured Peta Toppano as Diana, David Atkins as Mike, and Ross Coleman as Paul.[15]

text: In 1980, under the direction of Roy Smith, the Teatro El Nacional of Buenos Aires produced a successful Spanish version of A Chorus Line lasting 10 months (and then only to make way for an already scheduled subsequent production).

text: In 1984, under the direction of Roy Smith with translation by Nacho Artime y Jaime Azpilicueta, the show was produced at the Tivoli Theater in Barcelona and the Monumental Theatre in Madrid Spain.

text: In July 1986, A Chorus Line was produced in Italy for the first time. It premiered at the Nervi Festival of Dance in Genoa, followed by a five-week Italian tour. The choreography was adapted for the festival's performing space by Baayork Lee who had played Connie in the original production and subsequently became a close collaborator of Michael Bennett, the original choreographer.[16]

text: The German language version was again directed by Lee and first opened in 1987 in Vienna, Austria, where it ran successfully for one season [17] followed by the German language CD-release[18] produced by Jimmy Bowien in 1988.

text: The first—and as of 2016 only—professional Hungarian production of the musical opened its limited run on March 25, 1988 under the title Michael Bennett emlékére (English: In memory of Michael Bennett). It was performed by Ódry Színpad (the company of the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest) translated into Hungarian by György Gebora, and directed by Imre Kerényi. The character Zach was renamed Michael and played by Kerényi.[19]

text: The 2006 Broadway revival opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater October 5, 2006, following a run in San Francisco. The revival closed August 17, 2008, after 759 performances and 18 previews. It cost $8 million to finance and recouped its investment in 19 weeks.[20]  The production was directed by Bob Avian, with the choreography reconstructed by Baayork Lee, who had played Connie Wong in the original Broadway production. The opening night cast included Paul McGill, Michael Berresse, Charlotte d'Amboise, Mara Davi, James T. Lane, Tony Yazbeck, Heather Parcells,  Alisan Porter, Jason Tam, Jessica Lee Goldyn and Chryssie Whitehead.[21]  On April 15, 2008, Mario Lopez joined the cast as the replacement for Zach.[22] The production was the subject of the documentary film Every Little Step.

text: The production received two Tony Award nominations in 2007 for Featured Role (Charlotte d'Amboise) and Revival (Musical).[8] The original contract for A Chorus Line provided for sharing the revenue from the show with the directors and dancers that had attended the original workshop sessions.  However, the contract did not specify revenue when the musical was revived in 2006. In February 2008, an agreement was reached with the dancers and Michael Bennett's estate.[23]

text: A 2008 U.S. touring production opened May 4, 2008, at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and toured through June 2009. This production featured Michael Gruber as Zach, Nikki Snelson as Cassie, Emily Fletcher as Sheila, and Gabrielle Ruiz as Diana.[24]

text: In 2012, the musical toured Australia gaining much critical acclaim. Bayyork Lee directed the production and it gained many nominations including, Helpmann nominations for Best Actress in a Musical for West End star, Anita Louise Combe playing Cassie, Best supporting Actress in a musical, Deborah Krizak and Best supporting Actor in a musical, Euan Doidge and it won best musical.  The same production and cast then came to Singapore, playing at the Marina Bay Sands, Sands Theater, May 4 to May 27, 2012.[25]

text: The show returned to London for a revival in February 2013 West End at the London Palladium, running through August of that year. It was directed by original choreographer, Bob Avian, with John Partridge, Scarlett Strallen, and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt starring.[26] James T. Lane is reprising his Broadway role and Leigh Zimmerman won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Sheila in this production.[27] Producers announced June 9, 2013, that the London revival cast would record a new cast album featuring never-before-heard songs which were written for the show but never made the final cut.[28]

text: Reports surfaced in June 2016 that a second Broadway revival is planned for 2025, in honor of the show's 50th anniversary.[29]

text: In 2016, approval was granted to director Donna Feore to allow changes in choreography so the show could be performed for the first time on a thrust stage, the Festival Theatre at the Stratford Festival of Canada.

text: Awards and nominations[edit]

text: Original Broadway production[edit]

text:
Year

Award

Category

Nominee

Result

1976

Tony Award

Best Musical

Won

Best Book of a Musical

James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante

Won

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

Donna McKechnie

Won

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Sammy Williams

Won

Robert LuPone

Nominated

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Kelly Bishop

Won

Priscilla Lopez

Nominated

Best Original Score

Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban

Won

Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Bennett

Won

Best Choreography

Michael Bennett and Bob Avian

Won

Best Costume Design

Theoni V. Aldredge

Nominated

Best Lighting Design

Tharon Musser

Won

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Musical

Won

Book of a Musical

James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante

Won

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Kelly Bishop

Won

Donna McKechnie

Won

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Michael Bennett

Won

Outstanding Choreography

Michael Bennett and Bob Avian

Won

Outstanding Music

Marvin Hamlisch

Won

Outstanding Lyrics

Edward Kleban

Won

Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Won

Theatre World Award

Special Award

Won

1978

Gold Record Award from Columbia Records

Won

1984

Tony Award (special)

Longest-running Broadway musical

Won

text: Original London production[edit]

text:
Year

Award

Category

Nominee

Result

1976

Laurence Olivier Award

Best New Musical

Won

1977

Evening Standard Award

Best Musical

Won

text: 2006 Broadway revival[edit]

text:
Year

Award

Category

Nominee

Result

2007

Tony Award

Best Revival of a Musical

Nominated

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Charlotte d'Amboise

Nominated

text: 2012 Australian  revival[edit]

text:
Year

Award

Category

Nominee

Result

2012

Helpmann Award

Best Musical

Won

Best Actress in a Musical

Anita Louise Combe

Nominated

text: 2013 London revival[edit]

text:
Year

Award

Category

Nominee

Result

2013

Laurence Olivier Award

Best Musical Revival

Nominated

Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Leigh Zimmerman

Won

text: Other media[edit]

text: In 1975 the film rights were sold to Universal Pictures for $5.5 million plus 20% of the distributor's gross rentals above $30 million.[6] Universal subsequently sold the rights to PolyGram.[30]  An unsuccessful film adaptation was released in 1985, starring Michael Douglas as Zach. As Kelly Bishop, the original Sheila, later noted, "it was appalling when director  Richard Attenborough went on a talk show and said 'this is a story about kids trying to break into show business.' I almost tossed my TV out the window; I mean what an idiot! It's about veteran dancers looking for one last job before it's too late for them to dance anymore. No wonder the film sucked!"

text: In 1976, "One" and "What I Did For Love" were performed by the cast of "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour."

text: In 1988, the 60th Academy Awards featured a variation of "I Hope I Get It" at the beginning of the ceremony.

text: In 1990, original cast members Baayork Lee and Thommie Walsh collaborated with Robert Viagas on the book On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line, which chronicles the musical's origins and evolution and includes interviews with the entire original cast.

text: In 1990, Visa launched a marketing campaign around A Chorus Line as it was touring the United States. The promotions included television commercials featuring the musical and the right to say that tickets for the show could be charged only on Visa cards. Visa paid $500,000 for the promotion.[31]

text: Also in 1990, much of the original cast reunited to perform selections from the musical as well as talk about it on the talk show Donahue. This performance was given to benefit the final run of the show as it was about to close on Broadway at the time. The highlight of the appearance was an emotionally charged performance of "At The Ballet" as performed by Kelly Bishop, Kay Cole and Nancy Lane which left several of the cast and the studio audience fighting back tears. Another highlight was the comical performance of "Dance: Ten, Looks: Three (Tits and Ass)" as done by Pamela Blair. Renee Baughman was the only original cast member who couldn't attend the show's taping because she had to care for her seriously ill father.

text: The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror V" closes with a parody of "One," which the Simpsons family sings (with alternate lyrics) after they are turned inside out by a mysterious fog.

text: Michael Bennett and Ed Kleban are portrayed in the 2001 musical A Class Act, a partly fictionalized account of Kleban's life using some of the lyricist's unpublished songs.

text: In "What I'll Never Do For Love Again," the 20th episode of the fifth season of Ally McBeal (2002), Elaine Vassal auditions (ultimately in vain) for a Boston production of A Chorus Line, singing "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three" and "The Music and the Mirror."

text: James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo produced and directed a documentary film about the musical called Every Little Step, which includes footage of Michael Bennett and interviews with Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Avian, former theater critic for The New York Times Frank Rich, and original cast members Donna McKechnie and Baayork Lee. The film includes some of the audiotapes made at the early workshop sessions and shows behind-the-scenes footage of the audition, rehearsals, and performances of both the original 1975 production and the 2006 Broadway revival. Production of the documentary began in 2005 when 3,000 hopefuls arrived on the first day of auditions for the revival. The film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008 and was released as Broadway Broadway in Japan the following month.[32] The documentary opened in limited release in the US in April 2009.[33]

text: In 2009, music from the score was used in the television series Fringe in the episode Brown Betty, and also in the movie Land of the Lost that same year featuring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, and Anna Friel

text: The song "What I Did for Love" has been recorded by Aretha Franklin from "Sweet Passion" (1977), Petula Clark, The Three Degrees on their 1977 album Standing Up for Love, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on "Are a Drag" (1999), Christine Ebersole in a 2009 episode of "The Colbert Report", and most recently by Lea Michele in the first episode of the second season of the hit musical television series Glee. In a later episode in the same season, Jenna Ushkowitz and Harry Shum, Jr. performed "Sing!", although the male and female vocals were switched. The episode "Hell-O" from the show's first season was planned to feature a performance of "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love", although the performance was cut; in a later episode the song can be heard playing in the background. Never officially released, the song was performed by Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff. "At The Ballet" was featured in the show's fourth season and was performed by Chris Colfer, Naya Rivera, Lea Michele and Sarah Jessica Parker.

text: "Phineas & Ferb": in one part of the live show; Heinz Doofenshmirtz sings part of "One"

text: The Scrubs episode My Malpractical Decision features a parody of "One", accompanying an imaginary sequence in which Neena Broderick repeatedly assaults a barrage of unfortunate bystanders in the genitals.

text: In the House MD Season 6 episode, "The Down Low", James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) starts singing the song in the last few seconds of the episode much to the discomfort of Wilson's best friend, Gregory House (Hugh Laurie).

text: In August 2013, ACL alumna Melissa R. Randel ("Judy Turner") mounted her original production, The Hat, at The New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC.  The Hat was inspired by her experience as a young Broadway dancer who learns on the eve of a performance that her father has died.  "The curtain rises on her 87th performance of a hit Broadway musical, but no one tells Ruth her father has died.  Forevermore, her heart clings to a gold-studded chorus girl’s top hat. LIGHTS UP! 5-6-7-8!"  Randel appeared in more than 2,000 performances from 1981 to 1985 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre and on National and international tours, and can be seen as a featured dancer in Richard Attenborough's film, A Chorus Line.


document_title: Here Comes the Judge

question_text: who did here comes the judge on laugh in

root

text: Here Comes the Judge

text: Here Comes the Judge may refer to:

tag: p

text:
Here Comes the Judge (album), a 1964 jazz album by Eddie Harris
"Here Comes the Judge" (Shorty Long song), 1968
"Here Comes the Judge" (Pigmeat Markham song), 1968
"Here Come de Judge", a regular sketch on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, done in the first season by Pigmeat Markham and in subsequent seasons by Sammy Davis, Jr.

tag: ul

text:
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Here Comes the Judge.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

tag: table

text: Disambiguation pagesCatchphrases

text: All article disambiguation pagesAll disambiguation pages


document_title: List of Counting On episodes

question_text: when does season 5 of counting on start

question_tokens: when does season 5 of counting on start

text: List of Counting On episodes

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired

First aired
Last aired

1
3
December 13, 2015 (2015-12-13)
December 27, 2015 (2015-12-27)

2
8
March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)
May 3, 2016 (2016-05-03)

3
13
August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23)
November 15, 2016 (2016-11-15)

4
7
January 16, 2017 (2017-01-16)
February 27, 2017 (2017-02-27)

5
8
June 12, 2017 (2017-06-12)
July 24, 2017 (2017-07-24)

6
7
September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11)
October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)

7
7
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)
March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26)

text: Episodes[edit]

text: Season 1 (2015)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

1
1
"A New Chapter"
December 13, 2015 (2015-12-13)

It was the happiest time in Jill & Jessa's lives: a new baby, a new marriage, a new chapter of life. Then devastating news about older brother Josh was revealed & their worlds were shattered. Jill & Jessa share how their lives have changed forever.

2
2
"Baby Shower & A New Home"
December 20, 2015 (2015-12-20)

Over the last few months Jill and Jessa grew even closer as sisters as they walked through this difficult time together. Now, just a couple of weeks away from Jessa's due date, Jill and Derick leave for their new lives in Central America.

3
3
"Counting One More"
December 27, 2015 (2015-12-27)

Jill and Derick adjust to the challenges of their new life in Central America. Then it's finally time to meet Baby Seewald and find out if it's a boy or girl! When labor complications arise, Jessa is rushed to the hospital.

text: Season 2 (2016)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

4
1
"At Home & Away"
March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)

Jessa & Ben navigate life as a family of 3 with new baby, Spurgeon. Jill & Derick settle into their home in Central America as Israel starts to hit new milestones. Later, Jessa enlists her sisters to help prepare a fall feast for the whole family.

5
2
"Date Nights & Bright Lights"
March 23, 2016 (2016-03-23)

Jana and Jessa embark on a large DIY lighting project while the rest of the family travels to Central America. Then Jessa and Ben go on their first date since Spurgeon was born, will his presence wreck the romance?

6
3
"Jinger Flips"
March 29, 2016 (2016-03-29)

Jessa goes out for coffee with Jana and Anna, leaving Ben in charge of Spurgeon. Jinger buys a car at auction with the intention of flipping while Jana starts a new project with her brothers. Jill and Derick introduce Israel to their love of pickles.

7
4
"Surprise!"
April 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)

The siblings continue construction on their treehouse, which gets bigger and bigger. Joy and Sierra plan a secret baby shower, but worry about pulling off the surprise. Jill and Derick have surprise guests in Central America.

8
5
"Ben Drops Beats"
April 12, 2016 (2016-04-12)

The siblings continue work on the family treehouse, but the cold weather hinders their efforts. Later, Ben & Jessa travel to St. Louis to meet with Christian hip-hop artist, Flame & learn about his work. Inspired, Ben steps into the recording booth.

9
6
"Girls Hit the Road"
April 19, 2016 (2016-04-19)

After weeks of work the treehouse is ready for a big reveal! The girls hit the road for a weekend away, but a surprise on the way leads to an unexpected detour. Once at their destination, the girls enjoy quality time together and lots of girl talk.

10
7
"Family Reunion"
April 26, 2016 (2016-04-26)

Jessa, Ben & Spurgeon travel to Central America to visit Jill, Derick & Israel. As they prepare for the trip, they travel down memory lane, revisiting Jessa's milestone moments, from engagement to motherhood, that have led to this emotional reunion.

11
8
"Israel Meets Spurgeon"
May 3, 2016 (2016-05-03)

Jessa & Ben experience what life is like for Jill & Derick while living in a foreign country with a young son. Jill and Derick remember their beginnings together in Nepal and the adventures that have led them to the mission field in Central America.

text: Season 3 (2016)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

12
1
"A Courtship Begins"
August 23, 2016 (2016-08-23)

On the season premiere of Counting On, Jessa and Ben discuss future additions to their growing family as Jill and Derick face hardships while continuing mission work in Central America. Jinger gets ready to take a big step with a special someone!

13
2
"It's Official!"
August 30, 2016 (2016-08-30)

Jinger brings Jeremy over for his first meal with the family. The couple makes a call to Jill & Derick for some courtship advice. Ben & Jessa discuss his plan for youth outreach. Later, the older siblings participate in wilderness survival training.

14
3
"Duggars in the Wild"
September 6, 2016 (2016-09-06)

After a scary encounter with a nighttime visitor, the Duggar siblings continue their wilderness training. Jill & Derick celebrate their second anniversary with some creature comforts, and Jessa and Ben marvel at how quickly their baby is growing up!

15
4
"Meet the Parents"
September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13)

Jinger, accompanied by Jim Bob and Michelle, heads to Laredo, TX to meet Jeremy's parents for the first time. Will she meet with their approval? Meanwhile, back home, Joy gets her first flying lesson and Jana plans a graduation party for 3 siblings.

16
5
"A Big Surprise"
September 20, 2016 (2016-09-20)

Jeremy makes a secret trip to Arkansas, but before surprising Jinger, he and Ben do some browsing for engagement rings. Then, Jessa and Ben give their rapper friend, Flame, a taste of Duggar family life.

17
6
"The Big Event"
September 27, 2016 (2016-09-27)

Ben hosts a youth football camp with a group of former NFL players. Meanwhile, Jana hatches a plan to redecorate the guesthouse Jill and Derick will be staying in when they return from Central America. Jinger and Jeremy plan a special trip to NYC.

18
7
"Guys' Guide to Courting"
October 4, 2016 (2016-10-04)

Jinger, Jeremy, and chaperones go on a whirlwind trip to see his family and friends. Will delayed flights ruin a big surprise Jeremy has planned? And we take a look back at past Duggar courtships and hear the guys’ tips for a successful relationship.

19
8
"Proposal in the City"
October 11, 2016 (2016-10-11)

Jinger, Michelle, Jessa, Ben and Spurgeon are all in the northeast meeting some of Jeremy's family & friends and visiting his old stomping grounds. Little does Jinger know, Jeremy has an important question he plans to ask before the trip is over!

20
9
"Jessa's Announcement"
October 18, 2016 (2016-10-18)

Jinger & Jeremy celebrate their engagement in NYC. Meanwhile, Jill & Derick wrap up their mission work in Central America and are greeted with a big surprise party in Arkansas, but in the end, Jessa & Ben have an even bigger surprise of their own.

21
10
"The After Show"
October 25, 2016 (2016-10-25)

The family comes together to relive some of the most memorable moments from season 2. Plus, before the reunion is over, there is a surprise guest in store for the cast.

22
11
"Duggars at the Altar"
November 1, 2016 (2016-11-01)

Take a look back at the Duggar daughter marriages! In two super-sized weddings, Jill and Jessa walked down the aisle just months apart, Jill with Derick and Jessa with Ben. Relive each ceremony and first kiss!

23
12
"Courting Jinger"
November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08)

The big day is almost here! Count down to Jinger's wedding with a look back at the special place she's held in the Duggar household.

24
13
"Jinger's Wedding"
November 15, 2016 (2016-11-15)

After months of anticipation, Jinger and Jeremy’s wedding day has finally arrived! Take a first look at this special day as Jinger walks down the aisle to become Mrs. Jeremy Vuolo.

text: Season 4 (2017)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

25
1
"The Jinger Gown"
January 16, 2017 (2017-01-16)

Jinger said yes to marrying Jeremy and now it's time to start planning for the big day, which is just 3 months away! The family takes a trip to DC to find Jinger's perfect dress. But with more options than imagined, will she find her dream dress?

26
2
"Could it be Twins?"
January 23, 2017 (2017-01-23)

Jessa and Ben listen to the heartbeat of Baby #2, which makes them wonder if it's twins. They travel to see friend Flame in concert, and Ben takes center stage. Jinger continues with wedding planning and finalizes important details.

27
3
"Bachelor Pad Makeover"
January 30, 2017 (2017-01-30)

Jinger and some of her siblings travel to Laredo to give Jeremy's bachelor pad a makeover. When opinions clash, will they be able to come to a decorating decision? Derick, Jill and Israel get some surprising news at their family wellness check-up.

28
4
"The Bachelor Party"
February 6, 2017 (2017-02-06)

After weeks of wedding planning, it’s time to celebrate Jinger and Jeremy with a Bachelor and Bachelorette weekend full of friends and family. Jessa and Ben find out the gender of Baby #2. Derick returns to OSU to reprise his role as Pistol Pete.

29
5
"All About Jinger"
February 13, 2017 (2017-02-13)

Jinger packs for her move to Texas, which includes a surprise gift from her family. She, Jeremy & Jed drive to her future home in Laredo. As they anticipate her big move, the siblings take a trip down memory lane remembering Jinger through the years.

30
6
"The Big Day"
February 20, 2017 (2017-02-20)

After months of planning, Jinger’s wedding day is here! The final details from dress fittings to surprise decorations are put into place and family and friends come together to celebrate Jinger and Jeremy as they become Mr. and Mrs. Vuolo.

31
7
"A Honeymoon & a Courtship"
February 27, 2017 (2017-02-27)

Jinger and Jeremy have said “I do,” and now the newlyweds finally get to enjoy some alone time. Mr. and Mrs. Vuolo head down under for their honeymoon in Australia. Meanwhile, back in Arkansas, another Duggar enters a courtship.

text: Season 5 (2017)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

32
1
"Joy's Wedding"
June 12, 2017 (2017-06-12)

In the season premiere, Joy and Austin's wedding day finally arrives; and another Duggar reveals a surprise that leaves the guests in shock.

33
2
"Spurgeon's First Birthday"
June 19, 2017 (2017-06-19)

Spurgeon's first birthday brings the family together for a celebration. Meanwhile, Joy and Austin work on a house-flipping project; and in Laredo, things heat up in the kitchen with Jinger and Jeremy.

34
3
"Triple Date Night"
June 12, 2017 (2017-06-12)

Ben, Derick and Austin enjoy an afternoon at a trampoline park while Jessa, Jill and Joy shop for the perfect date night outfit. Jill and Derick share some big news with Israel. Meanwhile in Laredo, Jinger and Jeremy settle into married life.

35
4
"A New Baby"
June 26, 2017 (2017-06-26)

Jessa's due date is near, so family and friends help the Seewalds prepare for the new baby. Meanwhile, Joy and Austin's house-flipping project continues; and Austin asks Jim Bob an important question.

36
5
"A Boy or Girl for Jill?"
July 3, 2017 (2017-07-03)

The Seewalds are adjusting to being a family of four. In Laredo, Jinger and Jeremy learn Spanish and test their skills at a local restaurant. Meanwhile, Joy enjoys dinner with Austin’s family. Then the Dillards reveal the gender of baby number two!

37
6
"Joy Gets Engaged"
July 10, 2017 (2017-07-10)

The Dillards prepare for their return to Central America; Jinger puts together a care package for her family back in Arkansas; Austin asks Joy a very important question; Joe asks for permission to enter courtship with Kendra Caldwell.

38
7
"The After Show Part 1"
July 17, 2017 (2017-07-17)

In part one of the two-part After Show special, host Daphne Oz digs a little deeper into some of last season's biggest moments; including courtships, weddings, babies, and some insight on what is going on behind the scenes.

39
8
"The After Show Part 2"
July 24, 2017 (2017-07-24)

In part two of the two-part After Show special, host Daphne Oz gets the Duggars' reaction to some of the biggest moments of last season, and the happy couples square off in a round of "The Couples Showdown". Stay tuned for a special guest or two!

text: Season 6 (2017)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

40
1
"A New Courtship"
September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11)

The Seewalds and Vuolos meet up in San Antonio and take a stroll down memory lane. Joy begins her wedding planning with a walk through of the venue. The Dillards get settled in Central America and Joe asks Kendra an important question.

41
2
"Let Them Eat Cake"
September 18, 2017 (2017-09-18)

Wedding planning continues, as Joy tastes cake with Austin and shops for bridesmaid dresses. Joe and Kendra enjoy a rollerblading date. The Vuolos take a cooking class together in Laredo, and renovations begin on Joy and Austin's house.

42
3
"Finding Joy's Dress"
September 25, 2017 (2017-09-25)

Joy travels to Kentucky to find her perfect wedding dress, but with so many options, the overwhelmed bride has to make some big decisions. Austin and Joe enjoy some bonding time with their future father-in-laws. Israel celebrates his 2nd birthday!

43
4
"Joy and Austin's Camping Trip"
October 2, 2017 (2017-10-02)

Joy and Kendra visit a salon to get some hairstyle ideas for Joy’s wedding. Joy and Austin celebrate their Bachelor & Bachelorette weekend with a fun camping trip. And Jinger and Jeremy do some shopping for Joy and Austin’s rehearsal dinner.

44
5
"Tomboy Joy"
October 9, 2017 (2017-10-09)

Joy and Austin’s wedding day is almost here, so Joy’s siblings prepare some special gifts for the happy couple and take a trip down memory lane remembering Joy through the years.

45
6*
"Joy and Austin Tie the Knot"
October 16, 2017 (2017-10-16)

Joy’s wedding day is finally here! After months of planning, the final touches are added as family and friends come together to celebrate Joy & Austin becoming Mr. & Mrs Forsyth.

46
7
"Joseph's Wedding"
October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)

The day has finally arrived for Joe and Kendra to get married! From emotional moments leading up to their vows, to the couple of surprises during the ceremony. Joe and Kendra’s wedding day will be one that their guests won’t soon forget.

text: Season 7 (2018)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Original air date

47
1
"In Love In Switzerland"
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)

Joy and Austin have said "I do," and now Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth finally get to enjoy some alone time in Switzerland. Jinger and Jeremy try their hand at playing tennis. And Joe and Kendra get their engagement photos taken.

48
2
"The Vuolos Buy a House"
February 26, 2018 (2018-02-26)

The siblings help Jinger and Jeremy move out of their apartment and into their new house. Joe and Kendra enjoy playing disc golf with the Caldwells. And Joy and Austin settle into married life and help out at Ft. Rock Family Camp.

49
3
"Spurgeon's First Haircut"
March 5, 2018 (2018-03-05)

Jeremy and Jinger continue to put their stamp on their new home. Joe and Kendra pick out the groomsmen's outfits. Jessa and Ben finally give Spurgeon a haircut, while Joy and Austin try to make the most of their less-than-ideal living situation.

50
4
"Kendra's Birthday Surprise"
March 12, 2018 (2018-03-12)

Jinger and Jeremy play host to their friends from NYC; on Kendra's birthday, she heads to Kentucky to pick out her wedding dress, but Joe has a big birthday surprise up his sleeve.

51
5
"A New Bundle of Joy"
March 19, 2018 (2018-03-19)

Joe and Kendra have a joint bachelor/bachelorette party on a lake with family and friends; Jinger and Jeremy decide to take a shot at coffee roasting; Joy and Austin have some big news to share with the family.

52
6
"Joy gives Birth"
March 19, 2018 (2018-03-19)

In this first look, Joy prepares to welcome her first child as her due date approaches. With Austin by her side, Joy goes into labor and gives birth to their baby!

53*
7
"Joe and Kendra Say I Do"
March 26, 2018 (2018-03-26)

The time has finally come for Joe and Kendra to say I do! there are emotional moments with family and friends as they prepare for their wedding day; when the ceremony begins, a few surprises and mishaps make sure it's a day they won't forget!

text: Notes[edit]

text: *Two hour special.


document_title: Father Knows Best

question_text: who played the father on father knows best

text: Father Knows Best

text: Radio[edit]

text: The series began August 25, 1949, on NBC Radio. Set in the Midwest, it starred Robert Young as the General Insurance agent Jim Anderson. His wife Margaret was first portrayed by June Whitley and later by Jean Vander Pyl. The Anderson children were Betty (Rhoda Williams), Bud (Ted Donaldson), and Kathy (Norma Jean Nilsson). Others in the cast were Eleanor Audley, Herb Vigran and Sam Edwards. Sponsored through most of its run by General Foods, the series was heard Thursday evenings on NBC until March 25, 1954.

text: On the radio program, the character of Jim differs from the later television character. The radio Jim is far more sarcastic and shows he really rules over his family. Jim also calls his children names, something common on radio but lost in the TV series. For example, Jim says, "What a bunch of stupid children I have." Margaret is portrayed as a paragon of solid reason and patience, unless the plot calls for her to act a bit off. For example, in a Halloween episode, Margaret cannot understand how the table floats in the air, but that is a rare exception.

text: Betty, on radio, is portrayed as a status seeking, boy-crazy teenage girl. To her, every little thing is "the worst thing that could ever happen." Bud, on radio, is portrayed as an "all-American" boy who always seems to need "just a bit more" money, though he gets $1.25 per week (around $12.00 in 2013) in allowance. Bud is in charge of always having to answer the phone, which he hates. He is also shown as a somewhat dim boy who takes everything literally; for example, Jim might say "Go jump in the lake," to which Bud would reply "Okay, Dad; which lake should I go jump into?" He also uses the phrase "Holy Cow" to express displeasure. On radio, Kathy often is portrayed as a source of irritation. She whines, cries and complains about her status in the family as overlooked. She often is the source of money to her brother and sister, although she is in hock several years on her own allowance.

text: In an interview published in the magazine Films of the Golden Age (Fall 2015), Young revealed about the radio program: "I never quite liked it because it had to have laughs. And I wanted a warm relationship show. ... When we moved to TV I suggested an entirely new cast and different perspective."[2]

text: Television series[edit]

text: The May 27, 1954 episode of The Ford Television Theatre show was called "Keep It in the Family". This 26-minute episode stars Robert Young as Jim Warren, head of the Warren Family. With him was wife Grace (Ellen Drew), older daughter Peggy (Sally Fraser), younger daughter Patty (Tina Thompson) and son Jeff (Gordon Gebert). Developed by Young and his partner Eugene Rodney, it was intended as a pilot for a Father Knows Best television series.[3] In the episode, Peggy dreams of making it as an actress but a talent scout who has raised her hopes just wants people for his acting school.

text: Only Robert Young remained of the radio cast when the series moved to CBS Television:

text:
James "Jim" Anderson Sr.: Robert Young
Margaret Anderson: Jane Wyatt
Betty "Princess" Anderson: Elinor Donahue
James "Bud" Anderson Jr.: Billy Gray
Kathy "Kitten" Anderson: Lauren Chapin

text: The series premiered October 3, 1954 on CBS where it aired Sundays at 10:00 pm (EST). Originally sponsored by Lorillard's Kent cigarettes in its first season, Scott Paper Company became the primary sponsor when the series moved to NBC in the fall of 1955 where it aired Wednesdays at 8:30 pm (EST) for the next three seasons. Scott Paper remained as sponsor even after it moved back to CBS in September 1958 where it aired Mondays at 8:30 pm (EST) for the last two seasons, with Lever Brothers as an alternate sponsor from 1957 through 1960. A total of 203 episodes were produced, running until September 17, 1960, and appearing on all three of the television networks of the time, including prime-time repeats from September 1960 through April 1963.

text: As before, the character of Margaret was portrayed as a "voice of reason," but Jim's character was softened to that of a thoughtful father who offered sage advice whenever one (or more) of his children had a problem. Jim was a salesman and manager of the General Insurance Company in Springfield, while Margaret was a housewife. One history of the series characterized the Andersons as "truly an idealized family, the sort that viewers could relate to and emulate."[4] As the two eldest children aged from teen-ager to young adult, Betty (1956) and Bud (1959) graduated from high school and attended Springfield Junior College.

text: Other actors had recurring roles on Father Knows Best. Vivi Janiss played the part of Myrtle Davis in eleven sporadic episodes from 1954 to 1959.

text: Father Knows Best had become so ingrained in American pop culture as its idyllic presentation of family life that in 1959, the U.S. Treasury Department commissioned a special 30-minute episode of the show called "24 Hours in Tyrant Land."[4] Never aired on television, the episode—distributed to schools, churches and civic groups—promoted the buying of savings bonds.[4] The episode was later included in the Season One DVD.

text: Young left the series in 1960 at the height of the show's popularity to work on other projects, but reruns continued to air in prime time for another three years, on CBS from 1960 to 1962 and on ABC from 1962 to 1963. Following that, reruns were shown on ABC-TV in the early afternoon for several years.

text: On November 22, 1963, the third-season episode "Man About Town" was being rerun on several ABC affiliates, mostly in the Mountain Time Zone (WABC-TV in New York was airing a local repeat of The Ann Sothern Show), when at 1:42 PM EST, ABC News broke into the program with the first bulletin of the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas.

text: The facade of the Anderson House depicted in the series' opening credits is the same structure used as Mr. George Wilson's home in the television series Dennis the Menace and again, in remodeled form, as Captain/Major Anthony Nelson's residence in I Dream of Jeannie. This reuse of the house is identified both under "Production notes" in Wikipedia's entry on Dennis the Menace and under "Setting" in Wikipedia's entry relating to I Dream of Jeannie. Originally built in 1941 during the production of a series of Blondie movies, this theatrical property continued to serve for many more years as part of the backlot of Columbia Pictures (now Warner Brothers Ranch in Burbank, California). The house can also be seen in both its familiar Father Knows Best style and later renovated variations in episodes of Hazel, Bewitched, The Monkees, The Partridge Family and in numerous other television comedies and dramas.

text: 1977 reunion movies[edit]

text: The TV cast reunited for a pair of TV movies on NBC, Father Knows Best Reunion on May 15, 1977 and Father Knows Best: Home For Christmas on December 18, 1977. In the 17 years since the series ended, the characters of Betty and Bud had both gotten married and had families of their own. Betty was the widowed mother of two girls, Jenny (Cari Anne Warder) and Ellen (Kyle Richards), while Bud and his wife, Jean (Susan Adams) were the parents of a son, Robert "Robby" (Christopher Gardner). Kathy, meanwhile, had become engaged to a doctor, Jason Harper (played by Hal England).[5]

text: DVD releases[edit]

text: Shout! Factory has released all six seasons of Father Knows Best on DVD in Region 1. Season 5 and 6 were released as Shout! Select titles, available exclusively through their online store. Season 5 was re-released on April 11, 2017.[6] Season 6 was re-released on July 18, 2017.[7]

text: In Region 4, Madman Entertainment has released the first two seasons on DVD in Australia.[8][9]

text:
DVD Name
Ep#
Release Date

Season One
26
April 1, 2008

Season Two
37
November 11, 2008

Season Three
37
June 9, 2009

Season Four
33
March 23, 2010

Season Five
38
August 17, 2010♦
April 11, 2017 (re-release)

Season Six
32
April 19, 2011♦
July 18, 2017 (re-release)

text: ♦ – Shout! Factory Exclusives title, sold exclusively through Shout's online store

text: Homages[edit]

text: In a September 2010 episode of the CBS daytime television series The Young and the Restless, newlyweds Billy and Victoria Abbott (portrayed by Billy Miller and Amelia Heinle, respectively) buy a house that's a replica of the Anderson house. They watch Father Knows Best on DVD and often call each other "Jim" and "Margaret." At her wedding, which takes place in the house, Victoria chooses a 1950s-style white dress. Judge Anderson, the minister who marries the couple, was played by Donahue.

text: Nielsen ratings[edit]

text: The series finished in the Nielsen ratings at #25 for the 1957–1958 season, #14 for 1958–1959 and #6 for 1959–1960.[10]

text: Syndication[edit]

text: Father Knows Best aired in the 1980s on Superstation WTBS and in the 1990s on The Family Channel. The show also aired on TV Land from 1998–1999 and 2002–2004. Reruns of Father Knows Best air on Antenna TV as part of that channel's regular programming schedule since January 3, 2011 and it also aired weekday afternoons on digital sub-channel ME-TOO in Chicago.