Episode 1
Follow the Leader
30m
Bud must decide if he should stand up for a teacher or join the class in a revolt.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Robert Hyatt, Sam Flint
TV series
Father Knows Best
1954TV-G6 seasons6.7 / 10
Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Father Knows Best is available to stream on Peacock, Peacock Premium, Prime Video, Shout! Factory TV (Via Amazon Prime), Fubo, Amazon Freevee, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play and Amazon. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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Synopsis
Family man Jim Anderson copes with the everyday problems among his wife Margaret and their three children as they experience day-to-day changes.
Season 4 episodes
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Where to watch Father Knows Best
Episode 2
The Awkward Hero
30m
Betty tutors a football player who will escort her to a dance as payment.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Jana Lund, Anne Whitfield
Episode 3
The Good Neighbor
30m
Margaret receives a new house which she plans to rent out.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 4
Bud, the Executive
30m
Bud becomes the chairman for the planning of his high school picnic.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 5
Sentenced to Happiness
30m
The Anderson's gardener, Frank, is forced to get a real job and then winds up in court.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Natividad Vacío
Episode 6
Mother Goes to School
30m
Margaret enrolls in an English class in college and is put in Betty's class.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 7
The Indispensable Man
30m
Bud is not able to play in the football game because he wouldn't go to bed early.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 8
Kathy's Big Chance
30m
Kathy competes in an essay contest judged by Greer Garson.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Greer Garson
Episode 9
Margaret Learns to Drive
30m
Jim tries to teach Margaret how to drive a car.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 10
The Way of a Dictator
30m
Bud is given the pleasure of raising Kathy when he says they are doing it all wrong.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 11
Mr. Beal Meets His Match
30m
Betty is going through a phase where she thinks selfishness is the sole motivator in people's lives.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 12
Kathy Makes a Wish
30m
When Kathy finds a horseshoe and she wishes for a horse, and gets one.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 13
Man With a Plan
30m
A girl thinks Bud is going into the Army and throws a going away party.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 14
Big Sister
30m
At summer camp Kathy rebels after her counselor, Betty, keeps pushing her to do better.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 15
Calypso Kid
30m
Bud practices the bongo drums to impress his new girlfriend.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 16
Father's Biography
30m
Jim can either attend a business meeting or see Kathy read his biography.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Robert Warwick
Episode 17
The Rivals
30m
Betty has two dates for the same night and doesn't plan to break either one.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Roger Smith, Barbara Eden, Leon Tyler
Episode 18
Bud, the Mind Reader
30m
Bud practices mind reading, and Betty tries to make the debating team.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 19
Margaret's Other Family
30m
The family gets mad when Margaret keeps helping a furniture maker and his wife.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Henry Jones, Nora Marlowe
Episode 20
The Trial
30m
Bud is in trouble when he is accused of causing damage to a neighbor's property.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 21
Revenge is Sweet
30m
26Feb58 Betty teases Bud saying he is sloppy when some very influential people come over.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Frank Albertson
Episode 22
Country Cousin
30m
The Anderson's cousin, Milly, arrives for a visit and to look at the college.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyWritten by Paul WestGuest stars Susan Oliver, Beverly Long, Harold Lloyd Jr., Mike Mason, David De Haven
Episode 23
Poor Old Dad
30m
Bud believes that his father is henpecked when he willingly does everything Margaret wants him to.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 24
Betty's Crusade
30m
Betty tries to help an old man fix up his restaurant so he isn't evicted by Jim's company.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 25
Young Love
30m
Bud falls in love with an older woman at the grocery store who is married.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 26
Tell It to Mom
30m
Chaos strikes when Betty hides a pair of skates for a friend of hers.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 27
A Friend in Need
30m
A very talented dog shows up and takes residence in the Anderson's house.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 28
A Medal For Margaret
30m
When Jim plans to build a case for trophies, and Margaret sets out to win a medal.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 29
The Weaker Sex
30m
Betty tries to use her feminine wiles on a young man to get him to take her out.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 30
Jim, the Answer Man
30m
Jim is bombarded with questions when he is getting ready for a business trip.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 31
Bud Quits School
30m
When Bud meets a successful business man who quit school and Bud plans to do the same.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Paul Wallace
Episode 32
A Matter of Pride
30m
Bud is chosen as the most popular boy in his class at school.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 33
Betty Finds a Cause
30mfinale
Betty tries to make a man remove a hedge that blocks the view on a road.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
More about Father Knows Best
Cast
Robert YoungJim Anderson
Jane WyattMargaret Anderson
Elinor DonahueBetty Anderson
Billy GrayBud Anderson
Lauren ChapinKathy AndersonWilliam Hudson
William Fawcett
Wallace FordCredits
- Created by
- Ed James
- Written by
- Roswell Rogers, Dorothy Cooper, Paul West, Paul West, Paul West, Kay Lenard, Herman J. Epstein, John Kohn, Sumner Arthur Long, Barbara Hammer, Paul West, Herman J. Epstein, Roswell Rogers, Dorothy Cooper, Ben Gershman, Paul West, Carl Herzinger, Paul West, Paul West, Barbara Hammer, Roswell Rogers
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 203
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
CBSUnited States
Columbia Pictures TelevisionUnited States
Themes
familymiddle classsitcom
