Episode 1
A Day in the Country
30m
While on the way to visit Margaret's parents, the car breaks down leaving the family stranded on a deserted road.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
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.
Stream
Watch free
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 6 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Father Knows Best
Episode 2
Bud Branches Out
30m
Bud falls in love with his college French professor.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 3
The Gardener's Big Day
30m
Frank is chosen to represent the town at the opening of a park, but when the town council meets Frank, they want another person to represent their city- someone who looks more like an average American.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars David White
Episode 4
The Imposter
30m
Betty becomes involved with a young lawyer pretending to be the owner of a radio store.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars John Charles Daly
Episode 5
Bud Plays It Safe
30m
Bud decides to date the coach's daughter in order to make sure he gets on the football team.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 6
Bicycle Trip for Two
30m
Jim's plans for a quiet bicycle trip end up with Jim and Margaret arguing
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 7
First Disillusionment
30m
Bud tells Kathy about the job he didn't get when another boy faked his credentials.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Hal Taggart
Episode 8
Margaret's Old Flame
30m
Jim and Margaret tease one another about people they dated as their college reunion nears.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 9
Kathy Becomes a Girl
30m
The family tries to change Kathy from a tomboy into a beautiful girl.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 10
Bud, the Willing Worker
30m
Bud wants a part-time job at a service station in order to get enough money to buy a boat.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 11
Turn the Other Cheek
30m
Both Jim and Kathy are doublecrossed by their friends.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars James Franciscus
Episode 12
Good Joke on Mom
30m
Margaret tricks the family into believing that she has been elected chairwoman of the children's clinic building program.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 13
Betty's Double
30m
Betty wins a trip to Hollywood because she looks like a famous movie star.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 14
Father, the Naturalist
30m
This is a recut version of episode 30. It is not part of the current syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 15
Bud Hides Behind a Skirt
30m
Betty is campaigning for safe driving, while Bud is accused of reckless driving.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 16
Togetherness
30m
A reporter visits the family in order to do an article on family togetherness.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 17
Second Best
30m
Betty competes in the college fencing tournament.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 18
Kathy's Big Deception
30m
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 19
Cupid Knows Best
30m
Kathy, desperate for a date at the community picnic, makes up a story about a boyfriend.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 20
The Big Test
30m
Betty arranges a match between Frank and a worker in a flower shop.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 21
Jim's Big Surprise
30m
Jim is surprised by his family's lack of interest when he is named Father of the Year.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Marion Ross
Episode 22
Time to Retire
30m
When Bud reaffirms and old man's belief in life, he decides to open his own insurance company and hire Bud as his assistant.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 23
Bud, the Speculator
30m
Bud invests money in a phony stock scheme and winds up losing fifty dollars
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Jeffrey Silver
Episode 24
The $500 Letter
30m
The Andersons get a check from an admirer and must find out which member of the family the check was meant for.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 25
Adopted Daughter
30m
While Kathy is trying to repair her birth certificate frame, she recalls the time she thought she was adopted.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 26
Family Contest
30m
Kathy destroys a picture of a family competing against hers in a photo contest
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 27
Love and Learn
30m
Bud falls in love with his English Tutor
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 28
Blind Date
30m
Betty dates a boy everyone regards as a loser
Episode credits
Directed by Peter TewksburyGuest stars Robert Vaughn
Episode 29
Betty's Career Problem
30m
Betty becomes frustrated when every college contest she enters, she loses to Cliff Bowman, who may even steal her job, too
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 30
Bud Lives It Up
30m
Bud spends more money than he has in order to impress a girl in Chicago.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 31
Not His Type
30m
Betty is caught in the middle of an argument between two of her friends who are planning to marry.
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury
Episode 32
Betty's Graduation
30mfinale
When Kathy refuses to graduate from high school, the family tells her about Betty's reluctance to graduate from High School, too. This is a recut version of episode 63. It is not part of the syndication package and is considered ""lost"".
Episode credits
Directed by Peter Tewksbury, William D. RussellGuest stars Yvonne Lime
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
