TV series
Revolves around typical family problems, such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the children.
Availability
The Donna Reed Show premiered September 24, 1958. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Revolves around typical family problems, such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the children.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Mary does a kind deed by encouraging a shy, insecure fellow student, Kenny, to appear in the school play. When she does, he ends up being paired with her in a dance number. But she regrets her good deed because she’s worried about how they’ll appear next to each other, as he’s shorter than her.
Directed by Oscar RudolphWritten by Jerry Davis, Alfred Lewis LevittGuest stars Lee Aaker, Herbert Lytton
Episode 2
Donna is too excited to sleep because Alex is giving a speech at a convention. While trying to sleep on the plane, Alex gives Donna a tranquilizer to help her sleep, which leads to an embarrassing chain of events.
Guest stars Richard Gaines
Episode 3
Donna has trouble deciding whether or not buy a new dress.
Written by Tom AugustGuest stars Raymond Bailey, Irene Hervey, Mary Carver, Jacques Scott, Christopher Essay
Episode 4
Jeff's 'friend' Doug keeps getting him into trouble at school, and Jeff silently takes the blame for him because he knows Doug's mother constantly picks on him and wonders why he can't be more like Jeff, who behaves like an innocent cherub at their house.
Directed by Oscar RudolphWritten by Tom AugustGuest stars Ann Morriss, Doreen Lang, Morris Lippert
Episode 5
Alex must contend with overly anxious new parents who constantly call him in a state of panic, thinking that there is something wrong with their baby.
Guest stars Dave Willock
Episode 6
Mary wants to meet a boy, so she talks Jeff into going to his kid sister's party.
Guest stars Sherry Alberoni
Episode 7
Alex is hurt that Jeff likes the new neighbor.
Written by John Whedon
Episode 8
Donna mistakenly accepts an invitation to 'culture vulture' Lydia Langley's cocktail party, at which Lydia mentions that she also conducts a book discussion group. She goads Donna into joining it and then reporting on Tolstoy's "War and Peace" at her first meeting. Donna then attempts to immerse the whole family in culture.
Directed by Oscar RudolphWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Mary Shipp, Frank Wilcox, J. Edward McKinley, Susan Dorn, Margie Liszt, Fred Kruger, Randy Preissman
Episode 9
Jeff's class has a new teacher, Miss McGuinness. The boys in particular complain that she is too strict, so Donna meets with the new teacher to get matters settled.
Guest stars Marion Ross
Episode 10
Jeff's friend, Phillip, has a problem. He wants to play football, but his mother is over-protective and won't let him.
Guest stars Ann Doran, Sid Gillman
Episode 11
Jeff finds out the reason why he wasn't made a member of a club: He is friends with a boy no one else likes.
Where to watch The Donna Reed ShowEpisode 12
Dilemma in the Stone household: How to discipline the children without having Donna look like a villian by meting out the punishments, or having Donna look like a squealer when Alex does .
Guest stars Lenore Kingston, Robert Ellis
Episode 13
Donna gets cornered into accepting an invitation from a couple that neither she nor Alex really care for. Alex refuses to go, sparking an argument that they try to keep quiet from the children.
Directed by Ida LupinoGuest stars Ann Rutherford, Hal Smith, Holly Harris
Episode 14
Alex and Donna chaperone Mary's date with a college man.
Directed by Robert Ellis MillerWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Jay Strong, David Dehaven, Suzi Carnell, Tommy Ivo
Episode 15
Lately, all Donna has been hearing is how wonderful Alex is, and how lucky she is to be his wife. After a while, this gets Donna wondering if what people really mean is that Alex got the short end of the stick by marrying her.
Guest stars Margie Liszt, Kristine Miller
Episode 16
Jeff causes problems for everyone else in the house due to his selfishness and inconsideration for others. Because of this he gets a lecture, which he blows off. But then these same issues end up making him go overboard on being a model son when he fears the repercussions of hurting someone.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinGuest stars Raymond Hatton
Episode 17
Mary gets an engagement ring and a phone call from Matt, a freshman at UCLA, but doesn't tell anyone in the family about the ring or why Matt is calling. So what's going on? As Donna says, "Alex, our daughter has a secret."
Directed by Norman TokarWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Tommy Ivo, Roberta Shore, Michael Vandever
Episode 18
Little David Barker is very excited. His father is getting married and he hopes this means he can leave military school and live in a real home, but things don't work out the way David thought they would.
Written by John WhedonGuest stars John Bryant
Episode 19
Donna becomes offended by the way people seem to use the word ‘housewife’ condescendingly.
Directed by Oscar RudolphWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Constance Moore, Jerry Hausner, Elaine Riley, Eileen Harley, Virginia Stefan, Wallace Earl, C. Lindsay Workman
Episode 20
Alex's Uncle Dan takes a break from traveling all over the world. Jeff likes the idea of going to Alaska, Saudi Arabia, Malaya, Australia, and doing whatever he wants, just like Uncle Dan. Jeff decides to join him. Will Donna and Alex allow him to go? Would you believe, yes?
Directed by Norman TokarGuest stars Aline Towne
Episode 21
Donna and Alex advise a newly married couple after their first big argument.
Directed by Robert Ellis MillerWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Olive Sturgess, Keith Vincent, Kevin Burke, Duci De Kerekjarto
Episode 22
Jeff and his friends get into trouble when they are discovered breaking into an abandoned house. This prompts Donna and the other mothers to create a nice meeting place for the children.
Directed by Norman TokarWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Stafford Repp, Stephen Wootton, Howard Wendell
Episode 23
Mary gets scared of how people get in ruts and seem to lose their sense of wonder and magic as they get older. She shares this feeling with her parents, who decide to do something spontaneous and go out for the evening.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Mario Siletti, Tom McKee, Richard Reeves, Don Orlando
Episode 24
Jeff makes editor at the school paper. Excited about his first editorial, he decides to write about how he believes some teachers assign too much homework. But his topic is rejected.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Alma Platt, Marylou Kenworthy, Andy Kirk, Michael Webber, Larry Hart
Episode 25
Alex lays down the law when Jeff and Mary slack off on their responsibilities at home and their schoolwork. Now Alex is furious when it appears that Mary didn't come home from a bowling date with Roger on time.
Directed by Norman TokarWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Aline Towne, Arthur Hanson, Jan Stine
Episode 26
Alex's wild room-mate from college is getting married, and Alex is invited to the bachelor party. Donna doesn't like this idea at all.
Directed by Andrew McCulloughWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Jack Albertson, Florence MacMichael, Sam Flint, Roy Wright, Charles Davis
Episode 27
Donna makes Jeff take trumpet lessons when she discovers he has perfect pitch. Jeff would rather be on the track team.
Directed by Norman TokarWritten by Tom August, Helen AugustGuest stars Franco Corsaro, Jerry Lawrence, Tony Haig
Episode 28
When the Woman's Medical Auxiliary Dance costs more to produce than the income from ticket sales provided, each member agrees to contribute $27 using her skills in moneymaking to make up the budget shortfall.
Directed by Norman TokarWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Tiger Fafara, William Newell, Jean Cook, Jeanne Tatum, Fern Barry, Helen Jay
Episode 29
Mary suffers a lack of confidence when Roger shows up at her door, before a ski trip she and her friends are supposed to go to together, and informs her she’s now going with Tooey and Babs, as he wants to drive Darlene’s new car up there. She later develops a crush on a young intern working with her father.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by John WhedonGuest stars Jan Stine, Ann Seaton, Abigail Shelton, Jack Hilton
Episode 30
Donna goes away to be with Jeff, who’s on Spring vacation at uncle Bill’s farm, and Alex has to manage the house and Mary.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by Tom August, Helen AugustGuest stars Renee Godfrey
Episode 31
Donna's old school mate, who has been a single career woman all these years, is now engaged to a doctor. She visits Donna to see what life is really like for a doctor's wife.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Esther Williams, Richard Garland, Don Burroughs, Janet Lord, Morgan Jones
Episode 32
Jeff starts swapping possessions to pay off his debts.
Directed by Hy AverbackWritten by Henry SharpGuest stars Herb Vigran, Michael Peters, Mike Montgomery, Marjorie Winters
Episode 33
Mary vows not to go to the school dance unless Ellen has a date for the dance. Ellen is rather plain so Mary goes to work to transform Ellen into a glamorous young lady.
Directed by Lawrence DobkinWritten by Nate MonasterGuest stars Barbara Luddy, Melinda Byron, Scooter Teague, Carole Wells, Michael Eden, Don Edmonds, Carl Crow
Episode 34
Donna and Alex have different stories about how they first met. Also, Donna plays matchmaker to a new doctor in town and a pretty nurse at the hospital.
Directed by Robert Ellis MillerGuest stars Bob Hastings, Kaye Elhardt, C. Lindsay Workman
Episode 35
Donna tells Emily, the town gossip, that Kay Watson is having a baby. Then Donna learns from Alex that Kay is keeping it a secret so that she can stay working longer. Donna is crushed, knowing that she may have let Kay's secret out.
Directed by Robert Ellis MillerWritten by David AdlerGuest stars Sheila Bromley, Almira Sessions, C. Lindsay Workman, Elisabeth Fraser, Maxine Cooper, Gil Frye
Episode 36
Sixteen- year-old Petie is home from military school and visiting the Stone family. Petie and Mary have been friends for years, but seeing how beautiful Mary has become, he would now like to be more than just friends. As Alex puts it, "Springtime has come to Petie!" How can Petie catch Mary's eye?
Directed by Robert Ellis MillerGuest stars Jeanne Bates
Episode 37
Aunt Lettie is coming to visit, so Donna and Alex try to find the wedding present she gave them so she would be certain to see it. It would help if they could just remember what it was! And by the way, Alex, can Donna buy a $250 Porcelain Dresden figurine?
Directed by Hy AverbackGuest stars Molly Dodd, Tommy Farrell
Episode 38
Jeff wants to keep a cat that followed him home, so can Harry the Cat stay? The Stone family will decide by using the democratic process.
Directed by Andrew McCulloughWritten by Jacqueline TrotteGuest stars Jimmy Hawkins, Marjorie Winters, Roy Wright
Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match The Donna Reed Show.
Donna ReedDonna Stone
Carl BetzAlex Stone
Paul PetersenJeff Stone
Shelley FabaresMary Stone
Kathleen Freeman
Charles Herbert
ABCUnited States
