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The Best Episodes of The Donna Reed Show Season 1

Every episode of The Donna Reed Show Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Donna Reed Show Season 1!

Binge this in 12h 30m•Peaking at 8.2/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 14 - A Very Merry Christmas
    8.2/10(112 votes)

    S1:E14

    Donna searches for the mysterious person who puts on a Christmas party in the children’s ward at the hospital every year. The quintessential comedian Buster Keaton guest stars.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 23 - The Report Card
    7.9/10(51 votes)

    S1:E23

    Donna is worried when Jeff comes home with a report card full of Cs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 1 - Weekend Trip
    7.6/10(115 votes)

    S1:E1

    In the premiere episode, Donna hopes to get away to a ski weekend with her brood, but pediatrician husband Alex's on-call schedule makes this tricky, especially since one of his young patients, Eddie Barclay (played by one of the Corcoran siblings of Disney film and TV fame; sister Noreen was on "Bachelor Father" with John Forsythe), has a mysterious illness and Alex doesn't want to leave him in the care of another doctor.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Phil Leslie

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  4. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 5 - The Football Uniform
    7.6/10(65 votes)

    S1:E5

    Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture, but is told he must work for the money to buy it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 6 - The Foundling
    7.6/10(68 votes)

    S1:E6

    A baby is abandoned at the Stone’s place.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  6. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 25 - The Ideal Wife
    7.6/10(52 votes)

    S1:E25

    Donna keeps getting praised for being an excellent wife and mother—so much so, that she, illogically, becomes a bit paranoid that people really mean something negative about her beneath the surface of their words, and fears her kids are taking advantage of her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 3 - The Hike
    7.5/10(72 votes)

    S1:E3

    Donna tries to prove women can outsmart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jay Sommers

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  8. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 11 - The Baby Contest
    7.5/10(55 votes)

    S1:E11

    Alex is judge at a Beautiful Baby contest run by Donna's club.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 16 - Jeff's Double Life
    7.5/10(51 votes)

    S1:E16

    After nosy neighbor Mrs. Wilgus (the inimitable Kathleen Freeman) alerts Donna and Alex about Mary having a noisy party while they were out, the kids get lectured about being the children of a doctor, and that they should behave accordingly. Not too long after this, Jeff takes a ride from Mary's troublemaker friend Tommy Hendricks, who doesn't have a license and has taken his father's car out for a joyride, and they get into a minor accident while fleeing a cop.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 20 - Have Fun
    7.5/10(54 votes)

    S1:E20

    When Mary comes home utterly dejected from a terrible first date, Donna and Alex each, in “Rashomon”-style, tell her about their first date.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  11. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 28 - April Fool
    7.5/10(54 votes)

    S1:E28

    When Buzz Barry, teenage idol (played by James Darren), comes to Hilldale to sing at a concert, he falls ill with the measles and the concert is canceled, leaving Mary and her friends devastated. Then he ends up staying at the Stone’s home to recuperate, causing unexpected complications.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jerry Davis

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  12. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 12 - The Beaded Bag
    7.4/10(57 votes)

    S1:E12

    When Donna longingly admires a lovely, expensive bag at a store, the saleswoman (along with a female friend of hers) schemes to coax Alex into getting it for her for a birthday gift. But Alex is suspicious that Donna is pulling the strings behind the scenes, instead of being forthright about it.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 24 - Boys Will Be Boys
    7.4/10(48 votes)

    S1:E24

    David Barker is brought to Alex to be treated for rabies, and is invited to stay the night. Later, Jeff is left in charge of David, as everyone else will be gone.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  14. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 2 - Pardon My Gloves
    7.3/10(88 votes)

    S1:E2

    Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocks Donna's acting in a local play. So, Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 4 - Male Ego
    7.3/10(62 votes)

    S1:E4

    Alex tries to prove his independence when Donna buys a suit for him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 7 - Three Part Mother
    7.3/10(59 votes)

    S1:E7

    Donna spreads herself thin, running between three places on the same night, for her family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 10 - Guest in the House
    7.3/10(53 votes)

    S1:E10

    A problem child takes refuge at the Stone’s house, and Donna tries to get through to him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  18. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 15 - Mary's Double Date
    7.3/10(52 votes)

    S1:E15

    Mary's Junior prom is imminent, and she has trouble deciding between two boys on the football team who might ask her. She also dangles another nice boy on a string. But, eventually, the resultant consequences of her selfish decisions come to fruition.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 34 - Miss Lovelace Comes to Tea
    7.3/10(48 votes)

    S1:E34

    The family searches for a compatible housekeeper to help around the house while Donna manages a charity campaign.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 8 - Change Partners and Dance
    7.2/10(60 votes)

    S1:E8

    Mary has a crush on the school basketball star, George, who wants to take her to the prom, but hasn’t asked her because he can't dance.

    Director:James V. Kern
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 9 - Dough Re-Mi
    7.2/10(59 votes)

    S1:E9

    Donna tries to get a famous concert pianist to perform at a benefit, and, at the same time, Jeff is trying to raise money for a football tackling dummy. These two seemingly unrelated projects intertwine.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 30 - The Hero
    7.2/10(50 votes)

    S1:E30

    Alex's roommate, Biff Jameson, comes to Hilldale, and though he charms the family and dazzles Jeff, Alex confesses to Donna that his old pal seems to be off from what he used to be.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  23. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 17 - Nothing But the Truth
    7.1/10(51 votes)

    S1:E17

    David Barker finagles a return to the Stone’s home for his birthday celebration.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Whedon

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  24. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 19 - Jeff vs. Mary
    7.1/10(50 votes)

    S1:E19

    Jeff becomes jealous and insecure about his parent’s love—feeling that they care about Mary more than him.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Donna Reed Show Season 1 Episode 37 - Operation Deadbeat
    7.1/10(41 votes)

    S1:E37

    Alex insists Jeff pay back money he owes to develop good character for when he is an adult. Meanwhile, Donna decides to try to get the past due money owed to Alex by his patients.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Seaman Jacobs

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"A Very Merry Christmas" is the best rated episode of "The Donna Reed Show" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 112 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 12/24/1958. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Report Card".