When the creators were coming up with a name, they wanted one that put the spotlight on the Cleaver boys.
They had just about decided on “Wally and the Beaver,” but then they had second thoughts. It sounded like some kind of nature show, so they changed it to “Leave it to Beaver.”
Rusty Stevens Had a Mother Who Smothered Him Out of His Job
Rusty Stevens was the child actor who played the Beave’s best buddy, Larry Mondello. Larry was a bit of a dimwit, but fans missed him when he was let go in the fourth season.
According to Barbara Billingsley, the actress who played Beaver’s mom, Rusty Stevens’ mother complained and harassed the producers about her kid so much that they finally just wrote him off the show.
Co-creator Joe Connelly Shared His Inspiration for Leave It to Beaver
Joe Connelly basically framed the entire show around his own family. The adventures of Wally and Beaver were based on his own two sons.
Listening to the conversations of his boys, Ricky and Jay, he developed the brotherly relationship of the Cleaver household.
Writers Didn’t Want the Show to Be Too Funny
Why wouldn’t the writers want big belly laughs from the viewing audience? We couldn't tell you! Apparently, they were looking for a steady stream of chuckles instead of bursts of uproarious laughter that shows like "I Love Lucy" evoked.
Tony Dow said that they would take a line out if it got too much of a laugh. Funnily enough, reading this years later had us laughing out loud!
There Was a Character Named Frankie
In the pilot, Frankie hoodwinked the Beaver into falling for a free bicycle scam. The "Frankie" character did not make it to the "Leave it to Beaver" series, but the actor a name you've probably heard of before.
Harry Shearer went on to "SNL" in the 1980s. We know his voice as Ned Flanders on the notorious show, "The Simpsons." He also voices Principal Skinner and Mr. Burns.