The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

1952 - 1966

The Rivals

3rd October 1952

Episode 1

David has a rival, and his name is Will Thornberry - his next door neighbor.

The Poet

10th October 1952

Episode 2

Ozzie and Harriet read the newspaper and talk about Nancy Walker.

The Pills

17th October 1952

Episode 3

Ozzie decides to diet so he can fit into a pair of size 33 pants.

The Fall Guy

24th October 1952

Episode 4

Ozzie quickly regrets advising David against allowing people to take advantage of his good nature.

Halloween Party

31st October 1952

Episode 5

On Halloween night, Ozzie and Thorny make plans to attend a non-costume party as Satan and a Scotsman. Meanwhile Ricky and David attend a Halloween Party at school and the Nelson household is besieged by children demanding candy - or else.

Riviera Ballet

7th November 1952

Episode 6

Ozzie has tickets to the Riviera Ballet, but Harriet doesn't want him to go because the actresses will be wearing skimpy bathing suits.

David the Babysitter

14th November 1952

Episode 7

David gets a babysitting job and Ozzie is worried about David and the baby.

Rick Goes To A Dance

21st November 1952

Episode 8

Ricky receives a perfumed letter from his neighbor, Julie Thornberry, inviting him to his first dance.

Day After Thanksgiving

28th November 1952

Episode 9

Having come home the previous day from Aunt Ellen's without any Thanksgiving leftovers, Ozzie and the boys become obsessed with a craving for more turkey

Thorny's Gift

5th December 1952

Episode 10

Ozzie is outraged after he doesn't receive a timely 'thank you' for the birthday gift he sent to Thorny.

Harriet's Hairdo

12th December 1952

Episode 11

Harriet decides to try a new hair style but it doesn't go over well with the Nelson men. Ozzie gently tries to suggest he wants her to go back to the look he's used to.

The Boys' Christmas Money

19th December 1952

Episode 12

The boys want to earn extra money for Christmas, so Ozzie gives them permission to look for work.

The Late Christmas Gift

26th December 1952

Episode 13

Ozzie and David receive Christmas gifts after Christmas from Grandma Nelson.

Newspaper Write-up

2nd January 1953

Episode 14

Ozzie becomes upset, and increasingly obsessed, by a newspaper tribute to him that messes up his name.

Basketball Players

9th January 1953

Episode 15

Ozzie and Thorny's discussion about basketball escalates until they challenge each other to a game. They include their sons in the grudge match but then begin having second thoughts.

Stop Worrying

16th January 1953

Episode 16

Ozzie discovers his family worrying about different things, and admonishes them, as well as rationalizing them out of their concerns. But later he reads a magazine article and seems to have trouble fighting off worry himself.

The Tuba Affair

23rd January 1953

Episode 17

Ozzie wants to establish that he's head-of-the-household, and Harriet wants to be a good wife. Marital strife ensues.

The Rover Boys

30th January 1953

Episode 18

While discussing The Rover Boys' books with Thorny, Ozzie takes off to check out a book at the library, hoping to prove Thorny wrong. But when he's caught with a big book, one of his boys' teachers is convinced he knows a lot about the Peloponnesian War and asks him to lead a book discussion. Ozzie is just too proud to admit the truth and decides to learn everything he can before the PTA meeting.

Separate Rooms

6th February 1953

Episode 19

David and Ricky finally get their own separate rooms - with hilarious results.

The Valentine Show

13th February 1953

Episode 20

Ozzie and Harriet are concerned that David will blow all the money he's saved on a new girl he's taking to a Valentine's Day dance.

The Traffic Signal

20th February 1953

Episode 21

There's a new traffic signal, and no one knows who should take the credit or get the blame.

The Dental Receptionist

27th February 1953

Episode 22

Ozzie soon regrets a flirtatious moment shared with his dentist's new southern belle receptionist.

The Speech

Episode 23

Ozzie painstakingly rehearses for a speech.

The Safecrackers

13th March 1953

Episode 24

While in Herb Dunkle's empty office, Ozzie teaches Ricky how to crack a safe.

Brother Beesley's Philosophy

20th March 1953

Episode 25

Andy Beesley gives Ozzie a new outlook on life: Enjoy life, while you can. Ozzie takes this philosophy to heart and sends the family on a spending spree down at The Emporium - a spending spree he soon regrets.

The Bowling Alley

27th March 1953

Episode 26

Fearing that Ozzie is coming down with a cold, Harriet orders her husband to spend the evening convalescing and then goes shopping with a friend. Ozzie manages a rapid recovery when Thorny reminds him of a date they made to go bowling.

The Orchid and the Violet

Episode 27

It's spring, and love is in the air, so Ozzie wants to surprise Harriet by having a bunch of violets delivered to her. When orchids show up, instead, Ozzie suspects they're from an old rich boyfriend of Harriet's.

The Pancake Mix

10th April 1953

Episode 28

Hasty Tasty Pancake Company is offering a double-your-money-back guarantee, so Ricky decides to apply for a refund.

Whistler's Daughter

17th April 1953

Episode 29

Ozzie has some fast talking to do, after Harriet falls under the impression that he was taken in by an attractive young door-to-door saleswoman.

The Fish Story

24th April 1953

Episode 30

To prove a point, Ozzie starts a rumor in the neighborhood by tricking his best friend Thorny into believing that the fish are biting like crazy in Mud Basin.

Night School

Episode 31

Ozzie finds out from Thorny that he is taking adult education courses at the local high school in the evenings. So Ozzie decides to take some classes and Harriet signs up too.

The Traders

Episode 32

Ozzie tries to teach Ricky and David how to get a good deal in the swap trades they make with friends.

Boxing Matches

Episode 33

Ozzie gets roped into agreeing to fight Thorny in a boxing exhibition match to be held at an evening Boy Scout rally.

Door Key for David

Episode 34

David is given his first house key and the responsibility that goes with it.

The Play's the Thing

Episode 35

Ozzie is brimming with enthusiasm about appearing in the PTA pageant's play, until he learns that his role is the front end of Robin Hood's horse.

Monetary System

Episode 36

David and Ricky would like an increase in their allowances so Ozzie develops a point system regarding household chores. He includes every family member but regrets it as it points out that one person is doing very little of the tasks.

Who's Walter?

Episode 37

Harriet encounters an older man who worked at an amusement park she and Ozzie frequented when they dated. She invites him to dinner where he thinks Ozzie is named Walter, then spends the evening telling stories about Harriet and Walter.

Curiosity

Episode 38

Ozzie and Harriet try to kill each other's cat with curiosity.

Oscillating Ozzie

Episode 39

Ozzie is stuck in his conservative routine, until he has a chat with the ever-exuberant Emmy Lou.

Top Cast

Ozzie Nelson•Harriet Nelson•David Nelson

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is an American sitcom, airing on ABC from October 3, 1952 through March 26, 1966, starring the real life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television where it continued its success, running on both radio and television for a few years. The series stars Ozzie Nelson and his wife, singer Harriet Nelson, and their young sons, David and Eric "Ricky" Nelson. Don DeFore had a recurring role as the Nelsons' friendly neighbor "Thorny".

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Full Cast

Ozzie Nelson

Ozzie

Harriet Nelson Image

Harriet Nelson

Harriet

David Nelson Image

David Nelson

David

Ricky Nelson Image

Ricky Nelson

Ricky

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