Dennis the Menace

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Dennis the Menace ranks 4,570 out of the 18,225 shows on TV.com.

The 83 users who count themselves as Dennis the Menace fans have written a total of 7 reviews.

Status

Premiered

Ended

Genre

This is the 1959 CBS live-action situation comedy based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham. Dennis is portrayed as the helpful menace that always seemed to cause chaos. Dennis Mitchell lived at 627 Elm Street with his parents, Henry and Alice. Next door was his best friend, Mr. Wilson (though the feeling was,... more »

This is the 1959 CBS live-action situation comedy based on the comic strip by Hank Ketcham. Dennis is portrayed as the helpful menace that always seemed to cause chaos. Dennis Mitchell lived at 627 Elm Street with his parents, Henry and Alice. Next door was his best friend, Mr. Wilson (though the feeling was, certainly, not mutual). Dennis always was around to help Mr. Wilson whether he wanted the help or not. The allure of the series was to see how Dennis would unintentionally mess things up for Mr. Wilson.

The series lasted four seasons, but, perhaps, could have lasted longer. Joseph Kearns, the actor who portrayed Mr. George Wilson, died during the show's third season. This left a huge void that even veteran actor Gale Gordon (Mr. John Wilson) couldn't fill. He was introduced toward the end of the third season, and the series was cancelled the following year.

Main Title Theme Song
"Dennis the Menace" by Irving Friedman

CBS Broadcast History
October 4, 1959 - September 22, 1963 ---- Sundays ---- 7:30 - 8:00 P.M.

Nielsen Ratings - Top 30
Season 1 (1959-60) 16 (26.0)
Season 2 (1960-61) 11 (26.1)
Season 3 (1961-62) 17 (23.8)
Season 4 (1962-63) Not In Top 30

First Telecast: October 4, 1959
Last Telecast: July 7, 1963
Episodes: 146 black-and-white episodesless «

• Who else liked this show?

      I watched this show alot when it was on Nickolodeon.  I have not seen it on in years though.  I keep hoping that it will come out on DVD or put back on tv.

      I watched this show alot when it was on Nickolodeon.  I have not seen it on in years though.  I keep hoping that it will come out on DVD or put back on tv. less «

  joshjr Last online 8 days ago
  8 comments, last one Nov 4, 2007 + Add Comment

• Dennis The Menace - "Lost Episodes"?

  I seem to remember seeing two episodes of Dennis The Menace on TV about 20 years ago, but I can't find them in any kind of e...more »

  I seem to remember seeing two episodes of Dennis The Menace on TV about 20 years ago, but I can't find them in any kind of episode list. I'm wondering if anyone has any answers. The first one was a Christmas episode. I don't remember much about it (which isn't surprising, given how long ago I saw it). I do remember Dennis The Menace trying to play "Silent Night" on his drum and at the end, the whole family sang the song, like they do at the end of every Christmas episode. The other one I remember was about Dennis trying to get to Emerson City. Much of this episode takes place down at the police station. Also at the very end of this episode, I remember Mr. Wilson trying to dig wood cement out of the holes in his bowling ball. Another thing I remember - in both shows, Mrs. Wilson's glasses frames were different than in the rest of the show.  They appeared to be darker. Does anyone remember these episodes? I can't believe they're not listed in any of the episode guides I've seen.less «

  ulij20 Last online May 14, 2009
  3 comments, last one Jan 29, 2007 + Add Comment

•  

  9.6 Superb

  18, 24, 36, hike! hide « show »

  Martha, my nerve medicine! Dennis! Freemont! Jonny Brady's dad. Eloise! I've been bribed! Hello Mr. Wilson! Ms. Kabcarth. Look, Mr. Wilson! Mr. Quigley. Mr. Finch. Seymore! Oh Margaret! Eagle decorated my treehouse. Soapbox car race. Asleep in the hammock. My bulbs! Aquarium bubble gum. Explosion and pool in back yard. Ms Elkins. 1.21 Gigawatts. Freda Felcher. 21 red buckets of water. Not even the most powerful vacuum pump could do that! Hello Jonathan! Never, NEVER buy from wild horse ranch Jonathan sales person. All my ex's live in texas. Lafayette Moses was here. That's funny, now that's funny! That is the medieval way of getting your butt kicked.

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  jgibson222 Added Jul 7, 2008 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  The on-going adventures of a cute little, blond-haired boy named Dennis. Wonderful show, reflecting the times and the simplicity of life and its problems. No drugs or filthy language back then; more about losing something or confounding Mr. Wilson! hide « show »

  I LOVED Jay North as Dennis, and so did millions of other folks in that era. That's why it stayed on the air for so many years. It was good clean fun, and Dennis was really no manace; it's just that he got into little-boy predicaments, as did Beaver! Mr. Wilson (played by Joseph Kearns, famous from radio before that) was always preplexed by the goings-on on Dennis, and Henry Mitchell (Dennis' dad) was always trying to make it through childhood. Mom and Ruff were fun, too, and anyone who says that the cartoon version was better probably wasn't around when the "real" version was part of Americana. Great show!

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  aerospacemajor Added Nov 21, 2007 All my reviews
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  5.1 Mediocre

  Not as good as the cartoon. hide « show »

  The cartoon is way better than this. But this version is OK. I've never had a problem with it at all. The jokes are always a good side splitter. That is one thing you can count on from this show. This show is good, but the cartoon version is WAT better.

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  YamataDragon Added Feb 2, 2006 All my reviews
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  0.2 Appalling

  hi ds here hide « show »

  no it is not like the classic dennis from the beano it is not as good as that im sorry but i just cant execpt this so called comedy. i say get rid of this. why oh why was this made? ohhbring back the better version of this show. the movie ie alright.

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  dukesam Added Oct 15, 2005 All my reviews
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  3 Bad

  Eh..Ok hide « show »

  I actually like the Denice cartoon better than this one.The live Denice was kind of annoying, but now feel more kindly to the show knowing the story about Jay North's real life- abuse from he received from his family he was with.(i believe it was an aunt and uncle) Too bad that Jay North's real life was not as simple as getting into mild micheif,and having understanding parents for it.

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  supastarz Added Sep 25, 2005 All my reviews