Dennis the Menace

CBS (ended 1963)
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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 episodesmoreless
9.0
out of 10
Average Rating: Superb
288 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
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    "Superb"
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    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
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    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
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    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
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    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
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    "Mediocre"
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  • 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!moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    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!moreless

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    4 0
  • Eh..Ok

    3.0
    "Bad"
    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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    1 2
  • Not as good as the cartoon.

    5.1
    "Mediocre"
    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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    0 1
  • 18, 24, 36, hike!

    9.6
    "Superb"
    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.moreless

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    0 0
  • hi ds here

    0.2
    "None"
    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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    0 2

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Comedy, Kids

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50s, 60s, Classics