The Donna Reed Show
The Donna Reed Show is an American situation comedy starring Donna Reed as the upper-middle-class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage children, Mary and Jeff. The show originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1958 to March 19, 1966. When Fabares left the show in 1963, Petersen's little sister, Patty Petersen, joined the cast as adopted daughter Trisha. Patty Petersen had first appeared in the episode, "A Way of Her Own", on January 31, 1963.Bob Crane and Ann McCrea appeared in the last seasons as the Kelseys, friends of the Stones, and Darryl Richard became a near regular as Smitty, Jeff's best buddy. The show featured a variety of celebrity guests including Esther Williams as a famous dress designer, baseball superstars Don Drysdale and Willie Mays as themselves, teen heartthrob James Darren as a pop singer with the measles, canine superstar Lassie as herself, and young Jay North of CBS's Dennis the Menace.The series was created by William S. Roberts and developed by Reed and her then husband, producer Tony Owen. Episodes revolved around typical family problems of the period such as firing a clumsy housekeeper, throwing a retirement bash for a colleague, and finding quality time away from the children. Edgy themes such as women's rights and freedom of the press were occasionally explored.
Where to Watch The Donna Reed Show
Where to stream every episode from all 8 seasons of The Donna Reed Show. Filter these episodes by what's available to watch free or on your streaming services using the tabs above.
Season 1
Prime Video | Rent or Buy
S01 E01
Sep 24, 1958
Weekend Trip Sep 24, 1958 This is the very first episode of the long-running series, in which audiences were introduced to the beloved Stone family. In this episode, we get a glimpse of the sometimes chaotic day-to-day life of the Stones, always buffered by the sweet and loving persona of Donna Reed as Donna Stone, TV's first ""highly visible"" Mom of the 1950s. She dispenses advice, discipline, humor and wisdom to her family, something that was usually reserved for the TV Dads of the era.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. Not wanting to disappoint Mary and Jeff (who are both experts at verbally matching wits and insults wit
S01 E02
Oct 1, 1958Pardon My Gloves Oct 1, 1958 Jeff gets a black eye from a boy who mocked Donna's acting in a local play, so Donna tries to teach Jeff how to box.
S01 E03
Oct 8, 1958The Hike Oct 8, 1958 Donna tries to prove women can out smart men when Dr. Stone is called away to treat a patient.
S01 E04
Oct 15, 1958Male Ego Oct 15, 1958 Alex feels bad about his ego and proves his independence when Donna buys the suit he wants.
S01 E05
Oct 22, 1958The Football Uniform Oct 22, 1958 Jeff wants a uniform for the team picture. Jeff must work for the money to buy it.
S01 E06
Oct 29, 1958The Foundling Oct 29, 1958 A woman abandones her child at the Stones place. Attached to the baby is a note, that upsets the entire household, including their Irish maid:Dear Mrs.Stone, His name is Willie. He's a good boy and hardly ever cries.When the local police is informed, Donna can't part from the baby. She wants to stay with him until his mother is found. Alex caves in to Donna and allows the baby to stay for the time being. Jeff, meanwhile, doesn't like the thought of a person who might become a sibling, but he soon warms up to it.Meanwhile, Donna does some invesitagtion on her own. She realizes that a baby name Guillermo might be called Willy. And who has a son named Willy? The milkman!Donna goes to his house to investigate. She finds out that the milkman is upset due to his young wife dying while having little Willy. But why did he choose Donna Stone to look after it? Because he knows Donna has a happy and loving home, and that she'd look after the child.The milkman says he realizes he did the wr
S01 E07
Nov 5, 1958Three Part Mother Nov 5, 1958 Donna tries to go to 3 places on the same night.
Season 2
Prime Video | Rent or Buy
S02 E01
Sep 24, 1959That's Show Business Sep 24, 1959 Mary Tries to Act.
S02 E02
Oct 1, 1959Sleep No More My Lady Oct 1, 1959 Donna is too excited to sleep because Alex is giving a speech at a convention. While trying to sleep on the plane Alex gives Donna a tranquilizer to help her sleep.
S02 E03
Oct 8, 1959A Penny Earned Oct 8, 1959 Donna has trouble deciding whether or not buy a new dress.
S02 E04
Oct 15, 1959A Friend Indeed Oct 15, 1959 Jeff's 'friend' Doug keeps getting him into trouble at school, and Jeff silently takes the blame for him because he knows Doug's mother constantly picks on him and wonders why he can't be more like Jeff, who behaves like an innocent cherub at their house. One day when Dr. Alex is at Doug's house, he witnesses Doug's mother berating Doug unfairly, so Donna invites Doug's mother over just before Mary and Jeff get home from school so she can be there to see Jeff's behavior at home. Doug's mother learns that Jeff is obnoxious to his sister, loud, and unruly at home (just like any other adolescent boy) and all ends well when Doug arrives and his mother sees that he too, is just like any other boy, but knows when to be polite in somebody else's house.
S02 E05
Oct 22, 1959The First Child Oct 22, 1959 Alex must contend with overly anxious new parents who constantly call him in a state of panic, thinking that there is something wrong with their baby.
S02 E06
Oct 29, 1959Going Steady Oct 29, 1959 Mary wants to meet a boy, so she talks Jeff into going to his kid sister's party.
S02 E07
Nov 5, 1959The Neighborly Gesture Nov 5, 1959 Alex is hurt that Jeff likes the new neighbor.
Season 3
Prime Video | Rent or Buy
S03 E01
Sep 15, 1960Weekend Sep 15, 1960 The family wants to get away for the weekend. The brochure shows Lakeview Lodge to be a great place to go, so Donna and Alex head up there early with Mary and Jeff to join them later, but Lakeview Lodge turns out to be a major disappointment. Now what can they do?
S03 E02
Sep 22, 1960The Mystery Woman Sep 22, 1960 A lady spots Donna and Mary having lunch in a restaurant, so she stops to say hello. She recognized Donna, even though ""it's been 13 years."" Donna doesn't recognize her but is polite and too embarrassed to ask her name. Later, Donna realizes she must find out who the mystery woman was.
S03 E03
Sep 29, 1960Donna Decorates Sep 29, 1960 Donna tries to redecorate the house, but neighbor boy Dennis Mitchell (Jay North) tries to help her...and ends up making things more of a mess. Donna finally calls Dennis' nearer neighbor Mr.Wilson (Joseph Kearns) to ask if Dennis would help him with anything. (I'm sure Mr.Wilson sympathized.) This was a crossover show-with two people from ""Dennis the Menace"" guesting. It turns out both shows are set in the town of Hilldale...but Dennis probably lived in a different neighborhood than Donna.
S03 E04
Oct 6, 1960The Love Letter Oct 6, 1960 Nick the Greek is the handyman at the Stone's house. He's still learning how to write English, so he asks Jeff for help in writing a love letter to his girlfriend. Later, Mary finds this love letter in Jeff's handwriting and wonders if Jeff is involved in a new romance.
S03 E05
Oct 20, 1960How the Other Side Lives Oct 20, 1960 Mary's friend Ginny lives in a mansion with a maid, a tennis court, and a swimming pool. Now Ginny is going to spend the weekend at Mary's house. What can Mary do to impress Ginny, with the Stone family having no maid, no pool, no tennis court, and with a wild unruly younger brother Jeff at home?
S03 E06
Oct 27, 1960Alex's Twin Oct 27, 1960 Mary is enamored with the new boy at school, Elroy! Why? Because he reminds her so much of what her dad must have been like as a teenager. Alex can't see the resemblance at all.
S03 E07
Nov 3, 1960Worried Anyone? Nov 3, 1960 Like, are we worried about Mary riding in Scotty's car? After all, its only a hot rod made with parts taken from wrecked cars!
Season 4
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S04 E01
Sep 14, 1961One Starry Night Sep 14, 1961 Mary dates Kip Dennis, unaware that he is also singer Jim Brandt who Jeff admires and Mary despises.
S04 E02
Sep 21, 1961A Rose is a Rose Sep 21, 1961 Jeff needs help with his poetry homework and Mary is there to help. Unfortunately, the poetry does not sound like Jeff wrote it.
S04 E03
Sep 28, 1961The Close Shave Sep 28, 1961 Jeff has discovered he is growing whiskers, and decides that since he is no longer a little boy that he needs to start acting like a man. He insists on taking a job to pay his way at home.
S04 E04
Oct 5, 1961Mouse at Play Oct 5, 1961 Iris advises Donna that it's up to the wife to keep the marriage going with surprises and changes every now and then. When Iris goes from blond to black hair, Donna decides to go Platinum Blond! But once she comes home with her new hair color, she decides not to show it to Alex. She avoids him and quickly changes it back to the color it was whew! What a close call!
S04 E05
Oct 12, 1961The Monster Oct 12, 1961 First some large animal has trampled Mary's flowers. Now when Alex is out of town, Donna and the kids keep hearing noises late at night. Upon investigating, they peek out the front door window and see a large, furry creature sitting on the porch!
S04 E06
Oct 19, 1961New Girl in Town Oct 19, 1961 Jeff is cornered into dating a new girl in town. All ends well when he discovers the new girl is a tomboy.
S04 E07
Oct 26, 1961One of Those Days Oct 26, 1961 Donna and Alex are having one of those days where nothing is going right, so Donna suggests that she and Alex take the day off and have a picnic in the country.
Season 5
Prime Video | Rent or Buy
S05 E01
Sep 20, 1962Mister Nice Guy Sep 20, 1962 Mary can't understand why her brother Jeff is being so polite to her - unless there is some ulterior motive behind his good behavior.
S05 E02
Sep 27, 1962Mrs. Stone and Doctor Hyde Sep 27, 1962 When Donna fills in for Alex's vacationing nurse, she is taken aback to find him an office tyrant.
S05 E03
Oct 4, 1962To Be a Boy Oct 4, 1962 Trying to save enough money to build a boat, Jeff and Smitty make a pact to give up dating. Then Jeff finds Mary's friend Joanne hiding under his bed.
S05 E04
Oct 11, 1962Who Needs Glasses? Oct 11, 1962 Jeff decides wearing glasses would make him look older, and sets out to prove he needs them.
S05 E05
Oct 18, 1962Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary Oct 18, 1962 Mary decides it's time to leave home, and moves into the college dormitory.
S05 E06
Oct 25, 1962My Dad Oct 25, 1962 Alex tries over and over to spend a day with Jeff,but his plans are always interrupted by emergency calls.Jeff later shows that he still loves his father by singing the song,""My Dad.""
S05 E07
Nov 1, 1962Fine Feathers Nov 1, 1962 Jeff discovers a lost bird.He thinks it might be a rare cockatoo and sends the story to the newspapers and audobon societies-only to find out that the bird is really a cockateel,not quite a cockatoo.
S06 E01
Sep 19, 1963The Playmate Sep 19, 1963
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S06 E02
Sep 26, 1963Brighten the Corner Sep 26, 1963
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S06 E03
Oct 3, 1963Whatever You Wish Oct 3, 1963
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S06 E04
Oct 10, 1963House Divided Oct 10, 1963
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S06 E05
Oct 17, 1963The Boys in 309 Oct 17, 1963
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S06 E06
Oct 24, 1963The Bigger They Are Oct 24, 1963
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S06 E07
Oct 31, 1963It Grows on Trees Oct 31, 1963 Jeff has a plan to sell trees to many people and soon the backyard is filled with trees.This plan is slightly changed, however,after Hobie Smith-neighborhood boy with a crush on Trisha-carves hearts into all of the trees.
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S07 E01
Sep 17, 1964Operation Anniversary Sep 17, 1964 Donna and Alex's anniversary is coming up, and Jeff has something special planned for the occasion.
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S07 E02
Sep 24, 1964Dad Drops By Sep 24, 1964 Alex's father drops by for a visit, terrorizing the population of Hilldale by driving recklessly in his antique Duesenburg. Now Donna needs to find a tactful way of getting him to agree to give up driving.
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S07 E03
Oct 1, 1964Play Ball Oct 1, 1964
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S07 E04
Oct 8, 1964Who's Who on 202 Oct 8, 1964
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S07 E05
Oct 15, 1964The Daughter Complex Oct 15, 1964
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S07 E06
Oct 22, 1964The Tycoons Oct 22, 1964 Alex's dabbling in the stock market has resulted in a profit. So the Kelseys want to be let in on his good stock tips. Will this put a strain on their relationship?
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S07 E07
Oct 29, 1964Instant Family Oct 29, 1964
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S08 E01
Sep 16, 1965Pop Goes Theresa Sep 16, 1965 Jeff has finally gotten a date with Theresa, a new girl who has an over-protective father. One taste of freedom makes Theresa go wild, and her father puts all the blame on Jeff.
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S08 E02
Sep 23, 1965With This Ring Sep 23, 1965
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S08 E03
Sep 30, 1965Boy Meets Girl Machine Sep 30, 1965 Jeff balks at organizing the freshman-sophomore party until he meets his lovely co-chairman.
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S08 E04
Oct 7, 1965Think Mink Oct 7, 1965 There is confusion over whose ticket won the mink coat that was the door prize at the Ladies League Luncheon so Donna and Midge decide to share the coat.
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S08 E05
Oct 14, 1965Four on the Floor Oct 14, 1965 Jeff wants to buy a new car so bad that it will only cause trouble because Karen's Uncle Henshaw as no idea that car Jeff buys is a lemon (bad) car. Now Jeff has to figure out how to get rid of the car. Donna & Alex go and look at the car and find that the car is good.
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S08 E06
Oct 21, 1965Charge Oct 21, 1965 Why can't the Stones get a Lesley Store credit card? The Stone's application for a card was rejected. But don't monkey around with Donna Stone! She'll figure out how to get one!
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S08 E07
Oct 28, 1965Do Me a Favor, Don't Do Me Any Favors Oct 28, 1965 Professor Caldwell is retiring because of a school policy; he's too old. Jeff starts a petition to get the professor back into teaching by student demand.
