Background"Still the Beaver" is a 1983 American made-for-television comedy-drama film which originally aired on CBS in March 1983. The film was directed by Steven Hilliard Stern and is a continuation of the initial series "Leave It to Beaver" that ranged from 1957 to 1963. The initial series was a cutting-edge sitcom that highlighted the antics of young Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and his rural family. "Still the Beaver" was developed in response to the appeal of re-runs and a revival in interest in the original series during the 1980s.
Plot"Still the Beaver" gets twenty years after the initial series with Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, played by Jerry Mathers, now divorced and coping with his mama, June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley), while his sons are pending time between Beaver's place and their mom's house. Beaver's bro Wally, played by Tony Dow, is married with a young child and works as an attorney.
The plot primarily focuses on Beaver handling a divorce, the life as the dad of 2 young kids, the battles of dating post-divorce, and his attempts to keep close relationships with his family despite the modifications in his life.
Reception and Legacy"Still the Beaver" was well gotten for its nostalgic value, and for maintaining the tone of the initial series while successfully showing the characters dealing with reasonable, adult issues. Though the characters had actually advanced, the essence of their specifying attributes was kept. Beaver, even as an adult, still reveals his naive and trusting nature, which often gets him into trouble.
The telefilm functioned as a pilot to the television series sequel, "The New Leave It to Beaver", which aired initially on Disney Channel from 1985 to 1986, and after that on TBS from 1986 to 1989. It illustrated Beaver as a single daddy of 2 boys, remaining real to the trials and tribulations of the initial series.
CastMost of the original series cast members repeat their functions, including Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver, Jerry Mathers as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver, and Tony Dow as Wally Cleaver. New additions were made to represent the next generation of the Cleavers, such as Beaver's twitchy but kind-hearted kids Oliver and Freddy, played by Eric Osmond and Christian Osmond respectively.
Summary"Still the Beaver" is an extension of the popular 1950s show "Leave It to Beaver" where the focus is now shifted onto the life of Beaver as an older, somewhat beleaguered, yet still optimistic and good-humoured man. By keeping the central styles of family, growth, and the humor of daily life, it appealed to those who recognized with the timeless "Leave It to Beaver", and harnessed fond memories while introducing a brand-new younger cast. It kept the same appeal and innocence of the original series while exploring more intricate topics, such as divorce and single parenthood, making "Still the Beaver" a sequel that managed to extend the precious story in a new, yet familiar direction.
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