Wally's Track Meet

A very well written episode that explores another intricacy of life among guys growing up . The problem is that Ward, and the show, see the problem as the loss of Wally's temper. What the show fails to realize is that there are many more interesting factors involved that even Beaver pointed out. Wally didn't just lose his temper, he was merely engaging in a playful exercise that everyone goes through. This is how friends bond even more closely. The coach totally misinterpreted the incident and overreacted. He should have talked to them , just as Beaver later did with Lumpy, and at least found out a little more about it. And it's so ironic that in this episode, Beaver was the astute role model for the adults !

Like I said in my previous post. Most of the time after a couple of duds the writers come with one or two pretty good episodes. This episode was pretty good. I rated it about an 8 and the next episode about a six. Beaver turns out to be the mediator wich is rarely seen. He is usually the one who gets in trouble and lies to cover it up but as the good mediator it was really a stretch for his character.

Anyway this episosde really elevated Lumpy to a good guy after listening to Beave making him connect with his conscience. Nice to see Lumpy Rutherford as a good guy in the end. They need more episodes featuring Lumpy and Eddie.

One of those "life's little tricks" episodes.

Basically, it's a "code of honor" story, popular in many other sitcoms. This time, it's Wally's turn to face the music, and does he ever. After track team practice, goofy guys Eddie and Lumpy have an old fashioned towel fight in the locker room, innocent bystander Wally tosses a towel their way --just as the coach walks in -- and HE'S suspended from the track team. OMG.

Naturally, this could all be solved. If Wally tells the real story to the coach (played by John Close), he'll get back on the team, but he'll also be a rat for finking out Eddie and Lumpy. Code of honor on steroids.

Wally tells the dreary tale to Ward, but its his ball of wax. However, it takes Beave to connect with Lumpy to maybe, maybe right a terrible wrong. A good brother helping another good brother.

Gregarious Fred Rutherford (Richard Deacon) makes another memorable appearance. Deacon was the ham actor we all loved.

An absolute gem written by producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who should have written every single episode.

If you're a Beaver fan, you'll see the re-working of this story right off the bat. There were other stories where Beave also got trapped in the "code of honor" syndrome.

On a tragic note, actor John Close, who appeared in numerous tv shows and movies, was killed in a car accident a few years after this episode.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 18 remastered Universal dvd box set. The color cover is a must. The entire series is available on blu ray in a single box, the best present ever.

The episode is notable in that it depicts Wally getting in trouble at school - a rare occurrence - and Beaver helping get his brother out of the trouble at great risk to himself.

On the eve of a big track meet, Eddie and Lumpy throw towels at Wally in the locker room; when Wally returns the favor, he gets caught by the coach and suspended from the team. Beaver then takes the admirable action of going to call on Lumpy and making him 'fess up that he was the one who started the towel fight (some talk about tortured consciences does the trick). We sense that Beaver understands the trouble Wally is in, having found himself in similar scrapes, and wants to help his brother out. We also have a scene between Lumpy and his father that fleshes out their dysfunctional relationship. Things are not all peaches and cream by the end of the episode (Wally still can't go to the track meet), but the coach has learned the truth, Eddie and Lumpy are duly punished, and Wally has learned a lesson about succumbing to anger. All in all, a strong Wally-centered episode.

While others think that the coach (and Ward) should let Wally off the hook because Lumpy and Eddie started the towel-throwing and besides, it's just youthful fun that "everyone" did. So, how else does a parent teach their kids to do and act properly and obey rules? (obviously, the parents of the poster in question didn't). No, all three deserve the punishment. Period. And it's no over-reaction. It's called teaching and discipline.

For the GenY & Z crowd, just think of it as a Gold Star for Participation.

Now for the "don't bother reading this as it's to fulfill the posting requirements for the site" part.