Meet Corliss Archer — Season 1

Aired 1 January 1954 • 30 min

Corliss and Dexter plan to go to a big party, but must work up the nerve to ask the Archer's for a tux and an evening wrap, both of which are in danger around Dex.

Harry and Mr. Franklyn try to teach Corliss and Dex the value of money, and promise to match dollar for dollar everything the kids can earn.

Dexter is directing the school parent/student play. Corliss is the lead but to get Harry he tells him Judge Peters is appearing. To get the Judge he gives the lead to Lucy Peters and, well, you get the idea!

After seeing Mr. Archer hiding a package and misunderstanding a business call, Corliss and Dexter decide he's a kleptomaniac.

Corliss and Dex are struggling with a tough algebra problem. Their parents smugly think they can find the answer, and soon everyone is working on the problem with no solution in sight!

Corliss has the measles, which makes Mr. Archer happy, because that means a whole week without Dexter; until Dex is quarantined along with her!

Synopsis 1: Harry Archer needs to make an important phone call but is hindered by losing the phone number, not to mention the phone! Not helping at all is Corliss doing housework and Dexter's arrival with a pie and a watermelon. Synopsis 2: There's only one phone number in the Archer household - not enough when there's a teenager in the home. The phone is constantly in use, and Mr. Archer keeps missing important business calls.

Dex's father makes a deal with him: get a job, keep it a week, and he will buy a new muffler for his car.

Synopsis 1: Harry has a bad cold and Janet makes him stay in bed, and everyone leaves him alone except Dex. Synopsis 2: Harry has a bad cold. The well-meaning but bumbling Dexter tries to help out by going to the drug store for Harry's medicine. While there, a misunderstanding leads the druggist and neighbors to believe that the Archer family is destitute. As a result, lots of food baskets mysteriously begin to appear at the Archer's front door.

The Franklyns are having their house painted and the Archers invite them to stay at their house. But sometimes even best friends shouldn't be together for very long.

Harry reads a psychiatric book and decides his stiff neck is caused by everyone else's problems.

The Archers and Franklyns have a falling out when Janet and Mary are both nominated for president of their club.

Dexter has everyone visiting a swami who tells their future, with Harry being the only skeptic.

Harry becomes upset after hearing Corliss' essay on family life, which names the father as a dictator. Harry declares a democracy, majority rules, but he keeps losing the vote.

Dexter's jalopy falls apart, so he borrows the Archers' vehicle to drive over to borrow a car. The kids have trouble and Harry misses a meeting while getting arrested for car theft!

Unimpressed with Bill's new camera, Harry digs out his father's old camera, which Dex destroys.

Corliss is unhappy because a personality test shows that she and Dex are not compatible, but Harry has a solution.

Harry convinces Janet to take some college classes, so she and Mary sign up, leaving all the housework for Corliss and Dexter.

Aired 24 December 1954 • 30 min

Corliss Archer and her goofy steady Dexter resolve to make gifts for everyone as Mr. and Mrs. Archer takes charge of decorating the house. Unfortunately others don't cooperate and even though the decorations, gifts, and Christmas tree are ruined, everyone ends up in the high spirits of the season.