User Reviews

This is an epochal episode for Eddie Haskell, the most memorable of the trio of episodes in which he attempts to break away and assert his independence. (The others are "Eddie Quits School" and "Summer in Alaska.") Due to friction between him and his parents, Eddie has decided to move into a place of his own. As usual, Eddie talks a big talk about the great, independent lifestyle he is leading; however, Wally and Beaver soon discover, thanks to Eddie's kindly landlady, that the reality is far different. Instead of having cookouts and girls swarming around him, Eddie is dining on cornflakes and his only companion is a dog who is even sadder than he is. Wally - as true a friend as Eddie ever had - and the landlady join forces to get Eddie to move back home. This is an excellent episode that highlights Eddie's vulnerability. The landlady is played by prolific character actress Lurene Tuttle, who was the director of the adoption agency in the Second Season "Beaver Gets Adopted."

Mom, you'll never believe it. Eddie Haskell has left home. Mom, you'll never believe it. Eddie fought with his parents and moved out. Mom, you'll never believe it. Eddie has his own room. You'll never believe it. We believe it and so does Ward.

Ward has seen Mr. Haskell and Eddie's father isn't happy about the move. He hopes the novelty of the new job and paying bills will run its course, and Eddie will come back. June wonders if Wally will get ideas; Ward believes Wally's concerns are graduating and going to college. Did any boys Ward knew run away. Yes, he says, they ran off to sea and returned millionaires.

To Beaver's surprise, Wally invited Lumpy for dinner. While watching Lumpy make the food disappear, the topic of Eddie comes up. The story is that he's living it up by eating TV dinners and listening to the radio. He might even get a phone!

Eddie stops by and has his usual line of BS when he talks to Ward and June. June panics. Eddie tells the boys he stopped by to get away from all the girls. He's living the high life. He has to fight off all the offers from the ladies to cook for him. He invites the guys over for dinner and to spend the night. Ward doesn't see a problem, and gives permission. But Mr. Haskell calls Ward and asks he not let Wally go over to Eddie's. Ward is willing to help buy that means reneging on his earlier promise.

Beaver, having overheard his dad's conversation, tells Wally that dad is about to tell him that he won't be able to go to Eddie's. And on cue, Ward appears. Ward can't tell him the whole story now, but someday he will. Beaver says he doesn't know the entire story, but it has something to do with the phone call. Ward also calls Lumpy's dad to tell him of Mr. Haskell's concern. Lumpy drives over and talks with Wally; now he can't go to Eddie's. Wally asks if Lumpy would drive over and tell Eddie that Wally can't go over Saturday. No way, Lumpy's dad has forbidden Lumpy from seeing Eddie period. As Lumpy is waiting for his father to get a letter from the Ohio patrol about driving without a front license plate, he can't upset his daddy.

Since Wally can't go to dinner at Eddie's, Wally asks if he can go over to see Eddie to tell them that he won't be coming for dinner. Beaver gets permission to tag along. Eddie's not there but Mrs. Evans the landlady is, the truth is told. The boys enter and see the room is a mess. Eddie is lonely. He even got a dog because he is so lonely. He has been eating sardines and corn flakes for dinner. She is so sorry for the boy that she tries to play cards with him at least twice a week. She shows the boys Eddie's clothes which are now all green. He washed everything together and the colors ran. Mrs. Evans feels the best thing the boy could do is return home.

On the way home, Wally and Beaver bump into Eddie. Sorry the girls won't be there, they went skiing or something. He will be making burgers on the grill. Wally tells Eddie that he won't be coming over and neither will Lumpy. Eddies does his expected blaming Ward and June for not allowing over; and he has lots of friends anyway. He's not Oliver Twist, you know. As Eddie moves away, Beaver tells Wally if Eddie wasn't such a wise guy that he'd feel sorry for Eddie. Wally says he feels sorry for Eddie now.

Eddie's going back home, and how did that come about? Eddie claims his parents came to him on bended knee begging for him to return. The truth is Mrs. Evans called Eddie's parents and told them how he was actually doing, so they came and got him. But how did she get their phone number. I sorta give it to says an embarrassed Wally. Ward is beaming at his son. Beaver says it was bad living in that old dark room all alone, so it's good Eddie is home. June is surprised at Beaver feeling sorry for Eddie. Beaver says he was thinking mostly about the dog.

This episode always hits home for me because it reminds me of when I moved out and got my first apartment. It was not a very fun experience. Dead-end job, dead-end apartment, and dead-end life. Not fun at all.

But, this isn't about me, it's about America's favorite sneaky slimeball, Eddie Haskel! Eddie moves out and of course he tells his pals how great it is and they believe him. But they later find out that Eddie is the loneliest boy in town. They then set about trying to help him save face and move back home.

This episode really humanizes Eddie in a way that few other episodes do. And it has some of the dark realism of life that is usually completely absent from Leave it To Beaver. It's a good one.