The Life of Riley
The Life of Riley is an American sitcom that aired from 1949 to 1950 on NBC, starring Jackie Gleason as Chester A. Riley, a well-meaning but bumbling aircraft factory worker whose catchphrase "What a revolting development this is!" became a national sensation. The series follows Riley's misadventures at home with his wife Peg and their two teenage children, Babs and Junior. Though the Gleason version lasted only one season, the character was later revived with William Bendix in the lead role for a successful 1953-1958 run. All 26 episodes of the Gleason version are in the public domain.
Season 1
Tonsils
Chester Riley's son Junior needs his tonsils removed, but Riley's attempts to help his son face the operation with courage backfire
Babs and Simon Step Out
Riley becomes overprotective when daughter Babs starts dating a young man named Simon, leading to a series of comic misunderstandings about
Egbert's Chemistry Set
Riley's neighbor Egbert causes havoc with a new chemistry set, and Riley's attempts to contain the damage only make things worse in this
The French Professor
Riley decides to learn French to impress his boss, but his linguistic adventures lead to a series of comic mishaps that threaten his job
Nervous Breakdown
Riley's family becomes convinced he's heading for a nervous breakdown and takes extreme measures to reduce his stress, which
Assistant Manager
Riley is offered a promotion to assistant manager, but his attempts to act the part of a company executive backfire in the classic Riley
Riley's Birthday Gift
The Riley family tries to keep Chester's birthday gift a surprise, but Riley's curiosity and his talent for misunderstanding turn the
Riley, Gillis and Vanderhopper Inc.
Riley and his friend Gillis go into business together with disastrous results, proving that friendship and commerce don't always mix in the
Junior Falls for Teacher
Riley discovers that his son Junior has developed a crush on his schoolteacher, and his well-intentioned attempts to handle the
Night School
Riley enrolls in night school to improve his education, but his struggles with the coursework and his attempts to keep it a secret
Details
- Years
- 1949–1950
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 10
- Genres
- Comedy
- Rating
- 7/10
- Status
- Public Domain Mark 1.0
- Studio
- NBC
