Elinor Donahue

Today, those who fondly recall the archetypal 1950s family sitcom "Father Knows Best" (1954) may be surprised to learn that when the series debuted in 1954, the show did so poorly in the ratings that CBS canceled it in March of 1955. A flood of protests came from viewers insisting that the show be reinstated. The show was moved to an earlier time, and it gradually became a hit.