As television's longest running situation comedy, airing from 1952 to 1966 on the ABC network, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet provides a window into that era's perception of the idealized American family. The program portrayed the real-life Nelson family as they faced the minor trials and tribulations of suburban life: husband Ozzie (1906-1975), wife Harriet (1909-1994), and their two sons, David (1936-) and Ricky (1940-1985). Its gentle humor was enhanced by viewers' ability to see the boys grow up before their eyes from adolescents to young adulthood. Although Ozzie had no apparent source of income, the family thrived in a middle-class white suburban setting where kids were basically good, fathers provided sage advice, and mothers were always ready to bake a batch of homemade brownies. Critic Cleveland Amory, in a 1964 review for TV Guide, considered the wholesome program a...