The Life of Riley
Riley's Gift from the Boss
TV Flash files “Riley's Gift from the Boss” as hour 2 of 217 in the TV Flash guide — The Life of Riley (1953–1958) on NBC, season 1, episode 2, aired 1953-01-09, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E02: listed hour 2 of 217 in the The Life of Riley guide, hour 2 of 26 in season 1. It aired 1953-01-09 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Bab's School Election” (S01E01). Next is “Riley's New Suit” (S01E03).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Chester gets a letter from the company and thinks he has won a huge award.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Riley's Gift from the Boss sit in the The Life of Riley guide?
S01E02 is listed hour 2 of 217 — hour 2 of 26 in season 1, season 1 episode 2.
When did The Life of Riley S01E02 air?
Riley's Gift from the Boss aired 1953-01-09 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Where should I start?
Start with Bendix and the catchphrase. The lovable-lug household is this series; Gleason's earlier TV swing is the casting-war footnote.
In the series
Why this series still plays
The Life of Riley gave blue-collar dad comedy a catchphrase for the ages — What a revoltin' development! — and William Bendix as television's lovable lug. Working-class family hit with radio-to-TV casting lore, Gleason then Bendix. Watch it now as the working-stiff sitcom before kitchen-sink became a prestige pose.
What a revoltin' development this is! — and the living room already knows the line before the lug sits down. The Life of Riley (NBC, 1953–1958) made William Bendix television's lovable working-class dad: blue-collar family sitcom, 217 episodes, six seasons, Irving Brecher from the long-running radio series. Marjorie Reynolds as Peg, Wesley Morgan as Junior, Lugene Sanders as Babs. Radio-to-TV casting wars are a whole side quest — Jackie Gleason's 1949–50 swing, then Bendix as the brand that stuck. On the palate:…
Filed against
- William Bendix as Chester A. Riley
William Bendix’s Chester A. Riley made The Life of Riley a working-stiff hit — What a revoltin’ development!, blue-collar dad comedy with radio-to-TV casting lore, Gleason then Bendix as television’s lovable lug. Family hour as a groan…
- Marjorie Reynolds as Peg Riley
Marjorie Reynolds ran the house as Peg Riley on The Life of Riley — William Bendix’s lovable lug, “What a revoltin’ development!” as national catchphrase, blue-collar dad comedy with radio-to-TV lore. Working-stiff sitcom before the…
- Wesley Morgan as Junior
Wesley Morgan’s Junior lived The Life of Riley as blue-collar kid weather — What a revoltin’ development!, William Bendix as television’s lovable lug, working-class family hit with radio-to-TV casting lore. Gleason then Bendix. TV Flash…
- Lugene Sanders as Babs
Lugene Sanders played the daughter beat as Babs on The Life of Riley — William Bendix’s lovable lug, “What a revoltin’ development!” as a national catchphrase, blue-collar dad comedy with radio-to-TV lore. Working-stiff sitcom before the…