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The Life of Riley

Season 6

35 listed hours · 1953–1958 · NBC

← All seasons · Show package

From the desk

How this season is filed

Filed by Rex Fontaine · Golden Age Dispatch

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.

TV Flash files Season 6 of The Life of Riley (1953–1958) on NBC as the last listed season of 6 — 35 listed hours, 1957-09-13–1958-05-23 from “Gossip” (S06E01) to “Here Comes Constance” (S06E35). Titles, dates, and synopses on file — no invented recaps.

Desk essentials in this season

  1. S06E01 Gossip

    Gossip: last-season ignition on a one-word vice, Bendix still the lug the living room recognized from the paycheck.

  2. S06E35 Here Comes Constance

    Here Comes Constance closes 1958: last named hour, the working-stiff sitcom packing away after Gleason-then-Bendix had both worn the hat.

  1. S06E01

    Gossip

    Gossip — Season 6, Episode 1 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-09-13. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  2. S06E02

    Riley's Ups and Downs

    Riley's Ups and Downs — Season 6, Episode 2 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-09-20. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  3. S06E03

    The New Den

    The New Den — Season 6, Episode 3 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-09-27. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  4. S06E04

    Gillis's Childhood Friend

    Gillis's Childhood Friend — Season 6, Episode 4 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-10-04. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  5. S06E05

    Down for the Count

    Down for the Count — Season 6, Episode 5 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-10-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  6. S06E06

    The Gruesome Twosome

    The Gruesome Twosome — Season 6, Episode 6 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-10-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  7. S06E07

    Happy Birthday, Little Chester

    Happy Birthday, Little Chester — Season 6, Episode 7 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-10-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  8. S06E08

    Babs and the Latin

    Babs and the Latin — Season 6, Episode 8 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-11-01. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  9. S06E09

    Anchors Away

    Anchors Away — Season 6, Episode 9 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-11-08. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  10. S06E10

    Framed

    Framed — Season 6, Episode 10 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-11-15. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  11. S06E11

    Nobody Down Here Likes Me

    Nobody Down Here Likes Me — Season 6, Episode 11 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-11-22. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  12. S06E12

    Baby Chester's First Words

    Baby Chester's First Words — Season 6, Episode 12 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-11-29. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  13. S06E13

    A Trip for Peg

    A Trip for Peg — Season 6, Episode 13 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-12-06. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  14. S06E14

    Going Steady

    Going Steady — Season 6, Episode 14 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-12-13. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  15. S06E15

    A Guest from England

    A Guest from England — Season 6, Episode 15 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1957-12-20. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  16. S06E16

    Little Awful Annie

    Little Awful Annie — Season 6, Episode 16 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-01-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  17. S06E17

    Music Hath Charms

    Music Hath Charms — Season 6, Episode 17 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-01-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  18. S06E18

    Movie Struck

    Movie Struck — Season 6, Episode 18 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-01-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  19. S06E19

    Bowling Beauties

    Bowling Beauties — Season 6, Episode 19 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-01-31. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  20. S06E20

    The Letter

    The Letter — Season 6, Episode 20 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-02-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  21. S06E21

    Ten O'Clock Scholar

    Ten O'Clock Scholar — Season 6, Episode 21 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-02-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  22. S06E22

    The Oily Birds

    The Oily Birds — Season 6, Episode 22 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-02-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  23. S06E23

    Mrs. Aircraft Industries

    Mrs. Aircraft Industries — Season 6, Episode 23 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-02-28. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  24. S06E24

    After You're Gone

    After You're Gone — Season 6, Episode 24 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-03-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  25. S06E25

    A Test for Gillis

    A Test for Gillis — Season 6, Episode 25 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-03-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  26. S06E26

    Riley's First Bubble

    Riley's First Bubble — Season 6, Episode 26 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-03-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  27. S06E27

    Teenage Troubles

    Teenage Troubles — Season 6, Episode 27 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-03-28. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  28. S06E28

    Otis Yonder Story

    Otis Yonder Story — Season 6, Episode 28 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-04-04. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  29. S06E29

    Gillis' Barrack's Bag

    Gillis' Barrack's Bag — Season 6, Episode 29 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-04-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  30. S06E30

    The Price of Fame

    The Price of Fame — Season 6, Episode 30 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-04-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  31. S06E31

    Annie's Radio Romance

    Annie's Radio Romance — Season 6, Episode 31 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-04-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  32. S06E32

    Dudley Comes to Town

    Dudley Comes to Town — Season 6, Episode 32 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-05-02. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  33. S06E33

    Live Modern

    Live Modern — Season 6, Episode 33 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-05-09. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  34. S06E34

    Help for Honeybee

    Help for Honeybee — Season 6, Episode 34 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-05-16. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

  35. S06E35

    Here Comes Constance

    Here Comes Constance — Season 6, Episode 35 of The Life of Riley. Aired 1958-05-23. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

More from the 1950s.