The People's Choice (1955–1958) User Reviews

Cleo, I loved you.

[daisybtoes · 9/10 · 20 May 2009]

I was a little girl when I watched this program. Like many sitcoms from this period, it knew how to be cute and clever without falling back on tired innuendos. I remember that I enjoyed it, and I even remembered the names of the main characters, but most of all, I was in love with Cleo. She was cuddly and adorable and just gorgeous. I would love to see them again, but I've heard rumors that many of the episodes have been lost. I hope this is not true. My dad actually got me a Basset Hound puppy. We called him Leo, and he was a great dog who I still remember very fondly, especially since he was the last thing my dad ever gave me before his sudden, untimely death. It was also my introduction to Jackie Cooper, best known as a child actor until this point.

Patricia Breslin

[dimplet · 9/10 · 7 June 2014]

Patricia Breslin, I loved you. Sure, it was puppy love, but what do you expect? I was only 2 to 5 years old during the original broadcast of "People's Choice," but I was precocious. And besides, I mainly watched you in re-runs from the NYC television stations in the early 1950s, so I was probably at least 6.

And then there was your co-staring role in "Crooked Road," on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a show I will never forget, along with Walther Mathau as the crooked deputy. By the time you appeared on The Twilight Zone, season 4, "No Time Like the Past," I was truly ready to appreciate your maternal charms. You were the mother I always wished I had had.

Now, when I happen upon a vision of you on a wonderful old television time capsule, it as though I were in love with you all over for the first time. I wonder how many thousands, nay millions, of once young American males feel the same way about you?

You, Patricia Breslin, are my ideal, the virginal girl of my pre- pubescent fantasies, a woman I shall always seek, and never find, except in my dreams.

Unless, of course, I find a way to travel back in time. Somewhere. In time. Must go back. Focus! Concentrate! Ohio. Or is it Willoughby? Whatever.

A wise cracking basset!

[beatlesfavband · 10/10 · 25 January 2005]

Jackie Cooper stars as New City councilman Socrates "Sock" Miller. Patricia Breslin plays Mandy Peoples, daughter of New City's Mayor, who has her eyes set romantically on Sock. Her father is very much against this relationship as he believes Sock is a bit too unstable to provide Mandy a decent future. Sock lives in a trailer court with his Aunt Gus who supports the relationship with Mandy. Other regulars characters include Sock's mooching service buddy Rollo and Crutcher, the former councilman and rival for Mandy that Sock beat in the election. The writing is clever, the cast is very good and it's all given a little extra craziness as the audience is allowed to hear what Sock's basset Cleo is thinking in relation to the action. Eventually Sock and Mandy get married but keep it a secret as long as they can. This show is more then just inventing the secret marriage ploy. It is genuinely funny. If you like the era it may be for you. If not or if you can't stand black and white (too bad because you miss out on many good programs)then avoid this. However, if you don't mind black and white and enjoy dialog that isn't one continuous sexual innuendo please take a look. Cleo is a great!

I loved it as a kid!

[eleek · 3 May 2006]

I used to watch The People's Choice reruns in the '60's when I was a kid. I loved it then, partly because I loved the funny things Cleo, the basset hound, had to say. Since I haven't watched the show as an adult, I can't say how I would like it now, but the cutesy romance and the basset hound grabbed the attention of a 12 year old. At the time I thought Jackie Cooper was a hotty, too. I loved to watch the young couple trying to put one over on dear old dad. I didn't really understand why they couldn't tell him they were married, but I guess I didn't let it worry me much. I understand that the shows are in public domain, now, and I'm trying to locate the complete series on DVD.

This was a really funny show!

[rjmarques1 · 10/10 · 28 August 2006]

I was surprised by this show.

It was interesting seeing Jackie Cooper doing a sitcom, and for 50's sitcom fare - it was actually very funny. It made me grin, because you could still see the cherubic face of Mr. Cooper's Our Gang character, who swooned over Ms. Crabtree, their teacher.

Since I've recently begun collecting classic TV on DVD and now have a TON of it, I have obtained a single episode of this series on a DVD collection:

This was an episode where Sock had to stand in as a proxy for a buddy of his still in the service, to get married. Mandy, meanwhile, figured he was marrying someone else. Cleo the basset hound's remarks, and still camera shots were hysterical.

I'd love to find further episodes of this series, but cannot locate any on DVD or VHS - - - Does anyone know where to purchase more of this series?

Thanks-

Rick Marques

A true TV classic,

[eag11 · 10/10 · 19 August 2006]

I was 5 years old when it debuted in 1955. I watched the reruns in the sixties and I believe in the late seventies it was on Nic. I wish I could see them now. Starz has a channel that shows just all westerns how about one that does sitcoms from the 50's and sixties, TV land has moved on into the 70's and that's when the comedy show started to have more tragedy and less laughs.As I recall Mr. Ed talked to his human, but Cleo only made comments to the audience. I checked out Cleo's voice person and was surprised to see that she was Clara Randolph from Ozzie and Harriet.Mr. Ed's voice was Alan Rocky Lane a favorite on the Western channel from Star.I recall in the past 3 or 4 years there was a c-span channel called I think good TV, they had quite a few of the early TV shows including some western favorites of mine, maverick, Cheyenne, Bronco Lane and Sugarfoot.I can only hope that my children get to see these classics as I did back in the time where every show didn't have a underlying moment of truth.

Cleo is the Star!

[luthvin · 10/10 · 19 May 2018]

This is a fun show from the mid-50's. As far as I know there is only a 5 episode DVD available, however, there may be "copies" of all the episodes available from various vendors on the internet. Cleo the basset hound is hilarious with a personality similar to Droopy the Dog. For whatever reason this series seems to have been forgotten which is a shame. Jackie Cooper top notch as he was in Hennesey. Patricia Breslin and Paul Maxey (the mayor) standout as well. You may not know John Stephenson by name but you will recognize his voice when you hear it if you watched Hanna-Barbara cartoons. The voice of Cleo is Mary Jane Croft who many will remember as "Mary Jane" from The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.

I watched as a kid too

[twebb-9 · 10/10 · 3 December 2006]

I am also looking for the series in DVD or even VHS. Have you found it? We even named our Dog Cleo. so I have to have 10 lines in order to post a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10 I am also looking for the series in DVD or even VHS. Have you found it? We even named our Dog Cleo. so I have to have 10 lines in order to post a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10We even named our Dog Cleo. so I have to have 10 lines in order to post a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10 a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10 I am also looking for the series in DVD or even VHS. Have you found it? We even named our Dog Cleo. so I have to have 10 lines in order to post a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10We even named our Dog Cleo. so I have to have 10 lines in order to post a simple question about where to find the series on DVD so this is line 10

Cleo and Sock made a great team.

[rudy-30 · 25 March 2002]

Sock Miller was a nice young man, straight out of "Dear Andrew". His basset hound Cleo gave him advice, and it was a very funny show. I wish TVLAND would replay it.Mary Jane Croft, was the voice of Cleo, and many people know her from her being Lucille Ball's second sidekick after Vivian Vance.

Memorable for inventing the "secret marriage" ploy

[Mitch-4 · 17 January 2004]

Okay, it was the fifties. You couldn't suggest that attractive, favorable characters, you leads, could be having unmarried sex. But wait! Suppose they're *secretly* married! Then it's okay that they sneak off and do things that don't get explained, but provide opportunity for comedy as they perpetually are almost getting caught.