Mister Ed

Wilbur Post and his wife Carol move into a beautiful new home. When Wilbur takes a look in his new barn, he finds that the former owner left his horse behind. This horse is no ordinary horse . . . he can talk, but only to Wilbur, which leads to all sorts of misadventures for Wilbur and his trouble-making sidekick Mister Ed.

Mister Ed (1961-1966) is a American classic sitcom created by Walter R. Brooks for CBS. Wilbur Post (Alan Young) and his wife Carol (Connie Hines) move into a beautiful new home, only to discover that the former owner left behind a horse who can talk, though only to Wilbur. The engine of each half-hour episode is Wilbur's frantic attempt to keep his secret from the neighbors, Roger and Kay Addison (Larry Keating and Edna Skinner), and from the Kirkwoods, Gordon and Winnie (Leon Ames and Florence MacMichael), while the mischievous horse, voiced by Allan Lane, stirs up trouble. Each episode is self-contained, built from misunderstandings, schemes and small domestic mishaps around the house and barn. The series ran six seasons and 143 episodes on CBS and in syndication, a breezy, gentle comedy with a sunny, wholesome register. Its suburban milieu is the postwar American dream of the early 1960s. Fans of Bewitched, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mr. Peabody and Sherman will find the same blend of fantastical premise and warm family humor.

Audiences rate the sitcom as mixed, with its gentle absurd premise of a talking horse appreciated for light family entertainment.

• Bewitched (1964)family sitcom premise with a fantastical twist in a suburban home, gentle slapstick
• The Dick Van Dyke Showgentle domestic sitcom comedy with a suburban couple and comic misunderstandings
• Mr. Peabody & Shermantalking animal comedy with light family appeal and absurd premise

Created by

Walter R. Brooks

Release Date

1961-01-05

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

6.9 / 10 (57)

What is Mister Ed about?

A young architect's new home comes with a horse who can talk, but only to him, sparking gentle comic chaos.

What is Mister Ed like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mister Ed as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Mister Ed violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Mister Ed.

What did critics think of Mister Ed?

Audiences rate the sitcom as mixed, with its gentle absurd premise of a talking horse appreciated for light family entertainment.

Which shows are like Mister Ed?

Shows with a similar feel include Bewitched (1964), The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman.

How long is Mister Ed?

Mister Ed: 6 seasons, 143 episodes.

Is Mister Ed still running?

No, Mister Ed has ended.