The Donna Reed Show was a situation comedy which aired on ABC from 1958 to 1966. It starred Donna Reed as Donna Stone, a housewife to pediatrician Alex Stone, played by Carl Betz . The couple had two children together, Mary and Jeff.

This was an ordinary situation comedy in that parenting problems and the love lives and activities of the children took priority, although it was unique in that Donna took a hand at solving the kids' various problems singlehandedly when Alex had to see to patients.

Former Mousketeer, Paul Petersen portrayed the son "Jeff". The character of Mary, played by Shelley Fabares, became very popular thanks to a single she recorded, called Johnny Angel . It sold over a million copies and Shelley Fabares left the show to pursue other acting and singing opportunities in 1963. In the series, Mary Stone left to attend college away from home.