Family

When Does Gentle Ben Season 3 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

Gentle Ben ended after Season 2.

IMDb

6.5/10

Seasons

2

Episodes

56

Gentle Ben poster

Diagnostics

Network
CBS
Genres
Family, Drama
First aired
1967-09-10
Last aired
1969-04-27
Runtime
30 min

Awards 1 nomination

Predictive Logic Analysis

Gentle Ben has concluded its run. Production records list the series as ended, meaning the story has been brought to a planned close rather than left open. Barring a revival, there is no Season 3 in development.

What is Gentle Ben about?

Gentle Ben is a family adventure series that positions itself as the thinking viewer's alternative to typical Saturday morning fare. Rather than rely solely on slapstick or talking animal gimmicks, the show centers on the relationship between a game warden family and an orphaned grizzly bear they adopt in the Florida Everglades. The premise offers genuine emotional stakes alongside comedy and outdoor thrills—viewers tune in not just to see what mischief Ben will get into, but to watch how the Wedloe family navigates the responsibilities of caring for a wild animal while managing the ecological and logistical challenges that situation presents. It's a show that respects its audience enough to weave conservation lessons into its storytelling without making them feel didactic.

The series carries the earnest tone of 1960s family television while distinguishing itself through its Florida Everglades setting and its willingness to treat Ben as a genuinely complex character rather than a cute mascot. The writing balances humor with moments of genuine tension—there are scenes where the bear's wild nature creates real danger or moral dilemmas, grounding the show in a kind of practical realism about animal behavior that was uncommon for children's programming of the era. Dennis Weaver's performance as Tom Wedloe anchors the show as a responsible adult figure, and the ensemble cast creates a functional family dynamic that feels like an actual household managing an extraordinary circumstance.

The series found an appreciative audience during its two-season run, connecting with families who appreciated both the adventure elements and the underlying messages about nature conservation. While it never achieved the cultural ubiquity of some contemporaries, Gentle Ben developed a dedicated following that remembered it fondly enough to sustain its legacy through syndication and occasional revival interest. Its modest IMDb rating reflects the show's earnest but uneven quality—some episodes hit their mark with genuine emotional resonance, while others drift toward the formulaic patterns typical of the era.

Within the landscape of 1960s family television, Gentle Ben occupies a distinctive middle ground between pure fantasy adventure shows and more grounded domestic comedies. It's remembered as one of the more intelligent entries in the family genre from its period, offering something beyond simple entertainment by inviting viewers to think about wildlife, responsibility, and coexistence with nature. The show's cultural footprint, while modest compared to major network hits, established a template for animal-centered family narratives that would be revisited repeatedly in subsequent decades.

Themes

floridagrizzly bearhuman animal relationshipevergladesgame wardenbearbased on movie

Is Gentle Ben renewed or cancelled?

Working against it

high

The series is listed as ended

Gentle Ben Season 3 Release Date

No new season is expected. Gentle Ben has ended, so there is no upcoming release to anticipate unless a revival is announced.

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Gentle Ben seasons

Season 11967 · 28 ep
  • 1. Hurricane Coming1967-09-10
  • 2. Green Eyed Bear1967-09-17
  • 3. Fish and Chips1967-09-24
  • 4. Gator Man1967-10-01
  • 5. Voice From the Wilderness1967-10-08
  • 6. Invasion of Willie Sam Gopher1968-10-15
  • 7. Restless Bear1967-10-22
  • 8. Battle of Wedloe Woods1967-10-29
  • 9. Warden For Man and Beast1967-11-05
  • 10. A Waste of Honey1967-11-12
  • 11. Jennifer1967-11-19
  • 12. Warden in the Bear Pit1967-11-26
  • 13. A Medal For Ben1967-12-03
  • 14. The Ransom1967-12-17
  • 15. The Wayward Bear Part 11967-12-24
  • 16. The Wayward Bear Part 21967-12-31
  • 17. The Opportunist1968-01-07
  • 18. The Battle of Birthday Bay1968-01-14
  • 19. Trophy Bear1968-01-21
  • 20. Mama Jolie1968-01-28
  • 21. Batter Up1968-02-04
  • 22. Growing Pains1968-02-11
  • 23. Fire in the Glades1968-02-18
  • 24. Take a Giant Step1968-02-25
  • 25. Survival in the Swamp1968-03-03
  • 26. Who's Afraid?1968-03-10
  • 27. Greener Pastures1968-03-17
  • 28. Ol' Joe's Gotta Go1968-03-24
Season 21968 · 28 ep
  • 1. Two For The Sea Pt. 11968-09-29
  • 2. Two For The Sea Pt. 21968-10-06
  • 3. The Wall That Mark and Tom Built1968-10-13
  • 4. Ben The Champ1968-10-20
  • 5. Flapjacks for Breakfast1968-10-27
  • 6. A Gift of Love1968-11-10
  • 7. Code Name: Disaster1968-11-17
  • 8. The Intruders1968-11-24
  • 9. Starr of Green Bay1968-12-01
  • 10. Warden's Pond1968-12-15
  • 11. Knights of the Road1968-12-22
  • 12. The Haunted Castle1968-12-29
  • 13. The Warden's Apprentice1969-01-05
  • 14. Keeper of the Glades Pt. 11969-01-12
  • 15. Keeper of the Glades Pt. 21969-01-19
  • 16. The Great Mail Boat Robbery1969-01-26
  • 17. Show Biz1969-02-02
  • 18. Flaming Flats1969-02-09
  • 19. Lifeline1969-02-16
  • 20. My Son the Banker1969-02-23
  • 21. The Last Red Wolf1969-03-02
  • 22. The Competitor1969-03-09
  • 23. Mark of the Arrow1969-03-16
  • 24. Boom's Land Boomerang1969-03-23
  • 25. Elephant on the Lam1969-03-30
  • 26. The Prey1969-04-06
  • 27. The Bully1969-04-20
  • 28. Busman's Holiday1969-04-27

Gentle Ben cast

View all cast →
Dennis Weaver

Dennis Weaver

Tom Wedloe

Rance Howard

Rance Howard

Henry Boomhauer

Beth Brickell

Beth Brickell

Clint Howard

Clint Howard

Mark Wedloe

Ron Howard

Ron Howard

Jerry

Ron Howard

Ron Howard

Jody Cutler

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

Pilot

AI Verdict

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May 16May 17

Gentle Ben has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.

Verdict updated 1 month ago

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    Frequently asked

    When does Gentle Ben Season 3 come out?
    Gentle Ben ended after Season 2.
    Is Gentle Ben renewed or cancelled?
    Gentle Ben has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.
    How many seasons of Gentle Ben are there?
    Gentle Ben has aired 2 seasons so far.
    How many episodes of Gentle Ben are there?
    There are 56 episodes of Gentle Ben across 2 seasons.
    What is Gentle Ben's IMDb rating?
    Gentle Ben holds an IMDb rating of 6.5/10 from 730 votes.