"A horse is a horse of course of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course.
That is of course unless the horse
Is the famous Mister Ed!"

Considering how many humans occasionally talk to their four-legged friends in the animal kingdom, it is no surprise that they would love to, just once, hear an animal give them a response in a language they could understand. Only a select few have been afforded this luxury, such as scientists who have taught primates sign language – and, of course, a mild-mannered architect named Wilbur Post, who got more than he bargained for, thanks to a particularly talkative steed, affectionately known to millions of television viewers as Mister Ed.   

Debuting on CBS in 1961, Mister Ed was a sitcom starring Alan Young as architect Wilbur Post, who decided to move from the city to a rural farmhouse with his wife Carol. Upon inspecting the attached barn, Wilbur was shocked to find that the resident palomino had a penchant for conversation. Intrigued, Wilbur moved his drafting table out to the barn, affording him an excuse to chat away the country days with his new pal. Unfortunately, Ed got a little stage fright when anyone other than Wilbur was around, which led to a number of comedic possibilities, some of which involved the Post’s neighbors, the Addisons. Husband Roger often poked fun at Mister Ed, mainly to get his mind off of how much of his money his wife was spending, or what horrific meal she might be preparing.

Ed may have been a horse, but his human qualities weren’t restricted to a gift for gab. Among other things, he suffered from acrophobia, which required some treatment from a psychiatrist, as well as some abandonment issues, which reared their head when Wilbur and Carol decided to head to the Hawaiian Islands for some rest and relaxation. Not content to remain behind, Ed ended up making the trek as well, and even showing off his formidable surfing skills. Sure, it was all absurd fun, but one couldn’t help feeling for the poor palomino (thanks in no small part to the endearing and unforgettable voice lent to Ed by veteran actor, Allan “Rocky” Lane.)

Mister Ed first debuted in syndication, but after seven months CBS picked up the series. It is the first show in television history ever to act as a mid-season replacement and its eventual reign would last for 143 episodes over six seasons, before Ed finally went mum in 1966. It wouldn’t be the last time a talking horse came out of Hollywood, of course, of course, but none was ever as beloved by millions quite to the extent of “the famous Mister Ed.”