Willie Mays helped stretch the medium.
Alfred and Helen Levitt, writers for The Donna Reed Show, often stretched the medium.
Capitalizing on the Kennedy physical fitness craze, they brought real sports figures into the show. Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants appeared in three episodes - "My Son the Catcher"(Season 6, Episode 31), "Play Ball" (Season 7, Episode 3), and "Calling Willie Mays" (Season 8, Episode 20).