The jokes about her series bother her, but Donna Reed knows a successful format when she sees it.

Jack Parr and others have made fun of all the sweetness and light generated on ABC's Thursday evening "Donna Reed Show," and this often has hurt sensitive Miss Reed.

Yet, she's realistic, too. "I've discovered that most of my fans never notice the sting but consider any mention of my show as praise," she says.

In any case, the lovely 44-year-old actress and her husband, Tony Owen, who produces the program, try to ignore the criticism. For the series--starting its eighth season this fall--provides a comfortable and happy home for themselves, their four children (Penny, 19; Tony Jr., 18; Timothy, 15 and Mary Ann, 8) and Suzy, the family dog that Miss Reed is shown holding in the cover picture.

She plans no basic change in the series format. "One bit of risque dialogue on our show and we'd face a congressional investigation," she says with a delectable smile.