Funny that this gets published
right after we discussed this
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I see that the BBC TV comedy series The Good Life (late 70s) did air in the US on PBS as Good Neighbors, but I would have thought it, or the idea of it, would have been ideal for a remake for the US market and is right in line with these strips (or maybe there was a similar US production). “Opening with the midlife crisis of Tom Good, a 40-year-old plastics designer, it relates the joys and miseries he and his wife Barbara experience when they attempt to escape modern commercial living by ‘becoming totally self-sufficient’ in their home in Surbiton” – and interact/ conflict with the still-corporate-minded Leadbetters who live next door.
The series was written with Richard Briers in mind as Tom Good and he was the only well-established actor (at the time), but internationally, eventually, the best known actor in the series was probably Paul Eddington, who played Jerry Leadbetter and was later the hapless Minister/ Prime Minister in Yes, Minister.
Maybe GOOD NEIGHBORS didn’t get a makeover for the US market because The Suits Who Decide These Things decided we’d “already done that one long ago” with (gah!) GREEN ACRES ?
I remember the Good Neighbors. I wondered at the time if self-sufficiency was actually possibly in the suburbs, and was tempted to give it a try, even though I still lived with my parents.
There had recently been another – very short-lived – show called “The Good Life” starring Larry Hagman, which may be why they changed the name.
ignatzz – Have you seen “Bless this Mess”? It is very close to a remake of “Green Acres”. Wife of an NYC couple inherits a farm and they decide to move there and have to deal with all of the colorful local folks.
Comics I Don't Understand 
I see that the BBC TV comedy series The Good Life (late 70s) did air in the US on PBS as Good Neighbors, but I would have thought it, or the idea of it, would have been ideal for a remake for the US market and is right in line with these strips (or maybe there was a similar US production). “Opening with the midlife crisis of Tom Good, a 40-year-old plastics designer, it relates the joys and miseries he and his wife Barbara experience when they attempt to escape modern commercial living by ‘becoming totally self-sufficient’ in their home in Surbiton” – and interact/ conflict with the still-corporate-minded Leadbetters who live next door.
The series was written with Richard Briers in mind as Tom Good and he was the only well-established actor (at the time), but internationally, eventually, the best known actor in the series was probably Paul Eddington, who played Jerry Leadbetter and was later the hapless Minister/ Prime Minister in Yes, Minister.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)
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I loved that show.
When my wife dresses up fancy, I still refer to her as wearing her “posh frock.”
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Maybe GOOD NEIGHBORS didn’t get a makeover for the US market because The Suits Who Decide These Things decided we’d “already done that one long ago” with (gah!) GREEN ACRES ?
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I remember the Good Neighbors. I wondered at the time if self-sufficiency was actually possibly in the suburbs, and was tempted to give it a try, even though I still lived with my parents.
There had recently been another – very short-lived – show called “The Good Life” starring Larry Hagman, which may be why they changed the name.
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Where did we discuss that ancient A+J strip?
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In the “Beginnings” thread, Powers.
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How old is Gene that he’s just wondering about this now?
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Posh Frock! Me, too, Bill.
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Honestly, I’m not sure my wife remembers why I used that phrase.
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ignatzz – Have you seen “Bless this Mess”? It is very close to a remake of “Green Acres”. Wife of an NYC couple inherits a farm and they decide to move there and have to deal with all of the colorful local folks.
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