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Leave It To Beaver
One of the most popular series in television history, Leave It to Beaver stood out from the flock of family shows during TV's golden age. While most Beaver contemporaries, like The Donna Reed Show and The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, were star-driven vehicles in which the kids were merely supporting players, the action and antics in Leave It to Beaver centered around the Cleaver boys.
Premiering in the fall of 1957 and focusing on the adventures of seven-year-old Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and his 12-year-old brother, Wally, Leave It to Beaver was remarkably fresh for its time. While its tone reflected the innocence of the era, the series had a realistic edge thanks to the show's creators, Joe Connely and Bob Mosher, who based most of the young characters on their own kids and other children they knew. The episode where Wally gives Beaver a crummy coif after losing his haircut money was taken straight from the experience of little Bobby Mosher. Does that mean there was actually a real life Eddie Haskell and Larry Mondello too?
The lasting charm of Leave It to Beaver can also be attributed to its timeless story lines. It's not difficult to imagine Wally and the Beav's misadventures happening today, albeit with hipper lingo. At the show's core is the theme of growing up, and while most of us don't have model parents like Ward and June Cleaver or Gus the Fireman to dispense advice, we can identify with many of the Cleaver kids' predicaments. Boys will be boys, after all.
Though the original series left prime time in September 1963, it has remained a regular in reruns ever since. In the early 1980s, Leave It to Beaver experienced a resurgence in popularity that resulted in a sort of Beaver Cleaver fever. Wally and the Beav suddenly found themselves on Kellogg's Cornflakes boxes, as well as the subject of a number of books. A reunion movie, Still the Beaver, was produced, and led to a syndicated series reuniting many of the show's original cast members.
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Golden Girls
The Emmy Award-winning series "The Golden Girls" is one of the most honored and highly rated sitcoms on television now in syndication.
Stars Beatrice Arthur (Dorothy), Betty White (Rose), Rue McClanahan(Blanche) and Estelle Getty (Sophia) — all of whom garnered Emmys for their performances in the series — are considered one of the most popular and acclaimed teams of comedic actors on television. In its debut season in syndication, "The Golden Girls" — a show about four single women in Miami Beach, Florida, who are middle-aged but young at heart — trounced all competition, earning the title of number-one new series of the season.
"The Golden Girls" consistently ranked as one of television's top 10 series after it debuted on NBC in 1985. The series was nominated for 57 Emmy Awards, including Best Comedy Series each year, winning 10 Emmys, three Golden Globe Awards and countless other prestigious honors.
On top of a successful series and an exceptional cast, "The Golden Girls" attracted extremely talented and visible guest stars, including Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, Julio Iglesias, Debbie Reynolds, Cesar Romero, Brenda Vaccaro, Jack Gilford and Burt Reynolds.
"The Golden Girls" is a Witt-Thomas-Harris Production in association with Touchstone Television, and was created by Susan Harris. Paul Witt, Tony Thomas and Susan Harris served as executive producers.
"The Golden Girls" is distributed by Buena Vista Television, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
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Green Acres
Green Acres, television's 160-acres of agrarian psychedelia, aired on CBS from 1965 to 1971. It was the brainchild of writer Jay Sommers and creative overachiever writer/producer Paul Henning.
Henning was the inspired force behind the hit series The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction, and his clout with CBS was such that in 1965, while Henning's schedule was jam-packed with supervising nearly every aspect of Hillbillies and Junction, CBS President James Aubrey offered Henning a half-hour primetime slot to produce whatever he wanted. According to "The Hooterville Handbook, A Viewers Guide to Green Acres", by Stephen Cox (St. Martin's Press), "the meeting went like this: James Aubrey (sometimes known as "the smiling cobra") told Henning CBS would air whatever he handed in. No pilot necessary. Just do it."
Writer Jay Sommers had the concept for what would eventually become the surreal word of Green Acres in 1950, when he created, wrote, and directed a thirteen part radio show for CBS entitled Granby's Green Acres, which the network aired that year as a summer replacement. The bedrock for the fertile soil of Hooterville is evident in the premise of Granby's . . . John Granby, a bank clerk; his bewildered wife, Martha; and their teenage daughter leave the city behind in search of literal greener pastures. They have a hired hand named Eb.
In 1965, when Hemming was given the green light to produce anything that suited his fancy, Sommers was well ensconced as a television writer, working on shows such as Ozzie and Harriet and Petticoat Junction. Interested in getting a show of his own on the air, Sommers approached Hemming with his old Granby's . . . scripts. Hemming saw the opportunity to cross-pollinate the hicks-in-reverse show with his existing series, and Green Acres sprung up like a crop of summer corn.
Successful lawyer Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) longs to leave behind the complications of modern society and life as a Manhattanite, and despite the protestations of his glamorous, socialite, Hungarian wife Lisa (Eva Gabor), Oliver buys a farm, sight unseen, from swindler Mr. Haney. The couple says "goodbye city life!" and take up residence in Hooterville, U.S.A. While there is some debate amongst the show's fans as to the actual geographic location of Hooterville, one thing is clear; it exists in a state of mind-bending logic and hallucinatory natural laws, and is inhabited by an eccentric population that includes favorite son Arnold Ziffel, a multi-lingual, television watching pig. The farm Oliver has purchased is a shambles, the farmhouse in a state of advanced disrepair. Along with hired hand Eb, Oliver tries to make a go at being a gentleman farmer. Meanwhile, Lisa settles in to her new surroundings despite herself, and attempts to bring gracious living and the finer things to the oddball residents of this off-the-map town.
In 1971 CBS wanted to revamp its image and canceled Green Acres and the other shows on its roster set in rural environs. Nevertheless, the show lived on in syndication and in the hearts and imaginations of its devoted fans. In other words . . . the pig stays in the picture.
THE CAST AND CHARACTERS OF GREEN ACRES
Eddie Albert...Oliver Wendell Douglas
Eva Gabor...Lisa Douglas, nee Gronyitz
Pat Buttram...Mr. Haney
Tom Lester...Eb Dawson
Frank Cady...Sam Drucker
Alvy Moore...Hank Kimball
Hank Patterson...Fred Ziffel
Barbara Pepper...Doris Ziffel (1965-1969)
Fran Ryan...Doris Ziffel (1969-1971)
Kay E. Kuter...Newt Kiley (1965-1970)
Sid Melton...Alf Monroe (1966-1969)
Mary Grace Canfield...Ralph Monroe (1966-1971)
Return To Green Acres
(The Movie)
If you were not among the few to see this 1990 CBS, made-for-tv, movie...consider yourself LUCKY! Although they were able to get together all of the still living cast, they were unable to put together an even remotely amusing script.
The film begins with the original Green Acres' theme song and opening, though in black and white (which it NEVER was in the actual series), in case the viewers are too stupid to figure out that a great deal of time has passed since the original series. The opening then turns to color with an added section to the theme song, during which time we learn that Doris and Fred Ziffel are dead, and that Eb has married some ugly nobody who pops out kids every five minutes.
The "plot" of the movie is as follows: After many years, Oliver and Lisa are disenchanted with their farm and Hooterville in general. Developers decide that Hooterville would be an ideal spot to build a huge industrial area, and hire Mr. Haney (who is downright EVIL in this film), to swindle the people of Hooterville into giving up their homes as cheap prices. Oliver and Lisa sell the farm and move back to New York, during which time Haney tricks the entire town into selling their homes. When everyone learns that Haney tricked them, they decide to travel to New York to get Mr. Douglas, to use his skills as a lawyer, to get their properties back. Naturally, Oliver fails, but fortunately, the two main characters--The Ziffels neice (oh brother!) and the evil land developers son (zzzzzzz!) fall in love. After the evil land developers son proposes to Ms. Ziffel (without even ever going out on a date), he decides to stand up to his father and help the people of Hooterville get their land back. Everyone tricks Haney and the land developer into thinking Hooterville is on an earthquake fault, and (appearently) the land developer just gives them all their land back (except of course for Mr. Douglas, who must pay Mr. Haney for his). The film ends "happily" (believe me, you are VERY happy when it ends), with Oliver and Lisa realizing they love Green Acres and Eb's wife pumping out THREE more children. |
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The Jetsons
Meet the Jetson family
 George Jetson
Loving family man who always seems to make the wrong decision. Makes long three hour working days at Spacely's Sprockets. Aged 38. Dad of Elroy and Judy. Man in the house. Starts his day with a refreshing ultra-sonic shower (which is much more convenient than a wet shower as one does not need to go trough the hassle of taking one's cloths of anymore). A man to love. Likes to watch Hill Stars Blues and spaceball together with Elroy. When George was a kid he went through 10 miles of asteroid storms to go to Orbit High School, where he was the Star Pitcher of the spaceball team. Sweater size 40 x 40 cm
 Jane Jetson
George's spouse. Always looking for a new look and finding ways to make life as pleasant as possible for poor George. Dials a great dinner daily, for example beetle juice and lunar locks. She's a member of the Galaxy Women Historical Society. Enjoys the work of Leonardo de Venus and Picasso Pia. Wears size 8. Loves to go shopping at Mooning Dales. Sweater size 42 x 33 cm
 Elroy Jetson
George's son. He's about 10 years old and a genius in all space sciences. Attends Little Dipper School. Straight-A student studying space history, astro physics and star geometry. Won't do anything wrong. Devoted to space adventures with Nimbus the Great on television and playing with his Nimbus zoom-bot. Watches House of the Planet on television with Judy. Sweater size 30 x 21 cm
 Judy Jetson
George's daughter. She's about 16 years old. Prime interests: boys, clothes, boys, dating, guys and going out. Previous dates: Space Hawk Mike, Vinny van GoGogh, Rocky Retro and Jet Screamer. Reveals every secret to her digital diary DiDi, lives by the directions of her Micro Processor Personal Organizer. Wants a Moonseratti to impress the boys. Studies cyborg biology and astro mathematics. Loves to shop at Laser's Department Store. Sweater size 37 x 28 cm
 Rosie
The house-hold robot. She's an out-dated model but the Jetsons love her and would never trade her for a newer model.
 Astro
The dog, once known as "Tralfaz" in a former life. Not always so smart but smart enough to be able to talk (oh well, at least something that sounds like talking). Astro just loves George and shows it every time George gets home. Sweater size 36 x 17 cm
 Orbitty
Unidentified alien pet. A little furry animal with a built in slinky. Elroy found it on a field trip to mars and took it home. Orbity is a friendly pet, incredibly smart and always in a good mood. Never ever make it angry tough. Introduced in the 80s series. Changes colours with moods: yellow is scared, pink is affectionate, white is neutral
Meet the others
 Cosmo Spacely
George's boss. All of his life George is offered vice presidency if he does whatever Spacely's got on his mind. Just as many times George gets fired if he doesn't do whatever's on Spacely's mind. Cosmo's life time competitor is "Cogswell". While Cosmo is there almost every episode, Cogswell is used now-and-then. Biggest client: Mr. Spendwell. Wife: Petulia.
 R.U.D.I.
"Referential Universal Differential Indexer": George's computer at work. RUDI doesn't like the 3 day 2-hours-a-day work week as well. Jetson can go home every day, RUDI can't get out as he's part of the building. Presumably a member of S.P.C.H. (Society Preventing Cruelty to Humans).
 Henry Orbit and his robot Mack
The sky pad appartment's repair man. Always helpful and always in a good mood. His robot Mack fell in love with Rosie and married her. Henry services the building, cleans cars and looks after the garage. Always good for a quick word of advice to George just before leaving the car park.
 Cogswell
Spacely's big competitor. Owns the Cogswell's Coggs company, the biggest competitor of Spacely's Space Sprockets. Cogswell's scientific assistant is called Mr. Moonstone, his special agent Collin uses code X-73145. The two corporate raiders have a life of cut trought competition. Cogswell has a dart-board with Spacely's face on it in his office. Like to play golf at the Moonside Country Club.
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