....or was it a perfect sitcom for its time?


http://www.skooldays.com/images/pt1403.jpg

It's hard to mess with success! Looking at the storylines, the humor, situations, and all -- it's still relevant to today. The only thing that ages the show at all are the fashions....both the set and the clothing. However, wait a few years and the clothes will come back into fashion. :-)

Ahhh...the 70s decor and clothes...scary. :eek: :lol: I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of S1. There were some terrific episodes like "Fly the Unfriendly Skies" and "Don't Go to Bed Mad", but they hadn't found their bearings yet. It felt a little awkward and uneven, like with "P-I-L-O-T" (which was wisely shelved for a few weeks in favor of "Fly") and the neighbor Margaret, who just didn't work. Thankfully, S2 started strong and never looked back. :D

One of the shows I can watch over and over and not get tired of. The fashions and decor were part of the age and that only adds to the show. The characters and writing on this show were excellent and the performers were perfect for their roles. Great show!

Definitely a classic show that still doesn't get all the props it deserves.

NO HOWARD would have improved the show

NO HOWARD would have improved the show

Part of the charm of this show were the situations that the characters found themselves in. They related to things in real life. With the group, each person had a problem that viewers could scratch their heads and think, "I know someone just like that!"

The same could be said for Howard. He is the annoying neighbor that almost everyone has or has had at one time or another. Perhaps you don't have a neighbor that barges in at all hours of the day and night, but is annoying in other ways. Or perhaps you have a friend or neighbor that is somewhat of a space cadet.

Bill Daily, who plays Howard, did it brilliantly. As I've had the privilege of sitting and talking to Bill for a couple of hours one time, I can tell you that Bill is nothing like Howard. It was brilliant acting.

I can't imagine TBNS without Howard/Bill Daily. It just wouldn't be the same!



Donna

Part of the charm of this show were the situations that the characters found themselves in. They related to things in real life. With the group, each person had a problem that viewers could scratch their heads and think, "I know someone just like that!"

The same could be said for Howard. He is the annoying neighbor that almost everyone has or has had at one time or another. Perhaps you don't have a neighbor that barges in at all hours of the day and night, but is annoying in other ways. Or perhaps you have a friend or neighbor that is somewhat of a space cadet.

Bill Daily, who plays Howard, did it brilliantly. As I've had the privilege of sitting and talking to Bill for a couple of hours one time, I can tell you that Bill is nothing like Howard. It was brilliant acting.

I can't imagine TBNS without Howard/Bill Daily. It just wouldn't be the same!



Donna


I never liked GOOFY male characters on any sitcom and I think that's why I hate him so much. Mr. Carlin is more normal than howard-lol

Sol, I think you're the first person I've ever heard call Mr. Carlin normal!! :lol:

Sol, I think you're the first person I've ever heard call Mr. Carlin normal!! :lol:


Compared to Howard he was normal-lol

Hmmmm...I think it's a tossup. :lol:

Compared to Howard he was normal-lol

We've met more people like Carlin in our lives than Howard.

But Carlin in every episode would have been too much.

I think the show balanced characters quite effectively.

But Carlin in every episode would have been too much.

I think the show balanced characters quite effectively.

Agreed on both counts!!

Does Howard get a woman at all during the series??-lol

Yes - he dates and eventually becomes engaged to Bob's sister, Ellen. Alas, they never make it to the altar. He is also seen with various other ladies throughout the show's run, but Ellen was the only woman that he was serious about.

The story is that Bill Daily reminded some of the producers and writers, about what marriage did to other series (IDOJ and Get Smart). He felt it might kill it. So later, they had Carol get married, and that made the series jump the shark but not in a big way.

At the time, Bill was in the process of divorce from his (first) wife, too.

Donna

Besides, Howard and Ellen were a serious mismatch. She was WAY too normal for him - and very independent. I'm glad the writers realized this before going through with a wedding!!

In many ways ,this show was absolutely perfect! But one minor adjustment would have been to tone down Bill Daily's character, Howard Borden.

Bill Daily's schtick on Match Game in the 1970s was to give completely non-sensical answers to the questions. It seemed to be an extension of his Howard character, so over the top in his stupidity. Funny for a while, but it gets old fast. To me he was better as Major Healy on I Dream of Jeannie. Eventually you stop laughing and you begin to lose your patience.

While I enjoyed Howard and Mr. Daily's work, has anyone else gone over to Emmy TV Legends interview with him? Hoo boy!
It was downright exhausting to have him constantly 'on' and keep changing back and forth. :eek:

In many ways ,this show was absolutely perfect! But one minor adjustment would have been to tone down Bill Daily's character, Howard Borden.


hated that goofball

hated that goofball



I didn't hate him as much as I thought him as an annoying character. The actor Bill Daily is excellent in the role. It's just the character is too over the top

I didn't hate him as much as I thought him as an annoying character. The actor Bill Daily is excellent in the role. It's just the character is too over the top


Never been a fan of goofy male characters

NO HOWARD would have improved the show

I disagree. However, I would say they should have kept him from becoming the total doofus he became in the last couple of seasons.

I disagree. However, I would say they should have kept him from becoming the total doofus he became in the last couple of seasons.


He was a doofus in all seasons

I'm glad they had Pat on there as well. I just wish we had more appearances by Teri Garr. She was extremely hot in those years.

Getting rid of Bill Daly after the first season.

Bob's suits were pretty stylish, and for the most part not 1970's garish. Suzanne Pleshette could wear a garbage bag and look good.

Bob's suits were pretty stylish, and for the most part not 1970's garish. Suzanne Pleshette could wear a garbage bag and look good.


Agree! Even when she wore 'funky' clothes as a joke that episode, she STILL looked stunning! Of course, it helped that her best curves were inside her head!:cool:

It was unrealistic too that the Hartley's kept their door unlocked all the time. Seriously, if I had a neighbour like Howard, that door would be locked always.

Howard was supposed to be an airline navigator? I don't think I'd want that goofball in the cockpit of any plane that I'm on. I found him to be more annoying as the series went on.

Maybe Tom Poston should have been a regular character instead of just appearing in a few episodes.

Howard was supposed to be an airline navigator? I don't think I'd want that goofball in the cockpit of any plane that I'm on. I found him to be more annoying as the series went on.

Maybe Tom Poston should have been a regular character instead of just appearing in a few episodes.

Howard should have been the patient for Bob and Mr. Carlin should have been the neighbor

Put the goofy secretary who called Bob Dr. Ryan in more episodes.

Howard lands in Baghdad and decides to stay there, searching for a genie. Bob and Emily adopt his kid and they take him to Jerry for braces. Ellen hears Howard is in Baghdad now and hops a plane to go after him. Mr. Carlin takes Howard's apt. and decides to buy the building. After he does that he get into an argument with Bob (in one of Bob's phone bits) and almost evicts the Hartleys.