View Full Version : Harper Valley P.T.A. Boned the Fish When...


TMC
09-30-2013, 04:50 PM
http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1786

Harper Valley PTA is an early 1980s American television sitcom based on the 1978 film Harper Valley PTA, which was itself based on the 1968 hit song recorded by country singer Jeannie C. Riley, written by Tom T. Hall. The series went on to flesh out the story in the song, as it told of the adventures of Stella Johnson (Barbara Eden), a single mother living in the fictional town of Harper Valley, Ohio, which was still dominated by the namesakes of the founder, the Harper family, most prominently represented by the mayor, Otis Harper, Jr. (George Gobel). Mrs. Johnson's flouting of the small town's conventions, and exposure of the hypocrisy of many of its other residents, provided the series' humor.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070225141752/http://jumptheshark.com/


Other Thoughts:

Who could forget this terrible remake of a horrible movie. Not only was the acting worse, the teenager in the movie was at least somewhat cute, while the fat chick on the TV show was revolting. This show was so bad that the shark chewed this one up and spit it out.
When it dropped the PTA from its premise and thus from its title also. The show was one of only two in TV history based on a phonographic record ("Alvin and the Chipmunks" was the other), and the PTA was the focal point of the 1968 song and the movie that it inspired 10 years later. Flora Simpson Riley and her daughter Wanda Riley Taylor were constantly trying to get Stella kicked out of the PTA. Flora even snoops into Stella's mail in on episode. With the PTA gone, the show lost its focal point. Barbara Eden playing Stella and her lookalike cousin was the best the could come up with after this. And Stella's uncle moving in with her. As if that was necessary.
HARPER VALLEY JUMPED BEFORE IT EVEN HIT THE AIR.WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS,MAKING A TV SHOW FROM A MOVIE DOESN'T WORK.I AGREE,THE DAUGHTER WAS A FAT UGLY PIECE OF TEENAGED CRAP.THE WRITING,AND ACTING WAS JUST SICKENING.ANY SHOW THAT HAD GEORGE GOBLE IN IT HAD TO AWFUL.THE ONE GOOD PART WAS SEEING BARBARA EDEN LOOKING AND ACTING SLUTTY.SHE WOULD WEAR THOSE SHORT SKIRTS ALL THE TIME.THOSE LEGS WERE JUST AWESOME TO STARE AT!
Harper Valley PTA was chum from the start. Who was the evil "genius" that decided to base a TV show on a country song?
Come 'on - any show that would bring back George Goebel can't be all bad!
This show was always jumping, but it really jumped when Stella dressed up in I Dream of Jeannie's outfit!
Yes, the premise of this show was laughable. But let's face it, Barbara Eden cannot carry a bag of groceries by herself, let alone a television series. In the absence of Dandy Duncan, Eden's traditional antagonist (cf. Circus of the Stars, The Hogan Family, The Sandy Duncan Show, etc.), not even a "special" guest appearance by dancing sensation Ron "Mister to you, buddy" Montez could save the day.
JTS when they made a TV show based on a corny song. Barbara Eden then = HOT, the show was NOT however.
This show jumped when they introduced the useless character of "Uncle Buster", the wacky inventor. As if this show had to use some more gags like this, it sure didn't help.

HeyItsMe
03-01-2019, 04:41 AM
http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1786



https://web.archive.org/web/20070225141752/http://jumptheshark.com/


Other Thoughts:

Who could forget this terrible remake of a horrible movie. Not only was the acting worse, the teenager in the movie was at least somewhat cute, while the fat chick on the TV show was revolting. This show was so bad that the shark chewed this one up and spit it out.
When it dropped the PTA from its premise and thus from its title also. The show was one of only two in TV history based on a phonographic record ("Alvin and the Chipmunks" was the other), and the PTA was the focal point of the 1968 song and the movie that it inspired 10 years later. Flora Simpson Riley and her daughter Wanda Riley Taylor were constantly trying to get Stella kicked out of the PTA. Flora even snoops into Stella's mail in on episode. With the PTA gone, the show lost its focal point. Barbara Eden playing Stella and her lookalike cousin was the best the could come up with after this. And Stella's uncle moving in with her. As if that was necessary.
HARPER VALLEY JUMPED BEFORE IT EVEN HIT THE AIR.WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS,MAKING A TV SHOW FROM A MOVIE DOESN'T WORK.I AGREE,THE DAUGHTER WAS A FAT UGLY PIECE OF TEENAGED CRAP.THE WRITING,AND ACTING WAS JUST SICKENING.ANY SHOW THAT HAD GEORGE GOBLE IN IT HAD TO AWFUL.THE ONE GOOD PART WAS SEEING BARBARA EDEN LOOKING AND ACTING SLUTTY.SHE WOULD WEAR THOSE SHORT SKIRTS ALL THE TIME.THOSE LEGS WERE JUST AWESOME TO STARE AT!
Harper Valley PTA was chum from the start. Who was the evil "genius" that decided to base a TV show on a country song?
Come 'on - any show that would bring back George Goebel can't be all bad!
This show was always jumping, but it really jumped when Stella dressed up in I Dream of Jeannie's outfit!
Yes, the premise of this show was laughable. But let's face it, Barbara Eden cannot carry a bag of groceries by herself, let alone a television series. In the absence of Dandy Duncan, Eden's traditional antagonist (cf. Circus of the Stars, The Hogan Family, The Sandy Duncan Show, etc.), not even a "special" guest appearance by dancing sensation Ron "Mister to you, buddy" Montez could save the day.
JTS when they made a TV show based on a corny song. Barbara Eden then = HOT, the show was NOT however.
This show jumped when they introduced the useless character of "Uncle Buster", the wacky inventor. As if this show had to use some more gags like this, it sure didn't help.

Totally not true. It had the best premiere than any other show. My fav all time show. The best ever. Didnt care for the first season. The 2nd season they dropped th PTA and was the funniest. I use to write to Anne Francine aka Flora and shed write back. Became friends.

rcbrad
03-02-2019, 09:53 PM
Totally not true. It had the best premiere than any other show. My fav all time show. The best ever. Didnt care for the first season. The 2nd season they dropped th PTA and was the funniest. I use to write to Anne Francine aka Flora and shed write back. Became friends.

What do you mean by that it had the best premiere of any show? It's been awhile since I watched it, but I feel the opposite about the better season. I always thought the first season was funnier and better produced than the second season.

OH Nuts!
03-02-2019, 10:33 PM
Never boned for me, I enjoyed every ep and was sorry to see it go.