View Full Version : Paul Henning used his childhood as fuel to write three hit rural comedies


TMC
04-20-2023, 09:51 PM
https://www.metv.com/stories/paul-henning-used-his-childhood-as-fuel-to-write-three-hit-rural-comedies

Growing up, Paul Henning loved hillbilly humor. As an adult, hillbilly humor made Henning's career as the producer of three hit TV shows.

Duster76
04-20-2023, 10:18 PM
Just to be clear Jay Sommers created Green Acres. Paul was given an opportunity to develop another series for CBS without a pilot, Paul asked Jay if he had any ideas, Jay went to work developing a radio series he had worked on 15 years earlier "Granby's Green Acres" into a television series. Paul acknowledged this in interviews giving Jay full credit.

Chocolate Moose
04-21-2023, 11:03 AM
Write what you know!!!

biffbronson
04-21-2023, 02:47 PM
From the article:

"Petticoat Junction was another series that was written based on Henning's country upbringing."

By most all accounts, the premise of the little hotel etc. was based on the upbringing of Henning's wife, so for clarity that should have had a brief mention.

Will Dockery
05-21-2023, 03:43 AM
https://www.metv.com/stories/paul-henning-used-his-childhood-as-fuel-to-write-three-hit-rural-comedies

Growing up, Paul Henning loved hillbilly humor. As an adult, hillbilly humor made Henning's career as the producer of three hit TV shows.

It was an interesting early example of a shared universe.

I always wondered how far away, say, Bugtustle was from Hooterville.

I'm sure that's been discussed here over the years.

forn
06-11-2023, 06:13 PM
Just to be clear Jay Sommers created Green Acres. Paul was given an opportunity to develop another series for CBS without a pilot, Paul asked Jay if he had any ideas, Jay went to work developing a radio series he had worked on 15 years earlier "Granby's Green Acres" into a television series.
I just watched a video this morning that talked about Granby's Green Acres. I noticed it featured Bea Benaderet (who played Pearl Bodine and Kate Bradley on TV) as the wife. Essentially the Lisa role, I guess, without the Hungarian stuff.