Of the two episodes "Hawaiian Honeymoon" and "The Ex-Secretary"

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Which did you like better?""Hawaiian Honeymoon"was a little bit better(Oliver didn't get really mad in this one,that girl's father who owned the hotel did- -)and it was nice that Oliver and Lisa were featured prominintely in this one,but as for the last show of the series,"The Ex-Secretary",that one was awfully dull,did NOT feature Oliver and Lisa except at the very beginning,and was a waste of time.It was like watching an entirely different show,with a bunch of very boring characters,and as I said before,bore very little resemblance to "Green Acres"at all.Anyone agree?

[biffbronson]

These two episodes were actually pilots for new series (never picked up though), and the producers were able to use Green Acres as a means to get them aired -- as GA was coming to its end via cancellation.

I love the one with Elaine Joyce and Emmaline Henry, two of my favorite actresses. Elaine was really delightful.

[kooky12]

It's a shame that the last episode was used as a pilot for a new series, instead of a farewell-type of episode.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by kooky12

It's a shame that the last episode was used as a pilot for a new series, instead of a farewell-type of episode.

I just posted about this on another thread! It was a shame it ended the way it did and not a farewell to the Douglas's and the folks of Hooterville. Or even if they just ended it with a regular silly episode set in Hooterville!


The Hawaii episode did at least have the Douglas's in it on their vacation. And the show in itself was OK. The secretary one really had nothing at all to do with the Green acres series at all, and not that funny either.

[PhoenixAcres]

While they were both pretty bad, to me I found "The Ex-Secretary" a better written and performed episode. I know Oliver and Lisa were barely in this one, but since the last two episodes are a complete departure from the Green Acres premise, their absence is actually appropriate.

Featuring Oliver and Lisa in "Hawaiian Honeymoon" was a poor choice IMO. They obviously didn't fit in with where the story was going and having them pop up in the middle of all these new characters was just awkward. Not to mention it was an atrociously written episode. I don't think I've ever been able to sit through the entire episode, it's so full of lame jokes and cringe-worthy attempts at humor. It's beyond me how the brilliant Jay Sommers could have produced something this awful. I'm guessing he was desperate to keep working in the event Green Acres was cancelled (and it was, sadly).

But getting back to "The Ex-Secretary", at least this one had a plethora of fantastic veteran actors to drive the story forward. Richard Deacon, Emmaline Henry, Elaine Joyce, etc. I also liked the grouchy brother-in-law character as well but I can't remember his name. Not a great pilot, but this one to me seemed like it had potential. I would have definitely given this series a try if it was picked up.

[forn]

I just watched these two episodes. I thought the Hawaiian Honeymoon had better potential as a series. I found the girl in the Ex-Secretary to be a little annoying, she was too ditzy. Not quite as bad as watching a Hank Kimball series, but still.

One thing bugged me. Oliver described his ex-secretary as plain up and down, and she wore sweatshirts. But she was not plain, and she wore form fitting dresses. I guess he just told Lisa that so she wouldn't be jealous? Or maybe she had grown up in the meantime?

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by forn

I just watched these two episodes. I thought the Hawaiian Honeymoon had better potential as a series. I found the girl in the Ex-Secretary to be a little annoying, she was too ditzy. Not quite as bad as watching a Hank Kimball series, but still.

One thing bugged me. Oliver described his ex-secretary as plain up and down, and she wore sweatshirts. But she was not plain, and she wore form fitting dresses. I guess he just told Lisa that so she wouldn't be jealous? Or maybe she had grown up in the meantime?

I agree with your pick, of the two I thought the Hawaiian Honeymoon was the better one. That said, both had flaws and I can readily understand why they didn't sell. Both had a retro feel, the Pam Franklin pilot was basically Gidget working at her father's Hawaiian hotel. They even cast Don Porter as the father! The Ex-Secretary with a couple of tweaks aside looked like it escaped from the pilot class of 64-65. Mary Tyler Moore and All in the Family were already on the air, CBS wasn't looking back.

[biffbronson]

How I wish Elaine Joyce had at least one season of her own series. Instead she's probably best known for Match Game, where we could hardly have a look at her.



Don Porter at least did get a full season of Gidget at ABC -- I think even the most mediocre episode of that series was superior to "Hawaiian Honeymoon," yet it didn't last. Maybe he would have been better suited to the "Ex-Secretary" pilot -- I enjoyed his 1950s work on Ann Sothern's series Private Secretary.

[forn]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

How I wish Elaine Joyce had at least one season of her own series. Instead she's probably best known for Match Game, where we could hardly have a look at her.

Ah, that's where I had seen her before. I knew she looked familiar.

At least the secretary show had Richard Deacon going for it. The role of the father confused me. He seemed to be a bit of a ditz himself. He wanted to get involved in her daughter's scheme, to protect her, and then he runs off to play poker and almost gets arrested himself. And we never even found out if Oliver got his watch fixed. Heckuva cliffhanger to end the series on.