Was Green Acres a spinoff of Petticoat Junction?

[TMC]

Or did it just have some of the same characters and take place in the same town (Hooterville)? The tone and humor were totally different despite both having Sam Drucker as the storekeeper. It was like he existed in both the crazy world of Green Acres and the more wholesome and heartwarming world of Petticoat Junction and the Shady Rest Hotel.

[biffbronson]

There was more to it than Hooterville & the General Store:

1. In addition to Sam Drucker carrying over, Uncle Joe from PJ regularly appeared in early GA episodes.

2. Kate Bradley and her daughters crossed over as well for several GA appearances, with the girls sometimes borrowing from Lisa's wardrobe.

3. Eb Dawson crossed over later and was a love interest for Betty Jo at the Shady Rest. Newt Kiley also crossed over many times.

4. Early on in PJ, Fred Ziffel appeared as a pig farmer -- the origins of Fred & Arnold the Pig.

The type of humor doesn't define whether or not GA was a spinoff. There are clear reasons it was. A character like Eb who originated with the creation of GA entered the world of PJ, so he's a good example of the vice-versa as far as carryover.

[Duster76]

There is a simple answer to this question, no Green Acres is not a spinoff of Petticoat Junction. The first time the series concept and main characters are introduced is in the first episode of Green Acres narrated by John Charles Daly. As a matter of fact the Green Acres concept existed long before Petticoat Junction, it was briefly a radio series back in 1950 starring two legends, Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet. That radio series was created by Jay Sommers.

[stevea]

Crossover characters do not a spinoff make. The premise of GA really had nothing to do with PJ, other than that the Haney farm (never referred to in PJ prior to GA) was in the same area. Being set in the same area and both being Filmways shows, sure they shared characters.

[biffbronson]

Opinions, opinions. I will continue to disagree. When a new show comes on that shares sets (the Drucker store), characters (Sam & Joe and others), and a major prop (the Cannonball train), you're claiming it's not a spinoff. Kate and Joe talked with Oliver and Lisa REGULARLY early on!! At the old Shady Rest website, most if not all of the members believed GA was a spinoff.

The Granby's Green Acres radio show is beside the point. In the same way Sommers had Bob Cummings climbing a pole to use a phone on his show, every writer draws from past work when embarking on a new series. Those things affected GA but did not affect whether GA was a PJ spinoff or not.

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by stevea

The premise of GA really had nothing to do with PJ, other than that the Haney farm (never referred to in PJ prior to GA) was in the same area. Being set in the same area and both being Filmways shows, sure they shared characters.

By your logic, Gomer Pyle USMC would not be considered a spinoff of TAGS, as the premise and location are TOTALLY different. PJ and GA share much more than just crossover characters, and the rural setting is identical. As I detailed earlier, there were strong bonds between PJ and GA, especially as GA began.

What is your decision? Remember that Opie, Andy, Goober, and Aunt Bee all were at Camp Henderson with Gomer at one time or other, and Gomer goes back to a mostly-deserted Mayberry once. So, are you in agreement that Gomer was a spinoff of TAGS, yet you disagree regarding PJ/GA -- despite the much stronger relationships and shared setting?

[stevea]

The GA premise took totally new characters, the Douglases, and put them in a totally new situation.

"Gomer" took an established character and spun him off, same character, into a new situation.

IMO you've got to spin something off. With GA you have a new situation comedy and the production company decided to cross over characters.

Really it's just an opinion. Can we agree, 2 great shows?

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

By your logic, Gomer Pyle USMC would not be considered a spinoff of TAGS, as the premise and location are TOTALLY different. PJ and GA share much more than just crossover characters, and the rural setting is identical. As I detailed earlier, there were strong bonds between PJ and GA, especially as GA began.

What is your decision? Remember that Opie, Andy, Goober, and Aunt Bee all were at Camp Henderson with Gomer at one time or other, and Gomer goes back to a mostly-deserted Mayberry once. So, are you in agreement that Gomer was a spinoff of TAGS, yet you disagree regarding PJ/GA -- despite the much stronger relationships and shared setting?

You have this whole thing hopelessly confused. Gomer Pyle is a classic example of a spinoff. He was an established character in TAGS appearing in a total of 23 episodes before moving into his own series. That's what a spinoff is! Rhoda, Frasier, Flo, Joanie Loves Chachi, The Ropers are some other examples, I don't know why you want to make this more complicated than it need to be.

[PhoenixAcres]

I think the main question is what, if any, integral elements did Green Acres borrow from Petticoat Junction? In other words, what exactly was "spun off"?

Among GA's regular characters, 5 debuted on PJ rather than GA: Drucker, Kiley, and the three Ziffels. Joe Carson could be considered a semi-regular, but he only appeared a handful of times after season 1. I don't believe any of these characters were integral to the formation of GA, which at its core was the relationship between Oliver and Lisa. As the show found its footing and relied more on the supporting cast, the PJ transplants were no more important to the series than the GA originals of Eb, Haney, etc.

As far as setting, the argument could be made that Hooterville itself, along with some of its denizens, was spun off from PJ. While this is a fair point, the Hooterville of GA is definitely written more in line with the offbeat, irreverent feel that GA is known for. Many of the classic storylines set in GA's Hooterville would seem out of place for the Hooterville of PJ.

Ultimately, these are different shows created by different people. As Duster76 stated, the central premise of GA predated PJ by 13 years. The cross pollination efforts by Paul Henning married an older premise with a setting familiar to TV audiences. As the GA series matured, they steadily distanced themselves from these connections. That being said, undeniable connections always existed. Sam Drucker, for example, is the anchor between both shows. Therefore I think it's more appropriate to call GA a sister show rather than a spin off.

[Duster76]

Phoenix Acres said:

Ultimately, these are different shows created by different people. As Duster76 stated, the central premise of GA predated PJ by 13 years. The cross pollination efforts by Paul Henning married an older premise with a setting familiar to TV audiences. As the GA series matured, they steadily distanced themselves from these connections. That being said, undeniable connections always existed. Sam Drucker, for example, is the anchor between both shows. Therefore I think it's more appropriate to call GA a sister show rather than a spin off.


It's funny you should mention Sam Drucker, there was an old comedy routine I don't remember who originated it but it was a guy who was an AM/FM DJ at the same time, so as the Am jock he was fast talking, uptempo, go to a record then flip a switch and he becomes the laid back FM jock talking about his coffee, mentioning his engineer. Frank Cady was in the same position, on Petticoat, Sam was anchored to the ground, sober, nothing zany going on, then you see him on Green Acres, talking to Arnold, selling number 5 toasters, old mail day, well digging act as amended in 1912, selling Dee Dee's dehydrated chicken dinners. Frank Cady was great, so underrated.

[cd637299]

I myself would consider GA indeed a spinoff of PJ, in the sense that the Douglases entered a familiar world, although the debate doesn’t end here.

I put GA in my top 3 fave sitcoms. That being said, had GA continued on like it did in S1, I might have a different opinion now.

The GA humor in S1 almost mirrors the “heartwarming” style comedy of PJ. But as Alvy Moore once said, he was supposed to be a temporary character; but the way he hemmed and hawed, trying to say what he thought of the Douglas farm, the staff said “We gotta keep this guy!”. The lunacy may hsve started at that point on!

Also, Lisa was reasonable in S1, until she fed off the others.

I’m glad of the change in direction!

And Kudos to Sam Drucker, being able to adjust his character throughout the GA AND PJ runs. He was the main connection to both.

I hope that this post made sense. Typing on an iPhone, well…

cd

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by cd637299

I myself would consider GA indeed a spinoff of PJ, in the sense that the Douglases entered a familiar world, although the debate doesn’t end here.

I put GA in my top 3 fave sitcoms. That being said, had GA continued on like it did in S1, I might have a different opinion now.

The GA humor in S1 almost mirrors the “heartwarming” style comedy of PJ. But as Alvy Moore once said, he was supposed to be a temporary character; but the way he hemmed and hawed, trying to say what he thought of the Douglas farm, the staff said “We gotta keep this guy!”. The lunacy may hsve started at that point on!

Also, Lisa was reasonable in S1, until she fed off the others.

I’m glad of the change in direction!

And Kudos to Sam Drucker, being able to adjust his character throughout the GA AND PJ runs. He was the main connection to both.

I hope that this post made sense. Typing on an iPhone, well…

cd

Season 1 seemed reversed to me.... Oliver was sorta looney, while the rest of the characters were down-to-earth. Lisa didn't even mispronounce words early on, she actually said "electricity" the right way lol

[TheLittleFaerie]

Within the Green Acres universe, Petticoat Junction is just a TV show, at least in later years. Probably one of the most Twilight Zoneish thing about the show, seeing as how the G.A. character interact regularly with the P.J. characters

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by stevea

The premise of GA really had nothing to do with PJ, other than that the Haney farm (never referred to in PJ prior to GA) was in the same area.

No, the Haney farm was not referred to in PJ as you said. But we did see Fred Ziffel, his pigs, and his farm, as I indicated.

The above statement by stevea is the reason I brought up Gomer Pyle. I never denied GP was a spinoff of TAGS - everyone knows it was. That's all character stuff. (And Green Acres shared sets and the Cannonball in addition to the town characters.)

But stevea talks about the "premise" of GA as if to say that disqualifies it as a spinoff. GA's premise is MUCH closer to that of PJ than GP's is to TAGS. If you disagree with that, you can't have it both ways: you would then have to say GP is not a spinoff...!

Originally Posted by Duster76

You have this whole thing hopelessly confused.

No. Stevea's talk of "premise" is what's caused confusion. Look at the thinking:

A. Lack of similar premise is seen as a disqualifier, according to stevea's statement.
B. Gomer Pyle's premise was totally different from TAGS.
C. If A and B hold, then...?

Bottom line: IMHO, premise carries very little weight in this discussion, if we all agree GP was a TAGS spinoff -- and I think we all do.

[biffbronson]

Here is support I won't find at this site. See what others say (bold emphasis added):

tvtropes.org: "A spinoff of the more staid Petticoat Junction,..."

fiftiesweb.com: "The show is one of CBS's “rural comedies” and is a direct spin off of Petticoat Junction..."

decoy.TVpassport.com: "Green Acres" was, in fact, a spinoff of "Petticoat Junction,"...

answers.com: "It was the spin-off series to Petticoat Junction..."

alexaanswers.amazon.com: "The TV show Green Acres was a spinoff of Petticoat Junction."

commonsensemedia.org: "In the classic 1960s sitcom GREEN ACRES (a spinoff of Petticoat Junction)..."

wbbz.tv: "Petticoat Junction and its spin-off Green Acres,..."

poptonic.com: "Paul Henning was riding the coattails (or petticoats, rather) of Petticoat Junction when he made the spin-off, Green Acres."

bestsimilar.com: "The success of Petticoat Junction led to a spin-off Green Acres."

triviaplaying.com: "The success of Petticoat Junction led to what spin-off? A: Green Acres (1965–1971)."

dailymotion.com: "Petticoat Junction, and its spin-off Green Acres..."

funtrivia.com: "Green Acres" was a spin-off of what show that also took place in Hooterville? Answer: Petticoat Junction"

disclord.se: "Eventually, the show spawned a spin-off called Green Acres, the setting of which was only a ways 'down the road' from Hooterville."

datalounge.com: "Green Acres was a spin off of Petticoat Junction."

crazyabouttv.com: "The idea for this TV show was conceived from the 1950s radio program, "Granby's Green Acres" but the TV show is considered a "spin-off" of the series, "Petticoat Junction"...

tvseriesfinale.com: "Green Acres debuted on September 15, 1965 on CBS as a spin-off of The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction."

IMDb review: "It's actually pretty amazing that this show and its spin off, Green Acres, are so different."

>>> Yes. Different. But clearly, still considered a spinoff...!