Finished watching season 1 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vitoscotti · 11-03-2023, 02:29 AM

Never liked the show as a kid. It did have strong competition in a stellar era of classic TV. Talented Ken Berry's character being so bland and generic always dragged the show down.

Now watching it years later I really enjoyed what it offered. A strong supporting cast of TAGS carryovers, revolving door of beloved classic TV character actors (some from TAGS), trivia, and inconsistencies. The writing is mostly horrendous. But, they were wise early on to shift the focus more and more off vanilla Sam & Mike to the brilliant supporting cast like Paul Hartman, Jack Dodson, George Lindsey, Frances Bavier, and pretty Arlene Golonka. But, Sam is loosening up more and more which is welcome.

I see the show quite differently now with no quality sitcoms made currently or quite a few years for that matter.

I rated season 1 episodes an average of 6.8/10. Not great or bad, but good for a show that lost it's 2 biggest stars (my least favorite TAGS season 1 I rated 6.1/10). Overall it's been a fun viewing experience.

MichaelKeith · 11-05-2023, 04:07 PM

I like Ken Berry in this role as he was a grounding force for all the zaniness going on around him like Andy did on the eight seasons of his show.

I know Berry was a good comic actor as evidenced in Mama's Family, but frankly I like him here much better as the level-headed voice of reason. After all, this was a family show set on a farm and a small-town. He had to have sense to run the farm and be head of the city council.

vitoscotti · 11-10-2023, 10:29 AM

Sam & Mike used as complementary characters used to set up stories and be sounding boards are fine. But stories centered on them as leads are usually disasters how bland they are.

stevea · 11-10-2023, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

Sam & Mike used as complementary characters used to set up stories and be sounding boards are fine. But stories centered on them as leads are usually disasters how bland they are.

Examples of this: Mike breaks the copier. Mike loses his watch. Ho-hum.

rusty spike · 11-10-2023, 01:46 PM

I like this series. I'm glad that I picked it up.

And as much as I like Frances Bavier, I wish that they would have gone with Alice Ghostley from the get go. Alice fits in nicely.

I don't mind Ken Berry as Sam, but he's no farmer. As the series progresses, they wisely drop his farm centered plots and focus on Sam running the town.

One thing (I'm sure that there's more) bugging me is how they have an episode about Mike and pet store owner. Then five episodes later, Sam has hired the pet shop owner to run the farm as hired help.

vitoscotti · 11-10-2023, 04:00 PM

For TAGS fans MRFD is like visiting with old friends. It can have some really bad episodes but that's ok.

MichaelKeith · 11-14-2023, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I like this series. I'm glad that I picked it up.

And as much as I like Frances Bavier, I wish that they would have gone with Alice Ghostley from the get go. Alice fits in nicely.

I don't mind Ken Berry as Sam, but he's no farmer. As the series progresses, they wisely drop his farm centered plots and focus on Sam running the town.

One thing (I'm sure that there's more) bugging me is how they have an episode about Mike and pet store owner. Then five episodes later, Sam has hired the pet shop owner to run the farm as hired help.

Yeah, I really like Alice Ghostley in this role. Wish she had been there for the whole run of MRFD.

vitoscotti · 01-01-2024, 02:57 AM

Finished watching all 78 episodes over a 3½ month period. A much better viewing experience than I thought it would be rating the series about 7 out of 10. I rated season 1 6.8, S2 7.5, and S3 6.6. A gold mine of trivia, lack of continuity, and inconsistencies. Wonderful seeing the many 60s-70s character actors that appeared.

The carryover TAGS actors with their good vibe carried the series through horrendous writing, and dreadful lead characters Sam and Mike Jones, then later even blander "Cousin Alice".

Best episodes featured George Lindsey, Frances Bavier, Paul Hartman, Jack Dodson, and stunning Arlene Golonka. Not a classic series like TAGS where episodes are able to be viewed over and over each viewing as good as the first. This is mostly a novelty series with some minor laughs but few big laughs generated.

11-03-2023, 02:29 AM	#1
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,067	Finished watching season 1 Never liked the show as a kid. It did have strong competition in a stellar era of classic TV. Talented Ken Berry's character being so bland and generic always dragged the show down. Now watching it years later I really enjoyed what it offered. A strong supporting cast of TAGS carryovers, revolving door of beloved classic TV character actors (some from TAGS), trivia, and inconsistencies. The writing is mostly horrendous. But, they were wise early on to shift the focus more and more off vanilla Sam & Mike to the brilliant supporting cast like Paul Hartman, Jack Dodson, George Lindsey, Frances Bavier, and pretty Arlene Golonka. But, Sam is loosening up more and more which is welcome. I see the show quite differently now with no quality sitcoms made currently or quite a few years for that matter. I rated season 1 episodes an average of 6.8/10. Not great or bad, but good for a show that lost it's 2 biggest stars (my least favorite TAGS season 1 I rated 6.1/10). Overall it's been a fun viewing experience.

11-05-2023, 04:07 PM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	I like Ken Berry in this role as he was a grounding force for all the zaniness going on around him like Andy did on the eight seasons of his show. I know Berry was a good comic actor as evidenced in Mama's Family, but frankly I like him here much better as the level-headed voice of reason. After all, this was a family show set on a farm and a small-town. He had to have sense to run the farm and be head of the city council.

11-10-2023, 10:29 AM	#3
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,067	Sam & Mike used as complementary characters used to set up stories and be sounding boards are fine. But stories centered on them as leads are usually disasters how bland they are.

11-10-2023, 01:46 PM	#5
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I like this series. I'm glad that I picked it up. And as much as I like Frances Bavier, I wish that they would have gone with Alice Ghostley from the get go. Alice fits in nicely. I don't mind Ken Berry as Sam, but he's no farmer. As the series progresses, they wisely drop his farm centered plots and focus on Sam running the town. One thing (I'm sure that there's more) bugging me is how they have an episode about Mike and pet store owner. Then five episodes later, Sam has hired the pet shop owner to run the farm as hired help.

11-10-2023, 04:00 PM	#6
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,067	For TAGS fans MRFD is like visiting with old friends. It can have some really bad episodes but that's ok.

01-01-2024, 02:57 AM	#8
vitoscotti Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,067	Finished watching all 78 episodes over a 3½ month period. A much better viewing experience than I thought it would be rating the series about 7 out of 10. I rated season 1 6.8, S2 7.5, and S3 6.6. A gold mine of trivia, lack of continuity, and inconsistencies. Wonderful seeing the many 60s-70s character actors that appeared. The carryover TAGS actors with their good vibe carried the series through horrendous writing, and dreadful lead characters Sam and Mike Jones, then later even blander "Cousin Alice". Best episodes featured George Lindsey, Frances Bavier, Paul Hartman, Jack Dodson, and stunning Arlene Golonka. Not a classic series like TAGS where episodes are able to be viewed over and over each viewing as good as the first. This is mostly a novelty series with some minor laughs but few big laughs generated.