RURAL COMEDIES

[treky]

WHAT WAS THE FIRST RURAL COMEDY YOU EVER SAW? FOR ME, IT WAS "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"

[gilligan fanatic]

I remember watching Green Acres at my grandma's house in 1996. Nick at Nite showed a marathon of it for some reason.

[tv star collector]

THE REAL McCOYS, which premiered on Oct. 3, 1957. It was more believable
than THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (which came along five years later). Interestingly, star Walter Brennan was at first reluctant to do it because he
claimed he couldn't do comedy!

[SO Games 4 Us]

Green Acres, I believe.

[Sal]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

THE REAL McCOYS, which premiered on Oct. 3, 1957. It was more believable
than THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (which came along five years later). Interestingly, star Walter Brennan was at first reluctant to do it because he
claimed he couldn't do comedy!

He was right!


In the 1960s, rural comedies mainly came from 2 sources. The first was what I'll call the Andy Griffith group: "The Andy Griffith Show", "Gomer Pyle USMC", and "Mayberry RFD". The other group was produced by the great Paul Henning: "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Green Acres", and "Petticoat Junction". I have never seen "Mayberry RFD", but I think the others are all great! Sorry Mr Collector, but I'll take "The Beverly Hillbillies" over "The Real McCoys" every time.

All the sitcoms in both groups aired on CBS in the 1960s and all of them did well in the ratings, allowing CBS to dominate the entire decade. As the 1970s began, the network brass made what I still believe to be the dumbest decision in TV history. By 1971, all of the above were swiftly cancelled, not because of low ratings, or because the casts wanted to stop, as was the case with Andy Griffith and his show. They were gone because the network brass wanted all rural sitcoms out ASAP, so that CBS can appeal to a more high-brow audience. To that end, they ordered new shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "All In The Family", "The Bob Newhart Show", and others to take their place. Fortunately for them, the move worked brilliantly, otherwise it could have been a huge disaster. Too bad. It would have served them right after cancelling such great shows.

[SO Games 4 Us]

Originally Posted by Sal

He was right!


In the 1960s, rural comedies mainly came from 2 sources. The first was what I'll call the Andy Griffith group: "The Andy Griffith Show", "Gomer Pyle USMC", and "Mayberry RFD". The other group was produced by the great Paul Henning: "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Green Acres", and "Petticoat Junction". I have never seen "Mayberry RFD", but I think the others are all great! Sorry Mr Collector, but I'll take "The Beverly Hillbillies" over "The Real McCoys" every time.

I don't think Gomer, Pyle U.S.M.C. really qualifies as a "rural" show. Afterall, that show was set in the marine camp NOT a rural town.

I have noticed that you forget Mister Ed in your list of groups. Believe or not, Mister Ed was set in a rural setting.

[tv star collector]

Originally Posted by Sal

He was right!


In the 1960s, rural comedies mainly came from 2 sources. The first was what I'll call the Andy Griffith group: "The Andy Griffith Show", "Gomer Pyle USMC", and "Mayberry RFD". The other group was produced by the great Paul Henning: "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Green Acres", and "Petticoat Junction". I have never seen "Mayberry RFD", but I think the others are all great! Sorry Mr Collector, but I'll take "The Beverly Hillbillies" over "The Real McCoys" every time.

All the sitcoms in both groups aired on CBS in the 1960s and all of them did well in the ratings, allowing CBS to dominate the entire decade. As the 1970s began, the network brass made what I still believe to be the dumbest decision in TV history. By 1971, all of the above were swiftly cancelled, not because of low ratings, or because the casts wanted to stop, as was the case with Andy Griffith and his show. They were gone because the network brass wanted all rural sitcoms out ASAP, so that CBS can appeal to a more high-brow audience. To that end, they ordered new shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "All In The Family", "The Bob Newhart Show", and others to take their place. Fortunately for them, the move worked brilliantly, otherwise it could have been a huge disaster. Too bad. It would have served them right after cancelling such great shows.

Oh, I admit that I find THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES to be a funnier show. It was
often laugh-out-loud funny. But THE REAL McCOYS was more down-to-earth
(like THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW) ... and let's not overlook the fact that Walter
Brennan was a three-time Oscar winner. Brennan was a fantastic actor! He
could play any role, comedic or dramatic.

[comedyfreak]

The first Rural comedy I seen was, The Beverly Hillbillies.

[Ant-Lox]

The Hillbillies......My favorite Rurual comedies would have to be Grace Under Fire & The Jeff Foxworthy Show....

[Mister Ed]

My first was either Green Acres or The Beverly Hillbillies.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Mister Ed

My first was either Green Acres or The Beverly Hillbillies.

Same here.

[Mikado]

I dont know, i remember watching all those shows around the same time

[AB]

The Beverly Hillbillies, I used to sneak out of bed to watch it. My parents made us go to bed with the chickens when we were little. lol!

[Mr. Television]

It was the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres. I remember watching them in prime-time in the early 70's and then watched Hillbillies for years in syndication. I first saw Real McCoys in syndication in 1974 and always liked it. For some reason Petticoat Junction wasn't syndicated as much where I lived.

[JT]

Definitely, "The Beverly Hillbillies" in early 90s syndication. I watched "The Real McCoys" on TNN in the late 90s, around 1998-2001. "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres" came much later for me. I love them all, though.

I like TAGS, but, and some of you will not believe this, I've never seen a full episode from the BW episodes. I've watched color episodes countless times (and I enjoy them a lot, btw), but I've never been able to sit through a whole BW episode. It's not because I don't like it, it's just that the BW never seem to be on whenever I want to watch the show. "Gomer Pyle" and "Mayberry RFD" are good shows.