Final episode of the series....no good - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MichaelKeith · 06-15-2014, 03:31 PM

AntennaTV just showed the final episode of the series this past Friday. It's the dumbest final episode I've ever seen.

It did not have anything to do with the show or its regular cast. Only Eddie Albert appeared briefly as he spoke on the phone to Elaine Joyce, who played his ex-secretary. This episode focused on Elaine Joyce as if they were trying to do a spin-off series for her?

Richard Deacon was her new boss and Emmaline Henry (aka Amanda Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) also were in this show.

Why wouldn't the producers have filmed a final episode where either Oliver and Lisa threw in the towel and decided to move back to New York or one where Lisa finally admits to Oliver that she likes living in Hootersville (her pronunciation!). Either one of these would have been a more appropriate final episode.

Surely the producers must have known that by 1971 with the "rural purge" of tv shows on CBS that this might be their last season?

Bonniegirl · 07-12-2014, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

AntennaTV just showed the final episode of the series this past Friday. It's the dumbest final episode I've ever seen.

It did not have anything to do with the show or its regular cast. Only Eddie Albert appeared briefly as he spoke on the phone to Elaine Joyce, who played his ex-secretary. This episode focused on Elaine Joyce as if they were trying to do a spin-off series for her?

Richard Deacon was her new boss and Emmaline Henry (aka Amanda Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) also were in this show.

Why wouldn't the producers have filmed a final episode where either Oliver and Lisa threw in the towel and decided to move back to New York or one where Lisa finally admits to Oliver that she likes living in Hootersville (her pronunciation!). Either one of these would have been a more appropriate final episode.

Surely the producers must have known that by 1971 with the "rural purge" of tv shows on CBS that this might be their last season?

Hi Michael

I just saw that episode too. Also one right before it Lisa and Oliver take a trip to Hawaii (same thing, nothing to do with Green Acres at all, totally focused on the characters in Hawaii, nobody from Hooterville)!

I didn't find either episode to be that funny either!

I researched it and found out they were actually two new pilots for new shows, that never got picked up after all!

Like you, I was hoping they would do a final episode revolving around Lisa, Oliver and the Hooterville folks!

MichaelKeith · 07-13-2014, 03:12 PM

Thanks for your reply, Bonniegirl. I'm glad to see that at least one other person feels like I do about the final episode!

BachelorCat · 07-31-2014, 07:13 AM

The final episode was just weird. I like Elaine Joyce, Richard Deacon, and Emmaline Henry, so I would have watched that show. I can remember when the series ran for the first time, I thought it was so stupid (I was 17 when it went off) I would never try to watch it. NOW I have come to my senses, so I'll be watching it for sure. I have a few VHS releases I've never looked at, but I wasn't going to leave them at the store either.

treky · 08-01-2014, 08:37 PM

right, those final 2 episodes were "back-door pilots" that never made it to series. I forget what the first one was titled but the second one was "The ex-secretary" and you're right; it was stupid!

comedyfreak · 08-02-2014, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

AntennaTV just showed the final episode of the series this past Friday. It's the dumbest final episode I've ever seen.

It did not have anything to do with the show or its regular cast. Only Eddie Albert appeared briefly as he spoke on the phone to Elaine Joyce, who played his ex-secretary. This episode focused on Elaine Joyce as if they were trying to do a spin-off series for her?

Richard Deacon was her new boss and Emmaline Henry (aka Amanda Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) also were in this show.

Why wouldn't the producers have filmed a final episode where either Oliver and Lisa threw in the towel and decided to move back to New York or one where Lisa finally admits to Oliver that she likes living in Hootersville (her pronunciation!). Either one of these would have been a more appropriate final episode.

Surely the producers must have known that by 1971 with the "rural purge" of tv shows on CBS that this might be their last season?

Maybe they were expected to return and by the time they found out it was too late. I hate episodes that do back door pilots.

Jack1000 · 08-23-2014, 10:23 PM

What is the last episode of Green Acres with a Hooterville setting?

Jack

TV_on_the_Porch · 08-25-2014, 12:25 AM

Lisa The Psychologist.

PhoenixAcres · 03-25-2018, 01:14 PM

I think if they were given the opportunity to have a proper series finale they should have brought back John Daly from the first episode and do a similar mockumentary type episode to bookend the series. Except this time it's Oliver who hates the country life and Lisa who wants to stay. This would highlight the character development throughout the series and how they did an almost complete 180 compared to day 1.

Of course, they wouldn't actually leave. This time, Lisa would get her way, in an ironic twist to the first episode. They could have all the townsfolk assemble and have a semi-sentimental scene where they talk about what the Douglases mean to them and Oliver might finally realize how he fits in to this strange community.

There was a scene somewhat like this in the reunion movie but I expect it would work better if it had good writing.

MichaelKeith · 04-09-2018, 02:45 PM

PhoenixAcres, that is a great plot for the series finale. The producers really missed a bet when they didn't end the series like this. As you stated, it would be a nice right bookend to the series. Wish they had done that.

PhoenixAcres · 04-09-2018, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

PhoenixAcres, that is a great plot for the series finale. The producers really missed a bet when they didn't end the series like this. As you stated, it would be a nice right bookend to the series. Wish they had done that.

Thanks.

I really wish they had the chance to draw some kind of closure to the series. My belief is they didn't know they were canceled until after the sixth season finished filming in early 1971. Even if the writing was on the wall at CBS I doubt any of the producers, even Jay Sommers, knew for sure what their fate was, so they shied away from anything too ambitious.

The power of the network over these highly successful shows always bothers me. Every show deserves a finale but usually the narrow-minded networks (especially in those days) never give them the chance.

jehobden · 04-09-2018, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

right, those final 2 episodes were "back-door pilots" that never made it to series. I forget what the first one was titled but the second one was "The ex-secretary" and you're right; it was stupid!

The other backdoor pilot, called "Hawaiian Honeymoon", starred Don Porter & Pamela Franklin as a father/daughter pair (shades of Gidget) who own & run a hotel in Hawaii. I doubt any of it was filmed there, other than stock background footage. The transition music was somewhat catchy though, written by Vic Mizzy.

gopyle · 06-20-2018, 10:31 PM

The vast majority of shows it back then did not have any kind of special final episode. In many ways I think that is good, because many of the shows I have seen that did have final episodes, that episode was a disappointment.
I like how most the series back then had self-contained episodes, unlike today with the more serialized approach.

treky · 06-21-2018, 12:18 AM

"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" and "THE FUGITIVE" were the rare exceptions. "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" was going to have one but NBC was forced to move some episodes around that last season of "IDOJ" and that episode was one of them.

Chip J · 06-29-2018, 03:08 AM

This may not be the thread for this statement (sorry if it isn't), but isn't it ironic that after CBS's "rural purge", they started showing the Waltons, and on NBC Little House on the Prairie?

06-15-2014, 03:31 PM	#1
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Final episode of the series....no good AntennaTV just showed the final episode of the series this past Friday. It's the dumbest final episode I've ever seen. It did not have anything to do with the show or its regular cast. Only Eddie Albert appeared briefly as he spoke on the phone to Elaine Joyce, who played his ex-secretary. This episode focused on Elaine Joyce as if they were trying to do a spin-off series for her? Richard Deacon was her new boss and Emmaline Henry (aka Amanda Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) also were in this show. Why wouldn't the producers have filmed a final episode where either Oliver and Lisa threw in the towel and decided to move back to New York or one where Lisa finally admits to Oliver that she likes living in Hootersville (her pronunciation!). Either one of these would have been a more appropriate final episode. Surely the producers must have known that by 1971 with the "rural purge" of tv shows on CBS that this might be their last season?

08-01-2014, 08:37 PM	#5
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	right, those final 2 episodes were "back-door pilots" that never made it to series. I forget what the first one was titled but the second one was "The ex-secretary" and you're right; it was stupid!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

07-13-2014, 03:12 PM	#3
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Thanks for your reply, Bonniegirl. I'm glad to see that at least one other person feels like I do about the final episode!

07-31-2014, 07:13 AM	#4
BachelorCat Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 18, 2013 Location: River Park, Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 44	The final episode was just weird. I like Elaine Joyce, Richard Deacon, and Emmaline Henry, so I would have watched that show. I can remember when the series ran for the first time, I thought it was so stupid (I was 17 when it went off) I would never try to watch it. NOW I have come to my senses, so I'll be watching it for sure. I have a few VHS releases I've never looked at, but I wasn't going to leave them at the store either.

08-23-2014, 10:23 PM	#7
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	What is the last episode of Green Acres with a Hooterville setting? Jack

08-25-2014, 12:25 AM	#8
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	Lisa The Psychologist.

03-25-2018, 01:14 PM	#9
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	I think if they were given the opportunity to have a proper series finale they should have brought back John Daly from the first episode and do a similar mockumentary type episode to bookend the series. Except this time it's Oliver who hates the country life and Lisa who wants to stay. This would highlight the character development throughout the series and how they did an almost complete 180 compared to day 1. Of course, they wouldn't actually leave. This time, Lisa would get her way, in an ironic twist to the first episode. They could have all the townsfolk assemble and have a semi-sentimental scene where they talk about what the Douglases mean to them and Oliver might finally realize how he fits in to this strange community. There was a scene somewhat like this in the reunion movie but I expect it would work better if it had good writing.

04-09-2018, 02:45 PM	#10
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	PhoenixAcres, that is a great plot for the series finale. The producers really missed a bet when they didn't end the series like this. As you stated, it would be a nice right bookend to the series. Wish they had done that.

06-20-2018, 10:31 PM	#13
gopyle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2011 Posts: 235	The vast majority of shows it back then did not have any kind of special final episode. In many ways I think that is good, because many of the shows I have seen that did have final episodes, that episode was a disappointment. I like how most the series back then had self-contained episodes, unlike today with the more serialized approach.

06-21-2018, 12:18 AM	#14
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" and "THE FUGITIVE" were the rare exceptions. "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" was going to have one but NBC was forced to move some episodes around that last season of "IDOJ" and that episode was one of them.

06-29-2018, 03:08 AM	#15
Chip J Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 04, 2018 Location: Virginia Posts: 40	This may not be the thread for this statement (sorry if it isn't), but isn't it ironic that after CBS's "rural purge", they started showing the Waltons, and on NBC Little House on the Prairie?