"Green Acres" and "Newhart" connections - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PhoenixAcres · 01-08-2017, 01:48 PM

There's been some discussion in past threads about how alike these two shows are. I think both the premise and the style of humor on both series is very similar.

There is the obvious, in that a city couple moves from New York to a rural area (Vermont and Hooterville) and buys an old, decrepit home where they start a new way of life. The two couples then hire a handyman (George and Eb) and come to discover the strange residents and traditions of their town.

A major theme in both shows is the "straight man" reacting to insanity around him, executed perfectly by Bob Newhart and Eddie Albert. Often the entire town (in Green Acres that would include Lisa as well) would conspire against him, operating on logic and laws only they knew, and in the end he'd almost always lose.

There was also that time Mr. Kimball (Alvy Moore) showed up at the Stratford Inn as a deliveryman.

tlc38tlc38 · 01-08-2017, 03:29 PM

Must be why both shows are 2 of my absolute favorites!

tlc38tlc38 · 04-29-2017, 05:18 PM

Another connection:

Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor did the voices of Bernard and Bianca in "The Rescuers" and "The Rescuers Down Under".

PhoenixAcres · 05-01-2017, 12:12 PM

In the season 8 episode of Newhart, "Ramblin' Michael Harris", Michael sings the Green Acres theme.

Another connection: both male leads married much younger women. Eddie Albert was 13 years older than Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart was 14 years older than Mary Frann. Both wives also happened to be blondes.

Alan Brady's Hair · 11-18-2022, 11:12 PM

Both had one-time characters named "Schmidlapp" (actually a pseudonym in Newhart).

just1paul · 11-19-2022, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoenixAcres

There's been some discussion in past threads about how alike these two shows are. I think both the premise and the style of humor on both series is very similar.

There is the obvious, in that a city couple moves from New York to a rural area (Vermont and Hooterville) and buys an old, decrepit home where they start a new way of life. The two couples then hire a handyman (George and Eb).

1- The stratford Inn was not decrepit and George came with the property.

01-08-2017, 01:48 PM	#1
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,837	"Green Acres" and "Newhart" connections There's been some discussion in past threads about how alike these two shows are. I think both the premise and the style of humor on both series is very similar. There is the obvious, in that a city couple moves from New York to a rural area (Vermont and Hooterville) and buys an old, decrepit home where they start a new way of life. The two couples then hire a handyman (George and Eb) and come to discover the strange residents and traditions of their town. A major theme in both shows is the "straight man" reacting to insanity around him, executed perfectly by Bob Newhart and Eddie Albert. Often the entire town (in Green Acres that would include Lisa as well) would conspire against him, operating on logic and laws only they knew, and in the end he'd almost always lose. There was also that time Mr. Kimball (Alvy Moore) showed up at the Stratford Inn as a deliveryman.

01-08-2017, 03:29 PM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Member Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Posts: 19,368	Must be why both shows are 2 of my absolute favorites!
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

04-29-2017, 05:18 PM	#3
tlc38tlc38 Member Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Posts: 19,368	Another connection: Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor did the voices of Bernard and Bianca in "The Rescuers" and "The Rescuers Down Under".

05-01-2017, 12:12 PM	#4
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,837	In the season 8 episode of Newhart, "Ramblin' Michael Harris", Michael sings the Green Acres theme. Another connection: both male leads married much younger women. Eddie Albert was 13 years older than Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart was 14 years older than Mary Frann. Both wives also happened to be blondes.

11-18-2022, 11:12 PM	#5
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,838	Both had one-time characters named "Schmidlapp" (actually a pseudonym in Newhart).