h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Good Life - A2239832
Author: Solongandthanks - U557587

Finally time for a serious one about a show I absolutely ADORE!

A sound idea, but I think it needs more content.

Was it called 'Good neighbours' anywhere? If not, leave that out, if yes, explain.

Avoid making judgemental statements - better to say something like 'popular with a large proportion of viewers'

You could add more detail about some of the plots, how Tom & Barbara made the scheme work and how Margot & Jerry were involved.

What about the writers, film location, dates, number of episodes, any other peripheral information?

I'm sure you can work this up to be a suitable entry.

Teasswill's right. This needs more. It also needs some structure.

See these examples:

A687945

A272567

or any of these: Search?searchstring=TV+series&searchtype=goosearch&go.x=24&go.y=9&go=Go

Oh, that didn't work! Let's try another way:

<./>Search?searchstring=TV+series&searchtype=goosearch&go.x=24&go.y=9&go=Go</.>

Very sound advice from Teaswill there

The Good Life was one of my favourite television programmes when it was initially shown, and I still enjoy watching it whenever it's (rarely) shown

With entries about TV shows it's usual to have one section listing the main character along with a brief description of each one, and the name of the actor who played them. An episode guide would be good, along with other prime movers in the show - primarily the writers.

In most shows there are one or two episodes or moments which stick in people's minds - in The Good Life I'd say that two of these would be the one where all four of them get drunk and Margot announces to Tom that she has no sense of humour, while Gerry asks Barbara not to do 'that thing' with her hair (whilst the two of them are in the kitchen) because it "brings out the beast in me", and the one where Margot, all dressed in yellow, slips in the mud.

It was called 'Good Neighbours' when shown in the US (usually on PBS).

Here are some edited entries which will give you an idea of what the Editors are looking for in an entry about a sitcom:
Fawlty Towers - A751745
Father Ted - A425783
The Young Ones - A780275
Drop the Dead Donkey - A637887
Porridge - A713882

And one which you need to link to in this entry:
John Esmonde and Bob Larbey - A513578

Some BBC links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/g/goodlifethe_7772855.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/advocate_goodlife.shtml


Scout

In my book, this is one of *the* all-time best sitcoms ever. Charming, yet surprisingly subversive and racy at times (in one episode, after Margo's attempts at seducing her husband fail, she roars at him 'Thankyou very much Jerry. That's the last time I play the whore for you!').

'Good Neighbours' was the show's name in its screenings in the USA, to avoid confusion with another, American, show of the same name.

I would imagine this website would be very useful if this entry is to be explanded a little:

http://www.valdefierro.com/neighbors.html

Are you following me around today Jims?

Gosho, BBC2 shows episodes of 'The Good Life' quite often about 6.30pm.
Funny how the same ones keep cropping up - presumably the ones BBC considers the best/most popular.

Gosho asked:
>> Are you following me around today Jims? <<

That depends. Look behind you. If you can't see me waving, then I've been following the wrong person

*Looks behind, sees no-one waving* ::PHEW::

Last time I saw any TV in the UK it wasn't on - how long have they been showing it on BBC 2? And it never gets shown in the US any more

Is anyone going to mention Vyvyan's famous rant on 'The Young Ones', or am I going to have to?

I liked the one where Tom and Barbara rent themselves out to Margot and Jerry as gardeners and housekeepers. Though again there are lots one could pick from - the mere mention of the rant shows what an iconic programme it was.

I think you're going to have to, Six, if only because it's partly (and entirely unjustifiably) responsible for the show's diminished reputation. I've been rewatching it recently and am now a major fan.

As with any TV-related entry, I'd be willing to pitch in to get this into shape, so long as I wasn't writing it myself, but first... are you still there, Solongandthanks?

Well, in the interests of balance, there is Rik's reply to it...

"If you're going to say anything nasty about Felicity Kendall, you can just about bloomin' well say it to me first. You're talking about the woman I love!"

Oh I love the Good Life: second only to Dad's Army

I hope Solongandthanks is still around, cos this *should* be a Guide Entry

If you are still reading along: nobody's here to slam you, but to help. We all get (and give ) constructive critisism in PR and it's to make the Entry more readable, more thorough etc...


Fb

Also popular with the Queen, who attended a recording of one of the episodes - sorry don't know which.

It was, not surprisingly, the Royal Command Performance episode from the final series.

Bagsie me if it goes to FM

Meanwhile-

A comment about the (percieved) undertones of wife swapping wouldn't go amiss, along with the classic "it's not got as far as Surbition, but it's already reached Escher [or wherever it was]" quote.

I believe the series also inspired a few attempts at living "The good life", as well.

The series also hit a surprisingly serious and defiant tone at the end, when Tom and Barbara's house is wrecked by vandals, and after a few depressed minutes, they voew to keep on and go dancing in the Ledbetter's pond.

I like that one too, Jims, plus the one where Margo's Harrod delivered Christmas is cancelled because the tree is six inches too short, they have a home-made Christmas, and get drunk on Tom's home-made (was it pead-pod?) wine!

Pea pod I think ZSF That was the one when they made Xmas hats out of newspapers and Margo refused to wear anything but The Times And Tom was telling her how nice her neck was, when Jerry and Barbara came back into the room: Tom 'shushed', looked conspiratorial and then fell sideways off the sofa

Wonderful stuff!

Fb