"The Good Life" (1975) TV series 1975-1978

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

4 April 1975 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The perils of "escaping the rat race" and dropping out of society - to start a farm in Surbiton (and to drive Margo nuts).

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Neighbor | Conservative | Housewife | Innuendo

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Richard Briers	...	Tom Good (30 episodes, 1975-1978)
Felicity Kendal	...	Barbara Good (30 episodes, 1975-1978)
Penelope Keith	...	Margo Leadbetter (30 episodes, 1975-1978)
Paul Eddington	...	Jerry Leadbetter (30 episodes, 1975-1978)

Also Known As:

Good Neighbors (USA)

Runtime:

28 min (30 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Kewferry Road, Northwood, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In the US, this series was broadcast under the title "The Good Neighbors" to avoid confusion with the short-lived series "The Good Life" (1971), even though that show was off the air almost three years before this one began. The opening titles were reworked by the BBC art department so that the title even includes the same flower, bird, and bee as the original. To make things even more confusing, when the series was released on US home video, the outer box had the "Good Neighbors" title, but the shows on the tape had the "Good Life" titles (they were from the BBC masters, simply re-encoded to NTSC video).

Goofs:

Continuity: In "The Early Birds" (episode #3.01), after the couple's sleepless night, Tom spoons sugar into his tea and ceases in the reverse shot, his attention focused on Barbara.

Quotes:

Jerry: Brick by brick, she's building a madhouse!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: To the Manor Born (#4.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Please Release Me

Intelligent British comedy with a heart!

This is one of those series that give Britcoms such a good name! "Good Neighbors" (as we know it here in the states) is intelligent, funny, and extremely endearing. And who can beat the cast? Richard Briers is a very respected veteran now -- he was nominated for a Tony last year for "The Chairs" -- and he was just as talented when he was younger! Felicity Kendall is absolutely precious as his wife (I *love* her scratchy little voice!), and Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith are terrific as the snooty next-door neighbors. "Good Neighbors"/"The Good Life" is dry, but in a good way... You'll laugh out loud at this one! And it has a heart -- you'll fall in love with the Goods, and enjoy following them through their ups and downs! Do yourself a favor and check out this series!