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Good Neighbors (AKA The Good Life)By Laura Mirksy
Good Neighbors (entitled The Good Life in England), a
show that brilliantly captures the Zeitgeist of the Super70s. The Goods,
who quit the rat race for a life of subsistence farming, are next-door
neighbors to the Ledbetters, some of the fastest rat-race runners around.
At first, Margot (Penelope Keith) and Jerry Ledbetter (Paul Eddington of Yes
Minister fame) are horrified to see Tom (Richard Briers) and Barbara
Good (Felicity Kendal) turn their tiny yard into a series of animal pens
and vegetable gardens. But by the final episodes, the two couples have
learned how to tolerate their differences and are the best of friends.
There's an endless source of humor in this classic dichotomy of rich
versus poor, snooty versus earthy. "Troglodytes!" the Ledbetters
slam the Goods. "Gracious livers!" the Goods retaliate. There is
also an abundant supply of silly scenes involving the Goods' suburban
menagerie. The episode in which their chicken boards a passing bus goes
delightfully over the edge. The British have always had a wonderful knack
for poking fun at themselves, and this knack reaches a pinnacle in
statuesque comedienne Penelope Keith's (To
the Manor Born) indelible creation of the character Margot
Ledbetter. She's the quintessential status-obsessed snob, so
preposterously genteel that she can wring three syllables out of the word
"no." Keith's performance, especially, keeps Good Neighbors
as fresh and funny as the day it was made. |
Share Your Memories In Our Forums!Check out our Good Neighbors (AKA The Good Life) forum! Do you have a favorite episode of the show? What do you remember about the series? Do you have any questions about it or its stars? Now you can post comments and questions directly to our TV forums! Click here to see what other Good Neighbors (AKA The Good Life) viewers have said or to post your own comments about the show!
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Your Memories Shared! |
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Absolutely hilarious! One of the best! This quartet were perfect together. Thanks to the British for knowing how to go out on top, instead of grinding along until nobody cares anymore. --Oz | Note: This is just a random sample of the Good Neighbors (AKA The Good Life) messages in our TV forums! Click here to see what others have said or to post your own comments! |
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TV TIDBITS |
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Aired: 1975-1977 |
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Cast: Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington, Penelope Keith |
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Network: BBC, PBS |
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Genre: Sitcom |
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Theme song: |
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