# 'Bless This Mess' - new show from ABC - WHY? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398 "2019-04-11T17:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/1 "2019-04-11T17:55:34Z")
[Official site](https://abc.go.com/shows/abc-new-shows/news/shows/bless-this-mess-premieres-tuesday-april-16-930-830c-on-abc) I live in rural Nebraska - we don’t need this kind of exposure OK, the basic idea is "Green Acres’ - without the charm of Eva Gabor. Wealthy couple (Lake Bell, Dax Shepard) decide to move to Nebraska from New York to enjoy the simple life and slower pace. Throw in some odd neighbors, cows and the same kind of small town tropes we’ve all seen a thousand times and the show is good to go. Oh well, co-star Ed Begley Jr is a major supporter of recycling so I understand his involvement. I’m going to check out the first couple of episodes. On a good day, we might see shades of ‘Northern Exposure’ in this show but I’m not optimistic. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/2 "2019-04-11T19:08:48Z")
When she heard about this, my wife’s reaction was “_Green acres_ again?”. It’s worth pointing out that Green Acres itself was inspired by the radio sitcom _Granby’s Green Acres_, which featured Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet as, basically, the same husband-and-wife team they played on the radio sitcom _My Favorite Husband_ (which was basically the radio proto-I Love Lucy). Gordon played an ex-banker turned farmer, so you had the “rich city folks” vibe. Granby’s Green Acres was in 1950. Green Acres was 1965-1971, with a 1990 reunion show. That’s about one inflammation every fifteen years. The question about the timing of Bless this Mess isn’t so much “why now?” as “Why were we spared an outbreak in 2005?” We’re just about due for the next cycle. Rich City Folks Try to Run a Farm – the 15 year locust of TV memes. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/3 "2019-04-11T19:14:46Z")
Looks like we narrowly avoided that 2005 outbreak: > [@](#): > > On November 19, 2007, original series director Richard L. Bare announced that he was working on a revival of Green Acres.[15] > **[Green Acres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Acres)** > > Green Acres is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to Petticoat Junction, the series was first broadcast on CBS, from September 15, 1965, to April 27, 1971. > Receiving solid ratings during its six-year run, Green Acres was cancelled in 1971 as part of the "rural purge" by CBS. The sitcom has been in syndication and is available on DVD and VHS releases. A reunion movie a... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/4 "2019-04-11T20:33:04Z")
I wonder if it’ll last long enough for there to be an episode on Tornado Season. Actually, that would make a great final episode! :o ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/5 "2019-04-11T21:56:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I wonder if it’ll last long enough for there to be an episode on Tornado Season. > > Actually, that would make a great final episode! :o There’s something about Dax Shepard in a tornado that sounds very appealing. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/6 "2019-04-11T22:13:40Z")
Googling, it appears the premise is that this couple decides that moving from Manhattan to a farm in Nebraska will allow them to pursue a simpler life. Now, I’m no expert, but my understanding is that real farming is a _lot_ of work with very long days, seven-day workweeks and very little income (plus tons of debt). Honestly, when I hear how bad it is, I’m amazed that anyone does it. If they’re Manhattanites who wanted the simple life, why not do what everyone else does and move upstate or to Connecticut? Who knows, though? Maybe this will be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/7 "2019-04-11T22:25:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Googling, it appears the premise is that this couple decides that moving from Manhattan to a farm in Nebraska will allow them to pursue a simpler life. Now, I’m no expert, but my understanding is that real farming is a _lot_ of work with very long days, seven-day workweeks and very little income (plus tons of debt). Honestly, when I hear how bad it is, I’m amazed that anyone does it. > > If they’re Manhattanites who wanted the simple life, why not do what everyone else does and move upstate or to Connecticut? > > Who knows, though? Maybe this will be funny. Apparently they inherit the farm from an elderly aunt. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/8 "2019-04-11T23:06:30Z")
Or they’re clueless city folk who don’t know what they’re getting in to. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/9 "2019-04-11T23:09:27Z")
If the farm is paid for, and you aren’t dependent on it for income, they aren’t _that_ hard to maintain. I would think that a wealthy couple could live on a farm easily. Thus the premise. It’s the “move back to the earth” and try _to make a living_ that’s fucking hard! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/10 "2019-04-12T00:05:44Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The question about the timing of Bless this Mess isn’t so much “why now?” as “Why were we spared an outbreak in 2005?” We’re just about due for the next cycle. > Rich City Folks Try to Run a Farm – the 15 year locust of TV memes. [The Simple Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simple_Life) doesn’t count? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/11 "2019-04-12T00:22:48Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > [The Simple Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simple_Life) doesn’t count? Didn’t think of it. But it fits perfectly into that missing slot 15 years after the Green Acres reunion show, and about 15 years before now. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/12 "2019-04-12T00:30:21Z")
Optimistically, this could have a Newhart appeal, and/or bridge the Red State/Blue State divide that the Rosanne show (original) did. However, I’m a little skeptical that it’ll play in the flyover states because the show is Lake Bell’s creation, and she is a born-and-raised New York city girl. So, it probably appeals to the coastal elites mostly. I hope they don’t make the Nebraska locals too colorful. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/13 "2019-04-12T00:59:05Z")
In 2009 Kelsey Grammer was[Hank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_(2009_TV_series)) a high-powered Wall Street type who moved his family to his wife’s rural home town, where they encountered the rustic natives. It lasted five episodes. Grammer later said on the _Tonight Show_ that even he wanted it canceled. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/14 "2019-04-12T01:26:07Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Apparently they inherit the farm from an elderly aunt. Like Lacey and The Ruby. Original! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/15 "2019-04-12T01:28:03Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > In 2009 Kelsey Grammer was[Hank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_(2009_TV_series)) a high-powered Wall Street type who moved his family to his wife’s rural home town, where they encountered the rustic natives. > > It lasted five episodes. Grammer later said on the _Tonight Show_ that even he wanted it canceled. Was \*\*\*Hank \*\*\*before or after _ **Boss** _? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/16 "2019-04-12T01:30:51Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Like Lacey and The Ruby. Original! 🆒 You think this might be more like _ **Corner Gas** _ than _ **Green Acres** _? :dubious: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/17 "2019-04-12T02:05:58Z")
The premise of the show is failed at the start, not even counting the Green Acres rip off aspect. There is no way in hell I could buy Dax Sheppard as some sort of big city sophisticate. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/18 "2019-04-12T02:12:02Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Was \*\*\*Hank \*\*\*before or after _ **Boss** _? :dubious: 😕 The timeline was _Back to You_, then _Hank_, then _Boss_. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/19 "2019-04-12T15:33:22Z")
As a farm boy born and raised, and of a certain age, I hated Green Acres for how it portrayed farming and rural life. There was NOTHING in that show that was remotely real. I thought Hollywood was insulting us rural folk. I also thought the Beverly Hillbillies should buy some new clothes and a new truck. And Hooterville should get a diesel loco. And Hazzard County should pave some back roads (all the back roads in WI are paved.) Later I “got” the deliberate absurdity of it all. Later still I realized that how Hollywood portrayed city life wasn’t any more accurate. Friends was just as unreal as Green Acres, just less obvious about it. Even later I realized Hollywood doesn’t get ANYTHING right. Even if there’s no reason to change things (Apollo 13, Bohemian Rhapsody, Hidden Figures, First Man…), they still do. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398/20 "2019-04-13T00:10:04Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > The timeline was _Back to You_, then _Hank_, then _Boss_. Furthermore Hank started as part of the same lineup the Middle started as part of, the Middle having lasted until about a year ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-this-mess-new-show-from-abc-why/832398.md?page=2)