For years I’ve done a killer Mr. Haney impression (“I’d hate to break up the set, Mr. Douglas…”) in a cracked voice, generally when negotiating for antiques or collectibles. No-one has “got it” yet. Philistines.
I always thought it was inspired by “The Egg and I”, a story of a city man who decides to become a farmer, drags his wife along with him and encounters all sorts of rural eccentrics, including a traveling salesman with a truck full of junk. (The movie also introduced Ma and Pa Kettle, who featured in a string of Bs.)
We took our daughter to a Nickeldon day at the mall when she was about 5. One of the displays was to sing along with the TV themes. She started singing the Green Acres theme in a tone-deaf, off-tempo manner you’d expect from a five year old. However, when the theme shifted to Eva Garbor’s line, she belted out a perfect imitation.
Newwww YORK is vhere I’d rawther stay!
—Raise hands: how many of us said, “Zis has been a Filmvays Presentation, dahlings” with her at the end of the show?
One of my favorite bits: Opening of the episode. Lisa and Oliver are lying in bed. Oliver is reading the paper. As the opening credits are being shown, Lisa is staring at them intently. Oliver: “What are you doing?” Lisa: “Looking at the writing.” Oliver: “The writing???” Lisa: “Yes- the writing in the air. But I don’t understand why it’s always backwards!” Priceless!
I loved the tagline Nick at Nite used to promote the show when it was running on that network: “It’s not stupid; it’s surreal.”
I’ve been looking forward to this - Susan and I were singing the theme song just this weekend.
When I worked in local government, I routinely called the local extension agent “Mr. Kimball,” and he eventually caught on. To this day I call anyone who has that habit of immediately contradicting themself “Mr. Kimball.” I also called my brother “Mr. Drucker,” when he briefly ran a convenience store that we own together. Too bad he didn’t have the black arm gaiters.
And my favorite bit:
Oliver: Lisa, what on earth are you doing with all this boilding water?
Lisa: Vy, Oliver, I am making hot vater stoop.
Oliver: What?
<enter Ebb>
Eb: Mr. Douglas, have you tried the soup? It’s just like my mother used to make.
And, yes, one of the Ralph Monroe Brothers (Alf was the other one, I think) was a woman. They pretty much lived in the Douglas’s bedroom.
Eva Gabor…grrrrrwwwwwwwlllllll.
Here is ze marazon schadule, dahlings.
I can’t beleef I am going to be out of town zat veekand–I vill have to tape it on my BVD player.
For Eva Gabor fans-there’s a vintage website that had some of her garments for sale not too long ago-want me to check and see if they’re still available?
“Ze stores!”
Wow, I thought all her clothes ended up in Merv Griffen’s closet.
I thought all her clothes were from Merv Griffin’s closet!
While the web design is annoying, to me, at least, you can find Ms. Gabor’s things under celebrities.
Zome lovely garmentz, dahlingz!
Dang it, you caught me!
“Olivair, who is Dick Chevrolet?”
Well, I have been watching every night and have noticed that:
• The laugh track hurts the show, as they do all shows.
• There was a lot of sexual chemistry between Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert, much more so than on other shows of the time (espeically with a middle-aged couple—good for them!).
• Hank Patterson, who played Fred Ziffel, was brilliant. The whole cast is great, but he stands out.
• Not all the shows are as wonderful as I’d remembered, of course—you only remember the good parts, and the stupid sitcom stuff gets forgotten.
• There are nuggets of sheer brilliance in each and every episoide, though!
• “Miss Gabor’s gowns by Jean Louis,” and it doesn’t get any better than that.
Tonight’s episode opened and Lisa and Oliver in bed, and the credits “Written by Jay Sommers and Dick Chevillat.” Lisa jumps up, turns on the light and asks, “Do ve know anyvone named Jay Sommers and Deeck Chevrolet? I vas just dreaming zat zeir names were over us.”
Then Mr. Haney drives up in his truck and pulls down a banner reading, “Directed by Richard L. Bare,” and says, “Now, who the heck is he?”
Postmodern goofiness at its best!
Two words: Hank Kimball.
Absolutely brilliant performances. Well, maybe not absolutely. 
Mr. Kimball
Mr. Haney
Eb
The Ziffels
Why oh why didn’t they spinoff those 5 (plus Arnold, of course) after the series ended?
I still hear Eva Gabor crying out; “eat Hootersville Rutabagas!” from the hot-air balloon, and dropping them on Eddie Albert.
And all that “shoosting”!
CBS wanted to end their rural themed programming and killed off The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and (I think) Petticoat Junction in one swoop.
Not sure about Petticoat Junction as Bea Burnadette had died and it just wasn’t the same with June Lockhart. It may have just died out.
Not old… simply classic.
“Ze whores!”