The Good Life(1975)
TV-PG
4 seasons
30m/episode
Comedy7.6
"The Good Life brings laughter and hope to suburbia!"
Overview
Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown in the USA.
Bob Larbey
Creator
John Esmonde
Creator
Bob Larbey
Writer
John Esmonde
Writer
Top Billed Cast
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Tom and Barbara's home-brewed wine | The Good Life | BBC Comedy Greats
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Jerry and Margo's Dinner Party | The Good Life | BBC Comedy Greats
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A review by Peter McGinn
8.0
Written on September 27, 2020
This show is a product of the 70s. A suburban couple decide to drop out and go back to the land. They will grow their own food, barter or sell what they produce to make their living, whatever they need to do to drop out of the rat race.
Their slightly stodgy friends next door remain in the rat race, providing a foil and a counterpoint for their shenanigans. If you had shown me a summary of the plot, I would have rolled my eyes, but they made it work. I especially like what they did with Margo. She is snooty, privileged and against what their neighbors are attempting. As a result, she is joked about and made fun of, but there is depth and warmth to her that comes out at various times during the show’s run.
I am not a big fan of Richard Briar and I don’t know why, but he does a credible job. Penelope Keith owns her roles as Margo. This is not at the top of the list of favorites for me, but it turned out much better than it had any right to do. In the U.S. it was known as Good Neighbors (Good is the couple’s last name.)
Their slightly stodgy friends next door remain in the rat race, providing a foil and a counterpoint for their shenanigans. If you had shown me a summary of the plot, I would have rolled my eyes, but they made it work. I especially like what they did with Margo. She is snooty, privileged and against what their neighbors are attempting. As a result, she is joked about and made fun of, but there is depth and warmth to her that comes out at various times during the show’s run.
I am not a big fan of Richard Briar and I don’t know why, but he does a credible job. Penelope Keith owns her roles as Margo. This is not at the top of the list of favorites for me, but it turned out much better than it had any right to do. In the U.S. it was known as Good Neighbors (Good is the couple’s last name.)
