The Good Life
The last episode, "When I'm 65" was the second comeback special (by popular demand) and was recorded in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. After the recording the cast and leading members of the crew were presented to the royal party.,In a previous episode ("The Pagan Rite") Barbara was furious when she thought Tom had taken freelance work to help pay their bills, saying that their efforts in self-sufficiency should be all or nothing. But in "A Tug of the Forelock" she is the one who suggests they take on temporary work to afford petrol for their new vehicle. But the operative word here is, "temporary". Tom explains to Jerry that this was not a "permanent state" and therefore not a breach of self-sufficiency. This principle was first presented by Tom in "The Pagan Rite" where he explains taking "one job for one purpose" is an acceptable exception.,Margo: [reading from a card] "The Ooh-Aah bird is so-called because it lays square eggs." I don't understand that.,The closing credits listed the actors' names but not the corresponding names of the characters that they played.,Featured in The Young Ones: Sick (1984),The Bandolero
Written by Leslie Stuart
Performed by Peter Dawson,In the seventies, television was good, and The Good Life (1975-1978) is no exception. It's a dry, pleasant and warm British situation comedy about an everyday man who decides on his 40th birthday to quit his job and become self-sufficient. The reason this comedy works better than most is down to its brilliant casting, all of the actors have such a believable chemistry. From Tom and Barbara Good (the fantastic Richard Briers and the lovely Felicity Kendall) to Jerry and Margot Ledbetter (the equally great coupling of Paul Eddington and Penelope Keith). The characters are so likeable, you can't help but warn to this show, it's funny, inoffensive and most of all happy, the kind of show that will lift you're spirits and put a smile on you're face. (Incidentally for a show that is so happy, the final episode is actually quite depressing and emotional a bit of a downer. But that aside you can still watch all the other episodes). This is great comedy with great actors that adds up to a true television classic...,