Life with Elizabeth

When I noticed this show on Betty White's IMDb filmography, I had to see it. Even though I've never been a huge Betty White fan, I've always had to admire her range. I was surprised to find Life With Elizabeth available from Netflix, so I watched three episodes on a DVD. While those three were plenty – at least for one setting, I did get some enjoyment out of the show. Everyone seemed to be eager to follow the I Love Lucy formula for success in the 1950s: A kooky, mildly attractive housewife, her buddy next door and an ever-suffering husband to shake his head knowingly when the wife's schemes inevitably backfired. It worked for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez and for George Burns and Gracie Allen. Joan Davis and Jim Backus also had some success with the formula in I Married Joan. Here, too, it proved effective. Like Burns and Allen, the narrator (Jack Narz) stepped through the "fourth wall" and discussed the "plot" with the characters. While this may seem very disconcerting to modern audiences, it was not at all unusual for the 1950s. White, who turned 30 the show's first season, was a lovable enough young wife, who sometimes used her devilish sense of humor to jab husband Del Moore. Moore and White made a believable and likable young couple, grappling with ordinary everyday situations like whether to plant a tree on the patio, going to a drive-in movie, buying a new vacuum, entertaining an old college friend, etc. I see that she also starred in another, similar sitcom, Date With the Angels, a few years later. I'll have to see if I can find it, too. For anyone interested in the history of the American sitcom or for any big Betty White fans, Life With Elizabeth is a must-see. Just don't expect I Love Lucy.

I first saw Betty White on the Hoffman(n) my parents purchased in the early 50's on the Al Jarvis TV show (it had a different name). Her show, Life with Elizabeth was shown in the late afternoon. Two things I remember about LWE was there was a dog they owned who's name was Stormy ant the Thanksgiving show when the "first" turkey slipped off the platter and Elizabeth took it back into the kitchen and brought the "second" turkey to serve everyone. Everyone said it was really lucky that Elizabeth cooked two turkeys. I thought that was really funny because the previous Thanksgiving my grandmother dropped the turkey on the floor and my uncle's Doberman grabbed it and was out the door before anyone could stop him. Great memories of a simpler age. Probably not great television but not bad for then. A strong 7.5 for the era.

I was only a little kid, but this was one of my favorite shows. One device was used to end each episode. The last "vignette" or sketch in each show always degenerated into a big squabble in which all the characters were talking at the same time--nothing could be understood. At that point, Jack Narz, the announcer, would come on as a voice over, exclaiming something like, "Hey! Listen to me!" The squabbling would stop and the characters would look straight into the camera, breaking the "fourth wall." Narz would then say, "Say goodnight to the people." The cast would then say, "Goodnight everybody!" and resume their bickering until the scene dissolved. It was a trademark of the series.

My memories are not exact; after all it HAS been over 50 years.

Thankfully, episodes of this program are available on YouTube so I watched several of them. They exceeded expectations. Betty White and Del Moore had great chemistry; their banter was natural, almost seemed improvised at times. They navigated their scenes together with fine physical comedic skill and cleverly executed exchanges. White, as Elizabeth, was playfully funny, whether miming responses to the narrator (and on screen announcer, Jack Narz) or teasing Moore, who portrays her happily exasperated and expressive husband, Alvin. Writing wasn't bad, actually quite amusing at times, penned in part by veteran screenwriter George Tibbles (best known for his work on My Three Sons). This is clearly a lower budget program, which is to its advantage; there is more reliance on White and Moore to anchor the show. A lone harpist provides the theme music and cute soundtrack moments. Keep in mind that the show was broadcast in the early to mid-50's and has to be appreciated in the context of its time. But it holds up pretty well thanks in no small part to its stars.

This was basically a sitcom, told in brief vignettes rather than a full regular sitcom style. There was some similarity to the Jack Benny Program, with an announcer and Betty White talking to the audience at the end of the show. The story was about Elizabeth (White), her husband Alvin, and a few friends and coworkers. The stories were simple, mostly domestic tales, but the tone was rather silly, with much of the comedy centered on certain characters' stupidity. If you see it now, you're unlikely to be bowled over by comedic genius, but it's nice to see a young Betty White.