Fair Exchange

"Mum, can I have five shillings?" "Whatever for, Neville?" "I need to buy a doll."

One exchange I remember. Neville was doing some science project. Other episodes: Eddie was treating his English friends to a Christmas present of central heating, something very rare, apparently, in the London of the time.

The American girl practicing the Weird Sisters' chant at the beginning of Macbeth.

A sniffy Englishman admitting to one of the Walkers that that there was one American he approved of: "Benedict Arnold."

A rave smash if it could be rerun today.

The timing of this show -- one of my favorites -- was off by just about a year. "Fair Exchange" was launched in September of '62, had its last hour-long airing in December, and reappeared in March of '63 in a half-hour format. And then...gone forever! Had it come to life just one year later, it would have coincided with Beatlemania and the rest of the British Invasion of popular music. I'm certain such timing would have given wings to this British-accented comedy and, perhaps, it would be in reruns today! Neville Finch lead singer of a British pop group? Larry Walker fronting a competing American band? There's an hour show! CBS: you were just a year too early!

I adored "Fair Exchange'. It was wonderful, exciting, shocking and so much fun. Risqué for the bravado of both female characters to us here in Australia where few could afford to travel overseas, especially to America. England was still recovering from WWII and still on rations. We were only just coming to grips with the fact that another War was not about to occur - as history had proved to occur so often. 'A FAIR EXCHANGE' was the way we were able to travel & see London. The show was extremely important to those lucky enough to have TV sets. For me it was the ultimate experience & taught me so much about relationships and the difference between two cultures so similar yet so foreign in manner to each other. It was a major teaching tool for so many young people (mostly female), but a teaching tool nonetheless. I'd love to see it again now - to remember when life was simpler & saner, when people had an innocence now no longer found anywhere. The same innocence which produced wonderful books, stories, poetry, and caring people. Not so much of that anywhere nowadays, is there?

I was 15 when this show was on TV and I loved it. I remember the show and the cast as being completely charming and innocent -- so different from today's shows. It would be great to see it again to see if it was as good as I remember -- although I'm sure (I hope) my taste has changed considerably in the 42 years since that series was on TV. Does anyone have any ideas on where I might be able to find a copy of this TV series?

This show was notable for two things: It was the first situation comedy to run for a full hour every week, and it introduced Judy Carne to America (she went on to fame, fortune, and emotional trauma as a regular on Laugh-In). Basic plot: Judy wants to make it big in American theater, and Lynn wants to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, so old war buddies Eddie and Victor agree to house and feed each other's daughters while they pursue their dreams. It was a sweet and funny situation which demonstrated that culture shock can be found where least expected. Unfortunately they couldn't sustain the one-hour format so after about half a season they cut back to a half hour. The show did not get the audience it deserved and ended shortly thereafter.