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The Good Life (1994 TV series)

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The Good Life
Also known asThe Bowmans
GenreSitcom
Created by
Written by
  • Warren Bell
  • Wendy Braff
  • Kevin Curran
  • Mark Driscoll
  • Holly Hester
  • Frank Lombardi
  • Jeff Martin
  • Suzanne Martin
  • Dana Reston
  • Leslie Rieder
  • David Silverman
  • Stephen Sustarsic
Directed byGerry Cohen
Starring
ComposerJonathan Wolff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Producers
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseJanuary 3 (1994-01-03) –
April 12, 1994 (1994-04-12)

The Good Life is an American sitcom television series created by Jeff Martin, Kevin Curran and Suzanne Martin, which aired on NBC from January 3 to April 12, 1994. It starred John Caponera and Drew Carey.[1] Other members of the cast included Eve Gordon, Jake Patellis, Shay Astar, Justin Berfield and Monty Hoffman. It focuses on the personal and working life of John Bowman (Caponera) and his family.

Premise

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The show revolved around John Bowman, and featured both his home life and the lock distribution warehouse where he serves as a middle manager. It was set in Chicago.[2]

Production

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Caponera originally created the character of John Bowman for his stand-up routine. He based John on the man he would have become if he had "married young and never finished college."[3] When executives from Disney saw Caponera perform the character during one of his shows, they offered him the chance to star in his own sitcom.[3] The Good Life was created by Jeff Martin, Kevin Curran and Suzanne Martin.[4]

The show premiered on January 3, before moving to its regular Tuesday timeslot the following day.[5] The fifth episode, broadcast on January 30, 1994, aired following NBC's coverage of Super Bowl XXVIII.[6]

Cancellation

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Thirteen episodes were produced and aired, before the sitcom was cancelled on May 13, 1994.[3] Caponera heard about the cancellation from the press and was unhappy with NBC for dropping the show, stating "People seemed to love it, but the powers that be didn't care because the ratings weren't high enough."[3] He felt that NBC did not do enough to help get the show started when it debuted in January, suggesting that a comedy lead in and not putting them up against Full House on ABC would have helped growth. He also pointed out that The Good Life was taken off air for coverage of the Olympics and then placed in a different timeslot, which impacted the show's ratings.[3] Caponera told Bunnie Nichols of the News-Press that the show's producer Disney Studios was shopping the sitcom around and that Fox were interested.[3]

Cast

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  • John Caponera as John Bowman, a middle manager at Honest Abe Security Products[5]
  • Eve Gordon as Maureen Bowman, a school teacher and John's wife[7]
  • Jake Patellis as Paul Bowman, John and Maureen's teenage son[7]
  • Shay Astar as Melissa Bowman, John and Maureen's teenage daughter[7]
  • Justin Berfield as Bob Bowman, John and Maureen's six year old son[7]
  • Drew Carey as Drew Clark, John's best friend and co-worker[7]
  • Monty Hoffman as Tommy Barlett, the union shop steward[2]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)		Rating/rank
(households)
1"Paul Dates a Buddhist"Gerry CohenWarren BellJanuary 3, 1994 (1994-01-03)20.0[8]12.4 / #38[9]
2"Maureen's Play"Gerry CohenMark DriscollJanuary 4, 1994 (1994-01-04)12.0[8]8.3 / #73[9]
3"Pilot"John RichJeff Martin, Kevin Curran, Suzanne MartinJanuary 11, 1994 (1994-01-11)9.9[10]6.9 / #84[11]
4"John Hurts His Leg or Tales from the Crip"Gerry CohenDavid Silverman and Stephen SustarsicJanuary 18, 1994 (1994-01-18)10.2[12]6.8 / #84[13]
5"The Statue"Gerry CohenFrank Lombardi and Dana RestonJanuary 30, 1994 (1994-01-30)22.8[14]14.2 / #21[15]
6"Calendar Girl"Gerry CohenMark DriscollFebruary 1, 1994 (1994-02-01)10.3[16]7.5 / #83[17]
7"She Shoots, She Scores"Gerry CohenKevin CurranFebruary 1, 1994 (1994-02-01)10.2[16]7.1 / #84[17]
8"John Takes Out Melissa"Gerry CohenLeslie RiederMarch 15, 1994 (1994-03-15)8.3[18]7.0 / #78[19]
9"John Fights the System"Gerry CohenDavid Silverman and Stephen SustarsicMarch 15, 1994 (1994-03-15)9.9[18]5.9 / #86[19]
10"Bob's Field Trip"Gerry CohenWendy BraffMarch 22, 1994 (1994-03-22)8.2[20]6.0 / #78[21]
11"Melissa the Thief"Gerry CohenSuzanne MartinMarch 29, 1994 (1994-03-29)8.4[22]6.2 / #81[23]
12"The Mother-in-Law"Gerry CohenHolly HesterApril 5, 1994 (1994-04-05)7.1[24]5.4 / #88[25]
13"John's New Assistant"Gerry CohenSuzanne MartinApril 12, 1994 (1994-04-12)7.8[26]5.9 / #85[27]

Reception

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John J. O'Connor of The New York Times gave the show a positive review, writing "Another sitcom. Another show with a goofy dad, a wry mom and three troublesome but wonderful kids. Television marches on. Groan. But then, against all odds, the tired formula works."[4] He thought John's co-workers were "brought to a wonderful level of lunacy by Drew Carey and Monty Hoffman" and he praised the younger actors, calling their characters "appealing."[4] He believed that the cast were "having a genuinely good time" and that came across in their performances, adding "that's a good sign. Mr. Caponera is onto something."[4]

References

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  1. ^ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 449–450. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  2. ^ a b Hoogenboom, Lynn (January 1, 1994). "On the road to 'The Good Life' – from college class to 'Star Search'". North County Times. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  3. ^ a b c d e f Nichols, Bunnie (May 20, 1994). "That's 'Life'!". News-Press. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  4. ^ a b c d O'Connor, John J. (January 3, 1994). "Review/Television; A Stand-Up Guy, and His Family". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Brennan, Patricia (January 1, 1994). "NBC shakes things up for 'Good Life' debut". The Daily Progress. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  6. ^ "Hype it up! It's Super Bowl Sunday". The Tennessean. January 30, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e Curtright, Bob (January 1, 1994). "Reaction positive to low-budget Ruby Stone's 'Come 'N Get It'". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  8. ^ a b DeRosa, Robin (January 12, 1994). "'Improvement' leads ABC charge". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  9. ^ a b "'Homicide' is very much alive in ratings". South Florida Sun Sentinel. January 13, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  10. ^ DeRosa, Robin (January 19, 1994). "'Columbo' on the case for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ "The Nielsen Ratings". The Miami Herald. January 20, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  12. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 26, 1994. p. 3D.
  13. ^ "'60 Minutes' puts CBS on top – network had 4 shows in top 10". The Orlando Sentinel. January 27, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  14. ^ DeRosa, Robin (February 2, 1994). "Super Bowl runs up NBC's score". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  15. ^ "Super Bowl gives NBC a super Nielsen victory". News and Messenger. February 3, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  16. ^ a b DeRosa, Robin (February 9, 1994). "Lilith brings ratings to 'Frasier'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  17. ^ a b Moore, Frazler (February 10, 1994). "CBS' rivals take back seat in February ratings sweep". The Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  18. ^ a b DeRosa, Robin (March 23, 1994). "Wednesday wins for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  19. ^ a b "'Home Improvement' leads ratings". The Grand Island Independent. March 24, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  20. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 30, 1994). "Winner ABC can thank the academy". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  21. ^ Elber, Lynn (March 31, 1994). "Academy Awards make ABC a winner". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  22. ^ DeRosa, Robin (April 6, 1994). "ABC gets help from 'These Friends'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  23. ^ "ABC edges out CBS again in weekly Nielsen ratings". Democrat and Chronicle. April 7, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  24. ^ DeRosa, Robin (April 13, 1994). "Hoops figure in to CBS' net again". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  25. ^ "CBS wins the ratings with NCAA basketball". Democrat and Chronicle. April 14, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  26. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 20, 1994. p. 3D.
  27. ^ "The Nielsen Ratings". The Miami Herald. April 21, 1994. Retrieved October 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
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