''Life with Elizabeth'' - Misc episode No. 16
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''Life with Elizabeth'' - Misc episode No. 16
- Publication date
- 1953
- Topics
- Classic TV, Television, 1950s, 50s, Fifties, Life with Elizabeth, Betty White, Comedy, Sitcom, Syndicated television,
- Publisher
- Guild Films
An episode of the 1950s television series "Life with Elizabeth", starring Betty White. It had started as a live local series in 1952, and aired as a filmed first-run syndication series from 1953 to 1955.
- Addeddate
- 2012-06-29 12:34:09
- Closed captioning
- no
- Color
- black and white
- Ia_orig__runtime
- 25 minutes 33 seconds
- Identifier
- lifeWithElizabeth-MiscEpisodeNo.16
- Run time
- 25:33
- Sound
- sound
- Year
- 1953
comment
Reviews
Reviewer:
Jack Wantz
-
favoritefavoritefavorite -
October 9, 2018
Subject: "Life with Elizabeth" review
Subject: "Life with Elizabeth" review
The first of my two 1950s television program reviews is an episode of the show Life with Elizabeth. This sitcom starred the legendary Betty White as Elizabeth, an ordinary housewife in 1950s America. Her husband Alvin is played by Del Moore. The basic premise of this show is pretty much like most sitcoms, back in the day and present day. Every episode is a different thing, with little or no relation to the previous episode. Life with Elizabeth first aired in October of 1953, but sadly only lasted two seasons and the final episode of its 65 episode run aired on September 1st of 1955. Betty White’s first ever Emmy Award nomination came from this show, though she did not win.
Life with Elizabeth was a show with quite the low budget from what I was able to find, though I was not able to find a specific amount. The show was created by George Tibbles, and he also served as a executive producer and writer for the series. In addition to producing this show, Tibbles co-owned the production company that primarily funded and produced this show, Bandy Productions. Betty White was a co-owner of this company as well. An interesting aspect of this sitcom compared to other sitcoms in the narration and voice overs from a man, who is voiced by Jack Narz. In the episode I chose to watch, the episode begins with the narrator talking and asking Elizabeth a few questions. This caught me a bit off guard, as I am not use to a narrator breaking the wall and talking/questioning cast members mid-program. In some shows, such as Arrested Development, there is a narrator doing exactly what a narrator is supposed to do, comment on the actions and statements of the cast members. But this narrator is completely different than any other show and narrator I have seen or heard in my many years of watching television. It’s a very interesting approach to a television show that I was no expecting when I chose this episode.
This episode begins with Elizabeth and Alvin playing a game of ping pong, which he beats her very easily twenty-one to zero. Alvin goes to the bathroom, and while he’s gone Elizabeth messes around and cheats very low-key. The next time Alvin comes back, Elizabeth “plays” much better and actually scores some points and wins. This sitcom is a differently orchestrated show, it has three to four different comical “segments” in each episode, with each segment not having much relation to the previous. So with that being said, the next “segment” of the show was set in the kitchen during a thunder storm. The lighting is much darker than usual and the windows in the background are quite dark as well. Along with Alvin walking down the stairs, stretching and yawning, it leads me to assume it was set at night or very very early in the morning. Alvin and Elizabeth talk about a few things, Elizabeth has a chuckle after the narrator questions her, and then they continue to talk and the scene is over. These little segments are very interesting to see, as the lighting and mood are very diverse and change quite a bit.
The episodes all begin with the same short intro, it only lasts a few seconds with a upbeat tune and then the Life with Elizabeth picture comes up and that’s the end of the intro and the show begins. This episode lasted around twenty minutes and was a pretty upbeat and comical mood the entire episode. The transitions between segments is quite basic, with just a black screen for a moment then it turns onto the narrator who comments on what Elizabeth has been doing or what the premise of the current situation in their household is. It really is quite fascinating to see what the narrator says, as I have never really seen a program where the narrator is even seen on television. But with this show, the narrator gets a few seconds to even be on camera and explain the situation and give a few words to the audience.
In conclusion, this show was what I expected for a 1950s television program. It had it’s humor no doubt, but the humor wasn’t really my form of humor and I am not a big fan of sitcoms. The crowd laughing from scenes in sitcoms has always bugged me, but that is my own fault for choosing this show. But Life with Elizabeth is what the start of the legendary Betty White’s career, so you have to respect it.
Life with Elizabeth was a show with quite the low budget from what I was able to find, though I was not able to find a specific amount. The show was created by George Tibbles, and he also served as a executive producer and writer for the series. In addition to producing this show, Tibbles co-owned the production company that primarily funded and produced this show, Bandy Productions. Betty White was a co-owner of this company as well. An interesting aspect of this sitcom compared to other sitcoms in the narration and voice overs from a man, who is voiced by Jack Narz. In the episode I chose to watch, the episode begins with the narrator talking and asking Elizabeth a few questions. This caught me a bit off guard, as I am not use to a narrator breaking the wall and talking/questioning cast members mid-program. In some shows, such as Arrested Development, there is a narrator doing exactly what a narrator is supposed to do, comment on the actions and statements of the cast members. But this narrator is completely different than any other show and narrator I have seen or heard in my many years of watching television. It’s a very interesting approach to a television show that I was no expecting when I chose this episode.
This episode begins with Elizabeth and Alvin playing a game of ping pong, which he beats her very easily twenty-one to zero. Alvin goes to the bathroom, and while he’s gone Elizabeth messes around and cheats very low-key. The next time Alvin comes back, Elizabeth “plays” much better and actually scores some points and wins. This sitcom is a differently orchestrated show, it has three to four different comical “segments” in each episode, with each segment not having much relation to the previous. So with that being said, the next “segment” of the show was set in the kitchen during a thunder storm. The lighting is much darker than usual and the windows in the background are quite dark as well. Along with Alvin walking down the stairs, stretching and yawning, it leads me to assume it was set at night or very very early in the morning. Alvin and Elizabeth talk about a few things, Elizabeth has a chuckle after the narrator questions her, and then they continue to talk and the scene is over. These little segments are very interesting to see, as the lighting and mood are very diverse and change quite a bit.
The episodes all begin with the same short intro, it only lasts a few seconds with a upbeat tune and then the Life with Elizabeth picture comes up and that’s the end of the intro and the show begins. This episode lasted around twenty minutes and was a pretty upbeat and comical mood the entire episode. The transitions between segments is quite basic, with just a black screen for a moment then it turns onto the narrator who comments on what Elizabeth has been doing or what the premise of the current situation in their household is. It really is quite fascinating to see what the narrator says, as I have never really seen a program where the narrator is even seen on television. But with this show, the narrator gets a few seconds to even be on camera and explain the situation and give a few words to the audience.
In conclusion, this show was what I expected for a 1950s television program. It had it’s humor no doubt, but the humor wasn’t really my form of humor and I am not a big fan of sitcoms. The crowd laughing from scenes in sitcoms has always bugged me, but that is my own fault for choosing this show. But Life with Elizabeth is what the start of the legendary Betty White’s career, so you have to respect it.
Reviewer:
lonie
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 23, 2016
Subject: Life With Elizabeth
Subject: Life With Elizabeth
I Can See Why Betty White Became Such A Big Star After Watching This Show ! Very Funny !
Reviewer:
The Bridge
-
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
June 9, 2013
Subject: Comedy for sure!
Subject: Comedy for sure!
When this show was on, I used to try to catch it whenever I could, but sometimes had to miss it. Always good for a laugh, forget your troubles and watch these two. Of course Betty White is super at getting laughs, but, she also needed a good foil, and Del Moore was it for sure.
The opening skit in this one is a classic.
ENJOY!
The opening skit in this one is a classic.
ENJOY!
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