Eddie Albert was relieved when ''Green Acres'' was cancelled

Albert knew when to let go.

Like all good things, Green Acres had to come to an end sometime. Still, even fans today are burned by what they felt was an unjust cancellation in 1971 from CBS as a part of what has commonly been called the "rural purge." However, one person who had learned to appreciate the show's untimely end was Green Acres' Oliver Douglas, better known as Eddie Albert.

This doesn't mean that Albert hated playing his character on Green Acres. According to an interview with the Chicago Tribune, while the show was still in its fifth season, Albert declared that he "felt just fine" about playing Douglas. He proclaimed, "I have great empathy with this urbanite who wants to live in the country so he can smell fresh air. Albert was a well-known conversationalist and could identify with Douglas's longing for nature. 

Moreover, Albert appreciated the series itself and its funny, almost risque nature. He said, "Not only are the lines subtle and clever, but some are terribly sexy. Not in an overt way, so they go right over the heads of younger children who don't understand them. But sometimes when Eva delivers certain lines, I get to laughing so hard I can't go on."

He also commended the series and said, "It's the best comedy writing on the air" and balked at those who turned their nose up at the series. Albert noted, "Those who have never seen it dismiss it as corny...I think it's hip writing and has some of the wildest, freakiest, far out, funny modern lines on television."

But two years after the cancellation, Albert wasn't bitter about the abrupt ending. Rather, he had taken it in stride. An interview with the Sunday News called him "relieved" at the show's ending. Albert said, "You have to move on." He reasoned, "I felt confined after so many seasons on the series. Felt stale. You run out of fresh ideas." Fortunately, this wouldn't be the last time we saw Albert on our televisions, and we were luckier for it.


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14 Comments

top_cat_james_1 10 months ago
The last two episodes ("Hawaiian Honeymoon" and "The Ex-Secretary") were "back door pilots" for proposed spin-off series that never came to fruition, so I think producers knew the end was nigh.
Both were terrible. I can see why the didn’t happen.
nerakr 10 months ago
He was a "conversationalist" because he loved nature. Shouldn't that be "conservationist?"
Runeshaper 10 months ago
Sounds like Albert was ready for the cancellation. He knew the show was great. Just was it’s’ time.
TempoNick 10 months ago
His real name was Edward Albert Heimberger and he comes from a somewhat accomplished family, some of them farmers, centered in the Columbus, Ohio area. An uncle and cousin ran a high-end jewelry store in Columbus. Another cousin ran a steel company. And another one was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University. There is even a road named after the family (Heimberger Rd.) in Fairfield County, Ohio.

See: facebook dot com/groups/retaildeadoralive/posts/769876457047283/
TempoNick TempoNick 10 months ago
Link: facebook.com/groups/retaildeadoralive/posts/769876457047283/
AgingDisgracefully 10 months ago
Is it Reboot Time?
Updated to include meth labs and locals clinging to Jaysus and quality firearms?
jmworacle 10 months ago
It was silly but, who cares Eva Gabor was hot.
JohnHardesty 10 months ago
Country living is just that, there are only so many corny jokes a bucolic well can draw from. The show existed because Americana truly hadn't moved forward for 170 years. Look at us now, 50% of Americans are widely uneducated. Green Acres applies still.
19611313 JohnHardesty 10 months ago
And evidently you understand that. Was 6th grade the hardest 4 years of your life.
Andybandit 10 months ago
GA was on for 6 seasons. Not much more they can write about the people Hootersville. As Lisa would say.
Moody 10 months ago
I agree with Eddie Albert about the show running out of fresh ideas. I think most shows do start getting stale & old after 4-6 seasons. There exceptions of course. Sometimes it's best to end the series when you are still popular. Producers start to try to change things up a bit like introducing a new cast member or changing something else to keep the viewers interest. It doesn't always work & they wind up losing their audience. I think Green Acres ran it's course for 5 years. You can blame it on the "rural purge" or not, it was a good decision to end the show when they did. Just my opinion.
Deleted 10 months ago
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cperrynaples 10 months ago
Actually, Hee Haw was a purge victim, but it continued for another 20 years in syndication!
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