Episode 71: "Beane's of Boston" (failed '79 American AYBS pilot)

What would AYBS be like if it was filmed in Los Angeles instead of London??

The Unanimous loved The Unanimous Episode! And we’d still love to hear from you if you didn’t get on the podcast.

Get well soon folks who have COVID.

Blackface verses Drag: comparable or not?

Are you a drag queen? We’d love to hear your thoughts about what drag means to you.

There’s only one recording of “Beane’s of Boston” (and that’s probably for the best…).

Beanes of Boston was filmed between seasons 6 and 7 of the original AYBS in the UK.

“Healthy” Kentucky Fried Chicken?!

Beane’s was broadcast once on May 5, 1979 during the old “Good Times” time slot on CBS.

Theme songs: a pilot episode in music.

Beane’s of Boston is like an American Grace Brothers… kinda.

Frank Beane (“Old Mr. Grace”) played by Tom Poston (who guest starred on every sitcom in the 70/80s).

Mr. Brandon’s brain is AYBS and nothing else.

Old Mr. Beane is a dirty old man like Young Mr. Grace.

Harrold Bennet’s YMG was somehow sweet while being a dirty old man; Frank Beane not so much.

We love bumbling Mr. Rumbold played by Nicholas Smith.

How did “pilot season” effect the actors in Beane’s of Boston?

“Miss. Brahams” feels like an airhead from “Three’s Company”.

Remaking films/TV shows is such a tricky thing since audiences will naturally compare the new product to the classic one.

Why couldn’t American audiences watch the original UK TV series?

American censors couldn’t handle sexual jokes or overtly gay characters?

Check out Steven Capsuto’s Youtube channel about LGBT TV history at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT-uzyA8-dkyNpMBKXb8mZw

We meet Alan Sues who plays Mr. Humphries (Sues was gay but not out for his career).

John Hillerman plays MISTER Peacock and carries it off very well.

Charlotte Rae plays Mrs. Slocombe without her famous tinted hair.

Was blue hair only a UK phenomenon?

Slocombe does the “are you free?” line!

Did American audiences know about AYBS?

Repetition of classic AYBS jokes- “German Week” episode set up.

“Well there goes my ride home” = a bold gay joke for American TV in 1979.

The first black AYBS-related actor is Don Bexley who plays Mr. Johnson (like Mr. Harmond in maintenance).

The German week jokes didn’t get any laughs from the American audience.

Mrs. Garrett from “The Facts of Life”!

The Trans-Atlantic accent: the world’s completely artificial accent in 1930s Hollywood films (think Catherine Hepburn).

Drunk Mrs. Slocombe singing Marlene Dietrich!

Comparing the German Dance Slap Fight with the original just isn’t fair.

The American experiment failed but it’s a great way to compare and construct BoB with AYBS.

Generation gaps made the original UK show so funny and relatable: by 1979 in the US, that just didn't work.

Treat yourself to some That Does Suit Madame merch at our Bargain Basement podcast shop at imfree.threadless.com for t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more! Leave the show a voicemail at the Peacock Hotline: (662)-PEACOCK (662-732-2625) and find us on Twitter @DoesSuitMadame and #AYBS #AreYouBeingServed #ImFree #Britcom #comedy #MrHumphries #ThatDoesSuitMadame #GraceBros #podcast #LGBT #BlackLivesMatter #BBC