TV's Memorable Neighbors

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Since the beginnings of network radio and TV, one significant creative element within many entertainment shows, specifically comedy, is the casting of "neighbors." Frequently, professional actors and actresses who portray them have backgrounds in character acting, requiring specialized skills and, if properly cast and executed by the producer and director, make the main characters look really good and can make the difference between a hit show or a failure.

Below are some of my favorite shows over the years that were known for fabulous "neighbors" (this list is by no means comprehensive or ranked in any order... just some of my favorites):

1. Fred & Ethel Mertz (William Frawley, Vivian Vance, I Love Lucy, CBS): gets no better than having the Mertzes as your neighbors!
2. Howard Borden (Bill Dailey, Bob Newhart Show, CBS): this neighbor was an airline navigator but had a bad habit of barging in on Bob and Emily Hartley when he was in town!
3. Blanche & Harry Morton (Bea Benaderet, Larry Keating, Burns & Allen Show, CBS): Blanche was the cohort with most of Gracie Allen's hair brained schemes! Harry just witnessed everything without getting too upset!
4. Jerry & Millie Helper (Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Dick Van Dyke Show, CBS): great neighbors for Rob & Laura Petrie! In real life, Jerry Paris directed a number of episodes for this series.
5. Rhoda Morgenstern & Phyllis Lindstrom (Valarie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler Moore Show, CBS): the queens of pesky, quirky neighbors and landladies!
6. Wilson Wilson (Earl Hindman, Home Improvement, ABC): never seen in full but always heard, trying to find the meaning of everything!
7. Louise & George Jefferson (Isabel Sanford & Sherman Hemsley, All In The Family, CBS): Louise was good friends with Edith Bunker but the same could not be said for Archie and George!
8. Helen & Stanley Roper (Audra Lindley & Norman Fell, Three's Company, ABC): the married landlords of John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers for 2 years before Don Knotts ran the place!
9. Ed & Trixie Norton (Art Carney & Joyce Randolph, The Honeymooners, CBS): best friends of Ralph and Alice Kramden. Ed was always trying to talk sense into Ralph but sometimes got sucked into some things!
10. Barney & Betty Rubble (Voices of Mel Blanc and Bea Benedaret/Gerry Johnson, The Flintstones, ABC): neighbors to Fred & Wilma Flintstone... in the Stone Age!

And speaking of character actors, enjoy the above clip from the I Love Lucy episode "Lucy's Italian Movie," originally aired April 16, 1956 on the CBS Television Network.