Fair Exchange

The timing of this show -- one of my favorites -- was off by just about a year. "Fair Exchange" was launched in September of '62, had its last hour-long airing in December, and reappeared in March of '63 in a half-hour format. And then...gone forever! Had it come to life just one year later, it would have coincided with Beatlemania and the rest of the British Invasion of popular music. I'm certain such timing would have given wings to this British-accented comedy and, perhaps, it would be in reruns today! Neville Finch lead singer of a British pop group? Larry Walker fronting a competing American band? There's an hour show! CBS: you were just a year too early!

"Mum, can I have five shillings?" "Whatever for, Neville?" "I need to buy a doll."

One exchange I remember. Neville was doing some science project. Other episodes: Eddie was treating his English friends to a Christmas present of central heating, something very rare, apparently, in the London of the time.

The American girl practicing the Weird Sisters' chant at the beginning of Macbeth.

A sniffy Englishman admitting to one of the Walkers that that there was one American he approved of: "Benedict Arnold."

A rave smash if it could be rerun today.

Fair Exchange could have been a good vehicle to show the cultural differences between Americans and Britons. Two families deciding to exchange daughters experiencing culture shock in what was the innocent 60s of TV land. It was a fun show, but hardly trend-setting or innovative. Still, it was nice to see (in one episode) an Asian man dressed in a suit and cane, talking perfect English in an impeccable British accent. Ah, an early piece of Americana with no stereotype Asians!

Desilu Studios was trying to expand a bit in their comedy range and must have blown the budget on this one. I think that was the reason Fair Exchange might have been canceled after only 15 episodes.

The American Walkers, Eddie Foy, Jr. and Audrey Christie and the British Finchs, Victor Maddern and Diana Chesney to do a little people to people relations on their own. Also maybe to exchange each others problems with their teenage daughters, Lynn Loring and Judy Carne. They kept their respective boys at home, Flip Mark and Dennis Waterman, but in the future had the show lasted, who knows where that might have developed.

I think Fair Exchange was only two years ahead of its time. Had this show premiered when the Beatles started gaining international popularity this show might really have taken off. I wonder if that had ever occurred to Lucille Ball.

As it was my guess was that the production costs for shooting in London and Hollywood were too much and the show was canceled before it found an audience. I do remember I liked the episodes I did see and maybe the idea could be revived.

Come to think of it, it was halfway revived with British cousin Cathy visiting the Patty Duke family and the sights you see from Brooklyn Heights.

Well actually I can't recall how good or bad this series was, but I had a terrible crush on Dennis Waterman's character! It was the start, at age 12, of my love affair with Brits. Would love to re-watch them.