The Life of Riley

"The Life of Riley" is an expression meaning an ideal life of carefree prosperity and contentment.

Radio/TV show

The Life of Riley was an American situation comedy that appeared on both radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s.

Related Topics:
American - Situation comedy - Radio - Television

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The radio version, starring William Bendix, debuted on ABC in 1944; the following year it moved to NBC, where it ran until 1951. Later, the show was adapted for television, with two different versions having been produced. The first, starring Jackie Gleason, ran from 1949 to 1950. In the second TV version, airing from 1953 to 1958, Bendix reprised the title role. Both TV series ran on NBC.

Related Topics:
Radio - William Bendix - ABC - 1944 - NBC - 1951 - Jackie Gleason - 1949 - 1950 - 1953 - 1958

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The show's plot-line centered around Chester A. Riley, a factory worker and family man who lived in Los Angeles with his wife, Peg, and teenaged children, Babs and Junior. His anguished cry, "What a revoltin' development this is!", became a much-used catchphrase. Digby "Digger" O'Dell, a supporting character portrayed by John Brown in the radio and first TV version, was a grave digger whom Riley often turned to for advice when he got into trouble. "Digger" was known for his corny morbid puns such "I'd better be shoveling off" (which was always used to say goodbye) and 'Business is a little dead tonight" when asked how things were going.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - Catchphrase

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Riley was known for devising various plans that never seemed to work out (often with the help of his next-door neighbour Willis). The character of Riley can in many ways be seen as a prototype for such later blue-collar sitcom heroes as Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker, Al Bundy, and Doug Heffernan. The Life of Riley was also notable as one of the first sitcoms to center around the American nuclear family.

Related Topics:
Blue-collar - Ralph Kramden - Archie Bunker - Al Bundy - Doug Heffernan - Nuclear family

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One of the show's developers was Gummo Marx, one of the Marx Brothers.

Related Topics:
Gummo Marx - Marx Brothers

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