Does Adding an Additional Kid Really Make a Show Start Going Downhill?

[GCW]

A lot of sitcoms tend to write another child into the script. Do you think that makes the show go downhill? It always seems to be a jump the shark moment. Name shows in which you feel the addition of a another child ruined the show.

Here are some shows that added an additional kid.

The Cosby Show - Olivia
Fresh Prince - Nicky
Growing Pains - Chrissy
Step By Step - Lilly
Good Times - Penny
The Jeffersons - Jessica
All In The Family - Stephanie
The Brady Bunch - Cousin Oliver
Family Ties - Andrew
Family Matters - 3J
Who's The Boss? - Billy
My Wife and Kids - Franklin


I don't think all of these shows suffered but some did. What are your thoughts? Feel free to list any other shows.

[catlover79]

You forgot to add Adam from Bewitched, Annie from Family, and Sam (shudder) from Diff'rent Strokes. I think that additional kids are added when the writers run out of ideas and they figure a cute kid will freshen things up. It almost always reeks of desperation, and you have these "cute" obnoxious kids hogging up all the airtime. So adding a new kid is almost always a jump the shark moment.

[Brian Damage]

I think always adding a kid on a sitcom is a death knell.

[APPLEI]

A lot of sitcoms tend to write another child into the script. Do you think that makes the show go downhill? It always seems to be a jump the shark moment. Name shows in which you feel the addition of a another child ruined the show.

Here are some shows that added an additional kid.

The Cosby Show - Olivia
Fresh Prince - Nicky
Growing Pains - Chrissy
Step By Step - Lilly
Good Times - Penny
The Jeffersons - Jessica
All In The Family - Stephanie
The Brady Bunch - Cousin Oliver
Family Ties - Andrew
Family Matters - 3J
Who's The Boss? - Billy
My Wife and Kids - Franklin


I don't think all of these shows suffered but some did. What are your thoughts? Feel free to list any other shows.

i would like to add a few more shows
Too Close For Comfort-Andrew(the new baby)
Married With Children-Seven
The Partridge Family-Ricky
One Day At A Time-Alex
The Donna Reed Show-Trisha
Hazel-Susie

[GCW]

I think always adding a kid on a sitcom is a death knell.

You would think that these writers would learn that, but I guess when they do it on their particular show they think that their "kid" can make it better and not fall into the downhill trap.

[comedyfreak]

You forgot to add Adam from Bewitched, Annie from Family, and Sam (shudder) from Diff'rent Strokes. I think that additional kids are added when the writers run out of ideas and they figure a cute kid will freshen things up. It almost always reeks of desperation, and you have these "cute" obnoxious kids hogging up all the airtime. So adding a new kid is almost always a jump the shark moment.

I think adding children to a show that is already on the decline will not help, most often it hurts a show. Below for example.

Don't forget:
Pippa-The Facts Of Life
Andy-The Facts Of Life
Flip Phillips-Happy Days
Heather Pfister-Happy Days
Alex Handris -One Day At A Time

[catlover79]

I think adding children to a show that is already on the decline will not help, most often it hurts a show. Below for example.

Don't forget:
Pippa-The Facts Of Life
Andy-The Facts Of Life
Flip Phillips-Happy Days
Heather Pfister-Happy Days
Alex Handris -One Day At A Time
So true, so true.

[clj2]

Not a sitcom, but 'James' and 'Cassandra' on Little House didn't exactly improve the series. They were downright annoying, IMO. The Ingalls kept getting all of these new kids!

[comedyfreak]

Not a sitcom, but 'James' and 'Cassandra' on Little House didn't exactly improve the series. They were downright annoying, IMO. The Ingalls kept getting all of these new kids!
True, but it does prove the point. I think a show that starts performing poorly should either, go back to its roots or should just end.

[mstewart]

When Family Ties added Andrew to the mix Meredith Baxter Birney was pregnant and given it was a family show it was decided to make Elyse pregnant. The show was at its peak when Andrew was born. It was when they instantly aged him from a baby to preschool that hurt the show with the Alex episodes getting repetitious added more insult to injury. Plus they were trying to make Andrew a mini Alex and that's what hurt the show at the end along with Meredith Baxter Birney being unhappy with her role deminishing when she was originally the star along with Michael Gross.

ALF was another one that did not need to add a child into the show when Eric was born. Anne Schedeen, who played Kate Tanner, was expecting and the show decided to write her pregnancy into the storylines. The show was beginning to sag in that season and it did not help any. She did not hardly looked pregnant so they could had pulled off hiding the pregnancy.

Too Close for Comfort should not added Andrew to the mix but Nancy Dussault was unhappy with underdevelopment of her character Muriel Rush so they made her pregnant to give her some laughs. What they should had done is explore more of her singing background and give us a treat to hear Nancy's voice more. She have quite a voice.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air was a bad situation where an actress gets pregnant and added a baby into the storyline. It was good but when they instantly aged Nicky that was when the show was getting bad. The issues that Janet Hubert-Whitten had with Will Smith and the producers filtered out on screen and that what hurt the show. I did not like Daphne Maxwell Reid in that role. Janet was Vivian and she was a more flashier dresser than Daphne.

Bewitched added Adam when the show was already on the decline with Dick York having to leave due to health issues and the Dick Sargent replacing DY. There was no chemistry between Dick Sargent and Elizabeth Montgomery. She had better chemistry with DY. But they added Adam because Elizabeth was expecting in real life. Notice that Bewitched is the only show where the lead actress was expecting twice and it was incorporated into the storylines.

[Ireneparalegal]

You forgot to add Adam from Bewitched, Annie from Family, and Sam (shudder) from Diff'rent Strokes. I think that additional kids are added when the writers run out of ideas and they figure a cute kid will freshen things up. It almost always reeks of desperation, and you have these "cute" obnoxious kids hogging up all the airtime. So adding a new kid is almost always a jump the shark moment.
:yeahthat

The exception being I Love Lucy, the addition of Little Ricky made the show receive higher ratings and fans loved the episodes.

As for the Little House reference above, there is even an episode where James is feeling a "bit overcrowded" with the five kids living in that damn Ingalls home, which by the way, was TOO DAMN SMALL to begin with.

[catlover79]

:yeahthat

The exception being I Love Lucy, the addition of Little Ricky made the show receive higher ratings and fans loved the episodes.

As for the Little House reference above, there is even an episode where James is feeling a "bit overcrowded" with the five kids living in that damn Ingalls home, which by the way, was TOO DAMN SMALL to begin with.
Why DID Pa never add on to the house!?? :lol:

[catlover79]

When Family Ties added Andrew to the mix Meredith Baxter Birney was pregnant and given it was a family show it was decided to make Elyse pregnant. The show was at its peak when Andrew was born. It was when they instantly aged him from a baby to preschool that hurt the show with the Alex episodes getting repetitious added more insult to injury. Plus they were trying to make Andrew a mini Alex and that's what hurt the show at the end along with Meredith Baxter Birney being unhappy with her role deminishing when she was originally the star along with Michael Gross.

ALF was another one that did not need to add a child into the show when Eric was born. Anne Schedeen, who played Kate Tanner, was expecting and the show decided to write her pregnancy into the storylines. The show was beginning to sag in that season and it did not help any. She did not hardly looked pregnant so they could had pulled off hiding the pregnancy.

Too Close for Comfort should not added Andrew to the mix but Nancy Dussault was unhappy with underdevelopment of her character Muriel Rush so they made her pregnant to give her some laughs. What they should had done is explore more of her singing background and give us a treat to hear Nancy's voice more. She have quite a voice.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air was a bad situation where an actress gets pregnant and added a baby into the storyline. It was good but when they instantly aged Nicky that was when the show was getting bad. The issues that Janet Hubert-Whitten had with Will Smith and the producers filtered out on screen and that what hurt the show. I did not like Daphne Maxwell Reid in that role. Janet was Vivian and she was a more flashier dresser than Daphne.

Bewitched added Adam when the show was already on the decline with Dick York having to leave due to health issues and the Dick Sargent replacing DY. There was no chemistry between Dick Sargent and Elizabeth Montgomery. She had better chemistry with DY. But they added Adam because Elizabeth was expecting in real life. Notice that Bewitched is the only show where the lead actress was expecting twice and it was incorporated into the storylines.
Yes, you're right on all counts. Without DY, Bewitched was sinking fast and I think the only reason Adam was written in was because Liz was pregnant. As for Nancy Dussault, I also LOVED her guest turn on Barney Miller as a sassy hooker. :rofl:

[James]

I noticed nobody mentioned Jeffrey and Serena Burton from The Waltons, with their grandmother Rose, to boot. They came on board during the eighth (1979-80; second-last) season and had a much more devastating effect on the show than Cousin Oliver :D did The Brady Bunch. The show should have renamed itself The Burtons since they took over all of the storylines.

[catlover79]

I noticed nobody mentioned Jeffrey and Serena Burton from The Waltons, with their grandmother Rose, to boot. They came on board during the eighth (1979-80; second-last) season and had a much more devastating effect on the show than Cousin Oliver :D did The Brady Bunch. The show should have renamed itself The Burtons since they took over all of the storylines.
By 1980, Michael Learned and Richard Thomas had left for greener pastures, Ellen Corby had left because of her health problems, and Will Geer had passed away. All four had won Emmy Awards for their roles on The Waltons. The higher-ups should've packed it in and called it a day because Ralph Thomas and the remaining kids just couldn't pull it off. The chemistry was gone by then and the falling ratings showed it. At least the reunion movies featured many of the original cast. :)

[Ireneparalegal]

Why DID Pa never add on to the house!?? :lol:
He must have had a big bill owing at the Olsen's mercantile...:rofl:


As for the Waltons', they were always complaining abt barely making it, yet, they took in EVERYBODY UNDER THE SUN...:crazy:

[catlover79]

Let us not forget the boy twins on Full House...Nicky and Alex. One baby on a sitcom is bad enough...but TWO??

Btw, it was ridiculous that none of the adults never moved out on that show. They should've done something like AITF and later ELR did...have Jesse, Becky and their kids live in the house next door or across the street. That way it's a bit more realistic and the entire family is still always together.

Sttepping off the :soapbox: now...:D

[Janice]

Recipe for destroying any tv show.

One ingredient. Add child.

That's it. Presto, like magic!

[catlover79]

ACK -- here's another one. After Raven-Symone spoiled the Cosby Show, she went on to sink Hanging With Mr. Cooper. puke:

[Ireneparalegal]

ACK -- here's another one. After Raven-Symone spoiled the Cosby Show, she went on to sink Hanging With Mr. Cooper. puke:
God, how I hated her character on Cosby.

Don't forget Pam...not a kid, but nonetheless, still another addition not needed.

[James]

By 1980, Michael Learned and Richard Thomas had left for greener pastures, Ellen Corby had left because of her health problems, and Will Geer had passed away. All four had won Emmy Awards for their roles on The Waltons. The higher-ups should've packed it in and called it a day because Ralph Thomas and the remaining kids just couldn't pull it off. The chemistry was gone by then and the falling ratings showed it. At least the reunion movies featured many of the original cast. :)

CatLover79, who is Ralph Thomas? Do you possibly mean Ralph Waite, who played the father?

[APPLEI]

Not a sitcom, but 'James' and 'Cassandra' on Little House didn't exactly improve the series. They were downright annoying, IMO. The Ingalls kept getting all of these new kids!
not to mention Nellie lookalike Nancy Olsen!

i noticed they used James and Cassandra more than original cast member Carrie:rolleyes:

[catlover79]

CatLover79, who is Ralph Thomas? Do you possibly mean Ralph Waite, who played the father?
YES -- I meant Ralph Waite. I didn't even notice. Thanks for pointing that out. :rofl: (You mean you've never heard of Ralph Thomas?? He was great. HA! :joke:)

[APPLEI]

YES -- I meant Ralph Waite. I didn't even notice. Thanks for pointing that out. :rofl: (You mean you never heard of Ralph Thomas?? He was great. HA! :joke:)
Ralph Thomas is one of my all time favorite actors:happyface

[catlover79]

Ralph Thomas is one of my all time favorite actors:happyface
:rofl:

[mstewart]

not to mention Nellie lookalike Nancy Olsen!

i noticed they used James and Cassandra more than original cast member Carrie:rolleyes:
Adding Albert to the show was a good addition given the son that Charles always wanted. I did not care for the way that relationship was written at times there was this being tough being promoted instead being a man of integrity. A couple of episodes stood out when that was displayed. With the Ingalls taking in all those children with so little room showed me that one can work with little that is there. They had a small home but a good heart for children especially orphans.

As for The Waltons' one post stated that they should had canned the show once the principle actors were leaving and/or have died. The show somewhat survived when Richard Thomas left but when Ellen Corby had the stroke was out for an entire season the vinegar and spice that Grandma and Grandpa brought into that relationship made the show interesting when the show began to slip. When Will Geer passed away and the following season Michael Learned left in the middle of the season the show was not quite the same. Even though Michael came back for a few episodes her portrayal of Olivia Walton was not the same. She left again then the final season Ralph Waite, not Ralph Thomas, was gone.

I did not like when Family added Annie on the show. She did not do anything for the show that was a powerful family show.

I did not like when the Cosby Show added Olivia in there. She hogged up the airtime when the Huxtable's had grandchildren that could make interesting storylines. At some point in family shows the kids grow up, get married and have chidlren. It would had been interesting to see more storylines with Cliff and his twin grandchildren.

[Corolla]

My Wife & Kids made a mistake with Franklin.

[mstewart]

Yes, you're right on all counts. Without DY, Bewitched was sinking fast and I think the only reason Adam was written in was because Liz was pregnant. As for Nancy Dussault, I also LOVED her guest turn on Barney Miller as a sassy hooker. :rofl:
Nancy Dussault was an underrated actress. She is funny and can do comedy well. She reminds me so much of Bonnie Franklin except Nancy is a better actress and singer.

[catlover79]

Nancy Dussault was an underrated actress. She is funny and can do comedy well. She reminds me so much of Bonnie Franklin except Nancy is a better actress and singer.
In this episode of Barney Miller, the barbs between her and Max Gail (Wojo) were priceless. :lol:

[noveel]

It really goes downhill when the kid ages rapidly between seasons

[noveel]

Recipe for destroying any tv show.

One ingredient. Add child.

That's it. Presto, like magic!

An even worse ingredient: Aging the child between seasons

[mstewart]

In this episode of Barney Miller, the barbs between her and Max Gail (Wojo) were priceless. :lol:
She also held her own with Ted Knight on Too Close For Comfort when they gave her a chance to be funny. Her singing voice is priceless especially the episode when Muriel, Nancy's character, found out she was pregnant when she sung Zing With the Strings of My Heart.

[catlover79]

She also held her own with Ted Knight on Too Close For Comfort when they gave her a chance to be funny. Her singing voice is priceless especially the episode when Muriel, Nancy's character, found out she was pregnant when she sung Zing With the Strings of My Heart.
Didn't she also co-host Good Morning America when it first came on back in the '70s??

[mstewart]

Didn't she also co-host Good Morning America when it first came on back in the '70s??
Yes she was from 75 to 77. She was let go due to her speaking up about her limited role on the show. I did enjoyed her on the show. David Hartman had an issue with women on the show and Joan Lunden fixed that and she became the show's first official co-host. She made the show not Hartman.

Here's another tidbit about Nancy Dussault. She was a regular on the first two seasons of The New Dick Van Dyke Show. She was great on that show but the show did a major overhaul of the cast and premise and she was let go.