View Full Version : Naomi Harper: Level-Head (NBC) to Air-Head (synd.)


GrandGame1440
04-08-2004, 03:25 PM
Why on earth did they make Naomi such a ditz in the synd. episodes? I mean I know she wasn't a genius in the NBC episodes (and she wasn't a TOTAL block-head in the synd. episodes either), but still, she seemed extremly dumbed down. What Happened?!?!?!? :eek:

FamilyTiesGOP
04-08-2004, 05:40 PM
Well to me, Vint and Naomi just worked better in the syndicated episodes. I liked them both a little more goofy. It was much funnier.:lol:

Penny Lane
04-08-2004, 07:41 PM
They did the same thing to Vint. But honestly I think the show was funnier for it!:D

TALLguyinKY
04-09-2004, 07:23 AM
Yeah, it "decharacterized" Vint and Naomi a bit.

Whereas in the NBC episodes they were painted more realistic, in syndication a lot of their lines were along the "Yeah", "I do too", "Not me", "Sure" variety...more genarlized lines which wasn't as character-driven and unique (and Bubba fell into that trap too).

It was more interesting to me when they had more biting comments to make toward Mama or about their lifestyle, etc.

But yes, they still were funny in syndication of course! I just miss the deeper characterization from the NBC shows in syndication---and later syndication has Bubba a bit "generalized" too, not the "son of Eunice" he once was. lol

But, when the writers made Vint, Naomi 'n Bubba "Huey, Dewey, 'n Louie"-like, at least that was when Mama and Iola really shone and played well off each other! lol

Penny Lane
04-09-2004, 08:58 PM
Originally posted by TALLguyinKY
Yeah, it "decharacterized" Vint and Naomi a bit.

Whereas in the NBC episodes they were painted more realistic, in syndication a lot of their lines were along the "Yeah", "I do too", "Not me", "Sure" variety...more genarlized lines which wasn't as character-driven and unique (and Bubba fell into that trap too).

It was more interesting to me when they had more biting comments to make toward Mama or about their lifestyle, etc.

But yes, they still were funny in syndication of course! I just miss the deeper characterization from the NBC shows in syndication---and later syndication has Bubba a bit "generalized" too, not the "son of Eunice" he once was. lol

But, when the writers made Vint, Naomi 'n Bubba "Huey, Dewey, 'n Louie"-like, at least that was when Mama and Iola really shone and played well off each other! lol

Yeah, I know what you mean about Bubba,but being a parent who had a teenage son who had problems it is good to see that Bubba could straighten up and be a decent person! My son is 30 now and doing well . So maturity does do things to people!:lol:
I'm glad that the writers "grew up" Bubba . After all he had a good, mature ,steadying influence living with Mama!:happyface I'm afraid that Eunice and Ed were as bubbleheaded as Bubba! He needed his grandmother at that time in his life! :nod:

FamilyTiesGOP
04-09-2004, 09:18 PM
When Bubba first came on, he was alot like Eunice. Remember the Funeral episode? He had a fit at the funeral just like Eunice would have done. They did that a couple other times too like the in the episode where Bubba gets drunk and Mama goes "Well don't sound just like your mother."

I liked the syndicated Vint and Naomi because they are so much funnier. I think the producers wanted Vint and Naomi to be people of little quality and power so that Mama could pick on them all the time.

Dogma66603
04-10-2004, 12:09 AM
She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid... Mama made her seem dumb when she was insulting her all the time, but if I remember correctly, Naomi never actually did anything stupid.

TALLguyinKY
04-10-2004, 06:12 AM
Originally posted by Dogma66603
She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid...

Okay. lol :p



Mama: "No...he was tryin' to tell me somethin' this time..."

Naomi: "Maybe he was tryin' to tell you to get a new coat."

Mama: "For pity's sakes Naomi, we're talkin' about God here, not Calvin Klein!"

lol

And Mama didn't reference Naomi as "dumb" or "stupid" often at all---most of that impression comes from the fact that when Mama does dig in at Naomi in that way, it's usually about her "lack of kitchen skills and knowledge"---to put it lightly! lol Also, the fact that Naomi is both lazy and unambitious just bespeaks "unintelligent" to Mama.

I think in both NBC and synd. she was smart but could backslip now 'n then into "eyeroll" territory (example from NBC----"You mean he's gonna marry one o' them little E.T.s?").

Gotta love Naomi Oates Harper! :D:D:D

PracTz
04-30-2004, 05:29 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dogma66603
She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid...

OK, after she got sunburned in Hawaii (thanks to Vint's mixing up her suntan lotion w/baby oil), she was moaning to everyone around about what happened.. .

Naomi: I don't want your [b]PIH-ty!
Iola: OK!