Gary explained that The show "Blansky Beauties" that premeired in February of 1977 was a Hard Show to make, it was expensive and that he didn't have enough Time for it. Gary said he didn't like doing too many shows at once and that 2 shows at the Time Blansky Beauties aired (Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley) was enough.


One Season in American Televison, Marc Eliot

Gary explained that The show "Blansky Beauties" that premeired in February of 1977 was a Hard Show to make, it was expensive and that he didn't have enough Time for it. Gary said he didn't like doing too many shows at once and that 2 shows at the Time Blansky Beauties aired (Happy Days/Laverne & Shirley) was enough.


One Season in American Televison, Marc Eliot

gary also said that "Blansky Beauties" beat "the mary tlyer moore show" in the ratings by a little and won its time slot.

gary also said that "Blansky Beauties" beat "the mary tlyer moore show" in the ratings by a little and won its time slot.


Well MTM had ran it's course by that time and finished that season not in the Top 30

...is a victim of his own "wishful thinking". "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES" was NOT a success. If, as he claimed, the show did "beat" Mary Tyler Moore's superior series in the ratings, it was probably a one evening "fluke". I remember seeing "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES"....and it was below par-- even for one as talented as Marshall AND Nancy Walker! I believe I know WHY this show ever existed...it was because Nancy had an iron-clad contract with ABC for a number of years to star in a situation comedy, beginning in the fall of 1976. After Norman Lear's company failed to make magic in producing her self-titled show, Fred Silverman {ABC's "boy genius programmer" at the time} insisted in early 1977 that Garry work with her (and give the network another shot at a "guaranteed Garry Marshall hit")- that's why he claimed he didn't have enough time to work on "BLANSKY'S". He really DIDN'T want to, but Silverman forced Marshall into producing the show...with predictable results.

One year later, Garry produced a pilot which had a similar situation to "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES"- show girls in Vegas- called "LEGS". By the time it aired on NBC in the spring of 1978, the network had tentatively bought it for their fall schedule. Ah, but in the interim, Fred Silverman became NBC's programmer, and insisted Garry tone the original premise down.....and it became the Jim Belushi/Larry Breeding comedy, "WHO'S WATCHING THE KIDS?", which lasted about as long as "BLANSKY'S" did.

:tv:

...is a victim of his own "wishful thinking". "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES" was NOT a success. If, as he claimed, the show did "beat" Mary Tyler Moore's superior series in the ratings, it was probably a one evening "fluke". I remember seeing "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES"....and it was below par-- even for one as talented as Marshall AND Nancy Walker! I believe I know WHY this show ever existed...it was because Nancy had an iron-clad contract with ABC for a number of years to star in a situation comedy, beginning in the fall of 1976. After Norman Lear's company failed to make magic in producing her self-titled show, Fred Silverman {ABC's "boy genius programmer" at the time} insisted in early 1977 that Garry work with her (and give the network another shot at a "guaranteed Garry Marshall hit")- that's why he claimed he didn't have enough time to work on "BLANSKY'S". He really DIDN'T want to, but Silverman forced Marshall into producing the show...with predictable results.

One year later, Garry produced a pilot which had a similar situation to "BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES"- show girls in Vegas- called "LEGS". By the time it aired on NBC in the spring of 1978, the network had tentatively bought it for their fall schedule. Ah, but in the interim, Fred Silverman became NBC's programmer, and insisted Garry tone the original premise down.....and it became the Jim Belushi/Larry Breeding comedy, "WHO'S WATCHING THE KIDS?", which lasted about as long as "BLANSKY'S" did.

:tv:



I don't understand why the guy who played Carmine played on Blasnsky Beauties if he was already on L&S in Spring of 1977

Blansky's Beauties didn't last long because it wasn't a good show.

A "hard show" to make? What does that mean?

:lol:

Blansky's Beauties didn't last long because it wasn't a good show.

A "hard show" to make? What does that mean?

:lol:


You will need to email Gary Marshall to find that out-lol

What was the show about? I've never seen it, Was it like Happy Days or something?

What was the show about? I've never seen it, Was it like Happy Days or something?


The show featured Nancy Walker who played a den mother 7 or 8 Las Vegas Show girls. Scott Baio and Pat Morita from Happy Days also played in it.

It was a piece of pathetic garbage. I hated it.

It was a piece of pathetic garbage. I hated it.


They had some NICE legs though-lol

yea; I remember seeing the show when it aired and I wasn't very impressed with it.

Well, the hard part probably had to do with having a G-rated, TV friendly show about Las Vegas showgirls. Not exactly family oriented material.

Well, the hard part probably had to do with having a G-rated, TV friendly show about Las Vegas showgirls. Not exactly family oriented material.


I agree. But they could have moved it to 9:30pm instead of having it at 8pm. 8pm is the TV Friendly Slot-lol

all the showgirls were NOT so pretty!

i mean, come on
LAVERNE as a vegas showgirl???

YUCK!!!!!!!

all the showgirls were NOT so pretty!

i mean, come on
LAVERNE as a vegas showgirl???

YUCK!!!!!!!


Some of the Girls still had some Nice Legs-lol

I am totally confused by this. Nancy Walker played this character on Happy Days - a den mother to Las Vegas showgirls? Happy Days was set in Milwauke, WS. There were no Vegas show girls there. And Chachi was on the show? Did he ever say "Wah wah wah?" Was he Chachi on the show or did Scott Baio play another character? :confused:

the show was set in Las Vegas, in "present day" - NOT the fifties like HD was, and Scott Baio was on the show, but he played a completely different character.

Okay. I got that, but what I don't get is how a spin-off of Happy Days is set in the 70s. I did some research. Pinky Tuscadaro from Happy Days appeared on the first episode of this show. How is it that she didn't age about 20 years? It's hard to imagine a woman that old still looking that good and still jumping motorcycles. Also, Pat Morita played Arnold on both shows. I'd like a little more info, too, on the episode in which Nancy remembers Laverene. Did Penny Marshall play Laverene in that episode? Was it set in the 50s? Did Mork appear and help them do a time warp thingy? That's really the only possible explaination.

I am totally confused by this. Nancy Walker played this character on Happy Days - a den mother to Las Vegas showgirls? Happy Days was set in Milwauke, WS. There were no Vegas show girls there. And Chachi was on the show? Did he ever say "Wah wah wah?" Was he Chachi on the show or did Scott Baio play another character? :confused:


The Chachi character did not exist yet on Happy Days when Scott Baio appeared on Blansky Beauties.

Okay. I got that, but what I don't get is how a spin-off of Happy Days is set in the 70s. I did some research. Pinky Tuscadaro from Happy Days appeared on the first episode of this show. How is it that she didn't age about 20 years? It's hard to imagine a woman that old still looking that good and still jumping motorcycles. Also, Pat Morita played Arnold on both shows. I'd like a little more info, too, on the episode in which Nancy remembers Laverene. Did Penny Marshall play Laverene in that episode? Was it set in the 50s? Did Mork appear and help them do a time warp thingy? That's really the only possible explaination.


Blansky Beauties is not a spinoff of Happy Days

That's a debatable point that depends on your definition of the word "spin-off". Considering that BB was produced by the same people who produced HD and that some HD characters - Pinky and Arnold- appeared, and that Laverne was mentioned in an episode, it could be argued that it was a spin-off. Also, Blansky was referred to by Mr. C as his "favorite cousin" who introduced him to Marion. It's not very surprising, though, that Howie forgot all about her soon after. He forgot all about his oldest son Chuck, too.;)

That's a debatable point that depends on your definition of the word "spin-off". Considering that BB was produced by the same people who produced HD and that some HD characters - Pinky and Arnold- appeared, and that Laverne was mentioned in an episode, it could be argued that it was a spin-off. Also, Blansky was referred to by Mr. C as his "favorite cousin" who introduced him to Marion. It's not very surprising, though, that Howie forgot all about her soon after. He forgot all about his oldest son Chuck, too.;)


I don't think her name was Nancy Blansky on Happy Days

I don't think her name was Nancy Blansky on Happy Days

So is this information inaccurate? Check out the first Trivia item.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blansky's_Beauties

So is this information inaccurate? Check out the first Trivia item.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blansky's_Beauties


Yes, please don't go to wikipedia.org for any information because they have no listed sources to back up where the informaton came from. That website is a JOKE

this was a spinoff

FACT nancy walker appeared as Howards relative on HAPPY DAYS to set up the show

FACT many of the characters from happy days crossed over, Laverne was NOT ONLY MENTIONED--- she appeared on the show as LAVERNE, Eddie Mekkas character on the show was CARMINES cousin, Pat Morita as Arnold, and even FRANK DEFAZIO was on an ep!!!! Plus PINKY showed up

FACT---- YES it was set 20 years apart, which made no sense at all, since the others from happy days and laverne had not aged at all in 20 years, and still seemed to act like it was the 50s---- this is what is called SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF---
u r supposed to ignore your common sense and just go with it--- like when u watch Pro Wrestling--- u know it cant be real, BUT u put that aside and go with the show!!!

LOOK AT Joanie loves Chachi, another bad spinoff
the music they made--- was very 80s bubblegum pop--- BUUUUUUT it was set in the 50s!:crazy:

this was a spinoff

FACT nancy walker appeared as Howards relative on HAPPY DAYS to set up the show

FACT many of the characters from happy days crossed over, Laverne was NOT ONLY MENTIONED--- she appeared on the show as LAVERNE, Eddie Mekkas character on the show was CARMINES cousin, Pat Morita as Arnold, and even FRANK DEFAZIO was on an ep!!!! Plus PINKY showed up

FACT---- YES it was set 20 years apart, which made no sense at all, since the others from happy days and laverne had not aged at all in 20 years, and still seemed to act like it was the 50s---- this is what is called SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF---
u r supposed to ignore your common sense and just go with it--- like when u watch Pro Wrestling--- u know it cant be real, BUT u put that aside and go with the show!!!

LOOK AT Joanie loves Chachi, another bad spinoff
the music they made--- was very 80s bubblegum pop--- BUUUUUUT it was set in the 50s!:crazy:


Her last name was not BLANSKY on HD

It sure sounds like a spin-off to me. You keep saying her name wasn't Blansky, TVR. By her, you mean who? That cousin of Howard's who got her own show? Face it, the producers did everything they could to use their hit shows to make this a hit, even if it meant defying logic. Maybe they thought the slightest refrence to those other shows would help it become a hit. They were wrong.

It sure sounds like a spin-off to me. You keep saying her name wasn't Blansky. By her, you mean who? That cousin of Howard's who got her own show? Face it, the producers did everything they could to use their hit shows to make this a hit, even if it meant defying logic.


Both shows were produced by the same company but it was not a spinoff. Just like Good Times was produced by the same company as Maude but it was not a spinoff

Both shows were produced by the same company but it was not a spinoff. Just like Good Times was produced by the same company as Maude but it was not a spinoff

No, Good Times was a spin-off of Maude. The producers there also thought they could defy logic by moving the Florida Evans character from upstate New York to the Chicago ghetto without any explaination. Only in their case, it somehow worked. A spin-off is any show that uses the same characters from another show in order to capitalize on the success of the first show.

No, Good Times was a spin-off of Maude. The producers there also thought they could defy logic by moving the Florida Evans character from upstate New York to the Chicago ghetto without any explaination. Only in their case, it somehow worked. A spin-off is any show that uses the same characters from another show in order to capitalize on the success of the first show.


I have a magazine article from 1974 where the executive producer states Good Times was not a spinoff at all

Okay, explain to me how Florida Evans was Maude's housekeeper and ended up on Good Times.

Okay, explain to me how Florida Evans was Maude's housekeeper and ended up on Good Times.


That's a question for Norman Lear not me-lol

But you are saying, TVR, that Blansky Beauties wasn't a spinoff because it had a character by a different name, and Good Times wasn't inspite of the fact it did. John Amos and Ester Rolle both played Henry and Florida Evans on Maude. The reason Good Times came about was because the characters appealed to the viewers. If spinoff doesn't mean that one show inspires the conception of another, then what does the term mean? Or is that yet another question for Garry Marshall and Norman Lear?

But you are saying, TVR, that Blansky Beauties wasn't a spinoff because it had a character by a different name, and Good Times wasn't inspite of the fact it did. John Amos and Ester Rolle both played Florida and Henry Evans on Maude. The reason Good Times came about was because the characters appealed to the viewers. If spinoff doesn't mean that one show inspires the conception of another, then what does the term mean?


Good Times was based on Eric Monte's life growing up in chicago so how is that connected to MAUDE??

Good Times was based on Eric Monte's life growing up in chicago so how is that connected to MAUDE??

The only connection is the name of the family was Evans. Maybe the reason the show got picked up was they were looking for an vehicle to spin-off the Florida Evans character. Nobody writes a new show and uses the names and likenesses of characters from other shows without a lawsuit. The show was greenlighted under the condition that the characters from Maude were inserted into it and played by two of the same actors.

The only connection is the name of the family was Evans. Maybe the reason the show got picked up was they were looking for an vehicle to spin-off the Florida Evans character. Nobody writes a new show and uses the names and likenesses of characters from other shows without a lawsuit. The show was greenlighted under the condition that the characters from Maude were inserted into it and played by two of the same actors.


See that's where a lot of people get confused. Esther Rolle and John Amos was SPINNED OFF, they were WRITTEN OFF Maude so they could star in a NEW COMEDY called Good times. The father even has a different name on GT instead of Henry. So it was a WRITE OFF, not SPINOFF

a spinoff does NOT have to be 100% logical

EVEN SITCOMS are not 100% logical

so when Maude Spunoff GOOD TIMES, they changed John Amos's first name--- so what

so when Blanksys spunoff they changed Nancy Walkers last name--- so what

they are still spinoffs

SOMETIMES the logic aint there
BUT even on sitcoms its not always right---- for instance on I LOVE LUCY fred and ethels # of years they were married never matched up--- 1 year it was the 25 anniversary, next year it was 15th anniv
those are just inconsistencies that dont effect the overall situation


sometimes people just change their mind--- FOR INSTANCE greatest american hero---- REMEMBER the characters name was HINKLEY--- but when hinkley shot reagan, they changed it to hanley----TOTALLY ILLOGICAL but that is how it is

they wrote sitcoms to be enjoyed as mindless fluff
NOT TO BE OVERANALYZED and debated to death

so no matter what some may think, GOOD TIMES and BLANSKYS BEAUTIES are both 100% spinoffs!:wave:

By the same tolken, Pinky was inserted into the first Blasky Beauties in order to capitalize on the Happy Days franchise.
Garry Marshall had to approve of that or it wouldn't have happened. Maybe they were looking for the right vehicle to spin off that character. Call it a write off if you will, but there's still a lot of spinning involved.

and look at all the inconsistonsies in "MASH" ecspecially with the timeline. And all the ones in "The Odd Couple".

By the same tolken, Pinky was inserted into the first Blasky Beauties in order to capitalize on the Happy Days franchise.
Garry Marshall had to approve of that or it wouldn't have happened. Maybe they were looking for the right vehicle to spin off that character. Call it a write off if you will, but there's still a lot of spinning involved.


In all honesty I haven;t done enough research to say for sure if Blansky Beauties was a spinoff so I will not comment on that debate no longer. But i did my research on Gt and I found out it was not a spinoff by Executive Producer alan manings in 1974-ebony magazine

Fair enough. It really comes down to a question of semantics. This whole discussion has made me want to see BB. Does anyone have it on tape or dvd-r ?

Fair enough. It really comes down to a question of semantics. This whole discussion has made me want to see BB. Does anyone have it on tape or dvd-r ?


I just have one ep on VHS

I just have one ep on VHS

really? which one is it?

really? which one is it?


I'm not sure I just told the guy to send me ny ep since i never seen it

I'm not sure I just told the guy to send me n ep since i never seen it

That's cool.

i have a 3 disc set of eps
i think its like 10 eps with menus, email me direct if interested:wave:

Did Mork appear and help them do a time warp thingy? That's really the only possible explaination.

Mork wasn't even in the picture at that point. His appearance on Happy Days wouldn't happen for another year.

and look at all the inconsistencies in "MASH" especially with the timeline. And all the ones in "The Odd Couple".

What inconsistencies???

Just because Margaret's father was dead in the early seasons and then showed up at the 4077th in later seasons doesn't mean it's inconsistent!!:crazy:

Or the fact that Radar was more worldly in the early seasons (he smoked cigars, drank and was very blase) and innocent and naive in the later ones - nope, that's not inconsistent!!:rolleyes:

I do not know what you are talking about!!!:D

I suggest you reconsider your remarks!:eek:

Good day!:wave:

how about the fact that the show M*A*S*H ran about 4 times as long as the actual war in Korea?

Mork wasn't even in the picture at that point. His appearance on Happy Days wouldn't happen for another year.

I'm aware of that. I was only joking.

I'm aware of that. I was only joking.

What?!?? Joking?!!?? That will not be tolerated on this forum!! We take our sitcoms...SERIOUSLY!!

:D :D :D

I figured you might have been kidding with the Mork reference. Then again, he is an alien - maybe he was working behind the scenes to manipulate-- nahh, you don't think-- :eek:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G_dm5dnbnNo

An episode of the show. From watching about ten minutes of it, it was horrible.

But to be biased, I was never a fan of Gerry Marshall’s shows in the first place.

I was just watching the "13 Week Theater" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sXDlqoz_XI) episode on Blansky Beauties and the show's downfall was its close connection to Happy Days. Even though it was technically, a spin-off of Happy Days since the character that Nancy Walker played was written to be Howard Cunningham's cousin, Blansky Beauties was set in the then present of 1977 instead of the 1950s like Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.

Furthering complications was the presence of Pat Morita as Arnold, Eddie Meka as supposedly, a distant cousin of Carmine Ragusa, and even Roz Kelly as Pinky Tuscadero. You had to do a lot of mental gymnastics to try to plausibly see this as a "20 years into the future" version of Happy Days given the characters' lack of aging.

Keep in mind that Nancy Walker given that she was born in 1922, would've been about 55 years old when Blansky Beauties debuted. This meant that on Happy Days, what we're seeing, is presumably, a 35 year old woman.

The show even had Penny Marshall guest star in an episode as Laverne DeFazio. They tried to work around this by explain that it was actually a flashback from when Laverne and Shirley was at the time set. And yet, Nancy Walker in the past, looked the way that she looked in the supposed "present" on Blansky Beauties.

Mork & Mindy was able to get away with having its show set in the then present day of 1978 because Mork being an alien, had the ability to time travel. And Out of the Blue was also able to get away with setting its spin-off show in the present day because the character that Jimmy Brogan portrayed, Random, was an angel.

I was just watching the "13 Week Theater" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sXDlqoz_XI) episode on Blansky Beauties and the show's downfall was its close connection to Happy Days. Even though it was technically, a spin-off of Happy Days since the character that Nancy Walker played was written to be Howard Cunningham's cousin, Blansky Beauties was set in the then present of 1977 instead of the 1950s like Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley.

Furthering complications was the presence of Pat Morita as Arnold, Eddie Meka as supposedly, a distant cousin of Carmine Ragusa, and even Roz Kelly as Pinky Tuscadero. You had to do a lot of mental gymnastics to try to plausibly see this as a "20 years into the future" version of Happy Days given the characters' lack of aging.

Keep in mind that Nancy Walker given that she was born in 1922, would've been about 55 years old when Blansky Beauties. This meant that on Happy Days, what we're seeing, is presumably, a 35 year old woman.

The show even had Penny Marshall guest star in an episode as Laverne DeFazio. They tried to work around this by explain that it was actually a flashback from when Laverne and Shirley was at the time set. And yet, Nancy Walker in the past, looked the way that she looked in the supposed "present" on Blansky Beauties.

Mork & Mindy was able to get away with having its show set in the then present day of 1978 because Mork being an alien, had the ability to time travel. And Out of the Blue was also able to get away with setting its spin-off show in the present day because the character that Jimmy Brogan portrayed, Random, was an angel.


The episode with Laverne is the only episode I had interest in but it doesnt exist:(

It's too bad that Pluto TV doesn't get the rights to this show and air it on their Happy Days channel.

I say this because their Three's Company channel airs some of The Ropers spinoff episodes, although that series lasted a season and a half.

It's too bad that Pluto TV doesn't get the rights to this show and air it on their Happy Days channel.

I say this because their Three's Company channel airs some of The Ropers spinoff episodes, although that series lasted a season and a half.

Probably because the Ropers, Mork and Mindy and Laverne and Shirley was all spinoffs and connected. Blansky beauties wasnt connected at all

Probably because the Ropers, Mork and Mindy and Laverne and Shirley was all spinoffs and connected. Blansky beauties wasnt connected at all

The character of Nancy Blansky appeared in Happy Days' season four clip show. She was Howard's cousin apparently.

So there was a connection....HA!!

:D

The character of Nancy Blansky appeared in Happy Days' season four clip show. She was Howard's cousin apparently.

So there was a connection....HA!!

:D

Not strong for the Pluto Universe :lol:

The episode with Laverne is the only episode I had interest in but it doesnt exist:(

They make her out to be a bit of an idiot.

It's too bad that Pluto TV doesn't get the rights to this show and air it on their Happy Days channel.

I say this because their Three's Company channel airs some of The Ropers spinoff episodes, although that series lasted a season and a half.


That and Out Of The Blue

They make her out to be a bit of an idiot.

you have it?

you have it?

Yes

Not strong for the Pluto Universe :lol:

The episodes aren't probably in good shape or even available to be licensed. I don't think episodes of a 46 year old failed sitcom are a priority for Paramount these days.

;)

The episodes aren't probably in good shape or even available to be licensed. I don't think episodes of a 46 year old failed sitcom are a priority for Paramount these days.

;)


I just wish the one that was available was the one with Mork. You would think that would be recorded

That and Out Of The Blue

Yes, you're right. It would mix things up because all they run is HD, L&S and M&M on these loops.

Yes, you're right. It would mix things up because all they run is HD, L&S and M&M on these loops.

They should be enough but they dont to air all the seasons of those shows

They should be enough but they dont to air all the seasons of those shows

it costs money to licence all seasons of a show and since Pluto TV is a "free" app, you get what you pay for....

it costs money to licence all seasons of a show and since Pluto TV is a "free" app, you get what you pay for....



Cant disagree with that.

Cant disagree with that.

And you can watch some Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy episodes on demand (with commercials) whenever you like.

And you can watch some Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy episodes on demand (with commercials) whenever you like.

What I dont like about the Happy Days Channel is I dont think the two guest appearances by Mork is available on Demand

What I dont like about the Happy Days Channel is I dont think the two guest appearances by Mork is available on Demand

I don't think any of the Happy Days episodes are on demand. L&S and M&M are, but I've yet to see any HD episodes on demand yet.