this is basically that, tv shows that had actors billed a certain way and you never understood why.


some examples:
The Jeffersons. Sherman Hemsley should've been top billed with Isabel Sanford second, not vice versa

Family Matters. Why was Jaleel White in fifth or sixth place on the show? I know he didn't come in until midway through season 1 but they should've pulled a "Fonz" with him and put him in second or third bill once he became the real star of the show

Buffy The Vampire Slayer. I always thought Nicholas Brendon was billed too high throughout the shows run. Alyson Hannigan should've had second bill (well, she ended up getting the "and Alyson Hannigan as Willow" bill in the last two seasons at least) and David Boreanaz/James Marsters as the third bill depending on which season it was. I always thought Angel and Spike were both billed way too low considering how important to the show they were depending on the era. It was an insult to Marsters to be billed BELOW Michelle Trachtenberg in seasons 5-7 IMO.

Roseanne. I always thought Glenn Quinn and Johnny Galecki (especially Johnny) should've been added to the opening credits in the latter seasons around season 6. They both became members of the Conner family in a way and should've been in the opening credits like Crystal was early on.

Jaleel White was always billed last except when Telma Hopkins was a regular and in the later years they did put as Steve Urkel after his name so that was just about like and ...billing.

The Andy Griffith Show - I understand Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard and Don Knotts. In the first season, Elinor Donahue was in the cast. But for some reason, Francis Bavier wasn't until maybe season six or seven. Aunt Bee was one of the four main characters (Andy, Opie, Barney, Aunt Bee) and she should have been in the opening credits from the beginning.

I didn't understand the "NewsRadio" order.
Dave Foley
Stephen Root
Andy Dick
Maura Tierney
Vicki Lewis
Joe Rogan
Khandi Alexander
& Phil Hartman

Dave's in the right place being first. I understand Phil being last, because it's one of those things where the popular character goes last. But I always thought Maura Tierney should be second, ANdy Dick should be third (if Phil must be last), Vicki Lewis fourth, Stephen Root fifth, Khandi Alexander sixth and Joe Rogan seventh. Followed, of course, by Phil Hartman eighth.

Full House - I always thought Bob Saget should be first and John Stamos should be second. Not the other way around.

With "That '70s Show," I don't see why Mila Kunis was second. Here's the order I would have put it in:
Topher Grace
Laura Prepon
Danny Masterson
Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis
Wilmer Valerrama
Kurtwood Smith
Debra Jo Rupp
Don Stark
Tanya Roberts

This is a great thread. I've thought about these before, and never thought to talk about it, lol.

The Andy Griffith Show - I understand Andy Griffith, Ronny Howard and Don Knotts. In the first season, Elinor Donahue was in the cast. But for some reason, Francis Bavier wasn't until maybe season six or seven. Aunt Bee was one of the four main characters (Andy, Opie, Barney, Aunt Bee) and she should have been in the opening credits from the beginning.

I didn't understand the "NewsRadio" order.
Dave Foley
Stephen Root
Andy Dick
Maura Tierney
Vicki Lewis
Joe Rogan
Khandi Alexander
& Phil Hartman

Dave's in the right place being first. I understand Phil being last, because it's one of those things where the popular character goes last. But I always thought Maura Tierney should be second, ANdy Dick should be third (if Phil must be last), Vicki Lewis fourth, Stephen Root fifth, Khandi Alexander sixth and Joe Rogan seventh. Followed, of course, by Phil Hartman eighth.

Full House - I always thought Bob Saget should be first and John Stamos should be second. Not the other way around.

With "That '70s Show," I don't see why Mila Kunis was second. Here's the order I would have put it in:
Topher Grace
Laura Prepon
Danny Masterson
Ashton Kutcher
Mila Kunis
Wilmer Valerrama
Kurtwood Smith
Debra Jo Rupp
Don Stark
Tanya Roberts

This is a great thread. I've thought about these before, and never thought to talk about it, lol.
Yea I agree with you about Bob Saget. He was really the top billed character. I think the reason John Stamos was billed first was when the show began Stamos was the most well known of the stars from his years on General Hospital and he had a few short lived sitcoms before that too.

I agree with some of the examples already mentioned. I always thought Sherman Hemsley made more sense going before Isabel Sanford, same thing with Bob Saget and John Stamos. And Johnny Galecki and Glenn Quinn should have been in the opening of "Roseanne" by the time the show ended.

I always thought it was odd that in the first couple of seasons of "Alice," Phillip McKeon was credited before Vic Tayback. Tommy was such a young character then and while he was important to the show, the character of Mel was more important, IMO. Vera, I could understand her being towards the end since she wasn't very developed until later. And of course, Polly Holliday got special credit at the end.

For the first two seasons of Barney Miller, Barbara Barrie was billed second after Hal Linden. Problem is, she was in less than half of the first season episodes, and only 2 (out of 22!) in the second season. I wondered why even bother??

Here's one that just came to me: All (or most) of MTM's shows in the 70s had opening sequences that had the show's title and credited one or two cast members. The opening for "Mary Tyler Moore" had no one credited, "The Bob Newhart Show" had Bob and Suzanne Pleshette credited, "Rhoda" had only Valerie Harper credited, and "Phyllis" only had Cloris Leachman. Even "WKRP in Cincinnati" only had Gary Sandy and Gordon Jump credited in the opening. But "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" credited its whole cast, complete with clips of each character, in the opening credits. That's sorta strange if you think about it...

^ I thought it was interesting that MTM herself was never billed on her show. But we all knew it was her. I'll bet that was their logic.

Eventually WKRP would wind up having everyone billed in the opening. Not sure when it started though.

Janet Dubios being billed before Jimmy Walker in Season 5 of Good Times

Janet Dubios being billed before Jimmy Walker in Season 5 of Good Times
Yeah, I always thought about that one too. I mean, I know Willona took over as the "mother figure" for that season, but still, I'm surprised TPTB at the show didn't want to capitalize on the fact that JJ was practically the head of household for that season. I guess by then, they got used to giving Jimmie Walker the coveted last credit. Besides, if they put him first, I don't think we would have gotten that cool little sequence of Willona coming through the door for her credit lol

Another that comes to mind is Cloris Leachman assuming Charlotte Rae's top billing when she came onto The Facts Of Life instead of giving top bill to Lisa Whelchel

Yea I agree with you about Bob Saget. He was really the top billed character. I think the reason John Stamos was billed first was when the show began Stamos was the most well known of the stars from his years on General Hospital and he had a few short lived sitcoms before that too.
OK, my theory is that the original pilot had a then unknown actor as Danny, so it made more sense they'd credit a known actor first, then when Bob got the role, the never bothered to change the order! Also I thought Lori Loughlin should've been credited fourth starting in season 4 because she was an adult and they got rid of her and.... billing that season.

Aww hell...as many times as I've seen Full House in my life, I could not have told you who came first. :lol: All I know for sure is that as time went on, they still billed the Olsens as Mary Kate Ashley Olsen, as if they were one person. Like we didn't know any better.

On Lost In Space Jonathan Harris was billed as a Special Guest Star, even though he was a member of the cast.

Janet Dubios being billed before Jimmy Walker in Season 5 of Good Times
Well, when you are the actual star of the show, as Jimmie was noted to be, you get the distinction of having your full name along with the name of the character you are playing. Just like "Polly Holliday as Flo" on Alice. That is usually reserved for the STARS of the show.

On Lost In Space Jonathan Harris was billed as a Special Guest Star, even though he was a member of the cast.
Same thing with Edward Hermann of Gilmore Girls.

Same thing with Edward Hermann of Gilmore Girls.
That was the same as Heather Locklear was billed on Melrose Place.

I always preferred shows when they billed the actors in ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

I also remember on the Waltons, Micheal Learned was billed as MS. Micheal Learned. I found that odd.

I always preferred shows when they billed the actors in ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

I also remember on the Waltons, Micheal Learned was billed as MS. Micheal Learned. I found that odd.
Dallas always did that even though Larry Hagman was the star. I always thought that was classy. Well at least until the last 2 seasons when some of those actors shouldn't have shared the screen with him. lol

I always preferred shows when they billed the actors in ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

I also remember on the Waltons, Micheal Learned was billed as MS. Micheal Learned. I found that odd.
They probably billed her as "Miss" because she was basically an unknown at the time. I guess TPTB didn't want the viewers to think Michael Learned was a guy. :lol:

They probably billed her as "Miss" because she was basically an unknown at the time. I guess TPTB didn't want the viewers to think Michael Learned was a guy. :lol:
That's exactly what I've heard, LOL. She wasn't a known name at all at the time and they wanted it to be clear that she was a female. I think they dropped the prefix after a few seasons.

Another situation that I thought was kinda strange, similar to the MTM sitcoms of the 70s. Most, if not all, of Lorimar's primetime soaps of the 1980s and 1990s credited the cast members in alphabetical order. "Dallas" did it, "Knots Landing" did it, "Flamingo Road" did it, "Homefront" did it, but "Falcon Crest" never did. Jane Wyman was always first, and Susan Sullivan (until she left) always got the "and...as..." credit at the end.

Dallas always did that even though Larry Hagman was the star. I always thought that was classy. Well at least until the last 2 seasons when some of those actors shouldn't have shared the screen with him. lol
Exactly! :lol: I never understood why Audrey Landers was not on the opening credits when she played a large part on DALLAS. It is not like once you add someone, you can't remove them.

Also, on DALLAS, Barbara Bell Geddes (Miss Ellie) remained on the opening credits for that one time she was not even on the show because of ill health.

Exactly! :lol: I never understood why Audrey Landers was not on the opening credits when she played a large part on DALLAS. It is not like once you add someone, you can't remove them.

Also, on DALLAS, Barbara Bell Geddes (Miss Ellie) remained on the opening credits for that one time she was not even on the show because of ill health.
Audrey Landers, John Beck and Morgan Brittany all should have been in the opening credits if Kimberly Foster, Sasha Mitchell and especially Leslie-Anne down were. lol Also I didn't understand why Sheree J. Wilson continued to be in the opening credits that last season after they killed her off. She only appeared in 2 more episodes...both part of Bobby's dream. They could have put her in for those 2 episodes only.

Audrey Landers, John Beck and Morgan Brittany all should have been in the opening credits if Kimberly Foster, Sasha Mitchell and especially Leslie-Anne down were. lol Also I didn't understand why Sheree J. Wilson continued to be in the opening credits that last season after they killed her off. She only appeared in 2 more episodes...both part of Bobby's dream. They could have put her in for those 2 episodes only.
You are right, that is how I feel exactly! Morgan, John and Audrey all deserved to be credited. If anything, it would have kept all us fans in suspense. If I see a character NOT CREDITED in the opening, it only tells me they are temporary and not permanent. That would have helped with some storylines and kept us in the dark. Let's not forget Mary Crosby as Kristen. ;)

I agree with yall about the whole some-people-in-credits-but-others-not thing. David Selby soooo should have been in the opening credits of "Flamingo Road" in the second season, as should have Fernando Allende and Gina Gallego. Their characters were very important, especially Selby's. His role was more important than some of the principal cast members', actually.

I loooooved the original instrumental theme song for "Eight is Enough" but it bugs me to no end how they only credited Dick Van Patten, Diana Hyland, Grant Goodeve, and Betty Buckley for the first two seasons. I'm glad they added the rest of the cast in the later episodes...

Something I just thought of; on Sabrina the Teenage Witch... by season 7 characters Roxie and Morgan were added to the opening credits, with Soleil Moon Frye being billed last. I know that Nick Bakay (the voice of Salem) was on the show for the entire run but I thought it was interesting that when you think about it, Soleil was billed after a cat.

Nate Richert also came back and was on most of seasons 6 and 7, I never understood why he never was added back to the opening credits.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - "and Mary Tyler Moore" Mary was actually the lead actress on the show but originally Mary's role was suppose to be small when they featured her in the episode "Blonde Haired Brunette" Mary showed Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard her capability to do comedy and Mary was one of the featured players on the show. That caused friction between her and Rose Marie because Rose was supposedly had second billing originally. The friction did not cause any problems on the show and they did a good quality show throughout the five years it was on the air.

The New Dick Van Dyke Show showed Hope Lange having second billing and her role on the show was small the way MTM's role originally was on the original DVDS. Hope was not happy on the show at all because of her limitations the role had for her and the way she was written.

I don't understand how Lark Voorhies got LAST billing (for the kids) on Saved By The Bell. She was on Good Morning Miss Bliss with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Dustin Diamond. Wasn't she more well-known than Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley? Lark should have been higher on the list.....

Randi Oakes should have been billed at the opening of CHiPs during her tenure with show.

On Lost In Space Jonathan Harris was billed as a Special Guest Star, even though he was a member of the cast.

So was Heather Locklear (as Amanda Woodward) on Melrose Place on Fox.

Yea I agree with you about Bob Saget. He was really the top billed character. I think the reason John Stamos was billed first was when the show began Stamos was the most well known of the stars from his years on General Hospital and he had a few short lived sitcoms before that too.

In addition, at the time the pilot was being produced, Saget was initially unavailable as he was busy working as a comic correspondent on The CBS Morning Program.

For the first two seasons of Barney Miller, Barbara Barrie was billed second after Hal Linden. Problem is, she was in less than half of the first season episodes, and only 2 (out of 22!) in the second season. I wondered why even bother??

That was because creators Danny Arnold and Theodore J. Flicker originally envisioned the series as focusing on Barney's home life as well as his work life. However, the latter setting just proved so much more compelling for storylines that eventually Ms. Barrie was rendered redundant.

"Starsky and Hutch" billed David Soul first, I suppose because he had more credits than Paul Michael Glaser, but because the show was called "Starsky and Hutch" I wonder if that caused some confusion.

They didn't bill alphabetically or based on the title of the show, so were people supposed to think DS was more important than PMG, based on billing? I think they were equal co-stars and should have had equal billing.

I like the rotating billing of "Bonanza." They were all the stars of the show, equally.

blue bloods and tom selleck. granted donnie is popular with nkotb the block but tom is a disgunished actor. he is credited and in the last season of las vegas after james caan left. now that i get.


malcolm & the middle- and frankie muniz. who is the show about?

and 7th heaven, the kids are not in order. it should be barry watsom, jessica biel not barry watson, david gallaagher.

I sometimes wonder how the end credits go. director, producer, assistant producer and so on.
Who usually goes first??? Maybe the earlier 1950s show might easier to understand.

There's only one that's ever really had me scratching my head. It's on Gilmore Girls (I know it's definitely more in the drama category). In the opening credits they had Edward Herrmann at the end. He was Richard Gilmore who was Lorelei's father and Rory's grandfather. And it was always "special appearance by Edward Herrmann", like he was a guest star or something. But the man was in every episode (or most of them anyways, I can't think of an episode he's not in but there might be a few). So to me he was always a regular cast member and that's never made sense to me. I know there's some episodes Richard and Emily don't have a big part in but actress Kelly Bishop (who played Emily) was never billed that way in the credits and neither was anybody else. I just don't get it.

Ed.

It’s all about negotiating between the actor’s agent and the producers. John Stamos was more established in TV than Bob Saget, so he was able to demand and receive top billing. Same with David Soul on Starsky and Hutch, even though Hutch came second (same thing happened for a while when Tyne Daly, who played Lacey, was top billed on Cagney and Lacey). Look at the 1989 Batman movie, where Jack Nicholson received top billing, even though Michael Keaton played the title character.


Edward Herrmann was the biggest name in the Gilmore Girls cast, so he could demand the billing he wanted. It’s also possible that Kelly Bishop had already claimed the “And” billing, so he needed something else.

It’s all about negotiating between the actor’s agent and the producers. John Stamos was more established in TV than Bob Saget, so he was able to demand and receive top billing. Same with David Soul on Starsky and Hutch, even though Hutch came second (same thing happened for a while when Tyne Daly, who played Lacey, was top billed on Cagney and Lacey). Look at the 1989 Batman movie, where Jack Nicholson received top billing, even though Michael Keaton played the title character.


Edward Herrmann was the biggest name in the Gilmore Girls cast, so he could demand the billing he wanted. It’s also possible that Kelly Bishop had already claimed the “And” billing, so he needed something else.

It seems embarrassing that an actor would allow that, because even if the audience doesn't notice it at first, at some point they'll realize that and see that the actor isn't the "star" of the show, and maybe conclude that this particular actor has a big ego that he or she would go along with getting "top billing."

If there's an obvious "star" then it makes more sense, but in the case of Cagney and Lacey or Starsky and Hutch it just looks very ego driven. I didn't notice that about C&L - I always thought they had equal billing, but I suppose after they recast the role of Cagney it would make a bit more sense to give Tyne Daly that top billing because she was there from the start.

In the case of C&L, Tyne Daly was the bigger name during the first season, when Meg Foster played Cagney. So Tyne was billed first. When Sharon Gless joined, she would not accept being billed second, so Tyne agreed to give up her contractual right to top billing, and agreed to share top billing (cross billed in their first season together; alternating after that). Of course, had Sharon not joined, they were going to cancel the show, so it was in Tyne’s best interest to agree.

You can argue it’s ego, but it’s also about getting proper recognition at certain points in your career. People demand certain titles in the corporate world all the time, so why should actors be any different?

In the case of C&L, Tyne Daly was the bigger name during the first season, when Meg Foster played Cagney. So Tyne was billed first. When Sharon Gless joined, she would not accept being billed second, so Tyne agreed to give up her contractual right to top billing, and agreed to share top billing (cross billed in their first season together; alternating after that). Of course, had Sharon not joined, they were going to cancel the show, so it was in Tyne’s best interest to agree.

You can argue it’s ego, but it’s also about getting proper recognition at certain points in your career. People demand certain titles in the corporate world all the time, so why should actors be any different?

I think it's because in this particular field, a lot of a person's success is linked to their likeability as well as their talent, so this "recognition" isn't necessarily going to translate well with the typical viewer, who might not know that, to use the S&H example, David Soul was actually at a "certain point" in his career at the beginning of S&H that was considered more elevated than PMG's.

Basically they were two unknown but working actors. The show S&H made them both stars, so it just seems ridiculous for DS to want this little extra bit of elevation prior to becoming famous, because he had more credits than PMG, so he'd think it was a reasonable request, even though the show billed PMG's character first, and they were equal as far as characters. Starsky wasn't a secondary character on the show at all, right from the start.

The thing is, when I see interviews with DS from the S&H era and on, the last thing I see is an egotistical person who wants his proper recognition, but when I see DS's name appear first billed on this show, that's all I think because the reason for top billing doesn't make sense within the context of the show.

I feel the same about Cagney and Lacey, with the only difference being that since Tyne was the one and only "Lacey," I wouldn't have minded seeing her get top billing even though Sharon Gless was right to want shared billing since, again, one character wasn't more important than the other.

David Soul was better known than Paul Michael Glaser when S&H started, due to being a teen idol on “Here Come The Brides”. He was more established and was able to demand top billing on the show. You seem to be saying that he should come second because “Starsky” came first in the title, and that’s just not how the business works. As for “likability”: most viewers don’t care about billing.

I haven't read thru this whole thread, but if no one mentioned the billing on Laverne and Shirley, there were some ridiculous things going on there between Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall. Who's first, who's second, who's higher (on the screen), who's lower, let's alternate billing every other episode, etc.

Also, Cloris Leachman got Special Appearance, or similar, billing on MTM. Odd, but she obviously got what she wanted.

David Soul was better known than Paul Michael Glaser when S&H started, due to being a teen idol on “Here Come The Brides”. He was more established and was able to demand top billing on the show. You seem to be saying that he should come second because “Starsky” came first in the title, and that’s just not how the business works. As for “likability”: most viewers don’t care about billing.

I'm saying that the billing should have reflected the fact that they were equal stars of the show, neither was a bigger character than the other or more important than the other. It was truly a show with two equal main characters (S&H) and two supporting characters (Dobey and Huggy).

It's something I feel that even as I comment about and have an opinion about I can't truly know about since S&H was a show before my time, so anything either actor did before that show was definitely out of my frame of reference. If people watching the show in 1975 saw the billing and saw DS got first billing and thought that was as it should be since he was, as you say, a "teen idol," then I guess they'd know better than I would. I look at their pre S&H credits and see PMG was in a classic movie (Fiddler on the Roof) and DS was in a classic movie (Magnum Force) but I wouldn't know about that Brides show or what DS was in that. That's beyond me.

As one of those viewers that might not even usually look at billing, I have a clear memory of sitting in front of the TV watching the intro of S&H as a very young child, just learning to read, and noticing that the show called Starsky & Hutch showed DS's name first, and then PMG's name, that G came before S so they weren't listing the actors alphabetically, and I did not understand why. I remember asking my Mom why, and she couldn't say, but I'm sure she didn't really care one way or another.

I'm also sure that as a kid I might have believed that Starsky was the "bigger" character, so it would have added to any confusion. Now, with an adult POV I can accept why DS would be listed first, but seeing that the characters are equals, I will always think that it seems wrong to bill him first, probably because I can't really see the whole picture of that time, and what you are saying. I "get" it, but I also do not.

It's just one of those things for me.

-LPY2N3FZGI

The opening credits sequence for the reboot of All That. In the earlier seasons, the credits were determined by alphabetical order instead of randomly.

It’s all about negotiating between the actor’s agent and the producers. John Stamos was more established in TV than Bob Saget, so he was able to demand and receive top billing. Same with David Soul on Starsky and Hutch, even though Hutch came second (same thing happened for a while when Tyne Daly, who played Lacey, was top billed on Cagney and Lacey). Look at the 1989 Batman movie, where Jack Nicholson received top billing, even though Michael Keaton played the title character.


Edward Herrmann was the biggest name in the Gilmore Girls cast, so he could demand the billing he wanted. It’s also possible that Kelly Bishop had already claimed the “And” billing, so he needed something else.

Oops, you're right it's Kelly Bishop and not Price! My mistake.

Ed.

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams had what is known as “cross billing” in “Laverne & Shirley”. Penny was to the left but lower, and Cindy was to the right and higher. Other examples of cross billing: Ted Danson and Shelley Long in “Cheers”, Erin Moran and Scott Baio in “Joanie Loves Chachi”, Maureen McCormick and Eve Plumb in “The Brady Brides”, Jon Cryer and Ashton Kutcher in “Two and a Half Men”. I’m sure there are more.

IMO, even with cross billing, it’s better to be to the left, because people read from left to right.

On ABC's 1968-70 series "Land Of The Giants" Kurt Kasznar was billed as Special Guest Star as well, I believe.

David Soul was one of the 3 Bolt Brothers on Here Come The Brides, but he was hardly a teen idol. That title went squarely to youngest brother Jeremy, played by Bobby Sherman. Of course , in later years, Soul did have a No. 1 song on the charts.

And what about "And Starring MISS Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley"?

David Soul was one of the 3 Bolt Brothers on Here Come The Brides, but he was hardly a teen idol.

My sisters would disagree with you - they preferred Soul and had teen magazines with his pictures on the cover, in addition to Bobby Sherman.

On Growing Pains, even though Kirk Cameron was the star of the show, Alan and Joanna always came before him. It was always Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, and Jeremy Miller. Eventually, Ashley Johnson and Leo DiCaprio were added at the end.

Sandy Duncan was billed first on The Hogan Family. I like her, but she was a replacement in season 3 and the show was about Valerie's family. Jason Bateman should have got first billing and the dad (Josh Taylor) should've been moved up when his role got bigger after Valerie Harper was fired.

On Growing Pains, even though Kirk Cameron was the star of the show, Alan and Joanna always came before him. It was always Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, and Jeremy Miller. Eventually, Ashley Johnson and Leo DiCaprio were added at the end.

I never really had a problem with the way that Growing Pains was billed. Being that it was a family sitcom, they naturally billed the parents first and then the kids based on ages. You can also complain about the way the billing went with Family Ties. Most people immediately look at Michael J. Fox as the "star" and yet he was always third billed behind his "parents" Meredith Baxter (Birney) and Michael Gross.

TV Guy nailed it.

If you have a great agent, then a star can negotiate billing order. A lot of it rests on previous work and an actor/actress' marketability.

David Soul was one of the 3 Bolt Brothers on Here Come The Brides, but he was hardly a teen idol. That title went squarely to youngest brother Jeremy, played by Bobby Sherman. Of course , in later years, Soul did have a No. 1 song on the charts.

And what about "And Starring MISS Barbara Stanwyck as Victoria Barkley"?

I remember Bobby Sherman being mentioned on "Frasier" by Roz, he was her teen idol.

I've also read the David Soul was offered the role of Hutch while there was a search for the actor to play Starsky, so while I can see the reasons why DS was given that top billing, within the context of the show it just looks wrong and always will, to me.

Shows like "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains" billing the parents first makes sense because the shows were about the family, it just so happens that Michael J. Fox and Kirk Cameron were breakout stars of those shows, but the billing shouldn't have changed to reflect that, and I'm glad it wasn't.

I've been watching "The Jeffersons" lately and was shocked to see that Isabel Sanford was billed before Sherman Hemsley. He was so clearly the main STAR of that show that to think that he'd get second billing is distasteful. So Isabel had more credits and an agent who negotiated star billing, she's still not the star of that show, and maybe it's a stretch to say she's equal in this particular show. Sherman Hemsley really shines as the main star.

I remember Bobby Sherman being mentioned on "Frasier" by Roz, he was her teen idol.

I've also read the David Soul was offered the role of Hutch while there was a search for the actor to play Starsky, so while I can see the reasons why DS was given that top billing, within the context of the show it just looks wrong and always will, to me.

Shows like "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains" billing the parents first makes sense because the shows were about the family, it just so happens that Michael J. Fox and Kirk Cameron were breakout stars of those shows, but the billing shouldn't have changed to reflect that, and I'm glad it wasn't.

I've been watching "The Jeffersons" lately and was shocked to see that Isabel Sanford was billed before Sherman Hemsley. He was so clearly the main STAR of that show that to think that he'd get second billing is distasteful. So Isabel had more credits and an agent who negotiated star billing, she's still not the star of that show, and maybe it's a stretch to say she's equal in this particular show. Sherman Hemsley really shines as the main star.

I don't think this has been mentioned before, but Isabel Sanford was already introduced on All in the Family long before Sherman Hemsley was. At the time of Ms. Sanford's introduction, Mr. Hemsley was co-starring in a Broadway musical called Purlie, and he refused to break his commitment to that musical. Norman Lear, however, kept the role waiting for Mr. Hemsley until he was finished appearing in the musical.