What are the details behind her having her own show? Was she told she would leave DS for FOL and not be able to return if FOL failed? Anyone know what were the details of her contract or terms?

don't know the exact details--but I do know she agreed to do Facts only if that show failed, she was allowed to come back to DS. In the first eppy, "Rough Housing", we have Drummond asking her if she is coming back, she replies, "as soon as they find a suitable replacement, I'll be back". Guess, that job worked out too well :D

I haven't watched DS other than two episodes. I can't recall the details of what was said. Thanx for that info. So it does sound like she was given the opportunity to come back if FOL failed. I can't imagine she would leave a hit show for something she wasn't sure abt. I am glad she did it. ;)

No, Irene, that is said on the first episode of FOL :)

Oh that explains it, I am not too fond of the first season of FOL. Just like the first season of A Different World. :lol:

Well you take the good, you take the bad, and there you have a bad spinoff (at first) LOL

:lol: you crack me up.

Well all I know is that Charlotte did go back to DS after the first four episodes of "Facts" then she when back to "D.S." . Then she later leaves D.S. to do nine more eps of "Facts" and then it takes off. I loved the first season. It is one of my favorites much like "A Different World" although some people think opposite about the first season of this shows. LOL.

even if FOL did fail it wouldn't have been that difficult to write Mrs. Garret back in since she was in the the "REVOLVING DOOR ROLE" of the show-lol

That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.

That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.


Probably because she was just one character and had a bigger role on DS than what Audra and Norman had on TC. So I guess that's why she was able to come back if she could

Probably because she was just one character and had a bigger role on DS than what Audra and Norman had on TC. So I guess that's why she was able to come back if she could
Yeah, most likely. Also, I wonder how many actors learned from the whole thing that Norman and Audra went through? I mean, that kind of thing goes through the industry and I wonder if that remained in the minds of actors (at that time) who were being considered for spin-offs. It was a lesson learned the hard way.

Well all I know is that Charlotte did go back to DS after the first four episodes of "Facts" then she when back to "D.S." . Then she later leaves D.S. to do nine more eps of "Facts" and then it takes off. I loved the first season. It is one of my favorites much like "A Different World" although some people think opposite about the first season of this shows. LOL.


Storylinewise on DS, this wasn't mentioned. It was as if she didn't leave at all, until her absences were explained as "Oh you can stay in Mrs. Garrett's room, she's away helping out at Kimberly's school."

Yeah, most likely. Also, I wonder how many actors learned from the whole thing that Norman and Audra went through? I mean, that kind of thing goes through the industry and I wonder if that remained in the minds of actors (at that time) who were being considered for spin-offs. It was a lesson learned the hard way.


I think the only time characters wouldn't be able to return if it's 2 like the ropers, if it's one character then I think that the door is always open

I think the only time characters wouldn't be able to return if it's 2 like the ropers, if it's one character then I think that the door is always open


That wasn't the case with Polly Holliday and "Alice" (of course that's another board and tons of threads already discussed) :lol:

That wasn't the case with Polly Holliday and "Alice" (of course that's another board and tons of threads already discussed) :lol:


Well except for her case since she was having troubl getting along with L:inda Lavin-lol

Well except for her case since she was having troubl getting along with L:inda Lavin-lol
Yeah, I bet Polly wanted out of ALICE altogether considering Linda was being, as Garfieldkool would say, a total b***h. :rofl: Polly probably said, "I don't care if I fail or not, as long as I am away from that woman Linda." :lol:

That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.

Not quite exactly. Norman Fell did not want to leave Three's Company for his own show for the fact that it might fail, which it did. He only agreed to leave Three's Company to do The Ropers if The Ropers were to be canceled within less than a year after premiering.

Now, when Don Knotts came on to replace Mr. and Mrs. Roper the idea of them returning was not going to happen according to the producers. So, The Ropers finished there first season (1 year) and started their second season for about a month. The Ropers was canceled a month after Norman Fell's contract.

^^^^Thank you for clarifying that. Still, I wonder if in general was the way the two actors (Norman and Audra) who left a hit show for a spin-off and were left in limbo to not return, a precedent for how other actors left hit shows for spin-offs in the future? I can't imagine an actor leaving a hit show since that time and NOT think abt what happened to Audra and Norman. It is like Norman and Audra are the textbook example of "how not to leave a hit show without doing this_____________".

Isabel Sanford didn't want to leave AITF, but was told, ok, but either you do The Jeffersons or be unemployed.

But Isabel was not the star of AITF. Norman and Audra were part of the star ensemble of Three's Company. Isabel was like the Irene character and other characters who appeared occasionally.

But Isabel was not the star of AITF. Norman and Audra were part of the star ensemble of Three's Company. Isabel was like the Irene character and other characters who appeared occasionally.


She was the STAR of the Jeffersons on AITF because Sherman Hemsley was a no-body during that time

But Isabel was not the star of AITF. Norman and Audra were part of the star ensemble of Three's Company. Isabel was like the Irene character and other characters who appeared occasionally.

oh well, I was just using an example, miss particular :p

She was the STAR of the Jeffersons on AITF because Sherman Hemsley was a no-body during that time
I am merely stating Isabel was NOT the star or a co-star of AITF. Her name was not on the opening credits. I did not talk abt who the bigger star was or who was well-known.

I am talking abt stars or co-stars leaving a hit show for a spin-off.

Jude...:lol:

I am merely stating Isabel was NOT the star or a co-star of AITF. Her name was not on the opening credits. I did not talk abt who the bigger star was or who was well-known.

I am talking abt stars or co-stars leaving a hit show for a spin-off.

Jude...:lol:


The Jeffersons on AITF was the same way the Ropers were on TC, supporting characters

The Jeffersons on AITF was the same way the Ropers were on TC, supporting characters
Did their names appear on the opening credits? NO.
Did Audra and Norman's names appear in opening credits? YES
So stop this nonsense now, you know damn well they were not co-stars. They were occasional players in a show just like Irene Lorenzo.

oh arguing over a trivial point, that's so S.O.!!

:lol:

No, so Solomon. Always nitpicking abt something he knows he is wrong abt. :lol:

Did their names appear on the opening credits? NO.
Did Audra and Norman's names appear in opening credits? YES
So stop this nonsense now, you know damn well they were not co-stars. They were occasional players in a show just like Irene Lorenzo.

I agree 100 percent. The Jeffersons were merely supporting characters on AITF. Six featured Jefferson storylines stick out from AITF: "Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood" (Season 1), "Henry's Farewell" (Season 4), "Lionel's Engagement" (Season 4), "Lionel the Live-In" (Season 5), "George and Archie Make a Deal" (Season 5), and "The Jeffersons Move Up" (Season 5).

"The Jeffersons Move Up" served as the pilot for THE JEFFERSONS. Audra Lindley and Norman Fell played starring roles in the first through third seasons of THREE'S COMPANY. Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley merely recurred on ALL IN THE FAMILY.

I agree 100 percent. The Jeffersons were merely supporting characters on AITF. Six featured Jefferson storylines stick out from AITF: "Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood" (Season 1), "Henry's Farewell" (Season 4), "Lionel's Engagement" (Season 4), "Lionel the Live-In" (Season 5), "George and Archie Make a Deal" (Season 5), and "The Jeffersons Move Up" (Season 5).

"The Jeffersons Move Up" served as the pilot for THE JEFFERSONS. Audra Lindley and Norman Fell played starring roles in the first through third seasons of THREE'S COMPANY. Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley merely recurred on ALL IN THE FAMILY.
Exactly. ;)