http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VEUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ddEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=778,1184309&dq=sally+struthers&hl=en

In the article I read dated August 19th, 1975, Tandem Productions basically told Ms. Struthers to not bother to show up for work and don't dare make any tv appearances because they were going to recast the role of Gloria Stivic due to a contract dispute. Surprisingly (wink wink) Carroll O'Connor was silent....

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/703/ScreenHunter_112_Dec_18_15_29.jpg

I never knew that. lol It's funny how many production problems AITF had. I guess it wasn't easy being #1.

Tell me about it, it's no wonder Rob Reiner left acting to become a movie director. :lol:

Can you blame him?? :lol: Not to mention, Norman Lear & co. were having trouble with Sanford & Son's Redd Foxx and his contract negotiations at around this same time. Then they would have big time problems over at Good Times regarding Esther Rolle and John Amos. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Can you blame him?? :lol: Not to mention, Norman Lear & co. were having trouble with Sanford & Son's Redd Foxx and his contract negotiations at around this same time. Then they would have big time problems over at Good Times regarding Esther Rolle and John Amos. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:


Good points! lol I am starting to think Mr. Norman Lear was a bit of a tyrant himself.

Can you blame him?? :lol: Not to mention, Norman Lear & co. were having trouble with Sanford & Son's Redd Foxx and his contract negotiations at around this same time. Then they would have big time problems over at Good Times regarding Esther Rolle and John Amos. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Then you had Mackenzie Phillip's drug problems on ODAAT. Was there any Norman Lear sitcom that didn't have problems? :lol:

Then you had Mackenzie Phillip's drug problems on ODAAT. Was there any Norman Lear sitcom that didn't have problems? :lol:


....And Then There's Maude! ;)

You took the words right out of my mouth - I was just going to mention Mackenzie Phillips. Regarding Esther Rolle and John Amos, I believe it was more an issue of their show's integrity than it was about money. I'm surprised Norman Lear didn't have an ulcer once all was said and done. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Who else could you see as Gloria? Sally is so indelible in the role, but I'll make a case for Suzanne Somers. Then again, she may have been a bit TOO glamorous and California for the part.

Who else could you see as Gloria? Sally is so indelible in the role, but I'll make a case for Suzanne Somers. Then again, she may have been a bit TOO glamorous and California for the part.


Honestly I couldn't picture anyone else as Gloria, but if I had to guess, probably the girl who did the 1st pilot of 'AITF'

And the only Norman Lear show where there was no contract disputes with the cast members was the..................Jeffersons-lol

I think the only time recasts really "work" (if they ever do) is early in a show's run before the character is indelibly linked to the star. By the time 1975 rolled around, the show was in it's sixth season (the first year Mike and Gloria moved out) and I don't think the audience would have accepted anyone else in the role. We were all way too used to Sally by that point.

Would it have doomed the show? Probably not, since the other three main characters were still being played by the originals, but I think it would have diminished it a lot.

I wouldn't have wanted anyone else as Gloria, but if forced to make a choice just for the heck of it? How about Ann Jillian?

No one would hav e lost sleep if Sally struthers was no longer on the show

No one would hav e lost sleep if Sally struthers was no longer on the show

orly:

Well, I liked her.

I wouldn't have wanted anyone else as Gloria, but if forced to make a choice just for the heck of it? How about Ann Jillian?

Yeah, Ann Jillian would've been a good choice.

Honestly I couldn't picture anyone else as Gloria, but if I had to guess, probably the girl who did the 1st pilot of 'AITF'

There was another girl in the pilot?! Who?

Good points! lol I am starting to think Mr. Norman Lear was a bit of a tyrant himself.yes i agree i dont think he is nessescirley the warm loveable grandfatherly man that we have all seen in interviews though the years

Yeah, Ann Jillian would've been a good choice.maybe but im not sure ann could have done gloria;s trademark whine

maybe but im not sure ann could have done gloria;s trademark whine

Suzanne Somers probably could have - but I can't imagine the close bond between her and Carroll O'Connor as Archie and Gloria. Carroll and Sally were very, very close off-screen as well - she truly was his "little goil".

I think the only time recasts really "work" (if they ever do) is early in a show's run before the character is indelibly linked to the star.

I thought Dick Sargent made a fine Darrin to replace Dick York on Bewitched.

There was another girl in the pilot?! Who?
I think her name was Candace something.

I think her name was Candace something.

Her name was Candace Azzara, and she later had a small role on the ABC comedy "Soap".

On IMDb, it states Candice Azzara was in the second pilot!? Kelly Jean Peters played Gloria in the first one. Didn't know there were that many pilots, either LOL!

I always felt jealous of Kelly Jean Peters - she was Gregory Sierra's love interest on an episode of Kung Fu and got to kiss him!!!!! :mad: :lol: The only other thing I saw her was in a Newhart episode playing the mom in a family kicked out of the Minuteman Cafe by Kirk when he saw that he was going to get "lucky" with Stephanie. :crazy:

Her name was Candace Azzara, and she later had a small role on the ABC comedy "Soap".

She also had the recurring role of Annie's mom on Caroline in the City in the 90s. I also saw her guest in a few Barney Miller episodes. :cool:

Oh yeah, I knew I knew her from somewhere--that's it, as Annie's mom!

Yup, and she also played the recurring role of Alice Barth on Rhoda back in the 70s.

Here she is around the time she was on CITC:

That's the picture I saw that jogged my memory.

Wow none of Sally's problems I knew about. I just thought if she didn't appear in the show certain times, she just wasn't needed in a scene. Jean and Carroll had a story that week. When you think of it, you don't expect all characters to be in the house at the same time.