Hey y'all, I saw in a couple of messages in another thread on here some speculation on why Rue left "Mama".

Well, from what I've read in Vicki's book and Betty White's "Here We Go Again" (she gives some good info there), Rue and Betty were both with "The Golden Girls" in 1985, and "Mama" came back one year later. Interesting that Betty herself only made one more appearance in syndication...

Anyway, another HUGE reason Rue didn't appear anymore was because---get this---she didn't *like* playin' Aunt Fran. If you've seen her Intimate Portrait on Lifetime ("...'Pops: Por-trait of a Crossing Guard'...", only true "Mama" fans can appreciate that), you know that she indeed was not happy.

They only spoke of it briefly, but she said, obviously upset, "they totally changed the character of Aunt Fran after I'd signed the contract." She then said, "I didn't quite know how to play her...".

I can't remember any other exact quotes for sure, but that was the meat of it. ("Meat"...MMMMmmmm, I'm hungry now...)

If she didn't know how to play her, part of me wonders, "Did you ask the writers or producers? Or confer with any of your fellow cast memebrs for their opinion?" And part of wants to tell the writers and producers, "Why didn't you tell her how to play Fran? Why did you change her?"

But, regardless of all that, I LOVE Aunt Fran dearly...she's always been a favorite of mine (2nd only to Naomi in those NBC years), and she had some great lines.

I, too, was horrified and upset when I first saw "Farewell, Frannie", but it was SOOOO wonderfully written, how could you not love it? Even though I was really so sad to see Frannie go, and confused at the time, :confused: it sure made for one helluva show! :rotflmao:

Byron

Originally posted by TALLguyinKY
Hey y'all, I saw in a couple of messages in another thread on here some speculation on why Rue left "Mama".

Well, from what I've read in Vicki's book and Betty White's "Here We Go Again" (she gives some good info there), Rue and Betty were both with "The Golden Girls" in 1985, and "Mama" came back one year later. Interesting that Betty herself only made one more appearance in syndication...

Anyway, another HUGE reason Rue didn't appear anymore was because---get this---she didn't *like* playin' Aunt Fran. If you've seen her Intimate Portrait on Lifetime ("...'Pops: Por-trait of a Crossing Guard'...", only true "Mama" fans can appreciate that), you know that she indeed was not happy.

They only spoke of it briefly, but she said, obviously upset, "they totally changed the character of Aunt Fran after I'd signed the contract." She then said, "I didn't quite know how to play her...".

I can't remember any other exact quotes for sure, but that was the meat of it. ("Meat"...MMMMmmmm, I'm hungry now...)

If she didn't know how to play her, part of me wonders, "Did you ask the writers or producers? Or confer with any of your fellow cast memebrs for their opinion?" And part of wants to tell the writers and producers, "Why didn't you tell her how to play Fran? Why did you change her?"

But, regardless of all that, I LOVE Aunt Fran dearly...she's always been a favorite of mine (2nd only to Naomi in those NBC years), and she had some great lines.

I, too, was horrified and upset when I first saw "Farewell, Frannie", but it was SOOOO wonderfully written, how could you not love it? Even though I was really so sad to see Frannie go, and confused at the time, :confused: it sure made for one helluva show! :rotflmao:

Byron

Well she couldn't play both aunt Fran and Blanche Deveruex (sp?). PLus I rather have her as Blanche then Fran anyway. LOL

Originally posted by Ricky Ricardo
Well she couldn't play both aunt Fran and Blanche Deveruex (sp?). PLus I rather have her as Blanche then Fran anyway. LOL

Yep, I was just tryin' to straighten things out for some other people in previous threads. :)

Gawd, actors make me mad! :mad: Heck, I would play Aunt Fran if I had the opportunity! I liked Aunt Fran too, & I wish she would've stayed longer. The way she died still cracks me up tho..choking on a toothpick! LOL. Personally, I liked Frannie better than Blanche.

BTW, thanks for the info TALLguyinKY,
from a TALLgirlinWV :D

Originally posted by Blair85
Personally, I liked Frannie better than Blanche.



I didn't. I think Blanche was way better and funnier.

Originally posted by FOLrocks1


I didn't. I think Blanche was way better and funnier.

Well, I didn't like Golden Girls, so I didn't like Blanche.