***MAJOR SPOILERS OF ORIGINAL SCRIPT***


Thanks to RetroGuy2000 for finding these scripts!!

I'm up to page 20!

Already at the cast list it's interesting! lol

"Miss Susan Bruner"?? Who was she?? (I mean, don't tell me, I'll find out, lol)

"Mr. Charley Robinson"? Interesting...I'm assuming he's the trustee at the end.

Oh wow, so it is officially "The Crock" (instead of "Croc").

It's interesting seeing some typos throughout the script! ("I don't know what's in a name, but I know what's is a crock!")

"It's a little late, but my dream has come true." -- aww, sweet little cut Garrett line :)

(It's a wild scene with a dozen or so girls Kimberly's age) --- yeah, if "a dozen or so" = 23! :lol:

OMG! SUE ANN was the pianist of the dorm! Wow!

(Jennifer is playing with a frog which jumps out of her hand and she chases it, yelling it's name "LEON") :lol:

Hey, they left Leon out of the credits! lol

(Molly tries to get out of a chair to discover that her hair is tied to it from behind) :lol:

(Other girls disco dance, ) -- haha! "Hi, 1979!"

And Mrs. Garrett's derriere plays the piano, too! WOW! I never knew the two who would be the pianists would be Sue Ann and Mrs. Garrett's derriere! :lol:

Oh wow! Nancy had a cut line! "Blair wakes up every morning in a bad mood. She's got a bed with two wrong sides." --- how funny, this sounds more like season 2 Jo, and not at ALL like post-pilot Blair! lol!---I like the Cinderella line better, although this line does nicely reveal in a little more detail Nancy's impression of Blair's character.

Mrs. Garrett: "Blair, your teeth are lovely, but your mouth could use a lot of work." :lol:

"The Crock! Oh my golly, oh my golly!" :lol:

Oh wow! Miss Bruner's a teacher! She's the Miss Mahoney prototype! This is fascinating Retro!! (it really would have been neat to see an actual teacher in the backdoor pilot!)

Yes definitely Ms Mahoney prototype, except Brunner is scared and shy of Croc and Mahoney is sarcastic and critical of Bradley. I could've sworn I remembered that 2 wrong sides of the bed line being on the show, maybe it was something else?

I'm up to page 20!

Already at the cast list it's interesting! lol

"Miss Susan Bruner"?? Who was she?? (I mean, don't tell me, I'll find out, lol)

"Mr. Charley Robinson"? Interesting...I'm assuming he's the trustee at the end.

Oh wow, so it is officially "The Crock" (instead of "Croc").

It's interesting seeing some typos throughout the script! ("I don't know what's in a name, but I know what's is a crock!")

As you go through the scripts, you will see many, many more typos.


"It's a little late, but my dream has come true." -- aww, sweet little cut Garrett line :)
Yeah, I was sad to see that get cut. It helps explain why Mrs. G decides to stay on.


(It's a wild scene with a dozen or so girls Kimberly's age) --- yeah, if "a dozen or so" = 23! :lol:
Now we know no-one on this show could count! A dozen or so is 23, and 7 is 10, 12. :lol: Who taught these people to count? Moosejaw Muldoon?!


OMG! SUE ANN was the pianist of the dorm! Wow!
YEP!


(Jennifer is playing with a frog which jumps out of her hand and she chases it, yelling it's name "LEON") :lol:

Hey, they left Leon out of the credits! lol
He must have had a bad agent. ;)


(Molly tries to get out of a chair to discover that her hair is tied to it from behind) :lol:
Molly's hair wasn't long enough for that.


(Other girls disco dance, ) -- haha! "Hi, 1979!"

And Mrs. Garrett's derriere plays the piano, too! WOW! I never knew the two who would be the pianists would be Sue Ann and Mrs. Garrett's derriere! :lol:
the-more-you-know.gif


Oh wow! Nancy had a cut line! "Blair wakes up every morning in a bad mood. She's got a bed with two wrong sides." --- how funny, this sounds more like season 2 Jo, and not at ALL like post-pilot Blair! lol!---I like the Cinderella line better, although this line does nicely reveal in a little more detail Nancy's impression of Blair's character.
YEP!


Oh wow! Miss Bruner's a teacher! She's the Miss Mahoney prototype! This is fascinating Retro!! (it really would have been neat to see an actual teacher in the backdoor pilot!)
That's exactly what Lorimar called her! Hahahahaha!

Yeah, I was sad to see that get cut. It helps explain why Mrs. G decides to stay on.

Aww, that's true.


Now we know no-one on this show could count! A dozen or so is 23, and 7 is 10, 12. :lol: Who taught these people to count? Moosejaw Muldoon?!

Ha! Eastland must not have had any pride in their mathematics department! :lol:


Molly's hair wasn't long enough for that.

It was if she had been sitting low enough in a chair with slender "spokes", which is a funny image! :lol:

*waits for the rest of the reading*

LOL! I knew you'd expect more once I "opened the can of worms"! :lol:

Truth is, I had a long day today off-site, and have just now even gotten to get on a computer period!

Stay tuned!

("Bye, Miss Bruner! Have a great day!")

(that's not a script quote, it's from me :lol: )

(peeks at page 21)

Oh wow! Mrs. Garrett didn't just give in and overwhelmed-like take the costumes into the housemother's room alone, she ordered the GIRLS to do them and divvied up the work! COOL!

"Blair, you do the basting"

I can see Blair being like, "Uh, I don't do turkeys", haha.

"Sue Ann, stitch the cuffs. Tootie and Molly and Jennifer, you'll do the hems. Kimberly, you check the sashes and I'll machine-stitch the seams on there. Now, hop to it girls!"

This anticipates Mrs. Garrett's militant order-divvying up in "Flash Flood"! Here she orders 3 girls to do the hems, and in FF she orders 2 or 3 girls to check the drain pipe---I always think it's so funny it takes 2 or 3 girls to simply check the drain pipe! :lol:

Oh wow! More insight on Nancy's parents!

"He and Mom feel so guilty about it, and I understand." We learn that Nancy inherits her anxiety from both of her parents, and we see more of her innate sweetness in her understanding them!

Miss Bruner!! Gosh, what a character she is! Crazy that she's so rattled around "the Crock"! :lol:

Wait, interesting that the script says "SUE ANN AND BLAIR" burst into the room, but Blair's not there! It's Molly!

Oh, wow! There's no "Leon stinger" to end Act I! Fascinating!

And I'm chuckling-yet-curious about this: (WITH HER FAMOUS "EYE PULL LOOK") What the---?? :lol:

I mean, I think I know what they mean (kind of like a cousin to Bea Arthur's "slow burn"? lol), I've just never heard it put that way before, lol.

Wow, what an anxious one-note this Miss Bruner is, lol.

Oh, no! Little Edna's doggie Annie :(

But she was the best tree in the play! :lol: :)

"Of course. Cooking is my specialty" -- I'm 99.9999999% sure that's a line in the actual episode, but I love how foreshadowing it is of her becoming the school's nutritionist, and then heading Edna's Edibles!

It's interesting they spell Charlie "Charley", which is usually regarded as the feminine spelling of the name. But they also spelled it "Charley" on Empty Nest for David Leisure's womanizing character!

"I was the best tree in the play" - ha! Trustee Charley gets a laugh a repeated gag!

And the only "sitting-stair" scene ever on camera wasn't even in this original script! Showing Nancy's friends Sue Ann, Molly, Tootie, and Jennifer bittersweetly sharing their memories of their friend Nancy. How interesting that scene was a later "add-in" to the show.

What a fabulous script, Retro!

Oh wow! More insight on Nancy's parents!

"He and Mom feel so guilty about it, and I understand." We learn that Nancy inherits her anxiety from both of her parents, and we see more of her innate sweetness in her understanding them!
Yeah, it would have been nice if that had been left in.


Miss Bruner!! Gosh, what a character she is! Crazy that she's so rattled around "the Crock"!

Wow, what an anxious one-note this Miss Bruner is, lol.She is definitely a one-note character. I hate to say it, but I even prefer Miss Mahoney.



What a fabulous script, Retro!Why thank you! I did my best while conceiving, writing, and producing this script from a notion by Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon, Howard Leeds, and Ben Starr.

She is definitely a one-note character. I hate to say it, but I even prefer Miss Mahoney.

Ooo, backhanded compliment on Mahoney! :lol:

I like Miss Mahoney alright. In fact, there are a few lines/inflections by her that I always look forward to!


Why thank you! I did my best while conceiving, writing, and producing this script from a notion by Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon, Howard Leeds, and Ben Starr.

Hahaha! What a "crock"! ;)

Haha Miss Mahoney was ok, just her hair was awful. I like Jenny O'Hara on King of Queens and Reba

Haha Miss Mahoney was ok, just her hair was awful. I like Jenny O'Hara on King of Queens and Reba

Her hair was truly awful. The "worstest" hair we'd see in Peekskill until the late '80s, lol.

I wonder what Ms. O'Hara would say now about her hair and wardrobe on this show?? It's on DVD, maybe she's seen herself back there again. :)

Oo! Oo! And Leon got shafted! They named him, but only mentioned him once, in stage directions!

Wow, I'm glad Leon got a much more expanded vital role in the aired show! lol :)

And perhaps they had Jennifer as a tomboy prototype? Here in this version Leon is, apparently, her frog, and there is no Laura---then Laura comes in with her plaid shirt and short hair, kind of like a tomboy, and they snatch Leon away from Laura and give him to Jennifer.

This also makes me wonder...Cindy is already established as the tomboy in the new series, and they already had established Leon and a girl liking amphibians in the backdoor pilot, so why not expand on Cindy's tomboyishness by having her bring in reptiles and amphibians and such into the dorm, or even keeping some as pets up in her room? Can't you just see Blair reacting to a lizard, or Mrs. Garrett's eyes agog at a snake? :lol: I never thought about this before, but that's a tomboy aspect they could have used for Cindy and never did!

And I am still fascinated at the girls-sitting-on-the-steps scene, revealing their feelings about Nancy, not having been written in this version!

Oo! Oo! And Leon got shafted! They named him, but only mentioned him once, in stage directions!

Wow, I'm glad Leon got a much more expanded vital role in the aired show! lol :)
Clearly, once they had an actor in the role, and he impressed the producers, they gave him a larger role. :lol:


And perhaps they had Jennifer as a tomboy prototype? Here in this version Leon is, apparently, her frog, and there is no Laura---then Laura comes in with her plaid shirt and short hair, kind of like a tomboy, and they snatch Leon away from Laura and give him to Jennifer.

You have it backwards: they gave him to Laura. (But I know you know that).

I suspect it's because Laura was dating one of the directors of Diff'rent Strokes. If she wanted a Screen Actor's Guild card, she needed at least one line. So they gave her Leon.

This left Jennifer with little to do, and when the network executives saw the episode with this girl, Jennifer, who had no distinct personality, they fired her as a "Bea Arthur".


This also makes me wonder...Cindy is already established as the tomboy in the new series, and they already had established Leon and a girl liking amphibians in the backdoor pilot, so why not expand on Cindy's tomboyishness by having her bring in reptiles and amphibians and such into the dorm, or even keeping some as pets up in her room?
I think that's what they were doing with the pig.

Haha Miss Mahoney was ok, just her hair was awful.
Yes, I agree.

Hahaha! What a "crock"! ;)
:lol:

One thing I want to mention is how weirdly Miss Bruner is written. I know the character never made it to the taping, and I wonder why on earth they even wrote her that way to begin with.


Miss Mahoney may have been a prude with a bad hairdo, but she was obviously competent in her job. Miss Bruner seemed like she might faint at a Mr. Crocker side-eye.

Clearly, once they had an actor in the role, and he impressed the producers, they gave him a larger role. :lol:

Ha!


You have it backwards: they gave him to Laura. (But I know you know that).

Yup, and yup! I was gonna go edit that, but I thought, "Retro's already quote me and corrected me anyway, I'm sure", and you did! ;)


[QUOTE=RetroGuy2000;5449690]I suspect%2

This left Jennifer with little to do, and when the network executives saw the episode with this girl, Jennifer, who had no distinct personality, they fired her as a "Bea Arthur".



:lol:

What the aytch ee double hockey sticks happened to the rest of my post above?? lol...oh well, here goes:


I suspect it's because Laura was dating one of the directors of Diff'rent Strokes. If she wanted a Screen Actor's Guild card, she needed at least one line. So they gave her Leon.
LOL...it sounds like you're joking, but if I recall correctly from this summer, you are in fact not joking!

they fired her as a "Bea Arthur".
:confused:

I think that's what they were doing with the pig.
Ah yes, the piglet! The very first time we see Cindy (Webster), she's wearing a ball cap and carrying a piglet! It's too bad though that they didn't make bringing-critters-to-the-dorm-as-pets as part of her tomboy personality. Can't you just see Blair reacting to a lizard? Or Mrs. Garrett to a snake? :lol:

What the aytch ee double hockey sticks happened to the rest of my post above??

No idea!

LOL...it sounds like you're joking, but if I recall correctly from this summer, you are in fact not joking!

No, I'm not joking. "Laura" was dating the director of DS.


Ah yes, the piglet! The very first time we see Cindy (Webster), she's wearing a ball cap and carrying a piglet! It's too bad though that they didn't make bringing-critters-to-the-dorm-as-pets as part of her tomboy personality. Can't you just see Blair reacting to a lizard? Or Mrs. Garrett to a snake? :lol:


Now, that would have been interesting, for sure!

^---you didn't explain the "they fired her as a 'Bea Arthur' " line! I remember seeing that here this summer, but I didn't like the feel of that. NO ONE fires Bea Arthur!

^---you didn't explain the "they fired her as a 'Bea Arthur' " line! I remember seeing that here this summer, but I didn't like the feel of that. NO ONE fires Bea Arthur!

Except Fred Silverman, on Three's Company! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaAsfD2z0QA)

Except Fred Silverman, on Three's Company! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaAsfD2z0QA)

Hmm, thanks, I think, but I'm not about to sit here and listen to Joyce DeWitt for 3 hours! lol---especially when I have work in the morning!

Hmm, thanks, I think, but I'm not about to sit here and listen to Joyce DeWitt for 3 hours! lol---especially when I have work in the morning!

Bwahahaha! (Actually, I think that scene happens in the first five minutes, but understood! You're a busy guy! You don't have time to listen to Joyce DeWitt yammer! :lol: )

Bwahahaha! (Actually, I think that scene happens in the first five minutes, but understood! You're a busy guy! You don't have time to listen to Joyce DeWitt yammer! :lol: )

Oh, well if it's that soon, okay, lemme skim...

Wait...so Bea Arthur wasn't even supposed to be on the show?? He was just calling the girls "Bea Arthurs" for whatever reason?

Well, that makes sense---NO ONE fires Bea Arthur. ;)

Oh, well if it's that soon, okay, lemme skim...

Wait...so Bea Arthur wasn't even supposed to be on the show?? He was just calling the girls "Bea Arthurs" for whatever reason?

Well, that makes sense---NO ONE fires Bea Arthur. ;)

Well she’s slightly mannish... not exactly who you’d cast as sexy roommates

Oh, it's not Joyce jawing for 3 hours, LOL, it's that look back at the history of the show---I remember seeing some of that. The then "Glad girl" played Joyce :lol:

Oh, it's not Joyce jawing for 3 hours, LOL, it's that look back at the history of the show---I remember seeing some of that. The then "Glad girl" played Joyce :lol:

YES! The Glad Girl played Joyce! :lol:

And she was good, too!

Oh, well if it's that soon, okay, lemme skim...

Wait...so Bea Arthur wasn't even supposed to be on the show?? He was just calling the girls "Bea Arthurs" for whatever reason?

Well, that makes sense---NO ONE fires Bea Arthur. ;)

Yeah, Fred Silverman had no tact whatsoever. Female actresses not charismatic enough? "Bea Arthurs". But Mr. Silverman was emblematic of a larger issue at that time: all network executives were male, many were chauvinistic pigs, and the American TV and film industry was run by just a half a dozen old white men.