What really happened? In Valerie's book (https://books.google.com/books?id=JVW9AAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=I,+Rhoda:+Valerie+Harper&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlj87V9q7kAhUBXKwKHemOBD4Q6AEwAHoECAMQAg#v=snippet&q=Sandy%20Duncan&f=false), she makes it sound like one day they suddenly fired her out of the blue then tried to smear her reputation in court. She added that she was concerned about the level of writing, that the audience wasn't laughing at the lines, and the producer told her they would sweeten it in the editing room.

What really happened? The common story that I hear is that Valerie felt the show was becoming too reliant on Jason Bateman, and wanted it to be focused back on her. When she expressed disapproval, they canned her and wrote her out in a rather awful way, yet still keeping the show titled Valerie's Family.

At the start of the third season, she and her husband (who was one of the executive producers) didn’t show up for work, holding out for more money and a larger piece of the syndication revenues. They also wanted more creative control; Valerie had cut her teeth on James L. Brooks’ sophisticated brand of comedy, not the Miller/Boyett family sitcoms. Valerie had held out for more money during the run of Rhoda and wound up getting more money.

Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan). Valerie said later that the producers and the network had “buyers’ remorse”. Lorimar said she was being disruptive on the set. Valerie sued for being wrongfully fired, and won.

Valerie was very gracious about the whole thing years later in interviews, praising Tom Miller and Bob Boyett as good people, and saying that she had reconciled with most of the people involved.

At the start of the third season, she and her husband (who was one of the executive producers) didn’t show up for work, holding out for more money and a larger piece of the syndication revenues. They also wanted more creative control; Valerie had cut her teeth on James L. Brooks’ sophisticated brand of comedy, not the Miller/Boyett family sitcoms. Valerie had held out for more money during the run of Rhoda and wound up getting more money.

Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan). Valerie said later that the producers and the network had “buyers’ remorse”. Lorimar said she was being disruptive on the set. Valerie sued for being wrongfully fired, and won.

Valerie was very gracious about the whole thing years later in interviews, praising Tom Miller and Bob Boyett as good people, and saying that she had reconciled with most of the people involved.

She said in her TV Academy interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoDaN2nfTnA) that it was mainly business, and basically bygones. But she also said she was glad she stuck to her guns and ultimately won her wrongful firing lawsuit. She said she was not difficult on set, but hints that she wanted more creative input.

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

Well until Lorimar went bankrupt and got bought out in 93 by WB

Well until Lorimar went bankrupt and got bought out in 93 by WB
Lorimar didn’t go bankrupt. It was bigger than Warner Bros’ own television division. And the head of Lorimar Television, Les Moonves, became the head of Warner Bros Television after the acquisition. It was considered a significant coup because Warner’s own television division at the time was struggling.

Lorimar didn’t go bankrupt. It was bigger than Warner Bros’ own television division. And the head of Lorimar Television, Les Moonves, became the head of Warner Bros Television after the acquisition. It was considered a significant coup because Warner’s own television division at the time was struggling.

That doesn’t make sense. Why dissolve Lorimar if it’s a bigger company?

Warner Bros was a big media company with a television division that was struggling. They bought Lorimar because Lorimar had a very successful television division that would help Warner be stronger. They put the Lorimar president in charge of the combined division and they became much more powerful in the TV business.

A similar situation happened when Paramount / Gulf & Western bought Desilu. Paramount was a far bigger company but Desilu was successful in television, and Desilu became Paramount’s television division.

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

I have a theory that Miller/Boyett didn't really want to do a show with Valerie Harper in the first place. Or let me explain and clarify. Before and after Valerie, Miller/Boyett had never done a full-blown and deliberate "star vehicle". Well, I suppose, Two of a Kind with the Olsen Twins was an exception. With Valerie, it was a case in which they were among the few producers who already had experience with sitcoms during a time in which sitcoms were on an upswing due to the immediate success of The Cosby Show.

As explained here (https://www.macleans.ca/uncategorized/the-20th-anniversary-of-the-most-awesomest-tv-contract-dispute-ever/), Miller/Boyett were more comfortable picking actors who had only done guest parts on TV or small parts in movies and making them into leads. They didn't think that Valerie Harper should've been in any position of "calling the shots" even though she was a star of the highly successful Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda. Miller/Boyett were I believe, one of those TV producers how had a decidedly rigid, "I know what's best" approach to comedy.

I have a theory that Miller/Boyett didn't really want to do a show with Valerie Harper in the first place. Or let me explain and clarify. Before and after Valerie, Miller/Boyett had never done a full-blown and deliberate "star vehicle". Well, I suppose, Two of a Kind with the Olsen Twins was an exception. With Valerie, it was a case in which they were among the few producers who already had experience with sitcoms during a time in which sitcoms were on an upswing due to the immediate success of The Cosby Show.

As explained here (https://www.macleans.ca/uncategorized/the-20th-anniversary-of-the-most-awesomest-tv-contract-dispute-ever/), Miller/Boyett were more comfortable picking actors who had only done guest parts on TV or small parts in movies and making them into leads. They didn't think that Valerie Harper should've been in any position of "calling the shots" even though she was a star of the highly successful Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda. Miller/Boyett were I believe, one of those TV producers how had a decidedly rigid, "I know what's best" approach to comedy.

I think you are right, TMC. They were used to calling the shots, not having demands made of them. This led, I think, to them viewing Valerie's demands as "crazy"; soon, they were actually accusing Valerie herself of being "crazy", something for which she successfully sued them in court.

That's too bad. Who came up with the concept first MB or Valerie?

Yes she wanted more money. However the network was also getting tired of her jealousy. Jason was a big star and she feared he was stealing her limelight. She confronted executives about cutting his lines and making sure the show was about her.
She ruined a good thing.

Yes she wanted more money. However the network was also getting tired of her jealousy. Jason was a big star and she feared he was stealing her limelight. She confronted executives about cutting his lines and making sure the show was about her.
She ruined a good thing.

I just looked up Jason Bateman’s career on Wikipedia. Before “Valerie”, he had previously appeared on “Little House on the Prairie” and “Silver Spoons” in recurring roles. Then he played the lead in the sitcom “It’s Your Move”, which was canceled after 18 episodes.
Valerie Harper’s television career was hit-or-miss after “Rhoda”. She mostly appeared in made-for-TV movies from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s.
I think “Valerie”’s producers saw Jason as a rising star and Harper as a has-been.

I just looked up Jason Bateman’s career on Wikipedia. Before “Valerie”, he had previously appeared on “Little House on the Prairie” and “Silver Spoons” in recurring roles. Then he played the lead in the sitcom “It’s Your Move”, which was canceled after 18 episodes.
Valerie Harper’s television career was hit-or-miss after “Rhoda”. She mostly appeared in made-for-TV movies from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s.
I think “Valerie”’s producers saw Jason as a rising star and Harper as a has-been.
He was. The same thing happened on Silver Spoons where Jason was a regular on seaons 1. Ricky was concerned Jason was becoming the star of his own show. Once they took Jason off the show, the ratings declined. Jason got ratings and had a cult following of young girls. Networks knew this.

I've heard the story of Jason's departure from Silver Spoons before.

He was another Eddie Haskell, played the Derek role well, and really added to the show.

I find it incredible that show runners would listen to Schroder's concern. As long as they had him under contract, they should have told him his job is to act, and their job is to cast the actors.

Valerie must have been "here we go again" for Bateman. Only the outcome was radically different.

I've heard the story of Jason's departure from Silver Spoons before.

He was another Eddie Haskell, played the Derek role well, and really added to the show.

I find it incredible that show runners would listen to Schroder's concern. As long as they had him under contract, they should have told him his job is to act, and their job is to cast the actors.

Valerie must have been "here we go again" for Bateman. Only the outcome was radically different.

What I always read was that it was Ricky Schroder's mom that was concerned about Jason Bateman's popularity and got him written off the show. I remember reading somewhere once that the same thing happened with Corky Pigeon and the Freddie character. Of course I don't know for sure what really happened and what didn't happen.

Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan).

Does anyone know which episode this was that Valerie filmed for season 3 that as refilmed with Sandy? And is Valerie’s unaired version out on the internet anywhere?

I always got a kick out of Rosanne Barr when during this time she put the name "Sandy Duncan" on her dressing room on the set of Roseanne. When the drama was going on over on Valerie, there was drama on the set of Roseanne and was punking the producers to dare them to replace her.

I think that Harper thought she had the same star power in “Valerie” as she did in “Rhoda.” Ummmm, no….

Justin Bateman was the rising star just as Michael J Fox was on Family Ties (only bigger). It's too bad that Valerie couldn't have ridden out the bumps and enjoyed the fame while it lasted. I would think that one would want to share the limelight on a big TV hit than hog the scenes on a show that no one is watching.

As I said I think VH thought she still had star power. I do believe she refused to show up filming “Rhoda” and held out for more money which she got - but that ploy wasn’t gonna work on “Valerie.”

What I always read was that it was Ricky Schroder's mom that was concerned about Jason Bateman's popularity and got him written off the show. I remember reading somewhere once that the same thing happened with Corky Pigeon and the Freddie character. Of course I don't know for sure what really happened and what didn't happen.
When Ricky's friends left and he was just stuck with Alfonso, the show jumped the shark.

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

Instead of going to court, Valerie Harper if I have my facts straight, paid a private "arbitrator" to settle it and the producers agreed to it. By going to binding arbitration, the case was resolved fairly quick and in her favor and she wound up with a total of 25% stake. In the end, this also meant that Valerie had no incentive to knock or run down or even talk about the show, since she'd lose money in the long run. She was still getting a nice paycheck for doing nothing and she was free to work on other projects.

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

I just read that Leslie Moonves (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1hck1a6/comment/m1tktuz/) was apparently, the Lorimar (https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/lorimar-and-les-moonves.5478/) executive who was ultimately responsible (https://www.tvguide.com/news/criminal-minds-cuts-8205/) for firing Valerie Harper from the series (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-282626.html). Although others have said (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/julie-chen-moonves-claims-the-talk-forced-her-out-i-felt-robbed-article.1184584/#post-32909024) that it couldn't have been Moonves since he wasn't really (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/YMMV/TheHoganFamily) the head of the studio at the time (https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/julie-chen-moonves-claims-the-talk-forced-her-out-i-felt-robbed-article.1184584/#post-32909612).

Why did ‘Valerie’ become ‘The Hogan Family’? Inside the legal battle that changed the show (https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/why-did-valerie-become-the-hogan-family-inside-the-legal-battle-that-changed-the-show/ar-AA1ZJhgF?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=69cb2227be024c3392a8e17109402790&ei=25)

Lorimar Telepictures fired and then sued Valerie Harper.

In the summer of 1987, Harper and Tony Cacciotti, her husband and business manager, reached an impasse with Lorimar over the money she was earning from the show. Amid the disagreement, the couple moved out of their offices on the Lorimar lot, and Harper missed the filming of Valerie’s Season 3 premiere, according to the Los Angeles Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-19-ca-1680-story.html).

Harper later returned to set to film the next episode, but Lorimar then fired her and made plans to replace her with actor Sandy Duncan. On screen, Valerie Hogan died in an accident, and sister-in-law Sandy Hogan, played by Duncan, moved in to become the boys’ new caretaker.

Lorimar later filed a breach-of-contract suit against Harper for $70 million, claiming she had displayed erratic behavior, made unreasonable demands, and threatened to quit the show. And Harper filed a breach-of-contract suit against Lorimar and NBC, arguing she was ready, willing, and able to continue starring in the sitcom.

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L.A. Superior Court sided with Harper in the dispute, awarding her $1.8 million plus profit money.

In September 1988, following five weeks of testimony, the Los Angeles Superior Court awarded Harper $1.4 million in compensatory damages and a profit share that was worth as much as $15 million, per the Times. A jury had decided that Lorimar treated her with “oppression and malice,” as People (https://web.archive.org/web/20090604144409/https://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20100076,00.html) reported at the time.

Donald Engel, an attorney for Lorimar, told People that Harper’s testimony endeared her to the jury. “We felt we had a strong case that her disruptive behavior was sufficient grounds for terminating her. We felt she walked out on us.” Engel said. “The guy in charge [of the jury] was a postal worker. I don’t think anybody on the jury was anything but an employee in their entire lives. They’re going to be sympathetic to an employee, and particularly one who is famous. When [the jurors] were discharged, they ran to get her autograph.”

Despite the loss, Engel claimed Lorimar was “very happy” with the result, saying the production company feared the court would award Harper “the profits plus 10, 25 million bucks.” He claimed Harper’s court-ordered award was little more than what Lorimar offered her in settlement negotiations, but Barry Langberg, an attorney for the actor, told People that Lorimar’s settlement offer “wasn’t 1/100th” the amount Harper got.

The money wasn’t as important to Harper as her reputation.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times 24 hours after the court decision, Harper was celebrating her legal triumph. “My major plan, desire, wish was that the truth of the situation be exposed and be exposed broadly,” she said. “There were so many half-truths and out-and-out untruths about me, my performing, about my stability as a person, my psychological state. It’s so nice to see ‘wrongfully fired’ after all I’ve seen is ‘fired, fired, fired.’”

Harper told the Times she cared less about the money than about the perception of her, after Lorimar claimed to have worried she was verging on nervous breakdown on the Valerie set. “Things in print have a great deal of power,” she said. “Only time will tell [if there has been any permanent damage to her career]. There are probably people who still believe that here is a greedy actress who quit her show. … It’s good copy, a hysterical woman — particularly with the sexism that’s rampant out there.”

Harper went on to make dozens of guest-starring TV appearances on shows like Melrose Place, Sex and the City, That ’70s Show, Desperate Housewives, and 2 Broke Girls. She also returned to Broadway and earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the play Looped. She died at age 80 in 2019.