Would Eve Arden have made a good Mrs. Howell?

Would Eve Arden have made a good Mrs. Howell?

As I understand the role to have originally been conceived, very likely. But Natalie turned it into a more screwball comedy part, which worked so well. No offense to Eve, whom I love so well as Our Miss Brooks.:talk:

Eve would have, but Natalie did nail it.

The show's budget was already tight and Eve Arden would have commanded a much higher salary than Natalie, in other words, no way, no how.

OK, this performer may have busted the budget but if they somehow raised the funds, why not Ann Sothern who could do both a high-toned delivery as well as a broader one? Also, she was not above doing stunts which Miss Schafer was also surprisingly good at considering her (hidden) age at the time.

Of course, if they thought of having Mrs. Howell not having been born with a silver spoon, perhaps they could have used the most famous voice of Betty Boop (and Olive Oyl) Mae Questel! Mr. Magoo and Betty Boop would have been a good contrast (with him constantly trying to get her to be more elegant and her trying to get him to lighten up).

I always think that Julia Duffy, when she ages will be like Natalie Schafer +-