It seems like she is too mature after having her child to play a carefree college teenager.

She is trying too hard. Just my opinion.

I never realized until researching background for this thread, that she was Phil Donohue's sister. So thanks for starting this thread!!

As it pertains specifically to the point you raise...yes I've frequently found it challenging to accept a character cast with an actor/actress who in real life is much older than the part they are playing.

90210 was particularly bad at this. IMO

What source says that? I've never heard that before (Phil Donahue). Nothing matches up with place of birth or parents on Wikipedia.

As to this thread, yes, there is no similarity between season 1 ditzy high school junior Betty and season 5 serious college junior Betty.

What source says that? I've never heard that before (Phil Donahue).

.


https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/phil-donahue-show-thedonahue/

Read down to the heading "Trivia"

Actually several different sites mentioned this.....so much so that the google search "list boxes" (the area with the arrow tabs where you can get info fast) was the first mention I saw of it, but the above link is easier to provide.

I see what you mean though about Wikipedia,...perhaps the first source is lying?

https://marriedbiography.com/phil-donahue-biography/#Phil_Donahue_Age_Parents_Siblings_Family_Ethnicity

Or they're joking. They're born two years apart, Elinor in Tacoma, WA, and Phil in Cleveland.

https://marriedbiography.com/elinor-donahue-biography/#Elinor_Donahue_Age_Parents_Siblings_Family_Nationality_Ethnicity

From her info. it appears to be unknown whether she has any siblings. But all his siblings appear to be known.