hi everyone...i was just wondering if anyone knows how the order of the opening credits was decided. i mean, they have andy listed before jo, and she's been on the show longer than him. they also put who she plays under her real name. why is that? i was just wondering. if anyone knows, please tell. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif thanx!!

I have no clue why but I thought that was really weird too!

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See ya~The T
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Jo: Well I'm startin.

Nat: Where'd ya get the beer?

Jo: I got the beer. Here's to all who wish me well, all the rest can go to.......Jersey.
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She might have in in her contract that her name goes last in the opening song. Charlotte Rae was initially the centerpiece of the show so her name was first(and then later on established actress Cloris Leachman)...starring..Charlotte Rae...Lisa Whelchel...etc.

Nancy McKeon is listed as 'And Nancy McKeon as Jo'. To me that means she is probably the most popular amongst the other castmates after the star, Charlotte Rae, and probably made the most money per episode behind Charlotte Rae.

As an example look at Melrose Place. Even though I rarely watched it I remember that Heather Locklear was always introduced last in the opening theme song and she was certainly the most popular character that brought up the ratings and she probably made the most money.

That's weird.........

That's weird.........

That's weird.........

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Jo:You can take the girl out of the Bronx, but you can't take the Bronx out of the girl.

sorry I posted 3 times

That's what I thought too, and the 'as Jo' thing just works better. It's not like she was the least best, but sitcoms and shows always do that 'and introducing..' thing usually for the most popular character.

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"It was just like Saturday Night Fever, except it was a Friday."

I remember hearing that Nancy received the most fan mail...so I agree with that theory.

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*Jo and Blair rule!*

Nat: Look Jo if you don't get this scholarship you're gonna be back in the BRONX running around with the little pueblos!
Jo: Young Diablos!

BLAIR: Take them off JO!! I dont want to fail!
Jo: will you read my editorial?
Blair: YES!
JO: You PROMISE?
Blair: YES!!
JO: You SWEAR??
Blair: YESS!!!
Jo: i dont believe you (Ducks back under desk with a grin)

(Blair, Tootie and Jo laughing at Natalie)
Natalie: What?
(Continue to laugh)
Natalie: What?!
(Takes off her hat and looks at it)
Natalie: Oh good! Good!! I’m loosin’ a bolt! I’m working half wattage here!!

***Every Jo needs a Blair!***

Nat: A flash back within a flashback....! I'm so brilliant it scares me!

thanx guys!! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

Jo may have been the most character, but whoever it was who said she made the most money after Charlotte Rae is wrong. Nancy missed the shooting for the first two episodes of the sixth season because she was trying to get more money because she was making the least amount of everybody. And her name was last way before the sixth season. Anyway, I don't know why Nancy McKeon in particular was last, but most shows say "and so-and-so as so-and-so" Take Happy Days. Tom Bosley was the last person credited throughout the entire frun of HD (possibly excluding the first season, I don't remember), and it always said "and Tom Bosley as Howard" New characters were added to the opening credits, like Chachi and Ralph and Al, but he was always last. Anyway, I think it's just that most shows put the same person last throughout the entire run, even when new, smaller characters are added.

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"Well, Laverne is sort of childish" -Shirley

"Childish? Childish? Coming from a grown woman who throws tea parties for her stuffed cat!" -Laverne

"Well at least I don't sew L's on everything I wear!" -Shirley

"Well that would be pretty stupid considering your name's Shirley!" -Laverne

On Gilligan's Island it says:

Starring
Bob Denver

Alan Hale

Also Starring:
Jim Backus
as Thurston Howell III

And
Natalie Schafer

Tina Louise
as Ginger

With
Rusell Johnson

Dawn Wells


So, maybe some actors WANTED it to say "as: so-and-so"
The reason Dawn and Russ were last because in the first season their contracts didn't say they were going to be credited up front with the rest of the cast, and the reason why it's "The Professor and Mary Ann" is because they tried "Mary Ann and the Professor" and it didn't sound right.

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Love, Kati... a.k.a. - The Professor's Little Girl
***********
"Skipper, you are standing on your head, aren't you?" - Professor
"Of course I am, Professor" - Skipper
"Oh good. For a minute I thought I was working too hard." - Professor
***********
Lavenny Land (http://www.laverneandshirley.cjb.net)
&
ThreeHourTour.cjb.net (http://www.threehourtour.cjb.net)

Nancy's name always came in last in seasons 2-5 because she was a newer cast member than Charlotte, Lisa, Kim and Mindy. But by the 4th season or so, they could've bumped her to right behind Blair. Just like when Happy Days first started, The Fonz was a "co-starring" role whose name was only seen at end credits, and then moved up to about 5th place in the second season, then from the third seasons till Ron Howard left he was second bill, and when Ron left till the end, he was THE star.

I never understood why Cloris took over in Charlotte's position as the "main star". She should've been either right above or below Andy, and let Lisa Whelchel get top-billing. Because Lisa and Nancy had more lines an episode than Cloris would in a half-season, LOL!!!

Examples I can think of where either the main star or a major character got the "and" or just getting last bill during movies and TV shows...

Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple. Can anyone deny that she was not THE star and main character?

David Spade on Just Shoot Me. He always gets the "and...", but it is obvious he is the most popular character and actor on the show.

Sean Hayes on Will And Grace. Jack is definately more popular than Will, and gets equal airtime, and usually more than Grace also.

If I was Cloris Leachman, I would just accept the First billing status and chill whether I had fewer lines or not. She got the first billing because she was replacing Charlotte Rae.

Yeah I think you guys are right about the nancy mckeon thing bein last billed. She was a later comin character yet she was (I think) the most popular. It's like on the partridge family (HATE that show) where they bill that one dude last and say "And starring bla bla bla, as bla!" or on happy days they have "Tom Bosley as Howard" ya know cause he got paid more to be on it and stuff, but he was billed last. I think it is best to be billed first or last. (Unless it's like in a movie, like it's better to be closest to the top). Anyway you guys dig I'm sure.

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See ya~The T
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Jo: Well I'm startin.

Nat: Where'd ya get the beer?

Jo: I got the beer. Here's to all who wish me well, all the rest can go to.......Jersey.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^