She's the Sheriff article from St. Petersburg Times (Sept. 27, 1987) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Skywalker · 02-10-2008, 01:14 AM

Suzanne Somers returns in `She's The Sheriff'

LOS ANGELES - Suzanne Somers is back on series television after an absence of six years and, guess what? This time, she ain't playing dumb.

Somers, the quintessential dumb blond on ABC's Three's Company until she departed in a salary dispute in 1981, stars in a new, first-run syndicated comedy series called She's The Sheriff, which airs Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. on WXFL-Ch. 8.

``I'm smart this year,`` Somers says. ``I play a woman sheriff named Hildy Granger. She's appointed to the job when her husband, who had been sheriff, dies suddenly.``

Ironically, Somers replaced Priscilla Barnes in the role before filming began. Barnes was the actress who replaced Somers when she left Three's Company. Barnes ultimately couldn't reach a contract agreement with the producers.

It's the first regular television role for Somers since Three's Company, although she made several pilots that didn't work out. Other than a few specials, a role in the miniseries Hollywood Wives and a few other appearances, she has spent most of her time on her nightclub act.

``For the last six years, when we talked to the networks the phrase they all used was that they wanted a `reality-based comedy with a woman of the '80s,' `` she said. ``I was never sure what that was. I enjoyed playing the dumb blond, and people responded to it so much. So I figured, `Why not stick with it?'

``But now I'm really enjoying this contemporary woman. For the first time, I'm the sane person in the middle with the crazies all around me. Previously, I was one of the crazies. I'm the voice of authority, and those around me are out to lunch. I'm strong and I'm in a job usually held by a man. The deputies are opposed and I have to prove myself. Now I know what a woman of the '80s is.``

Her chief nemesis as sheriff is Deputy Max Rubin, played by George Wyner. He feels he should have the job and is out to sabotage Hildy. Pat Carroll plays Hildy's mother. Taliesin Jaffe and Nicky Rose play her children.

The new show will also offer Somers a chance to do physical comedy. On Three's Company, the pratfalls were adroitly handled by John Ritter.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/...The+Sheriff%27

02-10-2008, 01:14 AM	#1
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,205	She's the Sheriff article from St. Petersburg Times (Sept. 27, 1987) Suzanne Somers returns in `She's The Sheriff' LOS ANGELES - Suzanne Somers is back on series television after an absence of six years and, guess what? This time, she ain't playing dumb. Somers, the quintessential dumb blond on ABC's Three's Company until she departed in a salary dispute in 1981, stars in a new, first-run syndicated comedy series called She's The Sheriff, which airs Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. on WXFL-Ch. 8. ``I'm smart this year,`` Somers says. ``I play a woman sheriff named Hildy Granger. She's appointed to the job when her husband, who had been sheriff, dies suddenly.`` Ironically, Somers replaced Priscilla Barnes in the role before filming began. Barnes was the actress who replaced Somers when she left Three's Company. Barnes ultimately couldn't reach a contract agreement with the producers. It's the first regular television role for Somers since Three's Company, although she made several pilots that didn't work out. Other than a few specials, a role in the miniseries Hollywood Wives and a few other appearances, she has spent most of her time on her nightclub act. ``For the last six years, when we talked to the networks the phrase they all used was that they wanted a `reality-based comedy with a woman of the '80s,' `` she said. ``I was never sure what that was. I enjoyed playing the dumb blond, and people responded to it so much. So I figured, `Why not stick with it?' ``But now I'm really enjoying this contemporary woman. For the first time, I'm the sane person in the middle with the crazies all around me. Previously, I was one of the crazies. I'm the voice of authority, and those around me are out to lunch. I'm strong and I'm in a job usually held by a man. The deputies are opposed and I have to prove myself. Now I know what a woman of the '80s is.`` Her chief nemesis as sheriff is Deputy Max Rubin, played by George Wyner. He feels he should have the job and is out to sabotage Hildy. Pat Carroll plays Hildy's mother. Taliesin Jaffe and Nicky Rose play her children. The new show will also offer Somers a chance to do physical comedy. On Three's Company, the pratfalls were adroitly handled by John Ritter. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/...The+Sheriff%27