Valerie / The Hogan Family Chosen As The WORST Case Of Retooling A Show - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 05-23-2011, 07:45 PM

^ Yes, that was the only episode of the whole series I really enjoyed, and it turned out to be the final one!

But it probably had to be part of the G1980 continuity because if you recall that episode explained the origin of Dr. Zee, who was not present during the original series.

rcbrad · 05-23-2011, 08:51 PM

It appears that V/VF/THF is among 20 shows that were criticized for retooling. I do not think they were in any order as far as the least and most worst of the worst. (I could be wrong though)

I disagree with what was mentioned in the article. The show stayed fairly similar throughout it's run, despite who the female lead was. It was a mixture of comedy and some episodes did tackle serious subjects. The show only lasted 5 seasons, so it still remained fresh. I did not read anything about how the retooling was bad for the show. It sounded more like the author disliking the show throughout it's entire run.

Many of the shows listed in the article were on for an extended time and as the seasons progress there will be changes/retooling.

It seems that the article was more about shows that were retooled in general. In a fair amount of what I read, nothing was mentioned of substance that made a good argument to illustrate how the show went downhill. It's just more of shows running their course.

Schmoopie · 05-23-2011, 09:52 PM

I really liked The Hogan Family. In fact one of my favorite episodes (well, in all honesty the only one I can really remember) was on The Hogan Family instead of Valerie or Valerie's Family. I always thought Valerie's Family was such a stupid name because didn't her character die?

Marvo301 · 05-23-2011, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I really liked The Hogan Family. In fact one of my favorite episodes (well, in all honesty the only one I can really remember) was on The Hogan Family instead of Valerie or Valerie's Family. I always thought Valerie's Family was such a stupid name because didn't her character die?

Yes her character died. But her husband and sons can still legitimately be referred to as her family even in that case. Besides they were trying to maintain a link with the original name of the series (Valerie).

Sonny Carson · 03-12-2012, 09:44 PM

Actually I'm not gonna lie the show was still good as The Hogan Family but it was better as Valarie. The Valarie episodes were actually more realistic.

McGillicuddy · 03-12-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I agree, Sonny. Though I wonder why they kept using Valerie's name once she was no longer on it. They should've called it The Hogan Family as soon as Valerie Harper was off the program.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was called Valerie's Family during the legal proceedings against Ms. Harper. (Maybe there was a chance she would return).

Once that was all over, is when the name became The Hogan Family.

catlover79 · 03-15-2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was called Valerie's Family during the legal proceedings against Ms. Harper. (Maybe there was a chance she would return).

Once that was all over, is when the name became The Hogan Family.

Hmmm...

Mr. Television · 03-15-2012, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was called Valerie's Family during the legal proceedings against Ms. Harper. (Maybe there was a chance she would return).

Once that was all over, is when the name became The Hogan Family.

No she was never coming back. They killed off her character. Ms. Harper wanted the name changed. She claimed the name Valerie was named after her while the producers claimed it was named after her character which is why they used the name Valerie's Family. I think they finally changed it to the Hogan Family so people would forget about Valerie once and for all. I don't think Valerie Hogan was hardly mentioned after the name change.

catlover79 · 03-15-2012, 05:46 PM

What exactly went down between Valerie and the producers? I still don't get it.

Mr. Television · 03-15-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

What exactly went down between Valerie and the producers? I still don't get it.

I don't really get it either. All I remember was it was about money and power over the show. The producers won by forcing her out but Valerie did win her lawsuit against them.

McGillicuddy · 03-15-2012, 06:58 PM

Well, the good thing is that Valerie of Valerie/Valerie's Family is long forgotten. Valerie Harper is forever immortilized as our beloved Rhoda!!

But did this damage her career?

70s show watcher · 03-15-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

To me the worst case of retooling a show was Gimme a Break! After the death of Chief Kiniski his daughters were dropped from the show and Nell and Joey and a few assorted friends moved to New York. It became a completely different show. Gimme a Break!!!!

i know it was one of my cant miss shows during the first 5 years but the last season was not very funny the harry the hamster ep in season 6 was a pure jump the shark moment if ever there was one

catlover79 · 03-15-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Well, the good thing is that Valerie of Valerie/Valerie's Family is long forgotten. Valerie Harper is forever immortilized as our beloved Rhoda!!

But did this damage her career?

I don't really know, because she had a couple of failed pilots in between Rhoda and Valerie, and afterwards she had a failed sitcom in City and the Mary & Rhoda reunion movie failed to materialize as a new series. I think that was when she started focusing more on made for TV movies and the theater.

megamanj2004 · 03-17-2012, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

What exactly went down between Valerie and the producers? I still don't get it.

What happened was that Miller-Boyett, the producers of Valerie wanted to make the show to be more slapstick, along the lines of another M-B sitcom in Perfect Strangers on ABC, which debuted about 24-25 days after Valerie premiered. Valerie, along with husband and co-producer Tony Cacciotti objected to this decision. So when tension and disagreements rose, M-B forced Valerie, along with Cacciotti off the show, which eventually led to the lawsuits and Valerie and Cacciotti winning their case, which later led to the title and name changes.

And I agree with what Sonny Carson said about the show.

JR1 · 05-20-2012, 04:00 PM

I didn't enjoy the show as much without Valerie Harper. I imagine it kept her name in the title to avoid fan confusion?

05-23-2011, 07:45 PM	#16
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	^ Yes, that was the only episode of the whole series I really enjoyed, and it turned out to be the final one! But it probably had to be part of the G1980 continuity because if you recall that episode explained the origin of Dr. Zee, who was not present during the original series.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-23-2011, 09:52 PM	#18
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I really liked The Hogan Family. In fact one of my favorite episodes (well, in all honesty the only one I can really remember) was on The Hogan Family instead of Valerie or Valerie's Family. I always thought Valerie's Family was such a stupid name because didn't her character die?
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

05-23-2011, 08:51 PM	#17
rcbrad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Posts: 479	It appears that V/VF/THF is among 20 shows that were criticized for retooling. I do not think they were in any order as far as the least and most worst of the worst. (I could be wrong though) I disagree with what was mentioned in the article. The show stayed fairly similar throughout it's run, despite who the female lead was. It was a mixture of comedy and some episodes did tackle serious subjects. The show only lasted 5 seasons, so it still remained fresh. I did not read anything about how the retooling was bad for the show. It sounded more like the author disliking the show throughout it's entire run. Many of the shows listed in the article were on for an extended time and as the seasons progress there will be changes/retooling. It seems that the article was more about shows that were retooled in general. In a fair amount of what I read, nothing was mentioned of substance that made a good argument to illustrate how the show went downhill. It's just more of shows running their course.

03-12-2012, 09:44 PM	#20
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	Actually I'm not gonna lie the show was still good as The Hogan Family but it was better as Valarie. The Valarie episodes were actually more realistic.

03-15-2012, 05:46 PM	#24
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	What exactly went down between Valerie and the producers? I still don't get it.

03-15-2012, 06:58 PM	#26
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Well, the good thing is that Valerie of Valerie/Valerie's Family is long forgotten. Valerie Harper is forever immortilized as our beloved Rhoda!! But did this damage her career?

05-20-2012, 04:00 PM	#30
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	I didn't enjoy the show as much without Valerie Harper. I imagine it kept her name in the title to avoid fan confusion?