David Leisure's Character - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bandonurse · 03-17-2016, 02:40 PM

Has anyone heard any explanation as to why David Leisure's character name (Oliver) on Golden Girls was changed to "Charlie Dietz" on Empty Nest?

He was only on one episode of GG, which was ironically named "Empty Nest". It was the one that Rita Moreno was on, and she clearly called him "Oliver". He was a nearby neighbor to the GG.

Once Empty Nest started, he played the same nearby neighbor, same obnoxious personality, but they called him Charlie.

TV Tan · 03-18-2016, 06:10 AM

That episode of Golden Girls, was the original concept of Empty Nest. (and initial pilot)

"Capitalizing on the popularity of her hit series The Golden Girls, creator Susan Harris decided to develop a companion piece set just down the street from the girls and centering around the empty nest syndrome, an idea never touched on before in the plot of a weekly series."

But the reviews from that episode were terrible, so the concept (and cast) got an overhaul.
Oliver was a pilot in that episode. I guess making him a ship purser fit him better as a neighbor who mooches. Who knows?

bandonurse · 03-18-2016, 02:25 PM

Thanks so much for your response, TV Tan

TV Tan · 03-18-2016, 07:57 PM

No problem, bandonurse

03-17-2016, 02:40 PM	#1
bandonurse Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2015 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 1,082	David Leisure's Character Has anyone heard any explanation as to why David Leisure's character name (Oliver) on Golden Girls was changed to "Charlie Dietz" on Empty Nest? He was only on one episode of GG, which was ironically named "Empty Nest". It was the one that Rita Moreno was on, and she clearly called him "Oliver". He was a nearby neighbor to the GG. Once Empty Nest started, he played the same nearby neighbor, same obnoxious personality, but they called him Charlie.

03-18-2016, 06:10 AM	#2
TV Tan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2016 Posts: 44	That episode of Golden Girls, was the original concept of Empty Nest. (and initial pilot) "Capitalizing on the popularity of her hit series The Golden Girls, creator Susan Harris decided to develop a companion piece set just down the street from the girls and centering around the empty nest syndrome, an idea never touched on before in the plot of a weekly series." But the reviews from that episode were terrible, so the concept (and cast) got an overhaul. Oliver was a pilot in that episode. I guess making him a ship purser fit him better as a neighbor who mooches. Who knows?

03-18-2016, 02:25 PM	#3
bandonurse Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2015 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 1,082	Thanks so much for your response, TV Tan

03-18-2016, 07:57 PM	#4
TV Tan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2016 Posts: 44	No problem, bandonurse