Reason why Mary Louise Wilson was fired - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MikeLutton · 07-16-2008, 04:54 AM

i heard rumor why ginnie mary louies wilson was fired was bonnie was mad about her being there from day one and taking spotlight from her she had her fired i read this on u tube it had come from somewhere just giving my opioin that all

Bonnie Franklin hated Mary Louise Wilson from the day she was hired, accusing her of trying to steal the spotlight. Ol'Bonnie raised so much hell that the producers finally gave in and fired Wilson

got more info here from imdb

The most entertaining aspect of this show was the addition of Mary Louise Wilson as the feisty, mature "sex symbol", cocktail waitress, & neighbor Ginny Wroblicki. Unfortunately, this character only stayed around one season ('76-'77). She was absolutely the BEST thing EVER about this sitcom! It was rumored that (inadequate) Franklin had her fired because she felt Wilson was upstaging her in their scenes together. The most annoying aspect about this show was the addition of Glenn Scarpelli as Alex Handris, who stayed around way too long ('80-'83)! With his big, greasy, pimply nose, awful acting & effeminate gestures his scenes were torturous to watch. Valerie Bertinelli's "cutesy-poo" persona was grating, but dorky Mackenzie Phillips was believable as an "every teenager" with her homely gawkiness. Bonnie Franklin is an awful actress & was totally unbelievable as an Italian-American, hence the Romano of her maiden name. She looked insane running to answer the door, with that big, Jack-O-Lantern head of her's. Schneider was the necessary buffoon needed for comic relief, but I never thought he was funny in any way. All in all, this was a good, ground-breaking show that dealt with the issues of it's day. (Norman Lear had a handle on this, in his heyday).

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more info case u need some this so unbelievable

I've read that the reason's why most dropped characters from ODAAT or most notably, Ginny Wrobliki was written out was becasue:

1. She collided/stole scenes with Bonnie Franklin's character "Ann" too much..and that Franklin objected strongly, and thus Wroblicki's character was gone after the 1977 season. And it was well known at the time that Franklin called many of the shots, and NOTHING was ever granted or done without her tacit approval.

2. The producers felt that they had enough topic's to discuss without having her there. And really they did. I never missed any of the ones dropped like Wrobliki, Kane or even the doofy dad that was on alot. Grandma Romano, Nanette Fabray was the star of the also rans on this show.

3. A third option was that the ratings went down on the episodes when she aired. It was just beginning to be okay to be on television and be a "percieved" divorcee'; or anything out of context of the late 1970's.. but it was entirely another to be an ex-hooker at that point. It would be another decade or so before a character like that would be accepted.

4. The producers and writers wanted to focus on the main characters, much like Facs of Life having WAY too many kids it's first season. It like ODAAT was honed down to perfection by the second season...and those dropped returned only in name, passing or as a cameo.

In fact for the MANY episodes that I taped from E television about five /six years ago...after the 77-78 seasons...she was never mentioned again...EVER!!! that's harsh if you ask me.

I have the semi-complete 1978-1979-1980-81-82 and the last episodes of 1983 on VHS. I also have a FEW of the earlier shows as well from 1976-77 about 135 in all....

Not on any local stations or cable networks here in Michigan as of now which sucks BAD!!!

http://poll.imdb.com/title/tt0072554...7&p=1#30812837

Nighthawk76 · 08-03-2008, 10:40 PM

The character of Ginny had some memorable moments, but at the end of the season, I just don't think there was anything more the writers and producers could do with her.

ThomasE · 08-24-2008, 10:12 AM

SHe definitely rocked. I loved her and wondered what in the world happened to her when the third season came around. I wished that she had come back.

Brian Damage · 08-24-2008, 12:42 PM

She did have a purpose, she was being groomed as a love interest for Schneider.

Pug Lover · 03-12-2012, 09:08 PM

Yeah I thought Ginny was cool.
I always found it wierd how she was dismissed from the series after her first season on the show.It was as if she never even existed.She was the only character on that show to have left without a trace or explanation.

Kasey · 08-11-2012, 11:03 AM

Ms. Wilson's debut on ODAAT was so strong and memorable (she blew in like a hurricane) but I think the writers made a mistake of closing her first episode with that handshake between her and Ann solidifying them as friends. It may have been better to have them be "frenemies" such as Mary and Sondra were on 227, or that Rhonda chick on Laverne & Shirley--more comic potential there. I was only eight years old at the time but I remembered being crushed when Ginny was nowhere to be seen in the S3 opening credits.

McGillicuddy · 08-12-2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pug Lover

Yeah I thought Ginny was cool.
I always found it wierd how she was dismissed from the series after her first season on the show.It was as if she never even existed.She was the only character on that show to have left without a trace or explanation.

I never saw or heard of the actress ever again, either.

howilu · 08-22-2012, 04:43 PM

The writers probably ran out of situations for Ginny or that she disrupted the chemistry of the regular cast. Or she might have been let go for financial reasons to make room for Glenn Scarpelli.

Retro4Life · 08-22-2012, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

The writers probably ran out of situations for Ginny or that she disrupted the chemistry of the regular cast. Or she might have been let go for financial reasons to make room for Glenn Scarpelli.

"...to make room for Glenn Scarpelli"...

That's a chilling thought. Truly chilling.

Anna Karenina · 06-22-2017, 11:44 PM

Because she was the TV watching equivalent of chewing tin foil?

RetroTVNitekatt · 06-23-2017, 04:15 PM

Right idea - wrong character - Ginny was a world-wise gal who became friends with this small-town girl still finding her feet in the big city, with the secondary possibility of a love interest for Dwayne.

A Different actress playing it differently might have stayed on longer, but the plain fact is she did take focus away from Ann and had several centric episodes. She would have worked better as a supporting character rather than a more central character.

There's a reason Shelly as Francine works - they did it slowly - an episode here and there each season, then a few more, then a regular, then the last season cut back (but still getting a "Also/Guest Starring Credit) to 5 episodes due to the larger cast and less focus on the Agency.

She made a single appearance in each of her first 3 seasons (4-6), 6 appearances in her 4th season on the show, (The year she "replaced" Ron Rifkin - Season 7), 14 episodes in Season 8 (including 1 carried from Season 7 due to being held for the pending writers strike), and 5 in Season 9 (Which were all after Mac was Fired/Quit)

She's only a "regular" for one season, the rest are guest or reoccurring. She only did 26 episodes between 1978-1984. She was a perfect foil/friend for Ann and didn't overshadow Bonnie.

Anna Karenina · 06-23-2017, 09:18 PM

Exactly!

They should have worked Ginny in slowly like they did with Francine.

She grated on my nerves with her awful cocktail waitress uniform and her careless mothering and her mannish demeanor. She was however a helluva singer and I enjoyed her in the NYE episode with her darling Mr. Wonderful performance.

Francine on the other hand was on just enough. Loved her beauty and her spunk.

The last episode where Ann unloads the firm all of a sudden onto her was so unfair to her though.

Alex Cooper · 06-25-2017, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

The writers probably ran out of situations for Ginny or that she disrupted the chemistry of the regular cast. Or she might have been let go for financial reasons to make room for Glenn Scarpelli.

Since Ginny was in season 2, and Glenn didn't enter until season 6, that's highly unlikely. Unless the producers had incredible forethought.

TMC · 07-31-2018, 08:12 PM

Mary Louise Wilson depending on whom you ask, exposed Bonnie Franklin’s weaknesses as a performer, she made Bonnie Franklin look amateurish (without the benefit of possessing impeccable timing and a strong presence) with very limited talent. As a result, Bonnie Franklin promptly banished her and Norman Lear allowed this to happen.

1960'sTVfan · 07-31-2018, 09:58 PM

I've never seen anything wrong with Bonnie Franklin's performances in the show. I wouldn't say that her acting deserved to win awards, but she was fine in the role.

I'm glad Mary Louise Wilson was gone after just the one season, I didn't care much for the Ginny character. She wasn't good looking and acted like a slutty whore, but was a good friend for greasy/slimy maintenance man Schneider, she was the type he would go for.

07-16-2008, 04:54 AM	#1
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,871	Reason why Mary Louise Wilson was fired i heard rumor why ginnie mary louies wilson was fired was bonnie was mad about her being there from day one and taking spotlight from her she had her fired i read this on u tube it had come from somewhere just giving my opioin that all Bonnie Franklin hated Mary Louise Wilson from the day she was hired, accusing her of trying to steal the spotlight. Ol'Bonnie raised so much hell that the producers finally gave in and fired Wilson got more info here from imdb The most entertaining aspect of this show was the addition of Mary Louise Wilson as the feisty, mature "sex symbol", cocktail waitress, & neighbor Ginny Wroblicki. Unfortunately, this character only stayed around one season ('76-'77). She was absolutely the BEST thing EVER about this sitcom! It was rumored that (inadequate) Franklin had her fired because she felt Wilson was upstaging her in their scenes together. The most annoying aspect about this show was the addition of Glenn Scarpelli as Alex Handris, who stayed around way too long ('80-'83)! With his big, greasy, pimply nose, awful acting & effeminate gestures his scenes were torturous to watch. Valerie Bertinelli's "cutesy-poo" persona was grating, but dorky Mackenzie Phillips was believable as an "every teenager" with her homely gawkiness. Bonnie Franklin is an awful actress & was totally unbelievable as an Italian-American, hence the Romano of her maiden name. She looked insane running to answer the door, with that big, Jack-O-Lantern head of her's. Schneider was the necessary buffoon needed for comic relief, but I never thought he was funny in any way. All in all, this was a good, ground-breaking show that dealt with the issues of it's day. (Norman Lear had a handle on this, in his heyday). Was the above comment useful to you? (Report this) more http://poll.imdb.com/title/tt0072554/ more info case u need some this so unbelievable I've read that the reason's why most dropped characters from ODAAT or most notably, Ginny Wrobliki was written out was becasue: 1. She collided/stole scenes with Bonnie Franklin's character "Ann" too much..and that Franklin objected strongly, and thus Wroblicki's character was gone after the 1977 season. And it was well known at the time that Franklin called many of the shots, and NOTHING was ever granted or done without her tacit approval. 2. The producers felt that they had enough topic's to discuss without having her there. And really they did. I never missed any of the ones dropped like Wrobliki, Kane or even the doofy dad that was on alot. Grandma Romano, Nanette Fabray was the star of the also rans on this show. 3. A third option was that the ratings went down on the episodes when she aired. It was just beginning to be okay to be on television and be a "percieved" divorcee'; or anything out of context of the late 1970's.. but it was entirely another to be an ex-hooker at that point. It would be another decade or so before a character like that would be accepted. 4. The producers and writers wanted to focus on the main characters, much like Facs of Life having WAY too many kids it's first season. It like ODAAT was honed down to perfection by the second season...and those dropped returned only in name, passing or as a cameo. In fact for the MANY episodes that I taped from E television about five /six years ago...after the 77-78 seasons...she was never mentioned again...EVER!!! that's harsh if you ask me. I have the semi-complete 1978-1979-1980-81-82 and the last episodes of 1983 on VHS. I also have a FEW of the earlier shows as well from 1976-77 about 135 in all.... Not on any local stations or cable networks here in Michigan as of now which sucks BAD!!! http://poll.imdb.com/title/tt0072554...7&p=1#30812837
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man Last edited by MikeLutton; 07-16-2008 at 05:21 AM.

08-24-2008, 12:42 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	She did have a purpose, she was being groomed as a love interest for Schneider.
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03-12-2012, 09:08 PM	#5
Pug Lover Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 05, 2003 Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 467	Yeah I thought Ginny was cool. I always found it wierd how she was dismissed from the series after her first season on the show.It was as if she never even existed.She was the only character on that show to have left without a trace or explanation.
	__________________ "Well here,s another nice mess you,ve gotten me into."Laurel & Hardy

06-23-2017, 04:15 PM	#11
RetroTVNitekatt Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 09, 2003 Posts: 1,258	Right idea - wrong character - Ginny was a world-wise gal who became friends with this small-town girl still finding her feet in the big city, with the secondary possibility of a love interest for Dwayne. A Different actress playing it differently might have stayed on longer, but the plain fact is she did take focus away from Ann and had several centric episodes. She would have worked better as a supporting character rather than a more central character. There's a reason Shelly as Francine works - they did it slowly - an episode here and there each season, then a few more, then a regular, then the last season cut back (but still getting a "Also/Guest Starring Credit) to 5 episodes due to the larger cast and less focus on the Agency. She made a single appearance in each of her first 3 seasons (4-6), 6 appearances in her 4th season on the show, (The year she "replaced" Ron Rifkin - Season 7), 14 episodes in Season 8 (including 1 carried from Season 7 due to being held for the pending writers strike), and 5 in Season 9 (Which were all after Mac was Fired/Quit) She's only a "regular" for one season, the rest are guest or reoccurring. She only did 26 episodes between 1978-1984. She was a perfect foil/friend for Ann and didn't overshadow Bonnie.
	__________________ Old Cats don't die-they just fall off the TV set!

08-03-2008, 10:40 PM	#2
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,256	The character of Ginny had some memorable moments, but at the end of the season, I just don't think there was anything more the writers and producers could do with her.

08-24-2008, 10:12 AM	#3
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	SHe definitely rocked. I loved her and wondered what in the world happened to her when the third season came around. I wished that she had come back.
	__________________ Check out my my "It's A Living" Facebook Fanpage!!! https://m.facebook.com/groups/107208...&source=result

08-11-2012, 11:03 AM	#6
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	Ms. Wilson's debut on ODAAT was so strong and memorable (she blew in like a hurricane) but I think the writers made a mistake of closing her first episode with that handshake between her and Ann solidifying them as friends. It may have been better to have them be "frenemies" such as Mary and Sondra were on 227, or that Rhonda chick on Laverne & Shirley--more comic potential there. I was only eight years old at the time but I remembered being crushed when Ginny was nowhere to be seen in the S3 opening credits.

08-22-2012, 04:43 PM	#8
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	The writers probably ran out of situations for Ginny or that she disrupted the chemistry of the regular cast. Or she might have been let go for financial reasons to make room for Glenn Scarpelli.

06-22-2017, 11:44 PM	#10
Anna Karenina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 10,086	Because she was the TV watching equivalent of chewing tin foil?

06-23-2017, 09:18 PM	#12
Anna Karenina Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 10,086	Exactly! They should have worked Ginny in slowly like they did with Francine. She grated on my nerves with her awful cocktail waitress uniform and her careless mothering and her mannish demeanor. She was however a helluva singer and I enjoyed her in the NYE episode with her darling Mr. Wonderful performance. Francine on the other hand was on just enough. Loved her beauty and her spunk. The last episode where Ann unloads the firm all of a sudden onto her was so unfair to her though.

07-31-2018, 08:12 PM	#14
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,744	Mary Louise Wilson depending on whom you ask, exposed Bonnie Franklin’s weaknesses as a performer, she made Bonnie Franklin look amateurish (without the benefit of possessing impeccable timing and a strong presence) with very limited talent. As a result, Bonnie Franklin promptly banished her and Norman Lear allowed this to happen.

07-31-2018, 09:58 PM	#15
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,053	I've never seen anything wrong with Bonnie Franklin's performances in the show. I wouldn't say that her acting deserved to win awards, but she was fine in the role. I'm glad Mary Louise Wilson was gone after just the one season, I didn't care much for the Ginny character. She wasn't good looking and acted like a slutty whore, but was a good friend for greasy/slimy maintenance man Schneider, she was the type he would go for.