Charlotte's contract

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Charlotte Rae had a note in her contract that allowed her to return on DS if FOL was not renewed. FOL was renewed for a second season but the network still didn't have much hope. Norman Fell and Audra Lindley (the Ropers) also had a clause that allowed them to return on Three's Company for the first year, was the same thing for Charlotte? Could she return on DS after a year or even if FOL was canceled with the fifth season, for example? I believe the note was canceled at the beginning of the fourth season, when FOL was established as a hit show (because the third season had good ratings) and DS had Mary Jo Catlett (Pearl) in the cast. I also think that Nedra Volz (Adelaide) was only a temporary housekeeper

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Charlotte Rae had a note in her contract that allowed her to return on DS if FOL was not renewed. FOL was renewed for a second season but the network still didn't have much hope. Norman Fell and Audra Lindley (the Ropers) also had a clause that allowed them to return on Three's Company for the first year, was the same thing for Charlotte? Could she return on DS after a year or even if FOL was canceled with the fifth season, for example? I believe the note was canceled at the beginning of the fourth season, when FOL was established as a hit show (because the third season had good ratings) and DS had Mary Jo Catlett (Pearl) in the cast. I also think that Nedra Volz (Adelaide) was only a temporary housekeeper

Good point about the Roper contract. Norman Fell and Audra Lindley got screwed on that Three's Company contract.

I agree that Adelaide was temporary: she never even got to be in the opening credits, unlike the first and third housekeepers.

I don't know that Charlotte's contract resembled Fell's/Lindley's. I would hope not. I want to imagine FOL's producers being nicer than TC's producers, who were notorious for not treating their talent very well.

['80sSitcoms]

Yes, according to Charlotte, that was an open promise to return to DS if FOL didn't work out (she mentions this in her interview on the Emmy TV Legends website). She says something like, "Can you imagine anything like that today?" She considered it a wonderful gift.

I wonder how things worked out with Nedra Volz. I personally think it was very unfair for her name never to get in the opening credits. What did they do, tell her they needed a new housekeeper, but "we're not sure about you, so we'll see how things go" ?

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes, according to Charlotte, that was an open promise to return to DS if FOL didn't work out (she mentions this in her interview on the Emmy TV Legends website). She says something like, "Can you imagine anything like that today?" She considered it a wonderful gift.

I wonder how things worked out with Nedra Volz. I personally think it was very unfair for her name never to get in the opening credits. What did they do, tell her they needed a new housekeeper, but "we're not sure about you, so we'll see how things go" ?

Kinda like Cindy Snow on Threes Company. Just a temporary replacement for a departing original cast member until a full replacement is found.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Kinda like Cindy Snow on Threes Company. Just a temporary replacement for a departing original cast member until a full replacement is found.

Definitely some similarities there. But Jennilee was actually added to the opening credits, while Adelaide was not.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Definitely some similarities there. But Jennilee was actually added to the opening credits, while Adelaide was not.

Yes she was, but not until Priscilla was already added and Jenilee was just a side character.

[RetroGuy2000]

True. That was... kinda odd, in retrospect.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

True. That was... kinda odd, in retrospect.

Very. Im glad they gave her an extra season though.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Very. Im glad they gave her an extra season though.

Same. One of the few times I've felt like the producers of Three's Company did the right thing by one of their actors.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Same. One of the few times I've felt like the producers of Three's Company did the right thing by one of their actors.

Yeah. Too bad it didnt last long