Kirk Cameron DID NOT get Julie McCullough Fired. Haters Made Up that Lie About Him.

[andress_jade]

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=263704
Steve Marshall WAS a pedophile and pornographer! That behavior is sickening and inexcusable!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by andress_jade

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=263704
Steve Marshall WAS a pedophile and pornographer! That behavior is sickening and inexcusable!

Which has nothing to do with Kirk Cameron calling Dan Guntzelman and Michael Sullivan"pornographers", as you well know.

[Schmo]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That's not how Julie McCullough sees things:

Of course, US is a highly-regarded source of truth.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Schmo

Of course, US is a highly-regarded source of truth.

Lots of other sources state the same thing, including Julie's interview with the E! True Hollywood story.

I wound up doing the twist with Kirk Cameron there in Philadelphia. That’s how I originally met them. Then a couple years go by and I go in to audition for the show and immediately when Kirk Cameron saw me we were happy to see one another. I was auditioning for one role, but Kirk kept saying to the casting director; “The nanny! The nanny!” So, when I got out of there, the casting director pulled me aside and she said “We’re not going to cast you in this role, however we would like you to come back for another role that’s shooting next week and it’s for a character that’s known as the nanny.” I thought it was all great. I went back and auditioned with Kirk and got the part. He was happy I was there, and I was happy he was there- it was fun, and I was set to play his future love interest and the nanny on the show. So, then I did a couple episodes on the show and they were great. Then the holidays and Christmas came that year, and once they past, I came back to work to do another episode and I was now set to be his love interest- but, in the mean time, Kirk had become a born-again Christian and started separating himself slowly but surely from the entire cast, and that’s when it all happened. So, they knew I was a playmate when they hired me on the show, and then I got word when I came back after they had engaged our characters only to find out that I was completely written out of the episode- and they didn’t tell me until I read the script! I was told by the producers at the time that Kirk held the contracts over their heads for the next two seasons. His mother was his agent or manager at the time, and they held the contract up basically saying that they refuse to resign for the last two seasons of the show unless they wrote me off. So, once they wrote me off, Kirk then re-signed for the next two seasons. So, I came in, did the table read, found out that I was written off the show, and then they started celebrating later that afternoon because Kirk had re-signed on for the last two seasons. That’s how it went down. That is the exact story. When I left there I didn’t even know how to feel about acting, because as guest stars you weren’t treated well. So, after that show, my first guest star spot on a was then when I got a role on “The Golden Girls.” I played a character named Mary, their pregnant neighbor whose dad kicked her out and the golden girls took her in. It was just such a different experience. They were the most lovely, amazing female actresses I have ever worked with! They were so amazing! But, everyone was wonderful; the production crew, the director, the producers, everybody was so unbelievably cool, and sweet, and kind, and I had just gone through that whole thing with “Growing Pains” and I was so scared that was really the way shows were, and then I had this blessing as “The Golden Girls” show me the way it’s really supposed to be, so it really just brought back my faith in the acting and entertaining business.

The Orlando Sentinel said much the same:

Teen heartthrob Kirk Cameron, who played Mike Seaver, considered fame to be hollow and found meaning in his Christian faith. Yet he also distanced himself from fellow actors, hurt their feelings and didn't invite them to his wedding to co-star Chelsea Noble.

"Kirk kind of pulled away from all of us in a way that made it very odd suddenly," Kerns says. "We were all really close. Then we weren't."

"He kind of pulled into himself and became much more shy," says Jeremy Miller, who played brother Ben Seaver. "That was hard -- hard watching somebody that you love that much become somebody you really didn't know."

Cameron pushed for changes to make Mike more responsible and demanded script revisions. "It made it an unhappy set and the actors were not happy and the producers were not happy," says executive producer Steve Marshall.

Cameron considered some material on the tame sitcom so racy that he complained to ABC brass that the three executive producers were pornographers. The fed-up producers quit their lucrative jobs.

Vice.com said the same thing:

After all, the de facto leader of this movement, Kirk Cameron, once accused the producers of the 80s family sitcom Growing Pains of being "pornographers" for portraying marriage-less romance.

IMDB.com says the same thing:

Between the 1988-89 season cliffhanger and 1989-90 season premiere, Kirk Cameron had a religious awakening and demanded that Julie McCullough's character of Mike's fiancee be written out of the show because she had appeared in "Playboy" Magazine in the past. Cameron's girlfriend, Chelsea Noble, was then hired to replace her.

[andress_jade]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Lots of other sources state the same thing, including Julie's interview with the E! True Hollywood story.

The Orlando Sentinel said much the same:



Vice.com said the same thing:



IMDB.com says the same thing:

As I've said several times before, Kirk has long since apologized for his behavior back then and it's all water under the bridge now.

I just love how the producers said that Kirk didn't get Julie fired and then turn around and say he did.
He was a stupid, naive kid that did some stupid things but he realizes that now and has long since apologized for his behavior back then. He even did two reunion movies with his former co-stars and they've made up. Kirk was at Alan's funeral and took it hard when he died. He's so on board with Tracey and Jeremy for a reboot of the show. I wish we could just move on past this, it's all old news and is no longer relevant and doesn't affect how I feel about Kirk or the show. Im done talking about it.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Not true. The show went from #13 in the annual Nielsen Ratings in Season 4 to #27 in Season 6.

#27 is still in the overall top 30 and a strong performer compared to most shows. It didn't drop to #75 until moved to Saturday nights for season 7, which a lot of shows would drop if moved there. Regardless of your obsessive hatred for Kirk Cameron, he did not get Julie fired. The producers never intended for her to be a regular. I will repeat what the show-runner and producer said in my first post starting this thread. According to Dan Guntzelman, the head show-runner for Growing Pains: "The truth is, Julie was let go because Mike being in a committed relationship was a dead end-he was, after all, an immature imp who was ill-equipped to deal with a grownup world on all levels. That's where the conflict and comedy came from: The maturity to have and maintain a lasting relationship fought against this...Julie was to play the part of Mike's first serious relationship-the first time he was swept up in something larger than himself, but she was never intended to be his mate for life, even the life of the series."
Producer Mike Sullivan confirms Dan's comments: "It was a guest star role; she wasn't hired as a series regular. There was never any intention of the Mike character being married or in a permanent romantic relationship."

Regardless of whether or not the producers were pornographers, no one can deny that Julie was part of the pornography business. Playboy and other magazines of that ilk are obscene and have no business being sold in any store. And it might not be the case today with all the smut littering TV, but family friendly shows back then would have had morals clauses for the actors that could get you fired. Dana Plato (much more important to Diff'rent Strokes than Julie ever was to Growing Pains) was fired from Diff'rent Strokes because she got pregnant.

I also would take anything E "True" Hollywood Story says about Kirk and Julie with a grain of salt. The Hollywood media has been very prejudiced against Christians for a long time now and will lie about and twist anything to discredit them.

[andress_jade]

Originally Posted by catsrule

#27 is still in the overall top 30 and a strong performer compared to most shows. It didn't drop to #75 until moved to Saturday nights for season 7, which a lot of shows would drop if moved there. Regardless of your obsessive hatred for Kirk Cameron, he did not get Julie fired. The producers never intended for her to be a regular. I will repeat what the show-runner and producer said in my first post starting this thread. According to Dan Guntzelman, the head show-runner for Growing Pains: "The truth is, Julie was let go because Mike being in a committed relationship was a dead end-he was, after all, an immature imp who was ill-equipped to deal with a grownup world on all levels. That's where the conflict and comedy came from: The maturity to have and maintain a lasting relationship fought against this...Julie was to play the part of Mike's first serious relationship-the first time he was swept up in something larger than himself, but she was never intended to be his mate for life, even the life of the series."
Producer Mike Sullivan confirms Dan's comments: "It was a guest star role; she wasn't hired as a series regular. There was never any intention of the Mike character being married or in a permanent romantic relationship."

Regardless of whether or not the producers were pornographers, no one can deny that Julie was part of the pornography business. Playboy and other magazines of that ilk are obscene and have no business being sold in any store. And it might not be the case today with all the smut littering TV, but family friendly shows back then would have had morals clauses for the actors that could get you fired. Dana Plato (much more important to Diff'rent Strokes than Julie ever was to Growing Pains) was fired from Diff'rent Strokes because she got pregnant.

I also would take anything E "True" Hollywood Story says about Kirk and Julie with a grain of salt. The Hollywood media has been very prejudiced against Christians for a long time now and will lie about and twist anything to discredit them.

Well said!
I have a feeling that nobody is going to win this argument, unfortunately.

[Schmo]

Kirk’s sister Candace is also a born-again Christian, but she doesn’t seem to attract the dislike that Kirk does.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Schmo

Kirk’s sister Candace is also a born-again Christian, but she doesn’t seem to attract the dislike that Kirk does.

Candace never called the president of ABC to complain that producers at Full House were being "pornographers" by having her kiss someone who wasn't her boyfriend. Candace never had fellow cast-mates fired because they didn't conform to her own moral standards. Candace never alienated or excluded her castmates because they were of a different religion. Candace never posted on social media about sinners getting what they deserved through the wrath of God.

Candace has continually showed both grace and wisdom, and is such a positive example of what a Christian can be, should aspire to be: a good human being who has a deep faith in the Lord, but who abides by Jesus' teachings not to cast stones and treat others as she would like to be treated.

Her brief time on The View was refreshing: she could espouse a conservative point of view with class, and even attract people to Christianity with her poise and dignity.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by catsrule

#27 is still in the overall top 30 and a strong performer compared to most shows.

I would agree with that, but I was responding to your comment that "The audience drop didn't happen until the final season, when it was moved to Saturdays", which is simply not true. The sixth season was the lowest-rated season until the disastrous seventh season which saw the show shedding even more viewers. But it cannot be serious argued that "Julie's appearances on the show or lack thereof had no bearing on the show whatsoever" when the ratings demonstrate otherwise. Millions of people tuned out, as reflected in the ratings and in comments from long-time viewers on JumpTheShark.com who took the time to write about when they stopped watching:

I have always liked the show, but as soon as Kirk Cameron's character started keeping his nose clean it got boring. I later found out that he found God and became a snob towards the rest of the cast. That was what made the show go to hell (no pun intended). I felt sorry for the live in nanny when she got bounced. Thanks to Mr Cameron. Now I have nothing against religion. I believe that there is a God, but gee I don't need it shoved in my face! Another thing. Kirk's wife. DAMN! Can that woman find a job in Hollywood without tagging along with her husband?!

It went from bad to intolerable when Kirk Cameron started to think this show was written by "pornographers". I'm guessing Kirk doesn't get out much.

When Kirk Cameron went from witty, popular teen idol to a religious fanatic. I honestly think religion is okay, but when taken to the extreme just like drugs or anything else causes major problems. Everyone on the show admitted how hard he was to work with and how he had no sense of humor or fun in his personality. Thicke admitted that Cameron needed to take a "chill pill." "Born Again Christians" are just as sick as those who are deemed insane. They go overboard and do and blame everything on something that can't even be seen by the human eye. Faith is great and all, but changing your whole lifestyle and not doing anything because of your religion can lead to a lifestyle of boredom and extremity. It has been taught that it's always good to have balance. Kirk Cameron is the prime example of this. He went from a fun guy to be around to an arrogent, picky pain in the *ss no one wanted to deal with. The storylines became lame, and soon "Growing Pains" joined the shark infested waters.

He found his Lord and lost himself. So he gets into this power trip where he refuses to do episodes or pouts unless certain people are fired or topics changed.

Regardless of your obsessive hatred for Kirk Cameron

Hold on, Sparky. I'm going to stop you right there. Responding to your comments isn't any more "obsessive" than making the comments in the first place, so cut the BS.

I don't hate Kirk Cameron; I certainly am horrified by what he did to his fellow cast and crew-mates on Growing Pains, and since it's been brought up, it really is okay to discuss it, even though it was many years ago. And yes, he apologized to some people, and yet he's still in denial about what he did to other castmates.

I'm also horrified by your justification for Julie's firing, pointing out that she had, years previously to her appearances on GP, posed for Playboy. I think it's quite difficult to argue that Julie wasn't fired while also arguing that it was okay to fire her because she was immoral for posing in the first place. It can't be both.

[Schmo]

Was Julie McCullough’s acting career ruined by her experience on GP?

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I would agree with that, but I was responding to your comment that "The audience drop didn't happen until the final season, when it was moved to Saturdays", which is simply not true. The sixth season was the lowest-rated season until the disastrous seventh season which saw the show shedding even more viewers. But it cannot be serious argued that "Julie's appearances on the show or lack thereof had no bearing on the show whatsoever" when the ratings demonstrate otherwise. Millions of people tuned out, as reflected in the ratings and in comments from long-time viewers on JumpTheShark.com who took the time to write about when they stopped watching:

Hold on, Sparky. I'm going to stop you right there. Responding to your comments isn't any more "obsessive" than making the comments in the first place, so cut the BS.

I don't hate Kirk Cameron; I certainly am horrified by what he did to his fellow cast and crew-mates on Growing Pains, and since it's been brought up, it really is okay to discuss it, even though it was many years ago. And yes, he apologized to some people, and yet he's still in denial about what he did to other castmates.

I'm also horrified by your justification for Julie's firing, pointing out that she had, years previously to her appearances on GP, posed for Playboy. I think it's quite difficult to argue that Julie wasn't fired while also arguing that it was okay to fire her because she was immoral for posing in the first place. It can't be both.

I agree, if that was the reason for her firing thats really messed up. But other shows around the time did things like that. Lisa Bonet I believe was one.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Candace never called the president of ABC to complain that producers at Full House were being "pornographers" by having her kiss someone who wasn't her boyfriend. Candace never had fellow cast-mates fired because they didn't conform to her own moral standards. Candace never alienated or excluded her castmates because they were of a different religion. Candace never posted on social media about sinners getting what they deserved through the wrath of God.

Candace has continually showed both grace and wisdom, and is such a positive example of what a Christian can be, should aspire to be: a good human being who has a deep faith in the Lord, but who abides by Jesus' teachings not to cast stones and treat others as she would like to be treated.

Her brief time on The View was refreshing: she could espouse a conservative point of view with class, and even attract people to Christianity with her poise and dignity.

True, Candace could've probably reported Bob for all the stuff he did on set. But she knew he never did anything with malicious intent.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I agree, if that was the reason for her firing thats really messed up. But other shows around the time did things like that. Lisa Bonet I believe was one.

True, but with Lisa it was a little different: she appeared nude after getting the role on The Cosby Show, not years earlier.

True, Candace could've probably reported Bob for all the stuff he did on set. But she knew he never did anything with malicious intent.

She's always said Bob and Dave got very "blue" and cursed like sailors. Yet she never tried to get people fired for their "pornographic" mouths.

Originally Posted by Schmo

Was Julie McCullough’s acting career ruined by her experience on GP?

It would have been, I suspect, but the producers of The Golden Girls offered her a role as a young pregnant girl the same year she'd been fired from Growing Pains, and this led to roles on Beverly Hills, 90210, Evening Shade, The Drew Carey Show, etc. She's remained in the business, and now has more credits on IMDB than Kirk.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

True, but with Lisa it was a little different: she appeared nude after getting the role on The Cosby Show, not years earlier.



She's always said Bob and Dave got very "blue" and cursed like sailors. Yet she never tried to get people fired for their "pornographic" mouths.

Ah I wasn't aware Julie had posed before getting the role.

Yes Candace and Kirk are very different.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by catsrule

Julie is bitter, she is lying. The show runner and a producer back Kirk up...

That isn't necessarily so. TV producers often lie to actors on the show to get what they want out of them. While the producers might be thinking that she is temporary, that doesn't mean that they didn't tell her something else to prevent her from looking elsewhere for work and leaving before they were done with her.

Marcia Strassman wanted to leave Welcome Back Kotter because she was on screen for two minutes a week. The entire show took place at the school and she had no part in it. Producer James Komack would tell her fanciful stories about how the focus of the show would change to her and that he was saving her because Gabe Kaplan wanted her fired, which wasn't true.

Originally Posted by rusty spike

He should have left the show if he didn't agree with the writers and producers rather than having a tantrum. Usually when a person changes religions, philosophies or belief systems, the person becomes better (usually noticeable by his/her close friends). That wasn't the case here. It seems that Kirk became some sort of monster who was unrecognizable to people that worked with him.

Funny, but no one ever says that when radical feminists or other liberals "fight for what they believe" on a TV show. They're considered heroes. But if conservatives do it, they're monsters and should leave the show.