Who would have been a better replacement for Mrs. G? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 02-06-2002, 10:32 PM

Seeing that most everyone is of the opinion that Cloris Leachman ("Beverly Ann") blew Tender Chunks, who would you like to have seen replace Mrs. Garrett's character? I think they put Cloris Leachman in because she was a veteran sitcom actress. BTW, has anyone seen "Young Frankenstein"? She played Frau Blucher. (I personally like Cloris Leachman and Beverly Ann. But then I'm prejudiced, because I saw the tapings with her in them.)

MrsGarrettRocksMySocks · 02-06-2002, 10:36 PM

hmmm.....nope..it can't and couldn't have been done, I mean, if you're saying better, than no..........(of course, I also think it SHOULDn'T have been done, but hey , MO!!) Anyway, I think that if they "HAD TO" replace Mrs. G, bringing in her totally annoying and totally naive sister, was a good choice, because with Beverly Ann, I have come to think that, They knew they couldn't replace Mrs. G, so why not bring in a character that was almost totally the opposite, then it doesnt' even LOOK like you're trying to replace her.

boechsner · 02-06-2002, 11:36 PM

Mrs. Garrett was one of a kind. No one could have or should have taken her place. Nothing against, Cloris Leachman, but her character was not needed, as well as the characters of Andy, Pippa, Kevin, Kelly and George. It comes down to the same old thing, if it's not broken, don't fix it.

Warm & Fuzzy · 02-06-2002, 11:40 PM

I liked Beverly Ann... But if I were to choose, of course, it would be me.

I wasn't born until 1988, though.

ks · 02-07-2002, 07:43 PM

Mrs. G is irreplacable.

However, I did not have a problem with Cloris Leachman. I think she is an amazing actress with the ability to make everyone smile. It's the character of Beverley Ann I wasn't too keen on at times. She was funny and some of her blonde moments had me laughing so hard it hurt, but I didn't see why the girls would need someone to stay with at that time. It just seemed she was an unecessary character-she had her moments though:

To paraphrase:

Bev Ann: Let's see it's tomorrow in Africa now so if I wanted to talk to Edna today I should have called her yesterday...

Bev certainly had her moments

ks

ABlairican Pie · 02-07-2002, 08:03 PM

Actually, I LIKE Cloris Leachman!! She's fun, sexy, deliciously slender, a great sense of humor!! At least *some of us guys* think so!!

I wonder how she feels about "older" men??
"Blair may be fair, but Beverly Ann--OH MAN!!"
She's definitely with it with that punk rock 'do...

Kay Scarpetta · 02-07-2002, 09:41 PM

Don't get me wrong- Beverly Ann may have been as funny as hell, but she wasn't needed. They were all what, 20? Tootie may have been young but she could take care of herself. Bev never gave good advice either. Mrs. G was one-of-a-kind

ABlairican Pie · 02-07-2002, 10:45 PM

You're right, they were all in their twenties, and certainly didn't need a housemother at this stage. Remember in the one episode
(forgot which season, 6?) where Blair was acting crazy with so many boyfriends that Mrs. G had to ground her, and then when they found out the reason (she had broken up with Cliff and felt lost), Mrs. G revoked her punishment and said Blair was responsible for herself. So the whole thing about Beverly Ann was just some sort of comic relief--unless they wanted to have an older person to chew the fat with--and perhaps the other reason was to make Beverly Ann feel like she was important and needed--and not a failure after so many bad breaks in life.

JMPolniaczek15 · 02-08-2002, 08:13 PM

I don't know...Charlotte said that she didn't think the girls needed an older mentor anymore, so I don't see how Bev was of much use. I think the girls would have been fine on their own. And yes, I've seen Young Frankenstein. That was certainly a different role for Cloris!

JDS84 · 02-09-2002, 09:02 PM

I wouldn't want anyone to place Mrs G. She should have stayed with the show.

Kristina · 02-14-2002, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ks
Mrs. G is irreplacable.

Ditto!

vienna waits · 02-14-2002, 10:06 PM

I didnt mind Beverly Ann... I like her just as much as I do Mrs. Garrett

valentina warner · 02-11-2020, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

You're right, they were all in their twenties, and certainly didn't need a housemother at this stage. Remember in the one episode
(forgot which season, 6?) where Blair was acting crazy with so many boyfriends that Mrs. G had to ground her, and then when they found out the reason (she had broken up with Cliff and felt lost), Mrs. G revoked her punishment and said Blair was responsible for herself. So the whole thing about Beverly Ann was just some sort of comic relief--unless they wanted to have an older person to chew the fat with--and perhaps the other reason was to make Beverly Ann feel like she was important and needed--and not a failure after so many bad breaks in life.

I think MRS G realizes at the end of 'working it out' that she had to let BLAIR go because she is not a little girl anymore, and i always found the ending kind of sad cos you see how difficult it is for MRS G.to do so (kind of like a mother letting her child go) and her sentence only confirms it, "we all make mistakes and sometimes it hurts, but that's how we grow."
This episode also shows you how much BLAIR looks up to MRS G: "i can't get away with behaving so badly... Someone has to take responsibility!"
And her eyes meets MRS G pleading to straight her out.
Luckily MRS G realizes that BLAIR still needs her, cos she puts her hand on the girl's shoulder and says "but BLAIR... i'm here if you ever need someone to help you out". Wow! That moment is really touching!

RetroGuy2000 · 02-14-2020, 02:20 PM

No one could have replaced Mrs. Garrett. She was the heart of the show. Without her, the show had an artificial heart, and the series was left on life support. Episodes 8-01, 8-02, and 8-06 were the beginning of end, with 9-23 and 9-24 wrapping things up nicely, returning to Eastland: a five-episode "final season".

valentina warner · 02-14-2020, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

No one could have replaced Mrs. Garrett. She was the heart of the show. Without her, the show had an artificial heart, and the series was left on life support. Episodes 8-01, 8-02, and 8-06 were the beginning of end, with 9-23 and 9-24 wrapping things up nicely, returning to Eastland: a five-episode "final season".

MRS G (along with BLAIR) is one of the reason i decided to continue watching FOL after the season 1. I know most people think the show didn't start before JO, but i don't agree: from the very beginning, BLAIR stole the show and became the main character on season 1 with her wild and boy crazy behaviour! Unfortunately, when she was rewritten on season 2, JO kind of 'stole' her lime light by becoming the 'BLAIR' of the first season if that makes sense?
Still, luckily and because of the tension between JO vs BLAIR the show continued being a success, and by reducing the cast, the girls bonded even more with MRS G! (or CHARLOTTE RAE ha ha!)

PS: i'v always wondered though, why the writers and producers of the show never had BLAIR apologizing to MRS G for being rude to her on the 'pilot episode'? (if i was the producer i would have had an episode based on that)
Just a thought...

02-06-2002, 10:32 PM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Who would have been a better replacement for Mrs. G? Seeing that most everyone is of the opinion that Cloris Leachman ("Beverly Ann") blew Tender Chunks, who would you like to have seen replace Mrs. Garrett's character? I think they put Cloris Leachman in because she was a veteran sitcom actress. BTW, has anyone seen "Young Frankenstein"? She played Frau Blucher. (I personally like Cloris Leachman and Beverly Ann. But then I'm prejudiced, because I saw the tapings with her in them.)

02-06-2002, 10:36 PM	#2
MrsGarrettRocksMySocks Actors over 60 Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: The cookie jar--Any "Anyone Can Whistle" fans out there? Posts: 4,077	hmmm.....nope..it can't and couldn't have been done, I mean, if you're saying better, than no..........(of course, I also think it SHOULDn'T have been done, but hey , MO!!) Anyway, I think that if they "HAD TO" replace Mrs. G, bringing in her totally annoying and totally naive sister, was a good choice, because with Beverly Ann, I have come to think that, They knew they couldn't replace Mrs. G, so why not bring in a character that was almost totally the opposite, then it doesnt' even LOOK like you're trying to replace her.
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02-06-2002, 11:40 PM	#4
Warm & Fuzzy Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 02, 2001 Posts: 10,254	I liked Beverly Ann... But if I were to choose, of course, it would be me. I wasn't born until 1988, though.
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02-07-2002, 07:43 PM	#5
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Mrs. G is irreplacable. However, I did not have a problem with Cloris Leachman. I think she is an amazing actress with the ability to make everyone smile. It's the character of Beverley Ann I wasn't too keen on at times. She was funny and some of her blonde moments had me laughing so hard it hurt, but I didn't see why the girls would need someone to stay with at that time. It just seemed she was an unecessary character-she had her moments though: To paraphrase: Bev Ann: Let's see it's tomorrow in Africa now so if I wanted to talk to Edna today I should have called her yesterday... Bev certainly had her moments ks
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02-07-2002, 08:03 PM	#6
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Cloris Leachman Actually, I LIKE Cloris Leachman!! She's fun, sexy, deliciously slender, a great sense of humor!! At least some of us guys think so!! I wonder how she feels about "older" men?? "Blair may be fair, but Beverly Ann--OH MAN!!" She's definitely with it with that punk rock 'do...

02-06-2002, 11:36 PM	#3
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	Mrs. Garrett was one of a kind. No one could have or should have taken her place. Nothing against, Cloris Leachman, but her character was not needed, as well as the characters of Andy, Pippa, Kevin, Kelly and George. It comes down to the same old thing, if it's not broken, don't fix it.

02-07-2002, 09:41 PM	#7
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Don't get me wrong- Beverly Ann may have been as funny as hell, but she wasn't needed. They were all what, 20? Tootie may have been young but she could take care of herself. Bev never gave good advice either. Mrs. G was one-of-a-kind
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02-07-2002, 10:45 PM	#8
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Re: Beverly Ann You're right, they were all in their twenties, and certainly didn't need a housemother at this stage. Remember in the one episode (forgot which season, 6?) where Blair was acting crazy with so many boyfriends that Mrs. G had to ground her, and then when they found out the reason (she had broken up with Cliff and felt lost), Mrs. G revoked her punishment and said Blair was responsible for herself. So the whole thing about Beverly Ann was just some sort of comic relief--unless they wanted to have an older person to chew the fat with--and perhaps the other reason was to make Beverly Ann feel like she was important and needed--and not a failure after so many bad breaks in life.

02-08-2002, 08:13 PM	#9
JMPolniaczek15 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Amongst the cornfields in Indiana... Posts: 706	I don't know...Charlotte said that she didn't think the girls needed an older mentor anymore, so I don't see how Bev was of much use. I think the girls would have been fine on their own. And yes, I've seen Young Frankenstein. That was certainly a different role for Cloris!
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02-09-2002, 09:02 PM	#10
JDS84 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 11, 2001 Location: My Old Kentucky Home Posts: 3,377	I wouldn't want anyone to place Mrs G. She should have stayed with the show.
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02-14-2002, 10:06 PM	#12
vienna waits avatars are stupid. Forum Superstar Join Date: May 18, 2001 Location: Ravenclaw Common Room Posts: 29,859	I didnt mind Beverly Ann... I like her just as much as I do Mrs. Garrett
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02-14-2020, 02:20 PM	#14
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	No one could have replaced Mrs. Garrett. She was the heart of the show. Without her, the show had an artificial heart, and the series was left on life support. Episodes 8-01, 8-02, and 8-06 were the beginning of end, with 9-23 and 9-24 wrapping things up nicely, returning to Eastland: a five-episode "final season".
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