Why the hell did they add DELLA REESE to this show in the 4th season? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 08-19-2014, 09:46 PM

What the hell was she supposed to do to save the show? I mean why was she added to shows that were on their last leg like she was some great actress?

After she was on Chico and the Man during season 4, she then is seen on WBK during it;s last season,

FOR WHAT?????????????????

BeatleMoe · 09-06-2014, 08:52 AM

I think they desperately needed a teacher. Neither Kotter appeared in those two episodes, so things had to have really gotten bad behind the scenes.

TMC · 11-06-2014, 07:07 PM

Della Reese (at least, pre-Touched by an Angel) was sort of the "grim ripper" (in a way, she could be considered the black, female variant of Ted McGinley, before Ted McGinley was a household name

) of TV shows:
http://www.tvparty.com/mysdella.html

ThomasE · 01-23-2015, 06:04 PM

Nah. It would not hold any weight as the show ran its course. As with Ted McGinley, Happy Days and Married With Children ran in generous first run after major cast changes took place. Love Boat did another three between the last two seasons and the last seasons which was a serious of movies.

TVFactFan · 01-23-2015, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Nah. It would not hold any weight as the show ran its course. As with Ted McGinley, Happy Days and Married With Children ran in generous first run after major cast changes took place. Love Boat did another three between the last two seasons and the last seasons which was a serious of movies.

I plan to get the series on DVD sometime this year and will be shaking my head during the 4th season

Dr. Thong · 01-24-2015, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeatleMoe

I think they desperately needed a teacher. Neither Kotter appeared in those two episodes, so things had to have really gotten bad behind the scenes.

They needed to fill up space, so they did things like this and giving Julie Kotter more to do as a secretary/fill-in teacher. But it didn't help because you can't have Welcome Back Kotter without Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) and Barbarino (John Travolta).

The show was built around the chemistry and dynamic between Gabe and the four Sweathogs and two crucial elements of that were missing from the final season.

TVFactFan · 04-12-2020, 09:49 PM

Looks like I never bought it

TVFactFan · 05-16-2020, 08:11 PM

Finishing up season 4 and I believe the episode "Come Back Little Arnold" was her first appearance. No type of introduction at all they should just go to class one day and she is the teacher and comes in and says "Good Morning"

BeatleMoe · 05-21-2020, 02:20 AM

Marcia Strassman didn’t appear in those two episodes either. They are essentially Kotterless. From my understanding, Gabe and Marcia confronted each other and found out that the executive producer had been putting them against each other, so they both refused to appear in those episodes. I guess Della Reese was supposed to “save” the show.

TVFactFan · 05-21-2020, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeatleMoe

Marcia Strassman didn’t appear in those two episodes either. They are essentially Kotterless. From my understanding, Gabe and Marcia confronted each other and found out that the executive producer had been putting them against each other, so they both refused to appear in those episodes. I guess Della Reese was supposed to “save” the show.

but it was no introduction at all like "hi i am ms jean", She just walked in the class and started talking

DEH55 · 05-24-2020, 01:55 AM

I have not watched Kotter in years but I do remember that it went off the rails faster then any show I have ever seen. First Travolta gets a movie career and is barely around, that's when it hit the iceberg. then they replace him with Beau. Ugh. Then Kotter starts to go missing, then they start having Horshack grow up and get a girlfriend and you see his home life, mrs kotter starts working at the school. It was just a mess. When Kotter stops appearing then it's done.

TVFactFan · 05-24-2020, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEH55

I have not watched Kotter in years but I do remember that it went off the rails faster then any show I have ever seen. First Travolta gets a movie career and is barely around, that's when it hit the iceberg. then they replace him with Beau. Ugh. Then Kotter starts to go missing, then they start having Horshack grow up and get a girlfriend and you see his home life, mrs kotter starts working at the school. It was just a mess. When Kotter stops appearing then it's done.

It should have been more Judy Borden and less Mrs Kotter

DEH55 · 05-24-2020, 01:32 PM

The worst episode may have been when Horshack turned into a heavy drinker and would get mean. Bad acting and all. I think it was near the very end.

TVFactFan · 05-24-2020, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEH55

The worst episode may have been when Horshack turned into a heavy drinker and would get mean. Bad acting and all. I think it was near the very end.

One episode I will never watch again lol

Dr. Thong · 05-26-2020, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

but it was no introduction at all like "hi i am ms jean", She just walked in the class and started talking

You do realize there were other teachers at the school, right?

08-19-2014, 09:46 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,970	Why the hell did they add DELLA REESE to this show in the 4th season? What the hell was she supposed to do to save the show? I mean why was she added to shows that were on their last leg like she was some great actress? After she was on Chico and the Man during season 4, she then is seen on WBK during it;s last season, FOR WHAT?????????????????

09-06-2014, 08:52 AM	#2
BeatleMoe Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 13, 2002 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 615	I think they desperately needed a teacher. Neither Kotter appeared in those two episodes, so things had to have really gotten bad behind the scenes.
	__________________ BeatleMoe

11-06-2014, 07:07 PM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,648	Della Reese (at least, pre-Touched by an Angel) was sort of the "grim ripper" (in a way, she could be considered the black, female variant of Ted McGinley, before Ted McGinley was a household name) of TV shows: http://www.tvparty.com/mysdella.html

01-23-2015, 06:04 PM	#4
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Nah. It would not hold any weight as the show ran its course. As with Ted McGinley, Happy Days and Married With Children ran in generous first run after major cast changes took place. Love Boat did another three between the last two seasons and the last seasons which was a serious of movies.
	__________________ Check out my my "It's A Living" Facebook Fanpage!!! https://m.facebook.com/groups/107208...&source=result

04-12-2020, 09:49 PM	#7
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,970	Looks like I never bought it

05-16-2020, 08:11 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,970	Finishing up season 4 and I believe the episode "Come Back Little Arnold" was her first appearance. No type of introduction at all they should just go to class one day and she is the teacher and comes in and says "Good Morning"

05-21-2020, 02:20 AM	#9
BeatleMoe Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 13, 2002 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 615	Marcia Strassman didn’t appear in those two episodes either. They are essentially Kotterless. From my understanding, Gabe and Marcia confronted each other and found out that the executive producer had been putting them against each other, so they both refused to appear in those episodes. I guess Della Reese was supposed to “save” the show.

05-24-2020, 01:55 AM	#11
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	I have not watched Kotter in years but I do remember that it went off the rails faster then any show I have ever seen. First Travolta gets a movie career and is barely around, that's when it hit the iceberg. then they replace him with Beau. Ugh. Then Kotter starts to go missing, then they start having Horshack grow up and get a girlfriend and you see his home life, mrs kotter starts working at the school. It was just a mess. When Kotter stops appearing then it's done.

05-24-2020, 01:32 PM	#13
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	The worst episode may have been when Horshack turned into a heavy drinker and would get mean. Bad acting and all. I think it was near the very end.