Another hit comedy with multiple characters.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thank you, '80s!

I think this really speaks volumes. "The young [network] guys... they just didn't get it." "Warren Littlefield." They moved the show into bad time slots and then once they had enough ammo, they moved in to kill the show. Vicki says it herself.

Yup. I've known all this for years except for the "Warren Lit-tle-field" part. I love that Dorothy threw him under the network bus.

He probably thought 2 or 4 Mamas were too many Mamas on the show.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

And then, over the summer, the ratings bounced back...hmmm.... yes, this all sounds eerily familiar.

Yes! I had NO idea about that!

Okay, see, I knew that the young guys at Lorimar Telepictures (such open-minded smart guys!) looked at MF and said it wasn't fair what happened, that the show never got a fair shot. And it was their faith in the show that led to them producing it in first-run syndication.

But what I didn't know was that NBC was airing their episodes for the last time in that summer of '86, and that it was the Lorimar guys catching that final round of reruns that gave them the idea of bringing back the show; which makes sense, since the network reruns did so, so well over that summer.

Fascinating.

I hadn't watched these extras in years, but I've binged on all of the interviews and reunions and extras on the MF box set this past week. I've even re-watched some of them! There is just SO much to absorb, process, and take in. I even talked with my best MF friend for 2 hours on the phone just about stuff all these extras say about the show after he had been re-watching the extras too, and we're still messaging "on the Internets" with more thoughts from the extras. I LOVE this set.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yup. I've known all this for years except for the "Warren Lit-tle-field" part. I love that Dorothy threw him under the network bus.

He probably thought 2 or 4 Mamas were too many Mamas on the show.

Yes! I had NO idea about that!

Okay, see, I knew that the young guys at Lorimar Telepictures (such open-minded smart guys!) looked at MF and said it wasn't fair what happened, that the show never got a fair shot. And it was their faith in the show that led to them producing it in first-run syndication.

But what I didn't know was that NBC was airing their episodes for the last time in that summer of '86, and that it was the Lorimar guys catching that final round of reruns that gave them the idea of bringing back the show; which makes sense, since the network reruns did so, so well over that summer.

Fascinating.

I hadn't watched these extras in years, but I've binged on all of the interviews and reunions and extras on the MF box set this past week. I've even re-watched some of them! There is just SO much to absorb, process, and take in. I LOVE this set.

This was excellent, and quite the eye-opener! Thank you!!!!!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

This was excellent, and quite the eye-opener! Thank you!!!!!

You're

(the only thing from that clip is it was actually 35 NBC episodes, not 36)

And executive producer and writer Rick Hawkins has a few interviews on the extras (one with Vicki), and he is such a likable guy; very enthusiastic, very loving of the show. And he was so grateful for that chance when the show came back. He says, "How often in this business do you get a do-over?? I must have been born under a lucky star."

Canceled after 35 episodes, and then resurrected for 100 more under a company who believes in your product, and doesn't have suits.* I mean, yeah...wow. Blessed, indeed!

*(he said syndication was such a new thing back then that there were no suits at Lorimar for syndicated programming---they were just on their own, making the show they loved to make, and sent 'em to Lorimar who'd ship 'em out! So awesome)

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

You're

(the only thing from that clip is it was actually 35 NBC episodes, not 36)

And executive producer and writer Rick Hawkins has a few interviews on the extras (one with Vicki), and he is such a likable guy; very enthusiastic, very loving of the show. And he was so grateful for that chance when the show came back. He says, "How often in this business do you get a do-over?? I must have been born under a lucky star."

Canceled after 35 episodes, and then resurrected for 100 more under a company who believes in your product, and doesn't have suits.* I mean, yeah...wow. Blessed, indeed!

*(he said syndication was such a new thing back then that there were no suits at Lorimar for syndicated programming---they were just on their own, making the show they loved to make, and sent 'em to Lorimar who'd ship 'em out! So awesome)

Can you imagine NOT ever having to struggle with network brass? Like, just putting together a show without pencil pushers and network execs who can't even count to seven? That must have been heaven for them!

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

(also, Dorothy talks about our Lorsie! Well, sort of---she mentions "Lorimar Telepictures"! )

(and if you listen to Vicki's narrative at the 14:14 mark and then Dorothy's Lorsie---I mean, Lorimar narrative right after, you might see some similarities between MF and season 1 FOL)

That's me (who my username is based on atleast )

[RetroGuy2000]

(Happy 5,000th post, Lorimar!)

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Wow really???? I never knew that!!!!! Another MRS G for boys instead of girls: classy!!!! (there is a few 'feisty red haired' for everyone!!!!)

You can see Mrs. C. and Mrs. G. together here. Mrs C. is still alive and active.

[80s Dude]

Fonzie was also used as an inspiration for the Jo character.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

And then, over the summer, the ratings bounced back...hmmm.... yes, this all sounds eerily familiar.

Who knew summer reruns were such good help for shows or could save shows? Don't forget about "Who's the Boss?" too. Judith Light says in her Television Academy interview that they didn't do well the first season, but then they re-ran the first season over the summer and their numbers just shot up through the roof, and after that they were a top 10 hit until almost the end. I love stories like that.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

(Happy 5,000th post, Lorimar!)

I didn't even notice! Wow!

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That's a good point.

...They even tried to name the FOL biker chick "Foxy". Instead of Fonzie, Ritchie, Ralph, Potsie, and Mrs. C., they would have had Foxy, Bitchy, Nat, Tootie, and Mrs. G.

Are by any chance 'Foxy' CINDY and 'Bitchy' BLAIR? (i would bet 100 bucks it is!!!!)

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Are by any chance 'Foxy' CINDY and 'Bitchy' BLAIR? (i would bet 100 bucks it is!!!!)

Foxy was Jo's original name.

Jo was in the Core Four. Cindy wasn't.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Foxy was Jo's original name.

Jo was in the Core Four. Cindy wasn't.

Oops i was wrong! (i shouldn't have bet on that money!)

[Bachu]

I happened to see a link for a show on here called Head of the Class about a teacher and his class. He had about 10 students for all 5 seasons! Have never seen the show myself but it must have not had a problem with a large cast to run that long.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Bachu

I happened to see a link for a show on here called Head of the Class about a teacher and his class. He had about 10 students for all 5 seasons! Have never seen the show myself but it must have not had a problem with a large cast to run that long.

Yeah, Head of the Class ran for five seasons on ABC. It even reached the Top 20 in the Nielsen Ratings, and never dipped below #30 during its run. HBO Max is apparently reviving the show for a reboot.

The show's cast was very large, and yet they managed...