Nancy McKeon interview from 2001

[80s Dude]

The following interview is with Nancy M. from 2001. In it she does mention her piano skills compared to Jo's.
http://fol4ever.tripod.com/lizfolsite2/id18.html

[RetroGuy2000]

So she really did play the piano. It's so weird because in the episodes, she might as well be faking it. I really wonder what the point of having Jo play piano, and then not actually showing her play the piano, was.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

So she really did play the piano. It's so weird because in the episodes, she might as well be faking it. I really wonder what the point of having Jo play piano, and then not actually showing her play the piano, was.

From what Nancy M. said in the interview, she took piano lessons and then stopped. So that says to me that she didn't actually play it.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

From what Nancy M. said in the interview, she took piano lessons and then stopped. So that says to me that she didn't actually play it.

Then why show Jo playing the piano at all? It's not something her character ever mentioned before. It's like they were showcasing a talent that Nancy McKeon ended up... not having. It's like the writers deciding Blair was suddenly a pool shark, showcasing Lisa's talent at playing pool. But then you notice the camera cutting to another shot every time Blair hits a ball. It's like, "Why do this kind of episode? The actor doesn't have the talent, and it's out of norm for the character." Nancy had so many real talents they could have focused on.

You showcase your actors'/actresses' talents. You give Charlotte Rae the musical parts, since she was a trained musician. You don't give actresses material they can't do anything with. That's why we never saw Maureen McCormick on The Brady Bunch walking a tightrope, or Linda Lavin on Alice scraping barnacles off a boat.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Then why show Jo playing the piano at all? It's not something her character ever mentioned before. It's like they were showcasing a talent that Nancy McKeon ended up... not having. It's like the writers deciding Blair was suddenly a pool shark, showcasing Lisa's talent at playing pool. But then you notice the camera cutting to another shot every time Blair hits a ball. It's like, "Why do this kind of episode? The actor doesn't have the talent, and it's out of norm for the character." Nancy had so many real talents they could have focused on.

You showcase your actors'/actresses' talents. You give Charlotte Rae the musical parts, since she was a trained musician. You don't give actresses material they can't do anything with. That's why we never saw Maureen McCormick on The Brady Bunch walking a tightrope, or Linda Lavin on Alice scraping barnacles off a boat.

They showed off Julie Anne Haddock's athletic and gymnast skills in Season 1. Somehow I can't picture a high society girl (I mean woman) be a pool shark.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Then why show Jo playing the piano at all? It's not something her character ever mentioned before. It's like they were showcasing a talent that Nancy McKeon ended up... not having. It's like the writers deciding Blair was suddenly a pool shark, showcasing Lisa's talent at playing pool. But then you notice the camera cutting to another shot every time Blair hits a ball. It's like, "Why do this kind of episode? The actor doesn't have the talent, and it's out of norm for the character." Nancy had so many real talents they could have focused on.

You showcase your actors'/actresses' talents. You give Charlotte Rae the musical parts, since she was a trained musician. You don't give actresses material they can't do anything with. That's why we never saw Maureen McCormick on The Brady Bunch walking a tightrope, or Linda Lavin on Alice scraping barnacles off a boat.

When was BLAIR a pool shark???? (i don't remember that at all, unless it was on the later seasons?).....

[Sitcommania]

I think it happens for “shock value”. Jo’s the least likely character to know how to play a musical instrument because it takes time and money, so it’s a surprise when you see it happen.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

When was BLAIR a pool shark???? (i don't remember that at all, unless it was on the later seasons?).....

She wasn't. That's what I'm saying. It would be completely out of character for Blair to have that talent.

Can you imagine 14-year-old Jo, with her attitude, coming in for piano lessons? She'd probably get the teacher fired when he made her learn F-A-C-E, and told her to re-do her practice.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I think it happens for “shock value”. Jo’s the least likely character to know how to play a musical instrument because it takes time and money, so it’s a surprise when you see it happen.

But they don't really even play it for shock value. Where are all the girls, marveling that they never knew Jo could play? We get a single comment, and a response from Jo on how it's plausible.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

She wasn't. That's what I'm saying. It would be completely out of character for Blair to have that talent.

Can you imagine 14-year-old Jo, with her attitude, coming in for piano lessons? She'd probably get the teacher fired when he made her learn F-A-C-E, and told her to re-do her practice.

I thought JO was 16 when she came to 'Eastland': (BLAIR says on the 'Teenage marriage' episode then she and her are the same age) NATALIE was 13/14 (not JO) and TOOTIE 12.

[Sitcommania]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

But they don't really even play it for shock value. Where are all the girls, marveling that they never knew Jo could play? We get a single comment, and a response from Jo on how it's plausible.

The surprise is for the audience, not the girls, and she gives more than a comment; she tells a story about it, albeit a short one. It’s something Jo deliberately hid from her friends. She even ran into the other room when Mrs. G. Started the story. However, I guess the “hidden talent” could have been revealed in some other way.

Anyway, the real problem with that scene is with Jo’s windbreaker and tie outfit, isn’t it?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

The surprise is for the audience, not the girls, and she gives more than a comment; she tells a story about it, albeit a short one. It’s something Jo deliberately hid from her friends. She even ran into the other room when Mrs. G. Started the story. However, I guess the “hidden talent” could have been revealed in some other way.

Anyway, the real problem with that scene is with Jo’s windbreaker and tie outfit, isn’t it?

By "single comment", I was talking about Mrs. G. Only Mrs. G marvels at Jo's piano playing, because only she was there to witness it. Later, Tootie asks who Jo never told them she could play, and... that's it. No one else even remarks on it; Blair just says she learned Jo had a personality.

The audience may be shocked, but that's only because we witnessed the girl who started at Eastland, and that girl couldn't -- and wouldn't -- play concert-quality piano. She certainly wouldn't have been practicing "It Had to Be You".

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I thought JO was 16 when she came to 'Eastland': (BLAIR says on the 'Teenage marriage' episode then she and her are the same age) NATALIE was 13/14 (not JO) and TOOTIE 12.

Yes, Jo was 16 when she came to Eastland. And she was some age younger than 16 when she was supposedly playing piano, because this was before she was enrolled at Eastland. But I don't believe Jo ever played piano. They retconned that in when they wanted to soften Jo's character, but it's not believable, based on what we saw with Jo at age 16.