Stephanie vs. Leslie - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

quincywagstaff · 02-16-2016, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelKeith

Why did Leslie (Jennifer Holmes) leave the show in the first place. I liked her better in terms of looks and disposition. Did she voluntarily leave or was she fired?

I'm pretty sure it wasn't voluntary. Holmes is a fine actress, but the character of Leslie was too perfect which made it hard for her to be much more than a "straight man" for the other funnier characters. On the other hand, Stephanie was very flawed but still likable which gave the writers a lot more to work with than Leslie. So, most likely Holmes was let go to open the door for Julia Duffy's character to become a regular.

Svenfan1234 · 02-16-2016, 08:10 PM

Stephanie definitely. I like Leslie and all, but it wouldn't have been the same show if Stephanie weren't on. She and Michael were the quintessential yuppie couple in the 1980s though!

opus · 08-28-2016, 06:34 PM

Steph

peppypacer · 05-26-2017, 08:25 PM

They show this twice at night and I never saw the first two years until recently. Leslie was like a younger version of Newhart's tv wife and that's probably why they made a change, wisely as it turns out. As for the Kirk character, he should have been killed off by episode 3. He somehow made it through two seasons before getting axed.

PhoenixAcres · 05-26-2017, 10:57 PM

Stephanie without a doubt. This is nothing against the actress, but Leslie was a poor sitcom character IMO. It's usually a red alert when a character has no flaws (even perfection can be a flaw but that wasn't employed here), and that reduces them to more of an observer and not very memorable. The producers apparently saw this which is why Leslie was dropped so fast. Yet I still enjoy the first season. Leslie was pleasant and I don't actively dislike her. It's just that Stephanie brought so much more to the role.

The OP wanted to know if they ever appeared in the same episode. Once, in the first season episode "What is this Thing Called Lust?"

Nordy · 05-27-2017, 12:35 AM

I have and always be on team Stephanie.

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HumanGerm · 11-16-2017, 06:17 AM

Stephanie hands down. Leslie was a pleasant character, but imho was rather bland. Stephanie 's self absorbed and entitled personality made for a lot of good laughs!

HumanGerm · 11-16-2017, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppypacer

They show this twice at night and I never saw the first two years until recently. Leslie was like a younger version of Newhart's tv wife and that's probably why they made a change, wisely as it turns out. As for the Kirk character, he should have been killed off by episode 3. He somehow made it through two seasons before getting axed.

I'm so glad that Kirk was axed! Of course Newhart is fiction, but there are too many people like Kirk in real life! Honestly, whenever I see Kirk, I just bristle and almost change the channel but then I'd miss some excellent comedy from the other characters.

AMackII · 08-01-2019, 07:42 AM

I prefer Stephanie better period.

CosmicCharlie · 10-05-2019, 10:08 PM

I read somewhere that Steph was Newhart's 1st choice but she was unavailable so Leslie was brought in until Steph free'd up

80s Dude · 01-02-2020, 12:30 AM

Leslie was the girl you would take home to mother, but she was not an interesting character in a comedy. She was way to square.

CosmicCharlie · 04-13-2021, 09:43 PM

when Steph was brought in as Leslie's cousin THAT show clearly earned Steph the SPOT - she was perfect bouncing off of Bob's DRY humor - there was No Turning Back - when she ask Bob about Love vs Lust - SO FUNNY - the Bob thought Steph was in love with Bob

THAT is a great scene ! Leslie could not have played that like Steph ...

02-16-2016, 08:10 PM	#17
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	Stephanie definitely. I like Leslie and all, but it wouldn't have been the same show if Stephanie weren't on. She and Michael were the quintessential yuppie couple in the 1980s though!
	__________________ [

05-27-2017, 12:35 AM	#21
Nordy Gilmore Guy and Proud of it!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2012 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,590	I have and always be on team Stephanie.
	__________________ "If eating cake is wrong, I don't want to be right." —Lorelai Gilmore

08-28-2016, 06:34 PM	#18
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,053	Steph

05-26-2017, 08:25 PM	#19
peppypacer Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 26, 2017 Location: indiana Posts: 27	They show this twice at night and I never saw the first two years until recently. Leslie was like a younger version of Newhart's tv wife and that's probably why they made a change, wisely as it turns out. As for the Kirk character, he should have been killed off by episode 3. He somehow made it through two seasons before getting axed.

05-26-2017, 10:57 PM	#20
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Stephanie without a doubt. This is nothing against the actress, but Leslie was a poor sitcom character IMO. It's usually a red alert when a character has no flaws (even perfection can be a flaw but that wasn't employed here), and that reduces them to more of an observer and not very memorable. The producers apparently saw this which is why Leslie was dropped so fast. Yet I still enjoy the first season. Leslie was pleasant and I don't actively dislike her. It's just that Stephanie brought so much more to the role. The OP wanted to know if they ever appeared in the same episode. Once, in the first season episode "What is this Thing Called Lust?"

11-16-2017, 06:17 AM	#22
HumanGerm Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 09, 2017 Location: Springfield MA Posts: 55	Stephanie hands down. Leslie was a pleasant character, but imho was rather bland. Stephanie 's self absorbed and entitled personality made for a lot of good laughs!

08-01-2019, 07:42 AM	#24
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,198	I prefer Stephanie better period.

10-05-2019, 10:08 PM	#25
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,416	I read somewhere that Steph was Newhart's 1st choice but she was unavailable so Leslie was brought in until Steph free'd up

01-02-2020, 12:30 AM	#26
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,810	Leslie was the girl you would take home to mother, but she was not an interesting character in a comedy. She was way to square.

04-13-2021, 09:43 PM	#27
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,416	when Steph was brought in as Leslie's cousin THAT show clearly earned Steph the SPOT - she was perfect bouncing off of Bob's DRY humor - there was No Turning Back - when she ask Bob about Love vs Lust - SO FUNNY - the Bob thought Steph was in love with Bob THAT is a great scene ! Leslie could not have played that like Steph ...