How was Lisa Whelchel able to get out of appearing in "The First Time"

[TMC]

For those who don't know, that episode was originally written with Blair in mind as the focus instead of Natalie. But Lisa refused to appear in the episode what so ever because she felt that the episode's message pertaining to premarital sex greatly conflicted with her moral values. That was the only episode that Lisa missed during the show's nine year run.

Had an episode like that come in or near, say the second season, do honestly believe that Lisa would've had such an option to completely opt out of an episode if it didn't jive with her personal beliefs? I say this because I've read the suggestion that Lisa was able to get away with it because the episode came at the end of a very long-running series. And Lisa up until that point, was presumably known and regarded as being a team player and acting professional.

[RetroGuy2000]

I think she had a good relationship with the producers, and had no trouble skipping an episode, just as Kim had done, as well.

Lisa did reveal skipping the episode did cost her $55,000.

[80s Dude]

It was just one episode and Lisa was the major star. Plus they needed her for the spinoff (which never took off).

[PracTz]

Since Miss Whelchel had been in every single other episode prior to this one (and the show was within sight of its end date even if it hadn't been officially cancelled), I think it's likely the accepted her decline and knew it would have caused more trouble (and flak) for the show had they fired her over that than had they agreed.

Plus, Miss Cohn volunteered to go into the trenches to have her character do the deed.

Now, if Miss Cohn had NOT volunteered to do this, I wonder if they'd have tried to pressue Miss McKeon or even Miss Fields to have been the Roomie who first admitted to have not maintained her virginity OR would they have given up on the storyline altogether?

P.S. I know the Four had been through a LOT and shared more with each other than they did with anyone else but does anyone else wonder if it's possible that one of the other Three COULD have actually done the deed but, someone kept it TOTALLY to herself? Folks can (and HAVE) lied about maintaining virginity even to their nearest and dearest down the ages!

[RetroGuy2000]

We know Jo got very close, on more than one occasion. She and Eddie had eloped, and they almost did you know what on the most dirty bedspread I have ever seen in my life!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think she had a good relationship with the producers, and had no trouble skipping an episode, just as Kim had done, as well.

Lisa did reveal skipping the episode did cost her $55,000.

I suspect that Lisa is kind of a Debby Boone type, in that she's a genuinely positive, upbeat, friendly Christian lady instead of a late era Growing Pains Kirk Cameron type, who would reject anything in the script that contained the slightest bit of edge or innuendo.

And any news about Lisa being difficult like Kirk was true, then it would've likely have gone out. The only really huge "controversy" that I'm aware of Lisa Whelchel is when she wrote a parenting book that discussed disciplining kids by putting hot sauce in on their tongues.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by TMC

I suspect that Lisa is kind of a Debby Boone type, in that she's a genuinely positive, upbeat, friendly Christian lady instead of a late era Growing Pains Kirk Cameron type, how would reject anything in the script that contained the slightest bit of edge or innuendo.

Not only is Lisa a very kind Christian lady, for many years she did do scenes with innuendo: she was the one calling Cindy "strange", she was the one whose character didn't believe in God, and she was the one helping Jo after Harrison assaulted Jo in "Double Standard". Blair had a "how far can you go" competition with Sue Ann in "The Facts of Love", Blair stayed out past curfew, Blair introduced Sue Ann to marijuana, and Blair lied on multiple occasions. Early Blair was a firecracker, and it's only in later years that Blair becomes this straitlaced, conservatively-dressed Nancy Reagan clone.

Lisa never seemed to reject innuendo, with the only exception being "going all the way"; several sources state that the original idea was for Blair to lose her virginity early on in the series' run, but Lisa rejected that idea. The producers respected Lisa's decision.

Years later, the topic came up again, Lisa again rejected the story idea, and Mindy volunteered instead. Lisa declined to appear in the episode, but now says it was a mistake: that thinking back, she would now do the episode to provide a counter-point or balance to what was in the episode: Blair could have counseled Natalie not to go all the way, early in a relationship.

And any news about Lisa being difficult like Kirk was true, then it would've likely have gone out. The only really huge "controversy" that I'm aware of Lisa Whelchel is when she wrote a parenting book that discussed disciplining kids by putting hot sauce in on their tongues.

I don't believe Lisa is difficult. But I do believe that, after her early career, she drew some lines about projects where she wanted to be involved. She never would have lasted on Friends, for example, with its consistent racy storylines (can you imagine her doing the "juicebox" scene with David Schwimmer?).

However, Lisa isn't without controversy: Lisa seemed to be included in the Pamela Adlon tell-all about tensions behind the scenes.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Not only is Lisa a very kind Christian lady, for many years she did do scenes with innuendo: she was the one calling Cindy "strange", she was the one whose character didn't believe in God, and she was the one helping Jo after Harrison assaulted Jo in "Double Standard". Blair had a "how far can you go" competition with Sue Ann in "The Facts of Love", Blair stayed out past curfew, Blair introduced Sue Ann to marijuana, and Blair lied on multiple occasions. Early Blair was a firecracker, and it's only in later years that Blair becomes this straitlaced, conservatively-dressed Nancy Reagan clone.

Lisa never seemed to reject innuendo, with the only exception being "going all the way"; several sources state that the original idea was for Blair to lose her virginity early on in the series' run, but Lisa rejected that idea. The producers respected Lisa's decision.

Years later, the topic came up again, Lisa again rejected the story idea, and Mindy volunteered instead. Lisa declined to appear in the episode, but now says it was a mistake: that thinking back, she would now do the episode to provide a counter-point or balance to what was in the episode: Blair could have counseled Natalie not to go all the way, early in a relationship.



I don't believe Lisa is difficult. But I do believe that, after her early career, she drew some lines about projects where she wanted to be involved. She never would have lasted on Friends, for example, with its consistent racy storylines (can you imagine her doing the "juicebox" scene with David Schwimmer?).

However, Lisa isn't without controversy: Lisa seemed to be included in the Pamela Adlon tell-all about tensions behind the scenes.

Though Lisa admitted that she had no idea what the theme of "Rough Housing" was about. She thought it was about Cindy being a tomboy and not knowing it was about Blair calling Cindy a lesbian. Lisa may not have even known what a lesbian was then. She led a sheltered life. Julie Anne knew what the episode was about as did young Molly.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Though Lisa admitted that she had no idea what the theme of "Rough Housing" was about. She thought it was about Cindy being a tomboy and not knowing it was about Blair calling Cindy a lesbian. Lisa may not have even known what a lesbian was then. She led a sheltered life. Julie Anne knew what the episode was about as did young Molly.

Yeah, Lisa was clearly quite sheltered.

Has Molly said anything about this episode?

[JoPol_wannabe]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Not only is Lisa a very kind Christian lady, for many years she did do scenes with innuendo: she was the one calling Cindy "strange", she was the one whose character didn't believe in God, and she was the one helping Jo after Harrison assaulted Jo in "Double Standard". Blair had a "how far can you go" competition with Sue Ann in "The Facts of Love", Blair stayed out past curfew, Blair introduced Sue Ann to marijuana, and Blair lied on multiple occasions. Early Blair was a firecracker, and it's only in later years that Blair becomes this straitlaced, conservatively-dressed Nancy Reagan clone.

Lisa never seemed to reject innuendo, with the only exception being "going all the way"; several sources state that the original idea was for Blair to lose her virginity early on in the series' run, but Lisa rejected that idea. The producers respected Lisa's decision.

Years later, the topic came up again, Lisa again rejected the story idea, and Mindy volunteered instead. Lisa declined to appear in the episode, but now says it was a mistake: that thinking back, she would now do the episode to provide a counter-point or balance to what was in the episode: Blair could have counseled Natalie not to go all the way, early in a relationship.



I don't believe Lisa is difficult. But I do believe that, after her early career, she drew some lines about projects where she wanted to be involved. She never would have lasted on Friends, for example, with its consistent racy storylines (can you imagine her doing the "juicebox" scene with David Schwimmer?).

However, Lisa isn't without controversy: Lisa seemed to be included in the Pamela Adlon tell-all about tensions behind the scenes.

Well she did say in her Bio book the facts if life and other lessons my father taught me, she said that in the earlier seasons she did more of those innuendo type shows but as she got older she realized that she shouldn’t be doing shows that go against her religion. And she also stated that she felt it was her duty as a active christian to show all the girls out there that she wasn’t that kind of a christian.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yeah, Lisa was clearly quite sheltered.

Has Molly said anything about this episode?

In an interview with Out Magazine in 2010, the interviewer asked Molly whether she knew what the episode was about despite her young age. She said yes because her parents had lots of gay people around them, including people in her father's band. Her parents were also involved in the Harvey Milk campaign. She didn't remember specifics because she was not active in the 2nd half of the show.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by JoPol_wannabe

Well she did say in her Bio book the facts if life and other lessons my father taught me, she said that in the earlier seasons she did more of those innuendo type shows but as she got older she realized that she shouldn’t be doing shows that go against her religion. And she also stated that she felt it was her duty as a active christian to show all the girls out there that she wasn’t that kind of a christian.

But the innudendo certainly came back in the last two episodes where Blair took control of Eastland.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

In an interview with Out Magazine in 2010, the interviewer asked Molly whether she knew what the episode was about despite her young age. She said yes because her parents had lots of gay people around them, including people in her father's band. Her parents were also involved in the Harvey Milk campaign. She didn't remember specifics because she was not active in the 2nd half of the show.

Thanks! I didn't remember that interview at all!

[PracTz]

[QUOTE=RetroGuy2000;6002822 Blair introduced Sue Ann to marijuana .[/QUOTE]

How was that Blair was so ignorant of the terminology that she thought 'roach' meant ONLY a bug- yet WAS somehow able to obtain one to try to fit in The Group?

I just wish we could have seen Blair seek out then find 'the dealer'. It would have been more unpredictable than had Jo been depicted 'getting' the beer!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by PracTz

How was that Blair was so ignorant of the terminology that she thought 'roach' meant ONLY a bug- yet WAS somehow able to obtain one to try to fit in The Group?

I just wish we could have seen Blair seek out then find 'the dealer'. It would have been more unpredictable than had Jo been depicted 'getting' the beer!

The one that got the good Hawaiian stuff was Tumpy.