Valerie Harper leaving "Valerie" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 09-01-2019, 01:51 AM

What really happened? In Valerie's book, she makes it sound like one day they suddenly fired her out of the blue then tried to smear her reputation in court. She added that she was concerned about the level of writing, that the audience wasn't laughing at the lines, and the producer told her they would sweeten it in the editing room.

What really happened? The common story that I hear is that Valerie felt the show was becoming too reliant on Jason Bateman, and wanted it to be focused back on her. When she expressed disapproval, they canned her and wrote her out in a rather awful way, yet still keeping the show titled Valerie's Family.

TV Guy · 09-02-2019, 03:48 PM

At the start of the third season, she and her husband (who was one of the executive producers) didn’t show up for work, holding out for more money and a larger piece of the syndication revenues. They also wanted more creative control; Valerie had cut her teeth on James L. Brooks’ sophisticated brand of comedy, not the Miller/Boyett family sitcoms. Valerie had held out for more money during the run of Rhoda and wound up getting more money.

Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan). Valerie said later that the producers and the network had “buyers’ remorse”. Lorimar said she was being disruptive on the set. Valerie sued for being wrongfully fired, and won.

Valerie was very gracious about the whole thing years later in interviews, praising Tom Miller and Bob Boyett as good people, and saying that she had reconciled with most of the people involved.

TMC · 09-03-2019, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

At the start of the third season, she and her husband (who was one of the executive producers) didn’t show up for work, holding out for more money and a larger piece of the syndication revenues. They also wanted more creative control; Valerie had cut her teeth on James L. Brooks’ sophisticated brand of comedy, not the Miller/Boyett family sitcoms. Valerie had held out for more money during the run of Rhoda and wound up getting more money.

Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan). Valerie said later that the producers and the network had “buyers’ remorse”. Lorimar said she was being disruptive on the set. Valerie sued for being wrongfully fired, and won.

Valerie was very gracious about the whole thing years later in interviews, praising Tom Miller and Bob Boyett as good people, and saying that she had reconciled with most of the people involved.

She said in her TV Academy interview that it was mainly business, and basically bygones. But she also said she was glad she stuck to her guns and ultimately won her wrongful firing lawsuit. She said she was not difficult on set, but hints that she wanted more creative input.

Schmo · 09-12-2020, 02:15 PM

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

Lorimar Television · 09-24-2020, 10:39 PM

Well until Lorimar went bankrupt and got bought out in 93 by WB

TV Guy · 09-25-2020, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Well until Lorimar went bankrupt and got bought out in 93 by WB

Lorimar didn’t go bankrupt. It was bigger than Warner Bros’ own television division. And the head of Lorimar Television, Les Moonves, became the head of Warner Bros Television after the acquisition. It was considered a significant coup because Warner’s own television division at the time was struggling.

Lorimar Television · 10-05-2020, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

Lorimar didn’t go bankrupt. It was bigger than Warner Bros’ own television division. And the head of Lorimar Television, Les Moonves, became the head of Warner Bros Television after the acquisition. It was considered a significant coup because Warner’s own television division at the time was struggling.

That doesn’t make sense. Why dissolve Lorimar if it’s a bigger company?

TV Guy · 10-05-2020, 10:29 PM

Warner Bros was a big media company with a television division that was struggling. They bought Lorimar because Lorimar had a very successful television division that would help Warner be stronger. They put the Lorimar president in charge of the combined division and they became much more powerful in the TV business.

A similar situation happened when Paramount / Gulf & Western bought Desilu. Paramount was a far bigger company but Desilu was successful in television, and Desilu became Paramount’s television division.

TMC · 10-07-2020, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

I have a theory that Miller/Boyett didn't really want to do a show with Valerie Harper in the first place. Or let me explain and clarify. Before and after Valerie, Miller/Boyett had never done a full-blown and deliberate "star vehicle". Well, I suppose, Two of a Kind with the Olsen Twins was an exception. With Valerie, it was a case in which they were among the few producers who already had experience with sitcoms during a time in which sitcoms were on an upswing due to the immediate success of The Cosby Show.

As explained here, Miller/Boyett were more comfortable picking actors who had only done guest parts on TV or small parts in movies and making them into leads. They didn't think that Valerie Harper should've been in any position of "calling the shots" even though she was a star of the highly successful Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda. Miller/Boyett were I believe, one of those TV producers how had a decidedly rigid, "I know what's best" approach to comedy.

RetroGuy2000 · 10-07-2020, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

I have a theory that Miller/Boyett didn't really want to do a show with Valerie Harper in the first place. Or let me explain and clarify. Before and after Valerie, Miller/Boyett had never done a full-blown and deliberate "star vehicle". Well, I suppose, Two of a Kind with the Olsen Twins was an exception. With Valerie, it was a case in which they were among the few producers who already had experience with sitcoms during a time in which sitcoms were on an upswing due to the immediate success of The Cosby Show.

As explained here, Miller/Boyett were more comfortable picking actors who had only done guest parts on TV or small parts in movies and making them into leads. They didn't think that Valerie Harper should've been in any position of "calling the shots" even though she was a star of the highly successful Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda. Miller/Boyett were I believe, one of those TV producers how had a decidedly rigid, "I know what's best" approach to comedy.

I think you are right, TMC. They were used to calling the shots, not having demands made of them. This led, I think, to them viewing Valerie's demands as "crazy"; soon, they were actually accusing Valerie herself of being "crazy", something for which she successfully sued them in court.

Lorimar Television · 10-09-2020, 10:15 PM

That's too bad. Who came up with the concept first MB or Valerie?

BestTVever · 10-02-2022, 06:23 AM

Yes she wanted more money. However the network was also getting tired of her jealousy. Jason was a big star and she feared he was stealing her limelight. She confronted executives about cutting his lines and making sure the show was about her.
She ruined a good thing.

Schmo · 10-02-2022, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Yes she wanted more money. However the network was also getting tired of her jealousy. Jason was a big star and she feared he was stealing her limelight. She confronted executives about cutting his lines and making sure the show was about her.
She ruined a good thing.

I just looked up Jason Bateman’s career on Wikipedia. Before “Valerie”, he had previously appeared on “Little House on the Prairie” and “Silver Spoons” in recurring roles. Then he played the lead in the sitcom “It’s Your Move”, which was canceled after 18 episodes.
Valerie Harper’s television career was hit-or-miss after “Rhoda”. She mostly appeared in made-for-TV movies from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s.
I think “Valerie”’s producers saw Jason as a rising star and Harper as a has-been.

BestTVever · 10-03-2022, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

I just looked up Jason Bateman’s career on Wikipedia. Before “Valerie”, he had previously appeared on “Little House on the Prairie” and “Silver Spoons” in recurring roles. Then he played the lead in the sitcom “It’s Your Move”, which was canceled after 18 episodes.
Valerie Harper’s television career was hit-or-miss after “Rhoda”. She mostly appeared in made-for-TV movies from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s.
I think “Valerie”’s producers saw Jason as a rising star and Harper as a has-been.

He was. The same thing happened on Silver Spoons where Jason was a regular on seaons 1. Ricky was concerned Jason was becoming the star of his own show. Once they took Jason off the show, the ratings declined. Jason got ratings and had a cult following of young girls. Networks knew this.

stevea · 10-03-2022, 01:33 PM

I've heard the story of Jason's departure from Silver Spoons before.

He was another Eddie Haskell, played the Derek role well, and really added to the show.

I find it incredible that show runners would listen to Schroder's concern. As long as they had him under contract, they should have told him his job is to act, and their job is to cast the actors.

Valerie must have been "here we go again" for Bateman. Only the outcome was radically different.

09-01-2019, 01:51 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	Valerie Harper leaving "Valerie" What really happened? In Valerie's book, she makes it sound like one day they suddenly fired her out of the blue then tried to smear her reputation in court. She added that she was concerned about the level of writing, that the audience wasn't laughing at the lines, and the producer told her they would sweeten it in the editing room. What really happened? The common story that I hear is that Valerie felt the show was becoming too reliant on Jason Bateman, and wanted it to be focused back on her. When she expressed disapproval, they canned her and wrote her out in a rather awful way, yet still keeping the show titled Valerie's Family.
	Last edited by TMC; 09-03-2019 at 03:22 AM.

09-24-2020, 10:39 PM	#5
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Well until Lorimar went bankrupt and got bought out in 93 by WB
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

09-02-2019, 03:48 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	At the start of the third season, she and her husband (who was one of the executive producers) didn’t show up for work, holding out for more money and a larger piece of the syndication revenues. They also wanted more creative control; Valerie had cut her teeth on James L. Brooks’ sophisticated brand of comedy, not the Miller/Boyett family sitcoms. Valerie had held out for more money during the run of Rhoda and wound up getting more money. Valerie and her husband eventually came to terms and she came back and filmed an episode for the third season. Then Miller/Boyett and Lorimar fired her after that episode, with NBC’s backing (it was later refilmed with Sandy Duncan). Valerie said later that the producers and the network had “buyers’ remorse”. Lorimar said she was being disruptive on the set. Valerie sued for being wrongfully fired, and won. Valerie was very gracious about the whole thing years later in interviews, praising Tom Miller and Bob Boyett as good people, and saying that she had reconciled with most of the people involved.

09-12-2020, 02:15 PM	#4
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	I think firing Valerie was purely a power move to show that she wasn’t the boss. Although she won her lawsuit, Miller/Boyett and Lorimar’s reputation quickly recovered.

10-05-2020, 10:29 PM	#8
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Warner Bros was a big media company with a television division that was struggling. They bought Lorimar because Lorimar had a very successful television division that would help Warner be stronger. They put the Lorimar president in charge of the combined division and they became much more powerful in the TV business. A similar situation happened when Paramount / Gulf & Western bought Desilu. Paramount was a far bigger company but Desilu was successful in television, and Desilu became Paramount’s television division.

10-09-2020, 10:15 PM	#11
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	That's too bad. Who came up with the concept first MB or Valerie?

10-02-2022, 06:23 AM	#12
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	Yes she wanted more money. However the network was also getting tired of her jealousy. Jason was a big star and she feared he was stealing her limelight. She confronted executives about cutting his lines and making sure the show was about her. She ruined a good thing.

10-03-2022, 01:33 PM	#15
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,176	I've heard the story of Jason's departure from Silver Spoons before. He was another Eddie Haskell, played the Derek role well, and really added to the show. I find it incredible that show runners would listen to Schroder's concern. As long as they had him under contract, they should have told him his job is to act, and their job is to cast the actors. Valerie must have been "here we go again" for Bateman. Only the outcome was radically different.