Iola's Show.. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BillyTateFan · 02-17-2023, 07:24 AM

Do you think a spinoff with Iola could have made it as a show????Or was Beverly Archer at her best as a supporting character?

rusty spike · 02-17-2023, 06:15 PM

I like her character, but I am not sure that it would work to have a show centered around her- and this is not a criticism about the Iola character and not Beverly Archer.

Iola on occasion could be strong, but we sympathize with her as a pitiful maiden with the task or burden taking care of her aging parents. Her mom was demonized a lot in the way she controlled and manipulated Iola- she was "grounded" in one episode. Would viewers want to tune in to see her mom be verbally and possibly emotionally abusive towards Iola? Probably not. I think Iola was very fortunate to have the companionship of Thelma.

stevea · 02-17-2023, 07:35 PM

They'd probably put her in a different situation--her parents go into managed care/nursing home, she meets a man, etc.

I agree, no criticism of the character or Beverly Archer, but I'm not sure she could sustain a series.

They could have spun Vint, Naomi, and Iola off together. That might have worked.

TheLittleFaerie · 02-18-2023, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

They'd probably put her in a different situation--her parents go into managed care/nursing home, she meets a man, etc.

I agree, no criticism of the character or Beverly Archer, but I'm not sure she could sustain a series.

They could have spun Vint, Naomi, and Iola off together. That might have worked.

The name of the show would be simply Iola, and it would more than likely focus on Iola trying to juggle having a social life while trying to care for her parents. It could be good for a season or 2

schmave · 02-20-2023, 06:04 PM

This assumes the spinoff happened during the series ...
It might have been funny for a little while, but I can only imagine that watching the entire show, the absence of the Harpers would have been glaring for me short of whatever guest appearances anyone from Mama's Family would have made.
Even if it followed the end of Mama's Family, Vicki Lawrence probably wouldn't have played a huge part. It seemed like she was ready to take a break from Thelma by 1990.

TheLittleFaerie · 02-21-2023, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schmave

This assumes the spinoff happened during the series ...
It might have been funny for a little while, but I can only imagine that watching the entire show, the absence of the Harpers would have been glaring for me short of whatever guest appearances anyone from Mama's Family would have made.
Even if it followed the end of Mama's Family, Vicki Lawrence probably wouldn't have played a huge part. It seemed like she was ready to take a break from Thelma by 1990.

I think the Harpers could make occasional appearances, but they could bring in a new cast, and Iola could have another friend who she shares common interests with, and maybe even a guy friend.

I always felt like if Iola met Jane Hathaway from Beverly Hillbillies, they would make good friends

02-17-2023, 07:24 AM	#1
BillyTateFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 04, 2016 Location: staunton virginia Posts: 11	Iola's Show.. Do you think a spinoff with Iola could have made it as a show????Or was Beverly Archer at her best as a supporting character?

02-20-2023, 06:04 PM	#5
schmave Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2013 Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio Posts: 654	This assumes the spinoff happened during the series ... It might have been funny for a little while, but I can only imagine that watching the entire show, the absence of the Harpers would have been glaring for me short of whatever guest appearances anyone from Mama's Family would have made. Even if it followed the end of Mama's Family, Vicki Lawrence probably wouldn't have played a huge part. It seemed like she was ready to take a break from Thelma by 1990.
	__________________ "hey when you're in the desert you don't complain that the champagne's not Korbel if you get my drift." - RightOnDude

02-17-2023, 06:15 PM	#2
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I like her character, but I am not sure that it would work to have a show centered around her- and this is not a criticism about the Iola character and not Beverly Archer. Iola on occasion could be strong, but we sympathize with her as a pitiful maiden with the task or burden taking care of her aging parents. Her mom was demonized a lot in the way she controlled and manipulated Iola- she was "grounded" in one episode. Would viewers want to tune in to see her mom be verbally and possibly emotionally abusive towards Iola? Probably not. I think Iola was very fortunate to have the companionship of Thelma.

02-17-2023, 07:35 PM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,859	They'd probably put her in a different situation--her parents go into managed care/nursing home, she meets a man, etc. I agree, no criticism of the character or Beverly Archer, but I'm not sure she could sustain a series. They could have spun Vint, Naomi, and Iola off together. That might have worked.