Why did Francis Bavier leave the show? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CJMD03 · 09-14-2023, 06:27 PM

It sounds like FB was just a mean and bitter old lady. Good if she was fired.

Samme · 09-15-2023, 05:08 AM

At the time it was very surprising that she stayed on for Mayberry RFD. It was probably gonna be lower quality and she was old enough to retire. And she was famous enough for eight years for that to be satisfied. In the video it says she was talked into continuing and that makes sense because they wanted to try to ensure its success. And the thing that the most sense to me for her continuing and leaving after two seasons is she wanted to make sure she had a big enough nest egg for her to safely retire in comfort. They probably gave her a nice raise, she reached her goal after two seasons, and left. There was no end in sight at that point, so she made the choice of when to leave. She was old enough and had enough money.

rusty spike · 09-15-2023, 10:44 AM

She is credited for 36 episodes, but she missed 14 episodes out of 26 from Season 1 alone. I don't think that we'll ever know whether it was the production or Frances who wanted to stop doing the show. I lean more to the show moving to fire her because she is credited for Season 3 episodes for which she did not appear in (after the Myna bird ep). I think the show may have done that (giving her credit) so she could receive royalties. Sometimes, it's a wise business decision when dealing with an unpleasant/difficult actor/actress. I believe the stories which describe her as a professional, but difficult to work with.

And while the umbrella incident didn't get Frances immediately fired, it created more tension on the set, which was uncalled for.

Duster76 · 09-15-2023, 11:40 PM

I don't think there's enough evidence to conclude she was fired, in fact all the evidence is the other way. Frances was 67 when she retired. This was her 10th overall season in a Mayberry related projected, she probably thought it was as good a time as any. The show was going strong when she left, how was she to know the third season would be the final one, maybe if she had, she might have stayed. 65 years old was a much bigger deal in those days than it is now. That was the age people retired, many companies designated 65 as the mandatory retirement age. They may have listed her in the credits as a way of honoring her contributions to both series, Ray Collins was still listed in the credits of Perry Mason for seasons 7 and 8, even though he left the show early in the 7th season.

As big a pain as she was, she was very popular with the fan base, and to producers that means a lot, like it or not she was helping make them a great deal of money.

Willbo · 09-19-2023, 10:09 AM

When she agreed to be on RFD, she probably negotiated to do fewer episodes and only 2 seasons. I am sure she just wanted to retire.

rusty spike · 09-19-2023, 10:19 AM

The episodes in which she appear, are really good. They are not just background fillers (here's Aunt Bee carrying a load of laundry).

Is it possible that she suffered from bipolar disorder or some sort of personality disorder?

I think her co-stars were mostly professional to say that Frances could be difficult to work with at times.

Duster76 · 09-20-2023, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

The episodes in which she appear, are really good. They are not just background fillers (here's Aunt Bee carrying a load of laundry).

Is it possible that she suffered from bipolar disorder or some sort of personality disorder?

I think her co-stars were mostly professional to say that Frances could be difficult to work with at times.

I never read or heard anything suggesting she was bipolar, but she certainly seemed to have some sort of personality issue. She not only had problems on both Mayberry shows, but Eve Arden found her difficult to work with on The Eve Arden Show. She seemed to have had no family relationships of any sort and whether or not she was ever married is debatable, no record of the marriage was ever found. I have read that she stayed in contact with the person who did her hair on the Mayberry shows, and that it was that person that brokered the phone call she made to Griffith prior to her death. Again whether or not that call was actually made is subject to speculation, there was no one alive who could confirm it, and the details seem a little too tidy.

stevea · 09-20-2023, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

She is credited for 36 episodes, but she missed 14 episodes out of 26 from Season 1 alone. I don't think that we'll ever know whether it was the production or Frances who wanted to stop doing the show. I lean more to the show moving to fire her because she is credited for Season 3 episodes for which she did not appear in (after the Myna bird ep). I think the show may have done that (giving her credit) so she could receive royalties. Sometimes, it's a wise business decision when dealing with an unpleasant/difficult actor/actress. I believe the stories which describe her as a professional, but difficult to work with.

And while the umbrella incident didn't get Frances immediately fired, it created more tension on the set, which was uncalled for.

She was not credited at all in season 3. That's just a flat-out IMDb error.

stevea · 09-20-2023, 10:50 PM

She appeared to have missed at least a few season 2 episodes--when other actresses filled in for her, in episodes which would have had her cast.

That kind of thing would lead me to think she was let go, but of course we'll probably never know. It's also plausible she decided to leave after season 2.

Willbo · 09-21-2023, 08:41 AM

She is not credited in the opening sequence in the episodes that she does not appear in. That makes me think they knew ahead of time that she was only appearing in select episodes.

rusty spike · 09-21-2023, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbo

She is not credited in the opening sequence in the episodes that she does not appear in. That makes me think they knew ahead of time that she was only appearing in select episodes.

Correct. That's what the Season 1 credits show as well. They obviously used two sets of opening credits as she is billed after Ken Berry. When she was not in the episode, then George Lindsay is billed "co-starring".

Willbo · 09-21-2023, 11:53 AM

If I remember correctly, George Lindsey missed a few episodes and he was not credited also.

09-14-2023, 06:27 PM	#16
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 412	It sounds like FB was just a mean and bitter old lady. Good if she was fired.

09-15-2023, 05:08 AM	#17
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 674	At the time it was very surprising that she stayed on for Mayberry RFD. It was probably gonna be lower quality and she was old enough to retire. And she was famous enough for eight years for that to be satisfied. In the video it says she was talked into continuing and that makes sense because they wanted to try to ensure its success. And the thing that the most sense to me for her continuing and leaving after two seasons is she wanted to make sure she had a big enough nest egg for her to safely retire in comfort. They probably gave her a nice raise, she reached her goal after two seasons, and left. There was no end in sight at that point, so she made the choice of when to leave. She was old enough and had enough money.

09-15-2023, 10:44 AM	#18
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	She is credited for 36 episodes, but she missed 14 episodes out of 26 from Season 1 alone. I don't think that we'll ever know whether it was the production or Frances who wanted to stop doing the show. I lean more to the show moving to fire her because she is credited for Season 3 episodes for which she did not appear in (after the Myna bird ep). I think the show may have done that (giving her credit) so she could receive royalties. Sometimes, it's a wise business decision when dealing with an unpleasant/difficult actor/actress. I believe the stories which describe her as a professional, but difficult to work with. And while the umbrella incident didn't get Frances immediately fired, it created more tension on the set, which was uncalled for.

09-15-2023, 11:40 PM	#19
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	I don't think there's enough evidence to conclude she was fired, in fact all the evidence is the other way. Frances was 67 when she retired. This was her 10th overall season in a Mayberry related projected, she probably thought it was as good a time as any. The show was going strong when she left, how was she to know the third season would be the final one, maybe if she had, she might have stayed. 65 years old was a much bigger deal in those days than it is now. That was the age people retired, many companies designated 65 as the mandatory retirement age. They may have listed her in the credits as a way of honoring her contributions to both series, Ray Collins was still listed in the credits of Perry Mason for seasons 7 and 8, even though he left the show early in the 7th season. As big a pain as she was, she was very popular with the fan base, and to producers that means a lot, like it or not she was helping make them a great deal of money.

09-19-2023, 10:09 AM	#20
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	When she agreed to be on RFD, she probably negotiated to do fewer episodes and only 2 seasons. I am sure she just wanted to retire.

09-19-2023, 10:19 AM	#21
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	The episodes in which she appear, are really good. They are not just background fillers (here's Aunt Bee carrying a load of laundry). Is it possible that she suffered from bipolar disorder or some sort of personality disorder? I think her co-stars were mostly professional to say that Frances could be difficult to work with at times.

09-20-2023, 10:50 PM	#24
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,205	She appeared to have missed at least a few season 2 episodes--when other actresses filled in for her, in episodes which would have had her cast. That kind of thing would lead me to think she was let go, but of course we'll probably never know. It's also plausible she decided to leave after season 2.

09-21-2023, 08:41 AM	#25
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	She is not credited in the opening sequence in the episodes that she does not appear in. That makes me think they knew ahead of time that she was only appearing in select episodes.

09-21-2023, 11:53 AM	#27
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	If I remember correctly, George Lindsey missed a few episodes and he was not credited also.