Triangle Troubles, possible backdoor pilot ?

[BuffaloBill]

I've recently learned about backdoor pilots. How at very end of season a show will try to create a new show based on new characters popping up at season's end, thus creating a new show. To sum up in layman's terms. This was episode 22, the last in season 3. The scenario is Jack dates a woman living with 2 men platonically. Alot of story stems around Jack and new flame Debbie (played by the late Barrie Youngfellow), best known for It's A Living. Just a thought that going into season 4 they were looking for new characters (with oviously The Ropers on to their new show), or just doing a back door pilot with her and possibly roomates in episode. I have never read officially this was a backdoor pilot, but some have suggested it on Readit. It is interesting that a year later in Oct 1980 Barrie Youngfellow did get the lead role in her own comedy It's A Living, which ran from 80-82 on ABC. Just wanted to see others thoughts.

Go Duke ! Let's get #6

[Chocolate Moose]

That's pretty cheap.

[BestTVever]

I doubt it but I can see how the fans speculate. Threes Company had just had a spin off so another one at the same time would be odd. In all the writings and behind the scenes about Threes Company this was never mentioned. Lastly I don't see how any network would spin off a show with the exact same premise as the original show. That makes no sense. It was a cute episode where Jack meets a girl with a similar living arrangement but that is all I see. Thank goodness we did not get a spin off from the Bob and Carol episode Those were new characters but spoken about they were really close with the kids. Then poof we never see them again.

[BuffaloBill]

Bob and Carol was other one brought up, like you I didn’t see that as close to one.

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

I doubt it but I can see how the fans speculate. Threes Company had just had a spin off so another one at the same time would be odd. In all the writings and behind the scenes about Threes Company this was never mentioned. Lastly I don't see how any network would spin off a show with the exact same premise as the original show. That makes no sense. It was a cute episode where Jack meets a girl with a similar living arrangement but that is all I see. Thank goodness we did not get a spin off from the Bob and Carol episode Those were new characters but spoken about they were really close with the kids. Then poof we never see them again.

Just don’t mention same show premise’s to the producers and writers of NCIS and Law and Order the last 25 years. 😂

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

Just don’t mention same show premise’s to the producers and writers of NCIS and Law and Order the last 25 years. 😂

True but dramas especially crime dramas are different. A comedic sitcom with a premise of a guy and girl sharing an apartment to save money is not the same. A woman sharing an apartment with 2 guys is almost the same premise with much less set ups. It was ok for Jack to be a skirt chaser and be fond of his roommates. They would never have a woman be like that. But you are right I am sure there were sitcoms spun off with similar premises.

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

True but dramas especially crime dramas are different. A comedic sitcom with a premise of a guy and girl sharing an apartment to save money is not the same. A woman sharing an apartment with 2 guys is almost the same premise with much less set ups. It was ok for Jack to be a skirt chaser and be fond of his roommates. They would never have a woman be like that. But you are right I am sure there were sitcoms spun off with similar premises.

Absolutely correct that would be taboo with a female with two men, with her being the “pants” chaser. 😂

[TVFactFan]

I can see how u can think that since we saw so much of Debbie's personal life which was her home and who she lived with. Normally when u see that much of a guest character's personal life it means a back door pilot

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I can see how u can think that since we saw so much of Debbie's personal life which was her home and who she lived with. Normally when u see that much of a guest character's personal life it means a back door pilot

True but they needed to show her home life to reveal she was living Jack's life. She was into cooking too which made for some very funny scenes in the kitchen and her hiding her roommates

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

True but they needed to show her home life to reveal she was living Jack's life. She was into cooking too which made for some very funny scenes in the kitchen and her hiding her roommates

Debbie appearance wasnt as random as bob and carol. Debbie was one of jack's classmates. Bob and Carol just came out of nowhere

[Mace Dolex]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

I've recently learned about backdoor pilots. How at very end of season a show will try to create a new show based on new characters popping up at season's end, thus creating a new show. To sum up in layman's terms. This was episode 22, the last in season 3. The scenario is Jack dates a woman living with 2 men platonically. Alot of story stems around Jack and new flame Debbie (played by the late Barrie Youngfellow), best known for It's A Living. Just a thought that going into season 4 they were looking for new characters (with oviously The Ropers on to their new show), or just doing a back door pilot with her and possibly roomates in episode. I have never read officially this was a backdoor pilot, but some have suggested it on Readit. It is interesting that a year later in Oct 1980 Barrie Youngfellow did get the lead role in her own comedy It's A Living, which ran from 80-82 on ABC. Just wanted to see others thoughts.

Go Duke ! Let's get #6

It's interesting but I don't think so just for the fact that only the Debbie character was the focus and her two male roommates weren't brought up again in the episode.

Also usually for backdoor pilots the main cast is relegated to a small scene to make room for the newbies while in this case Jack, Janet and Chrissy were in every scene.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

It's interesting but I don't think so just for the fact that only the Debbie character was the focus and her two male roommates weren't brought up again in the episode.

Also usually for backdoor pilots the main cast is relegated to a small scene to make room for the newbies while in this case Jack, Janet and Chrissy were in every scene.

Good point, I remember back door pilot for Different Strokes and Married with Children where the cast is not seen at all after the first 5 mins