Why was Deirdre a sourpuss? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

cd637299 · 10-08-2025, 04:41 PM

Not being a big fan of “Hazel”, I haven’t watched every episode, although AntennaTV has cycled that thing I don’t know HOW may times….

Every time Deidre appeared, she was snobbish or upset about something. I know she was George’s sister, and so many episodes had her in a run-in with Hazel.

But why was she such a sourpuss all the time? Was she against Hazel just “being there”? Was there one particular episode that started the feud?

Sure, Hazel was obnoxious, but that’s her character. Seriously it seemed that the only way to get Deidre to smile, was to flip her upside down!

Just wondering what it was based on. Maybe jealousy, but who/what was she jealous of? Inquiring minds.

Did Deidre appear in season 5?

cd

ThisLittlePiggy · 10-08-2025, 04:58 PM

Dierdre was a snob because she felt Hazel was merely the hired help and didn't believe the family should have treated her like family.

ThisLittlePiggy · 10-08-2025, 04:58 PM

She was not in Season 5.

stevea · 10-08-2025, 06:29 PM

Deirdre's first appearance was in a phone call to Dorothy, which Hazel monopolized when she answered it. Deirdre was nasty on that call and nearly always nasty.

Nasty to Hazel, and as nasty to her own daughter. And she treats her poor husband like a piece of dirt. In a later episode he'd had it and really asserted himself.

Once Hazel was out of earshot (possibly--you never know if she's listening someplace) Deirdre always told the Baxters she didn't know how they could stand Hazel. And there Deirdre was right. Hazel constantly interrupted, and was always around when she shouldn't have been. Probably the only thing that held George back from firing her was Dorothy's fondness for Hazel, who had been with Dorothy's family since Dorothy was a little girl.

The writers probably wrote her that way -- nasty and snobby -- so they could write episodes where Deirdre would "get hers" in the end. And most times, she did.

cd637299 · 10-08-2025, 08:38 PM

Sorry for misspelling Deirdre.

I realize it’s only a sitcom—but one would think that George and/or Dorothy would sit her down and lay down the law.

I know most sitcoms have unlikeable characters—but I cannot think of one redeeming quality about Deirdre. I couldn’t imagine her in the Hazel comic strip, where Hazel could give Deirdre a run for her money in snobbishness….

cd

stevea · 10-08-2025, 10:02 PM

It's an odd spelling and there's that i before e rule that it violates--it just doesn't look right.

Right, she has no redeeming qualities. When her husband decides to retire and leave for Bora Bora with or without her--then she acts human. Any other time she's only nice to her snobby friends.

biffbronson · 10-09-2025, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

She was not in Season 5.

Deirdre (Cathy Lewis) appeared in four Season 5 eps. The one I remember most was her final one, with Claude Akins playing the painter.

stevea · 10-09-2025, 10:50 AM

She was also in an episode where she wanted to send Susie, the daughter of Steve and Barbara, to "elocution school," regardless of what the parents wanted.

I'm trying to remember the other ones--there was also one where a snobby friend of Deidre's wanted to star in a play, but the director wanted Hazel. The snobby lady had been in an altercation with Hazel about a parking space.

Can't seem to recall the fourth one.

Dude111 · 10-09-2025, 08:24 PM

I had a friend name Deirdre ... I called her D for short

She had horses and liked to ride........ I dunno if she still does or not. I havent seen her in many years.........

ThisLittlePiggy · 10-09-2025, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Deirdre (Cathy Lewis) appeared in four Season 5 eps. The one I remember most was her final one, with Claude Akins playing the painter.

Oh really? Sorry. I got my answer from AI.

Dude111 · 10-09-2025, 10:42 PM

Ai is stooooooooooooooooopid!!

ThisLittlePiggy · 10-11-2025, 02:07 PM

Well I should have double checked the answer I gave but I was lazy.

jehobden · 11-27-2025, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

She was also in an episode where she wanted to send Susie, the daughter of Steve and Barbara, to "elocution school," regardless of what the parents wanted.

I'm trying to remember the other ones--there was also one where a snobby friend of Deidre's wanted to star in a play, but the director wanted Hazel. The snobby lady had been in an altercation with Hazel about a parking space.

Can't seem to recall the fourth one.

Dierdre was also in "Hazel's Endearing Young Charms" in a brief scene where she was held on the phone in her bedroom for a long period. This episode was also Harry's last, as he was also in their bedroom, of course in a separate bed.

Mr B · 12-20-2025, 04:11 PM

Deirdre was a snot princess obsessed with money and high society prestige.. She considered Hazel as a piece of garbage who’s only purpose was to serve her and her ilk

stevea · 12-20-2025, 09:14 PM

And just like any mini-morality play, she got hers in the end, most of the time.

10-08-2025, 04:41 PM	#1
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 844	Why was Deirdre a sourpuss? Not being a big fan of “Hazel”, I haven’t watched every episode, although AntennaTV has cycled that thing I don’t know HOW may times…. Every time Deidre appeared, she was snobbish or upset about something. I know she was George’s sister, and so many episodes had her in a run-in with Hazel. But why was she such a sourpuss all the time? Was she against Hazel just “being there”? Was there one particular episode that started the feud? Sure, Hazel was obnoxious, but that’s her character. Seriously it seemed that the only way to get Deidre to smile, was to flip her upside down! Just wondering what it was based on. Maybe jealousy, but who/what was she jealous of? Inquiring minds. Did Deidre appear in season 5? cd

10-08-2025, 04:58 PM	#2
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,284	Dierdre was a snob because she felt Hazel was merely the hired help and didn't believe the family should have treated her like family.

10-08-2025, 06:29 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,210	Deirdre's first appearance was in a phone call to Dorothy, which Hazel monopolized when she answered it. Deirdre was nasty on that call and nearly always nasty. Nasty to Hazel, and as nasty to her own daughter. And she treats her poor husband like a piece of dirt. In a later episode he'd had it and really asserted himself. Once Hazel was out of earshot (possibly--you never know if she's listening someplace) Deirdre always told the Baxters she didn't know how they could stand Hazel. And there Deirdre was right. Hazel constantly interrupted, and was always around when she shouldn't have been. Probably the only thing that held George back from firing her was Dorothy's fondness for Hazel, who had been with Dorothy's family since Dorothy was a little girl. The writers probably wrote her that way -- nasty and snobby -- so they could write episodes where Deirdre would "get hers" in the end. And most times, she did.

10-08-2025, 08:38 PM	#5
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 844	Sorry for misspelling Deirdre. I realize it’s only a sitcom—but one would think that George and/or Dorothy would sit her down and lay down the law. I know most sitcoms have unlikeable characters—but I cannot think of one redeeming quality about Deirdre. I couldn’t imagine her in the Hazel comic strip, where Hazel could give Deirdre a run for her money in snobbishness…. cd

10-08-2025, 10:02 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,210	It's an odd spelling and there's that i before e rule that it violates--it just doesn't look right. Right, she has no redeeming qualities. When her husband decides to retire and leave for Bora Bora with or without her--then she acts human. Any other time she's only nice to her snobby friends.

10-09-2025, 10:50 AM	#8
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,210	She was also in an episode where she wanted to send Susie, the daughter of Steve and Barbara, to "elocution school," regardless of what the parents wanted. I'm trying to remember the other ones--there was also one where a snobby friend of Deidre's wanted to star in a play, but the director wanted Hazel. The snobby lady had been in an altercation with Hazel about a parking space. Can't seem to recall the fourth one.

10-09-2025, 08:24 PM	#9
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,427	I had a friend name Deirdre ... I called her D for short She had horses and liked to ride........ I dunno if she still does or not. I havent seen her in many years.........

10-09-2025, 10:42 PM	#11
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,427	Ai is stooooooooooooooooopid!!

10-11-2025, 02:07 PM	#12
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,284	Well I should have double checked the answer I gave but I was lazy.

12-20-2025, 04:11 PM	#14
Mr B Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 13, 2002 Posts: 136	Deirdre was a snot princess obsessed with money and high society prestige.. She considered Hazel as a piece of garbage who’s only purpose was to serve her and her ilk

12-20-2025, 09:14 PM	#15
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,210	And just like any mini-morality play, she got hers in the end, most of the time.