Goodbye Charlie (Unsold 1985 ABC Pilot Starring Suzanne Somers) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Sean Snow · 08-29-2001, 05:50 PM

As you may know, Suzanne Somers was in a pilot for a CBS show that barely was missed. It was called "Goodbye Charlie", and was from 1985. Anyway, Joyce's former live in boy friend was in it! Oh, what a tangled web we weave!

Rama Mageesh · 08-30-2001, 02:01 AM

have you ever seen it sean snow?

* is there any copies of that pilot she did after 3's company.. she brought it up on the E! true story.. but it was never picked up..

ebay?
hmmm

Sean Snow · 08-30-2001, 04:45 PM

No.

Some of copies of pilots she did from the 80s (I think 3 for CBS) have surfaced from time to time. You know, she was org. going to be in "Charlie's Angels", but Farra Fawcett-Majors got the part.

TJ · 08-30-2001, 09:27 PM

I think your info is off a little. According to the book Unsold Television Pilots by Lee Goldberg, it was an ABC show. It aired on June 4, 1985. John Davidson and Kathleen Wilhoite were also in it.

"In the sitcom, a womanizing advertising executive falls to his death--and comes back as Suzanne Somers, a fate worse than death. The reincarnated Charlie...now Charlene...goes to work as the secretary for the guy (Ray Buktencia) who replaced him. But She's still very much He, and best friend John Davidson is the only one who knows the truth."

Also unsold and unaired in 1982-1983 for CBS:

Suzie Mahoney (aka The Suzanne Somers Show)

Suzanne Somers plays a regular in a long-running sitcom who lives in an apartment with her six-year-old (Ryan Janis) William Windom, who runs the building and John Putch, her next-door neighbor, double as surrogate fathers to her son while she is working. Each episode would include scenes from the fictional series that would spotlight Somers in physical comedy.

TV Guy · 09-04-2001, 12:25 PM

I remember seeing "Goodbye Charlie" long ago, and thinking that it wasn't half bad for a failed pilot. ABC came very close to picking this up as a regular series, and they were even preparing to do publicity for it when they decided to pass.

I don't remember seeing either of the CBS "Suzanne" pilots -- the other one was where she played an flight attendant who was similar to Chrissy Snow.

TMC · 02-02-2023, 04:08 AM

This is a 1985 pilot about a hyper-sexist womanizing commercial director who dies in a hang-gliding accident but comes back to Earth immediately as a woman who tries to fit back into their old job only now as a new person.

http://thelandofwhatever.blogspot.co...rlie-1985.html

Quote:

Goodbye, Charlie began as a Broadway play by George Axelrod, then adapted into a feature film with an all-star cast that included Debbie Reynolds, Walter Matthau, Tony Curtis, & Pat Boone.

Some 20-odd years after the movie, 20th Century Fox decided to reboot it as a prospective ABC sitcom. And I do mean reboot.

Suzanne Somers (ex-Three's Company) takes over the title role, essayed in the movie by Reynolds, only this time, Charlie has been reincarnated into a woman (Somers) after drowning in a hang gliding accident. Charlie's been murdered in the movie, and, presumably, the play. John Davidson assumes the role played by Curtis, except that he's now in the television business. Had this succeeded, Davidson probably doesn't get to do Hollywood Squares the next year.

We all know what happened next. Somers rebounded two years later with She's The Sheriff, and, as we know, Davidson got three years out of hosting Squares.

TMC · 08-06-2026, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Get ready for a blast from the past with one of the weirdest 1985 TV pilots you've never seen - Goodbye Charlie starring Suzanne Somers! This obscure TV pilot is a must-watch for anyone who loves retro television and is curious about the shows that never made it to the air. With its unique blend of humor and quirky characters, Goodbye Charlie is a fascinating look at what could have been a huge hit. Join us as we dive into the weird and wonderful world of 80s television and explore the story behind this forgotten pilot. Whether you're a fan of Suzanne Somers or just love discovering new and unusual TV shows, this video is for you. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to experience one of the strangest TV pilots of the 1980s!

0:00 Intro
2:23 Open and credits
4:08 The Plot
5:27 Solid Sight Gag Clip
6:07 Bathroom joke clip
10:06 Wrap Up

08-29-2001, 05:50 PM	#1
Sean Snow moo Forum Star Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	Goodbye Charlie (Unsold 1985 ABC Pilot Starring Suzanne Somers) As you may know, Suzanne Somers was in a pilot for a CBS show that barely was missed. It was called "Goodbye Charlie", and was from 1985. Anyway, Joyce's former live in boy friend was in it! Oh, what a tangled web we weave!

08-30-2001, 09:27 PM	#4
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,831	I think your info is off a little. According to the book Unsold Television Pilots by Lee Goldberg, it was an ABC show. It aired on June 4, 1985. John Davidson and Kathleen Wilhoite were also in it. "In the sitcom, a womanizing advertising executive falls to his death--and comes back as Suzanne Somers, a fate worse than death. The reincarnated Charlie...now Charlene...goes to work as the secretary for the guy (Ray Buktencia) who replaced him. But She's still very much He, and best friend John Davidson is the only one who knows the truth." Also unsold and unaired in 1982-1983 for CBS: Suzie Mahoney (aka The Suzanne Somers Show) Suzanne Somers plays a regular in a long-running sitcom who lives in an apartment with her six-year-old (Ryan Janis) William Windom, who runs the building and John Putch, her next-door neighbor, double as surrogate fathers to her son while she is working. Each episode would include scenes from the fictional series that would spotlight Somers in physical comedy.
	Last edited by TJ; 02-02-2023 at 01:09 PM.

08-30-2001, 02:01 AM	#2
Rama Mageesh Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Posts: 79	have you ever seen it sean snow? * is there any copies of that pilot she did after 3's company.. she brought it up on the E! true story.. but it was never picked up.. ebay? hmmm

08-30-2001, 04:45 PM	#3
Sean Snow moo Forum Star Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	No. Some of copies of pilots she did from the 80s (I think 3 for CBS) have surfaced from time to time. You know, she was org. going to be in "Charlie's Angels", but Farra Fawcett-Majors got the part.

09-04-2001, 12:25 PM	#5
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,420	I remember seeing "Goodbye Charlie" long ago, and thinking that it wasn't half bad for a failed pilot. ABC came very close to picking this up as a regular series, and they were even preparing to do publicity for it when they decided to pass. I don't remember seeing either of the CBS "Suzanne" pilots -- the other one was where she played an flight attendant who was similar to Chrissy Snow.