Naomi Harper: Level-Head (NBC) to Air-Head (synd.) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GrandGame1440 · 04-08-2004, 03:25 PM

Why on earth did they make Naomi such a ditz in the synd. episodes? I mean I know she wasn't a genius in the NBC episodes (and she wasn't a TOTAL block-head in the synd. episodes either), but still, she seemed extremly dumbed down. What Happened?!?!?!?

FamilyTiesGOP · 04-08-2004, 05:40 PM

Well to me, Vint and Naomi just worked better in the syndicated episodes. I liked them both a little more goofy. It was much funnier.

Penny Lane · 04-08-2004, 07:41 PM

They did the same thing to Vint. But honestly I think the show was funnier for it!

TALLguyinKY · 04-09-2004, 07:23 AM

Yeah, it "decharacterized" Vint and Naomi a bit.

Whereas in the NBC episodes they were painted more realistic, in syndication a lot of their lines were along the "Yeah", "I do too", "Not me", "Sure" variety...more genarlized lines which wasn't as character-driven and unique (and Bubba fell into that trap too).

It was more interesting to me when they had more biting comments to make toward Mama or about their lifestyle, etc.

But yes, they still were funny in syndication of course! I just miss the deeper characterization from the NBC shows in syndication---and later syndication has Bubba a bit "generalized" too, not the "son of Eunice" he once was. lol

But, when the writers made Vint, Naomi 'n Bubba "Huey, Dewey, 'n Louie"-like, at least that was when Mama and Iola really shone and played well off each other! lol

Penny Lane · 04-09-2004, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TALLguyinKY
Yeah, it "decharacterized" Vint and Naomi a bit.

Whereas in the NBC episodes they were painted more realistic, in syndication a lot of their lines were along the "Yeah", "I do too", "Not me", "Sure" variety...more genarlized lines which wasn't as character-driven and unique (and Bubba fell into that trap too).

It was more interesting to me when they had more biting comments to make toward Mama or about their lifestyle, etc.

But yes, they still were funny in syndication of course! I just miss the deeper characterization from the NBC shows in syndication---and later syndication has Bubba a bit "generalized" too, not the "son of Eunice" he once was. lol

But, when the writers made Vint, Naomi 'n Bubba "Huey, Dewey, 'n Louie"-like, at least that was when Mama and Iola really shone and played well off each other! lol

Yeah, I know what you mean about Bubba,but being a parent who had a teenage son who had problems it is good to see that Bubba could straighten up and be a decent person! My son is 30 now and doing well . So maturity does do things to people!

I'm glad that the writers "grew up" Bubba . After all he had a good, mature ,steadying influence living with Mama!

I'm afraid that Eunice and Ed were as bubbleheaded as Bubba! He needed his grandmother at that time in his life!

FamilyTiesGOP · 04-09-2004, 09:18 PM

When Bubba first came on, he was alot like Eunice. Remember the Funeral episode? He had a fit at the funeral just like Eunice would have done. They did that a couple other times too like the in the episode where Bubba gets drunk and Mama goes "Well don't sound just like your mother."

I liked the syndicated Vint and Naomi because they are so much funnier. I think the producers wanted Vint and Naomi to be people of little quality and power so that Mama could pick on them all the time.

Dogma66603 · 04-10-2004, 12:09 AM

She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid... Mama made her seem dumb when she was insulting her all the time, but if I remember correctly, Naomi never actually did anything stupid.

TALLguyinKY · 04-10-2004, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dogma66603
She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid...

Okay. lol

Mama: "No...he was tryin' to tell me somethin' this time..."

Naomi: "Maybe he was tryin' to tell you to get a new coat."

Mama: "For pity's sakes Naomi, we're talkin' about God here, not Calvin Klein!"

lol

And Mama didn't reference Naomi as "dumb" or "stupid" often at all---most of that impression comes from the fact that when Mama does dig in at Naomi in that way, it's usually about her "lack of kitchen skills and knowledge"---to put it lightly! lol Also, the fact that Naomi is both lazy and unambitious just bespeaks "unintelligent" to Mama.

I think in both NBC and synd. she was smart but could backslip now 'n then into "eyeroll" territory (example from NBC----"You mean he's gonna marry one o' them little E.T.s?").

Gotta love Naomi Oates Harper!

PracTz · 04-30-2004, 05:29 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dogma66603
[B]She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid...

OK, after she got sunburned in Hawaii (thanks to Vint's mixing up her suntan lotion w/baby oil), she was moaning to everyone around about what happened.. .

Naomi: I don't want your PIH-ty!
Iola: OK!

04-08-2004, 03:25 PM	#1
GrandGame1440 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 557	Naomi Harper: Level-Head (NBC) to Air-Head (synd.) Why on earth did they make Naomi such a ditz in the synd. episodes? I mean I know she wasn't a genius in the NBC episodes (and she wasn't a TOTAL block-head in the synd. episodes either), but still, she seemed extremly dumbed down. What Happened?!?!?!?

04-08-2004, 07:41 PM	#3
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,261	They did the same thing to Vint. But honestly I think the show was funnier for it!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

04-08-2004, 05:40 PM	#2
FamilyTiesGOP _ Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 1,631	Well to me, Vint and Naomi just worked better in the syndicated episodes. I liked them both a little more goofy. It was much funnier.

04-09-2004, 07:23 AM	#4
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	Yeah, it "decharacterized" Vint and Naomi a bit. Whereas in the NBC episodes they were painted more realistic, in syndication a lot of their lines were along the "Yeah", "I do too", "Not me", "Sure" variety...more genarlized lines which wasn't as character-driven and unique (and Bubba fell into that trap too). It was more interesting to me when they had more biting comments to make toward Mama or about their lifestyle, etc. But yes, they still were funny in syndication of course! I just miss the deeper characterization from the NBC shows in syndication---and later syndication has Bubba a bit "generalized" too, not the "son of Eunice" he once was. lol But, when the writers made Vint, Naomi 'n Bubba "Huey, Dewey, 'n Louie"-like, at least that was when Mama and Iola really shone and played well off each other! lol

04-09-2004, 09:18 PM	#6
FamilyTiesGOP _ Senior Member Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 1,631	When Bubba first came on, he was alot like Eunice. Remember the Funeral episode? He had a fit at the funeral just like Eunice would have done. They did that a couple other times too like the in the episode where Bubba gets drunk and Mama goes "Well don't sound just like your mother." I liked the syndicated Vint and Naomi because they are so much funnier. I think the producers wanted Vint and Naomi to be people of little quality and power so that Mama could pick on them all the time.

04-10-2004, 12:09 AM	#7
Dogma66603 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 24, 2003 Posts: 330	She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid... Mama made her seem dumb when she was insulting her all the time, but if I remember correctly, Naomi never actually did anything stupid.

04-30-2004, 05:29 PM	#9
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dogma66603 [B]She actually didn't seem much like a dumb ditz in the syndicated years. Name one line from any syndicated episode that was really stupid... OK, after she got sunburned in Hawaii (thanks to Vint's mixing up her suntan lotion w/baby oil), she was moaning to everyone around about what happened.. . Naomi: I don't want your PIH-ty! Iola: OK!