The Episode-"THe Baby" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-07-2004, 07:21 PM

a 30 minute episode about a character-(Loretta) that was never ever seen before?-LOL I know the viewers who watched this episode in 1975 on CBS probably said to theirself-"where is James and who the hell is Loretta?" Worst episode of season 3.

knl9674 · 09-10-2004, 02:45 PM

uhhhhhh, can't agree. there are definitely other episodes on season 3 that didn't float my boat. at least this episode had a hugely funny scene of wologna wilding out when they were going to help deliver the baby. LOL

what was the social issue being dealt with for this one - adoption? they were soapboxing about something before she went into labor. and we never see her again, not even as a new character. you know they love to do this and think you don't remember.

anyway, that was Lettie from A Different World. I always liked her as an actress. And Oprah's mama in The Women of Brewster Place. she's been in a ton of stuff.

as far as the WORST, what about the interrogation? that was pretty bad, if i say so myself.

TVFactFan · 09-10-2004, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by knl9674
uhhhhhh, can't agree. there are definitely other episodes on season 3 that didn't float my boat. at least this episode had a hugely funny scene of wologna wilding out when they were going to help deliver the baby. LOL

what was the social issue being dealt with for this one - adoption? they were soapboxing about something before she went into labor. and we never see her again, not even as a new character. you know they love to do this and think you don't remember.

anyway, that was Lettie from A Different World. I always liked her as an actress. And Oprah's mama in The Women of Brewster Place. she's been in a ton of stuff.

as far as the WORST, what about the interrogation? that was pretty bad, if i say so myself.

I think you mean the "Investigation". And to me that episode is defintely better than the 3 episodes James wasn't in

The Baby
Michael's Big Fall
J.J in Trouble

bronxgirl · 09-10-2004, 08:55 PM

The Baby Episode . Wow its been awhile since I seen this one but I'll try to break this down from memory.

Florida & Willona was giving a surprise baby shower for Loretta (that was her name?) anyway just to find out she was placing the baby for adoption b/c she already had a bunch of kids, living on welfare and didn't want to raise another one the same way. The controversy at the time (and somewhat now for that matter) was Black people placing their children for adoption taking a quote from knl9674 the soapboxing was that this was consdered a taboo and not done since black people would always "adopt' from within keeping the children in the family regardless if it was inthe child's best interest . Thinking on the lines that during slavery black children were often taken away. F & W although didn't agree respected the the friend but when she went into labor and had the baby and Thelma was left alone with the friend while Florida called the adoption agency. She changed her mind and kept the baby b/c thelma showed her the child.

TVFactFan · 09-10-2004, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bronxgirl
The Baby Episode . Wow its been awhile since I seen this one but I'll try to break this down from memory.

Florida & Willona was giving a surprise baby shower for Loretta (that was her name?) anyway just to find out she was placing the baby for adoption b/c she already had a bunch of kids, living on welfare and didn't want to raise another one the same way. The controversy at the time (and somewhat now for that matter) was Black people placing their children for adoption taking a quote from knl9674 the soapboxing was that this was consdered a taboo and not done since black people would always "adopt' from within keeping the children in the family regardless if it was inthe child's best interest . Thinking on the lines that during slavery black children were often taken away. F & W although didn't agree respected the the friend but when she went into labor and had the baby and Thelma was left alone with the friend while Florida called the adoption agency. She changed her mind and kept the baby b/c thelma showed her the child.

So it sounds like the writers/producers wrote story ideas based on what was going in theCpuntry-specially in the third season. There was a quote by the producer in a 1975 Ebony Magazine that the show will have more serious topics in Season 3. This statement was made in August of 1975.

laneyday · 09-14-2004, 10:35 AM

I liked this episode - 'The Baby'. I found it particularly funny.

TVFactFan · 09-14-2004, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by laneyday
I liked this episode - 'The Baby'. I found it particularly funny.

WhAt did you find funny about it?

laneyday · 09-14-2004, 02:41 PM

Their whole antics when the baby was coming. When JJ sent Michael out to 'Get Mama...ANYBODY'S MAMA' was too, too funny.

And when Wilona looked like she was going to drop just at the thought. It had, in my opinion, the same comical chemistry as 'The Dinner Party'.

GeorgeWBushGOP · 09-15-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by laneyday
I liked this episode - 'The Baby'. I found it particularly funny.

As they say on TV Funny Ha Ha? of Funny strange?

Lady T · 09-15-2004, 05:48 PM

I thought this was a cute episode; no, it was not one of the highlights of the 3rd season, but it was definately not that bad...

visaman666 · 08-01-2016, 04:39 AM

Don't kill.me for reviving a 12 year old thread.

Why didn't the lady have an abortion? Now that would be a story.

ChicagoGuy · 01-22-2017, 02:39 AM

Agreed. Another bad episode with James in it is the one where they go to the cabin for the Anniversary.

Sonny Carson · 02-13-2017, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoGuy

Agreed. Another bad episode with James in it is the one where they go to the cabin for the Anniversary.

That episode was hillarious. When James got caught caught checkin out that chick's behind, and her screeching "OH JAMES" when Flouda is in the room!

PracTz · 02-19-2017, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronxgirl

The Baby Episode . Wow its been awhile since I seen this one but I'll try to break this down from memory.

Florida & Willona was giving a surprise baby shower for Loretta (that was her name?) anyway just to find out she was placing the baby for adoption b/c she already had a bunch of kids, living on welfare and didn't want to raise another one the same way. The controversy at the time (and somewhat now for that matter) was Black people placing their children for adoption taking a quote from knl9674 the soapboxing was that this was consdered a taboo and not done since black people would always "adopt' from within keeping the children in the family regardless if it was inthe child's best interest . Thinking on the lines that during slavery black children were often taken away. F & W although didn't agree respected the the friend but when she went into labor and had the baby and Thelma was left alone with the friend while Florida called the adoption agency. She changed her mind and kept the baby b/c thelma showed her the child.

It's a good thing she was only a one-shot character because there's a possibility she would have resented that child for adding to her struggling existence- and shifted the 'blame' entirely to Thelma for 'making' her raise that child by leaving the child in the room after she'd borne the child . Yes, I actually once knew someone who'd gotten raised by a mother who openly told this person she'd intended to put the child up for adoption as soon as the child was borne but, due to a nurse showing the mother the child, it was ALL the nurse's fault she did not go ahead with the adoption and do it and she made the nurse (and the child) the scapegoats for her own choices and problems re having to raise the child!

I recall the episode and it should be said that at least they did their best to make the character as sympathetic as possible by making her a widow who'd lost her husband six months earlier rather than the belle of the bar or just not mentioning WHO the baby's father was.

09-07-2004, 07:21 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,060	The Episode-"THe Baby" a 30 minute episode about a character-(Loretta) that was never ever seen before?-LOL I know the viewers who watched this episode in 1975 on CBS probably said to theirself-"where is James and who the hell is Loretta?" Worst episode of season 3.

09-10-2004, 02:45 PM	#2
knl9674 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 231	uhhhhhh, can't agree. there are definitely other episodes on season 3 that didn't float my boat. at least this episode had a hugely funny scene of wologna wilding out when they were going to help deliver the baby. LOL what was the social issue being dealt with for this one - adoption? they were soapboxing about something before she went into labor. and we never see her again, not even as a new character. you know they love to do this and think you don't remember. anyway, that was Lettie from A Different World. I always liked her as an actress. And Oprah's mama in The Women of Brewster Place. she's been in a ton of stuff. as far as the WORST, what about the interrogation? that was pretty bad, if i say so myself.

09-10-2004, 08:55 PM	#4
bronxgirl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 26, 2004 Location: Oakland CA physically, NYC in spirit Posts: 141	The Baby Episode . Wow its been awhile since I seen this one but I'll try to break this down from memory. Florida & Willona was giving a surprise baby shower for Loretta (that was her name?) anyway just to find out she was placing the baby for adoption b/c she already had a bunch of kids, living on welfare and didn't want to raise another one the same way. The controversy at the time (and somewhat now for that matter) was Black people placing their children for adoption taking a quote from knl9674 the soapboxing was that this was consdered a taboo and not done since black people would always "adopt' from within keeping the children in the family regardless if it was inthe child's best interest . Thinking on the lines that during slavery black children were often taken away. F & W although didn't agree respected the the friend but when she went into labor and had the baby and Thelma was left alone with the friend while Florida called the adoption agency. She changed her mind and kept the baby b/c thelma showed her the child.

09-14-2004, 10:35 AM	#6
laneyday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: brampton, ontario Posts: 313	I liked this episode - 'The Baby'. I found it particularly funny.

09-14-2004, 02:41 PM	#8
laneyday Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2003 Location: brampton, ontario Posts: 313	Their whole antics when the baby was coming. When JJ sent Michael out to 'Get Mama...ANYBODY'S MAMA' was too, too funny. And when Wilona looked like she was going to drop just at the thought. It had, in my opinion, the same comical chemistry as 'The Dinner Party'.

09-15-2004, 05:48 PM	#10
Lady T Member Forum Star Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Posts: 17,361	I thought this was a cute episode; no, it was not one of the highlights of the 3rd season, but it was definately not that bad...

08-01-2016, 04:39 AM	#11
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	Don't kill.me for reviving a 12 year old thread. Why didn't the lady have an abortion? Now that would be a story.

01-22-2017, 02:39 AM	#12
ChicagoGuy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2017 Location: Illinois Posts: 6	Agreed. Another bad episode with James in it is the one where they go to the cabin for the Anniversary.