The episode where Barbara's friend overdoses - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

seventies_sitcoms · 06-19-2005, 11:15 PM

I recall an episode where a friend of Barbara's overdoses and they rush to the hospital. I can't remember if the girl died or not, but the mother was very nasty I remember. Whatever happened in the end the mother had absolutely no sympathy for the girl. I can't remember if she was mad at the girl for trying to kill herself, or if she was mad because she succeeded in comitting suicide. Does anybody have this episode? If so, please tell what happened.

michaellinn · 07-05-2005, 11:19 PM

This was a two-part story in which a new lonely girl, Melanie, wants to be Barbara's friend. Barbara, however, finds her annoying, but is too nice to dump her. Then to make matters worse, Melanie tells Barbara that she has a new boyfriend--Cliff, who happens to be Barbara's boyfriend. But Cliff doesn't even know Melanie exists. They all meet at a burger restaurant, where Barbara finally tells Melanie that Melanie lives in a fantasy world. In the end of the first part, Melanie phones Barbara, while taking an overdose of sleeping pills to commit suicide. The second part of the two-part story has Barbara, Ann, Julie, and Schneider worried about Melanie, who has been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Melanie's parents show up and the mother is extremely angry at Barbara. The mother did not want anyone to find out about Melanie. She has done this routine before. The mother learns that she does not give Melanie enough attention. In the end, Melanie survives, but the doctor says that Melanie will be exactly as she was before. Barbara feels very guilty about what happened, but Ann comforts her.

opus · 08-24-2015, 05:39 PM

Relive the sitcom fun tonight.

Bonniegirl · 08-24-2015, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Relive the sitcom fun tonight.

That was a really good, powerful, drama filled 2 parter!! !!! Really showed Valerie's acting skills!

opus · 08-25-2015, 12:54 AM

100% purely coincidental fun fact- On Hot in Cleveland, VB's character was named Melanie. No suicide attempts though. Except maybe the TV audience. [Just kidding, Hot in Cleveland fans].

Bonniegirl · 08-25-2015, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

100% purely coincidental fun fact- On Hot in Cleveland, VB's character was named Melanie. No suicide attempts though. Except maybe the TV audience. [Just kidding, Hot in Cleveland fans].

This time I hope Cliff didn't think Melanie was a pet turtle!

Cliff was comic relief to this very heavy episode!!!

Having the "dumb guy" that couldn't even figure out what was going on and thinking a girl he liked had a sick or dying pet turtle and not realizing there was an actual person named Melanie trying to commit suicide was a good move on the writers part

or the show would have gotten too depressing!

Jinxey · 08-30-2015, 02:04 PM

Fun Fact....the writers that penned this episode are Kim Weiskopf & Michael Baser...

the same guys who wrote for:
Good Times (Michael's Big Romance, Wheels)
The Jeffersons (Once A Friend)
Three's Company (The New Landlord, A Camping We Will Go, Handcuffed)

ThomasE · 09-03-2015, 05:08 PM

Thanks, Jinxey! Cool trivia!

06-19-2005, 11:15 PM	#1
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	The episode where Barbara's friend overdoses I recall an episode where a friend of Barbara's overdoses and they rush to the hospital. I can't remember if the girl died or not, but the mother was very nasty I remember. Whatever happened in the end the mother had absolutely no sympathy for the girl. I can't remember if she was mad at the girl for trying to kill herself, or if she was mad because she succeeded in comitting suicide. Does anybody have this episode? If so, please tell what happened.

07-05-2005, 11:19 PM	#2
michaellinn Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 59	This was a two-part story in which a new lonely girl, Melanie, wants to be Barbara's friend. Barbara, however, finds her annoying, but is too nice to dump her. Then to make matters worse, Melanie tells Barbara that she has a new boyfriend--Cliff, who happens to be Barbara's boyfriend. But Cliff doesn't even know Melanie exists. They all meet at a burger restaurant, where Barbara finally tells Melanie that Melanie lives in a fantasy world. In the end of the first part, Melanie phones Barbara, while taking an overdose of sleeping pills to commit suicide. The second part of the two-part story has Barbara, Ann, Julie, and Schneider worried about Melanie, who has been taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Melanie's parents show up and the mother is extremely angry at Barbara. The mother did not want anyone to find out about Melanie. She has done this routine before. The mother learns that she does not give Melanie enough attention. In the end, Melanie survives, but the doctor says that Melanie will be exactly as she was before. Barbara feels very guilty about what happened, but Ann comforts her.
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09-03-2015, 05:08 PM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Thanks, Jinxey! Cool trivia!
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08-24-2015, 05:39 PM	#3
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,507	Relive the sitcom fun tonight.

08-25-2015, 12:54 AM	#5
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,507	100% purely coincidental fun fact- On Hot in Cleveland, VB's character was named Melanie. No suicide attempts though. Except maybe the TV audience. [Just kidding, Hot in Cleveland fans].

08-30-2015, 02:04 PM	#7
Jinxey Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 27, 2005 Posts: 554	Fun Fact....the writers that penned this episode are Kim Weiskopf & Michael Baser... the same guys who wrote for: Good Times (Michael's Big Romance, Wheels) The Jeffersons (Once A Friend) Three's Company (The New Landlord, A Camping We Will Go, Handcuffed)