Fire episode...too much?

[McFly121]

I remember when it first aired thinking, they just killed off the mother, now there's a fire two episodes later. I know life is like that sometimes, everything at once, but for a sitcom...ehhh. And it was odd as most sitcoms at that time had no music score, but they really used it in this ep. Watching them scramble around in the hallway to the melodramatic music was weird. But at least they made mention of Valerie a couple times, and didn't gloss over the tragedy that was their life in such a short amount of time.

And I'm assuming the burned photo David found in his room was of his mother.

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by McFly121

I remember when it first aired thinking, they just killed off the mother, now there's a fire two episodes later. I know life is like that sometimes, everything at once, but for a sitcom...ehhh. And it was odd as most sitcoms at that time had no music score, but they really used it in this ep. Watching them scramble around in the hallway to the melodramatic music was weird. But at least they made mention of Valerie a couple times, and didn't gloss over the tragedy that was their life in such a short amount of time.

And I'm assuming the burned photo David found in his room was of his mother.

Yes, the photo was of his mother. The show didn't want to mention Valerie but they kind of had to. They were contracted to do the episode long before Valerie was fired, although when they let her go the episode's script had yet to be written. But to have something this catastrophic happen to the family and not make mention of mom was totally unnatural, so they had to make 'some' mention of her. Lorimar at first didn't want to do it for that reason, but NBC felt that having a fire episode could potentially draw viewers to watch the show. They were nervous about whether the show would survive the loss of Valerie at this point so they stayed with it.

The episode's acting was top notch, especially Jason Bateman's. I balled my eyes out as he broke down over the charred picture of Valerie and reacted similarly when he told his family how grateful he was that they had all survived. Sandy was equally brilliant. The boys, though, were annoying, and I say that being a huge fan of Jeremy Licht. Again, the writing for them was too dumbed down and silly.

I also think the inconsistencies in the writing made the episode not what it could have been. The show was titled (at the time) Valerie's Family; well, where was her family? Where were her parents, the boys' grandparents, during this? How about her sisters, the boys' aunts? Wouldn't they have wanted to help out? Where was Annie Steck and her family? The woman lived close enough to the Hogans that her tree was clogging their plumbing (see "The Roots of All Evil"). Also, her daughter Rebecca Steck actually saw through her window a birthmark on Willie's butt when David pulled Willie's pants down for a joke (mentioned in "Caught on a Hot Tin Roof"). That implies that the Stecks and the Hogans lived right next door to each other. Wouldn't they have been around at some point? If not an appearance by any of these people, how about a phone call? Something?

And then, in the next episode, the house appears exactly the same. Same couch, same carpeting, same plants, etc. although, oddly enough, no pictures of Valerie Hogan. I guess we're to think that any and all pictures of her were burned, but Valerie had relatives who could've given her boys pictures of their mom. This and other continuity inconsistencies were ridiculous. It was as if, because the episode had to make mention of Valerie Hogan, the producers wanted to just do the episode and then pretend it never happened.

Still, the episode does stand out as one of the finest acting wise. Jason Bateman and Sandy Duncan kicked booty in this episode as far as I'm concerned. It was totally Emmy-worthy...

Ed

[McFly121]

I was surprised to see the actual house on fire. I figured the establishing shots of the house had been done a season earlier, so they either went back and set it afire or superimposed the flames on a static shot of the house.

Yeah, Bateman really carried it, which was an odd choice. He was awesome to watch, but I figured they would make Mike find Val's picture, since he was closer to her as the husband. But I guess by this point the show was turning more toward his character as the teen heartthrob. In looking at the upcoming eps, it's Dave gambling, Dave's friend drives drunk, Dave is affected by a teacher's heart attack. Dave, Dave, Dave. Which I prefer, but still leaves the rest of the cast shut out.

Ed, as far as the other stuff you mentioned, that's tv land for ya. People move on from deaths too easily, act out of the ordinary, supporting characters vanish. Notice how in any wedding episode of a show, the marrying couple's parents/relatives are never present? It's only the main cast. Lazy production causes this. Plus time issues, having to intro a bunch of in-laws or whatever. Sam and Diane got married w/o either's family there; 3's Company made the excuse that Janet's parents couldn't be there (for their daughter's wedding??); a memorial service for Dan on Night Court when they think he is dead...are his parents and family there? No. Just the regular cast plus hookers and cheerleaders because, as you pointed out, anything cheap for a laugh. LOL.

[Buffyboy323]

I love this episode. It was kinda groundbreaking for 1987 was it? On a Sitcom, that is.* Jason Bateman's acting in the attic felt so real. It was great....And I loved Mrs. Pool's dancing in that dress, LOL.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I have to say I cryed during The Fire episode of The Hogan Gamily

[88survivor]

They'll have to release the 1st and 2nd Season of Valarie/The Hogan Family.