What is the exact reason Diane Ladd was let go as Belle? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 01-11-2008, 05:48 PM

Anyone?

catlover79 · 01-11-2008, 05:49 PM

I read some time ago (I forget where) that it was a mutual decision. Diane Ladd wanted to go back to film work, and supposedly she didn't get along with LL either.

Jude The Obscure · 01-11-2008, 06:07 PM

Yes, I've heard many a time that Diane and Linda did not hit it off and Diane was very unhappy, so she asked to be let out of her contract.

Ireneparalegal · 01-11-2008, 07:49 PM

Again!? Wow, the common denominator here is Linda. I guess we don't know Linda then. I find it hard to swallow that Linda had such feelings. I liked the Belle character, but if I had to go with Belle or Jolene, than give me Jolene. But up until Jolene came along, I was happy with Belle.

Linda should not have been allowed to have such pull like that.

mstewart · 01-11-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Again!? Wow, the common denominator here is Linda. I guess we don't know Linda then. I find it hard to swallow that Linda had such feelings. I liked the Belle character, but if I had to go with Belle or Jolene, than give me Jolene. But up until Jolene came along, I was happy with Belle.

Linda should not have been allowed to have such pull like that.

They did give her pull and she, from what I understand, gave the producers an ultimatum regarding Polly Holliday.

Watching the Belle episodes you don't see much interaction between her and Alice. They are distant from each other in scenes.

Too bad she did not learn from Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Dick Van Dyke, and Hal Linden. Their respective series were ensemble shows even though they were the "star" of their show. They allowed each cast member to shine in their own forthright. That's what made those shows what they were.

catlover79 · 01-12-2008, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstewart

They did give her pull and she, from what I understand, gave the producers an ultimatum regarding Polly Holliday.

Watching the Belle episodes you don't see much interaction between her and Alice. They are distant from each other in scenes.

Too bad she did not learn from Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Dick Van Dyke, and Hal Linden. Their respective series were ensemble shows even though they were the "star" of their show. They allowed each cast member to shine in their own forthright. That's what made those shows what they were.

You put it perfectly!!! You think she would've learned from Hal Linden, as they worked together on Barney Miller.

friendsfan77 · 01-12-2008, 03:07 AM

Wow. Reading this makes me wonder if Linda had any resentment towards the actress that played Jolene.

catlover79 · 01-12-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

Wow. Reading this makes me wonder if Linda had any resentment towards the actress that played Jolene.

I don't think so - Celia Weston was basically an unknown and therefore wouldn't pose a "threat" like the fan favorites (Polly Holliday) and the film actresses (Diane Ladd). That said, I think I did read somewhere that Linda and Celia got along fairly well.

Jude The Obscure · 01-12-2008, 03:25 PM

Possibly because both Celia and Linda have theatrical backgrounds--Celia has gone on to a successful stage career and was nominated for a Tony a few years back.

Ireneparalegal · 01-12-2008, 04:43 PM

Interesting posts people. Thank you.

Dr. Thong · 01-27-2008, 06:50 PM

Some stars get too much power. They are able to trade on their popularity to lord it over their co-stars, producers and writers. Recently, Executive Producer/Creator Donald Bellisario left J.A.G. because of tensions between him and series star Mark Harmon. Bellisario's name is still in the credits, as his company still produces the show, but he is no longer involved with the production.

I'm sure because Alice was a hit, Linda Lavin's ego grew a bit oversized and probably didn't like anyone who challenged or threatened her. It's too bad, because Flo was a great character and Belle wasn't a bad replacement. Jolene, however, was pretty good and passed muster with Lavin obviously, because she remained for the last four years of the series.

TVFactFan · 01-27-2008, 07:57 PM

I don't think Jolene was a good fit for a replacement for Flo, she was just missing something that I couldn't put my finger on

GARFIELDKOOL · 01-27-2008, 08:03 PM

In defense of Belle and Diane Ladd, she stepped into a situation where somebody had been excellent, so the pressure was on her. People wanted Flo, but she could only be Belle. But I think if she would have stuck around a little longer, viewers would have accepted her.

Ireneparalegal · 01-27-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

In defense of Belle and Diane Ladd, she stepped into a situation where somebody had been excellent, so the pressure was on her. People wanted Flo, but she could only be Belle. But I think if she would have stuck around a little longer, viewers would have accepted her.

As been stated many times here, Diane was the original Flo (in the movie) but for people like me who never saw the movie until after watching ALICE on television, it didn't matter to me. I loved Flo (Polly). Polly made the character her own. It would have been better to have Diane come in as Flo from the beginning of the series.

Why wasn't Diane on the show from the beginning anyways? They had the original Vera, why not the original Flo?

Brian Damage · 01-27-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

I don't think Jolene was a good fit for a replacement for Flo, she was just missing something that I couldn't put my finger on

I think it was because she was too bland...very vanilla.

01-11-2008, 05:48 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	What is the exact reason Diane Ladd was let go as Belle? Anyone?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

01-11-2008, 05:49 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I read some time ago (I forget where) that it was a mutual decision. Diane Ladd wanted to go back to film work, and supposedly she didn't get along with LL either.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-27-2008, 06:50 PM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Some stars get too much power. They are able to trade on their popularity to lord it over their co-stars, producers and writers. Recently, Executive Producer/Creator Donald Bellisario left J.A.G. because of tensions between him and series star Mark Harmon. Bellisario's name is still in the credits, as his company still produces the show, but he is no longer involved with the production. I'm sure because Alice was a hit, Linda Lavin's ego grew a bit oversized and probably didn't like anyone who challenged or threatened her. It's too bad, because Flo was a great character and Belle wasn't a bad replacement. Jolene, however, was pretty good and passed muster with Lavin obviously, because she remained for the last four years of the series.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

01-11-2008, 06:07 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Yes, I've heard many a time that Diane and Linda did not hit it off and Diane was very unhappy, so she asked to be let out of her contract.

01-11-2008, 07:49 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Again!? Wow, the common denominator here is Linda. I guess we don't know Linda then. I find it hard to swallow that Linda had such feelings. I liked the Belle character, but if I had to go with Belle or Jolene, than give me Jolene. But up until Jolene came along, I was happy with Belle. Linda should not have been allowed to have such pull like that.

01-12-2008, 03:07 AM	#7
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	Wow. Reading this makes me wonder if Linda had any resentment towards the actress that played Jolene.

01-12-2008, 03:25 PM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Possibly because both Celia and Linda have theatrical backgrounds--Celia has gone on to a successful stage career and was nominated for a Tony a few years back.

01-12-2008, 04:43 PM	#10
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Interesting posts people. Thank you.

01-27-2008, 07:57 PM	#12
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,067	I don't think Jolene was a good fit for a replacement for Flo, she was just missing something that I couldn't put my finger on

01-27-2008, 08:03 PM	#13
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	In defense of Belle and Diane Ladd, she stepped into a situation where somebody had been excellent, so the pressure was on her. People wanted Flo, but she could only be Belle. But I think if she would have stuck around a little longer, viewers would have accepted her.