How Come Nancy McKeon "Jo" Did Not Do The Reunion Movie? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-23-2008, 05:49 AM

Was it because she didn't want to do it? Was it due to her commitment to being on "The Division"?

What was the real reason? Thanks.

Dean Winchester · 02-23-2008, 06:53 AM

that was part of the reason, but she's also gone on record saying she doesn't like reunion shows. She's not the only actor who is opposed to that idea, Bea Arthur has resisted Maude and Golden Girls reunion specials because she feels the same way.

RoryGilmore · 02-23-2008, 07:33 PM

The Division was a part of it but I've also heard that she didnt want to always be remembered as Jo. Now this could be wrong and I hope its not true because I'm still extremly hopeful that there will be another reunion and Nancy will do it. But that is what I have heard

Mr. Television · 02-23-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo/Blair Fan

The Division was a part of it but I've also heard that she didnt want to always be remembered as Jo. Now this could be wrong and I hope its not true because I'm still extremly hopeful that there will be another reunion and Nancy will do it. But that is what I have heard

That's what I heard. I also heard that she wish they would have killed the Jo character off. I don't know how acurate that is though. I'm hoping it's not true.

RoryGilmore · 02-23-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

That's what I heard. I also heard that she wish they would have killed the Jo character off. I don't know how acurate that is though. I'm hoping it's not true.

I heard about the killing off too and something told me that was a rumor, It just doesnt seem like something one would say about a character that got her career in high geer.

Nvr_Sk_to_Tll · 02-23-2008, 08:11 PM

Gotta say, someone earlier mentioned Bea Arthur staying away from any 'Maude' or 'Golden Girls' reunions...well, they finally did a little 'GG' retrospective a few years back on 'Lifetime' and she appeared...perhaps there'll be a 'FoL' retrospective, just a look back, and she'll at least do that...with, say...a little 'sketch' thrown in...of the girls meeting now?

Or, if the rumors that she'd rather kill Jo off are true (and I really hesitate to totally buy that) then perhaps a new reunion movie in which the gang gets back together because Jo is dying? It could end with a funeral, and we'd get to see her as Jo again, and she could direct it (as it's been said she's offered to do) while spending most of her acting time in a hospital bed.

Just a thought...

Lela

Dean Winchester · 02-23-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nvr_Sk_to_Tll

Gotta say, someone earlier mentioned Bea Arthur staying away from any 'Maude' or 'Golden Girls' reunions...well, they finally did a little 'GG' retrospective a few years back on 'Lifetime' and she appeared...

I meant an in character reunion. Bea has no shame about those two shows and she promotes the DVD releases and the sort, she just has the mentality that when a show runs it's course, it's over and no need to try to fix what was never broken. Nancy is the same way, and when you think about it, the FOL reunion was pretty bad

RoryGilmore · 02-23-2008, 08:22 PM

Oh yeah the reunion was pretty bad

Nvr_Sk_to_Tll · 02-23-2008, 08:33 PM

Yeah, the reunion REALLY could have been better...at the time it aired, I took it because I figured it was the best I'd ever get...although that first scene of Jo's daughter coming in was such a sickening rip-off of Jo's first appearance that I almost flipped the channel...

Face it, at this point, an out of character retrospective may be the best we get (although I say that some of the fans could write a darn good second reunion movie)

Lela

RoryGilmore · 02-23-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nvr_Sk_to_Tll

Yeah, the reunion REALLY could have been better...at the time it aired, I took it because I figured it was the best I'd ever get...although that first scene of Jo's daughter coming in was such a sickening rip-off of Jo's first appearance that I almost flipped the channel...

Face it, at this point, an out of character retrospective may be the best we get (although I say that some of the fans could write a darn good second reunion movie)

Lela

Oh yeah there are some excellent reunion fan fictions over on the FOL fan fiction board.

Nvr_Sk_to_Tll · 02-23-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo/Blair Fan

Oh yeah there are some excellent reunion fan fictions over on the FOL fan fiction board.

That's why I think the fans could do it. Most of us grew up with the show, knew it really well when it was on, or have gotten to know it in reruns. Some of the fanfic writers (myself included, if you believe the comments on my livejournal) are as good as the original show writers...

So, until there's a new reunion announced, I guess we all sit on our hands and wait.

Smartboy · 02-23-2008, 09:10 PM

There are a couple of things about the reunion that I am hoping other fans can make sense of for me. In the first place, the movie began with the revelation that Mrs. Garrette's second husband had passed away. Now I remember him in the second to last season of the series and he was no kid then. I think that it is very understandable if, by the time of the movie, he had died of, if nothing else, old age. Does anyone out there know if he was, in fact dead by the time of this movie? Another character whose death was mentioned was Tootie's husband Jeff. Now I remember his character in the last season of the series and he was supposed to be in his early to mid twenties. They were engaged at the time. It was implied that, in between the end of the show and the start of the movie, they had gotten married, had a daughter and then he passed away. They did not really get into how or when he died. Does anyone out there know if the actor who played Jeff was, in fact dead at the time of the movie? If he is dead, what exactly did he die of. I think that, if he was, in fact dead, it was senseble to have him die on the show rather than replace him with another actor. This would be a form of retireing his number, so to speak. The one thing that makes me hesitant to think that this is the case is that, after the feature there was nothing that said, "In memory of... and then the actor's name. If anyone can help me out here, please do so!

Nvr_Sk_to_Tll · 02-23-2008, 10:14 PM

Okay, according to my research Robert Mandan, who played Mrs. Garrett's second husband, Bruce, is still alive. He's worked as recently as 2006 on 'General Hospital.'

Tood Hallowell, who played Tootie's fiance Jeff, may or may not be alive. His last listed credit is as Jeff on FoL, although the IMDb lists another Todd Hallowell who has mostly worked as a crew member on film and television...they may even be the same person, but at this point that seems uncertain.

As far as why neither man appeared, perhaps they were too busy with other things and it was just more convenient to write them out.

Jude The Obscure · 02-24-2008, 12:58 AM

I hated that they killed Bruce and Jeff off and that Blair did not end up with a previous FoL love such as Cliff or Mark (the handyman from the Florida hurricane 2 parter)--we get Tad, someone we have never met, but the writers lazily make him both a lawyer and rich.

RoryGilmore · 02-25-2008, 08:06 PM

I didnt have a problem with Tad thought he was fine, completely believable since Blair did go to law school and probably handled some stuff for Eastland once she bought it.

02-23-2008, 05:49 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	How Come Nancy McKeon "Jo" Did Not Do The Reunion Movie? Was it because she didn't want to do it? Was it due to her commitment to being on "The Division"? What was the real reason? Thanks.

02-23-2008, 07:33 PM	#3
RoryGilmore Always and Forever Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 30, 2004 Location: Wherever he is, that's where I'll be Posts: 6,529	The Division was a part of it but I've also heard that she didnt want to always be remembered as Jo. Now this could be wrong and I hope its not true because I'm still extremly hopeful that there will be another reunion and Nancy will do it. But that is what I have heard
	__________________ I have died everyday, waiting for you Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years I'll love you for a thousand more And all along I believed, I would find you Time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years I'll love you for a thousand more

02-23-2008, 06:53 AM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	that was part of the reason, but she's also gone on record saying she doesn't like reunion shows. She's not the only actor who is opposed to that idea, Bea Arthur has resisted Maude and Golden Girls reunion specials because she feels the same way.

02-23-2008, 08:11 PM	#6
Nvr_Sk_to_Tll Eastland Chopper Repair Tutor Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2008 Location: 918 High Street, Peekskill, New York, USA Posts: 63	Gotta say, someone earlier mentioned Bea Arthur staying away from any 'Maude' or 'Golden Girls' reunions...well, they finally did a little 'GG' retrospective a few years back on 'Lifetime' and she appeared...perhaps there'll be a 'FoL' retrospective, just a look back, and she'll at least do that...with, say...a little 'sketch' thrown in...of the girls meeting now? Or, if the rumors that she'd rather kill Jo off are true (and I really hesitate to totally buy that) then perhaps a new reunion movie in which the gang gets back together because Jo is dying? It could end with a funeral, and we'd get to see her as Jo again, and she could direct it (as it's been said she's offered to do) while spending most of her acting time in a hospital bed. Just a thought... Lela

02-23-2008, 08:22 PM	#8
RoryGilmore Always and Forever Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 30, 2004 Location: Wherever he is, that's where I'll be Posts: 6,529	Oh yeah the reunion was pretty bad

02-23-2008, 08:33 PM	#9
Nvr_Sk_to_Tll Eastland Chopper Repair Tutor Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2008 Location: 918 High Street, Peekskill, New York, USA Posts: 63	Yeah, the reunion REALLY could have been better...at the time it aired, I took it because I figured it was the best I'd ever get...although that first scene of Jo's daughter coming in was such a sickening rip-off of Jo's first appearance that I almost flipped the channel... Face it, at this point, an out of character retrospective may be the best we get (although I say that some of the fans could write a darn good second reunion movie) Lela

02-23-2008, 09:10 PM	#12
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	There are a couple of things about the reunion that I am hoping other fans can make sense of for me. In the first place, the movie began with the revelation that Mrs. Garrette's second husband had passed away. Now I remember him in the second to last season of the series and he was no kid then. I think that it is very understandable if, by the time of the movie, he had died of, if nothing else, old age. Does anyone out there know if he was, in fact dead by the time of this movie? Another character whose death was mentioned was Tootie's husband Jeff. Now I remember his character in the last season of the series and he was supposed to be in his early to mid twenties. They were engaged at the time. It was implied that, in between the end of the show and the start of the movie, they had gotten married, had a daughter and then he passed away. They did not really get into how or when he died. Does anyone out there know if the actor who played Jeff was, in fact dead at the time of the movie? If he is dead, what exactly did he die of. I think that, if he was, in fact dead, it was senseble to have him die on the show rather than replace him with another actor. This would be a form of retireing his number, so to speak. The one thing that makes me hesitant to think that this is the case is that, after the feature there was nothing that said, "In memory of... and then the actor's name. If anyone can help me out here, please do so!

02-23-2008, 10:14 PM	#13
Nvr_Sk_to_Tll Eastland Chopper Repair Tutor Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2008 Location: 918 High Street, Peekskill, New York, USA Posts: 63	Okay, according to my research Robert Mandan, who played Mrs. Garrett's second husband, Bruce, is still alive. He's worked as recently as 2006 on 'General Hospital.' Tood Hallowell, who played Tootie's fiance Jeff, may or may not be alive. His last listed credit is as Jeff on FoL, although the IMDb lists another Todd Hallowell who has mostly worked as a crew member on film and television...they may even be the same person, but at this point that seems uncertain. As far as why neither man appeared, perhaps they were too busy with other things and it was just more convenient to write them out.

02-24-2008, 12:58 AM	#14
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I hated that they killed Bruce and Jeff off and that Blair did not end up with a previous FoL love such as Cliff or Mark (the handyman from the Florida hurricane 2 parter)--we get Tad, someone we have never met, but the writers lazily make him both a lawyer and rich.

02-25-2008, 08:06 PM	#15
RoryGilmore Always and Forever Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 30, 2004 Location: Wherever he is, that's where I'll be Posts: 6,529	I didnt have a problem with Tad thought he was fine, completely believable since Blair did go to law school and probably handled some stuff for Eastland once she bought it.