The details behind Charlotte Rae leaving DS for FOL - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 05-08-2008, 11:43 PM

What are the details behind her having her own show? Was she told she would leave DS for FOL and not be able to return if FOL failed? Anyone know what were the details of her contract or terms?

Jude The Obscure · 05-09-2008, 07:11 PM

don't know the exact details--but I do know she agreed to do Facts only if that show failed, she was allowed to come back to DS. In the first eppy, "Rough Housing", we have Drummond asking her if she is coming back, she replies, "as soon as they find a suitable replacement, I'll be back". Guess, that job worked out too well

Ireneparalegal · 05-09-2008, 07:13 PM

I haven't watched DS other than two episodes. I can't recall the details of what was said. Thanx for that info. So it does sound like she was given the opportunity to come back if FOL failed. I can't imagine she would leave a hit show for something she wasn't sure abt. I am glad she did it.

Jude The Obscure · 05-09-2008, 07:24 PM

No, Irene, that is said on the first episode of FOL

Ireneparalegal · 05-09-2008, 07:26 PM

Oh that explains it, I am not too fond of the first season of FOL. Just like the first season of A Different World.

Jude The Obscure · 05-09-2008, 07:31 PM

Well you take the good, you take the bad, and there you have a bad spinoff (at first) LOL

Ireneparalegal · 05-09-2008, 07:32 PM

you crack me up.

ThomasE · 05-10-2008, 01:03 PM

Well all I know is that Charlotte did go back to DS after the first four episodes of "Facts" then she when back to "D.S." . Then she later leaves D.S. to do nine more eps of "Facts" and then it takes off. I loved the first season. It is one of my favorites much like "A Different World" although some people think opposite about the first season of this shows. LOL.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2008, 07:09 PM

even if FOL did fail it wouldn't have been that difficult to write Mrs. Garret back in since she was in the the "REVOLVING DOOR ROLE" of the show-lol

Ireneparalegal · 05-10-2008, 07:14 PM

That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.

TVFactFan · 05-10-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.

Probably because she was just one character and had a bigger role on DS than what Audra and Norman had on TC. So I guess that's why she was able to come back if she could

Ireneparalegal · 05-10-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

Probably because she was just one character and had a bigger role on DS than what Audra and Norman had on TC. So I guess that's why she was able to come back if she could

Yeah, most likely. Also, I wonder how many actors learned from the whole thing that Norman and Audra went through? I mean, that kind of thing goes through the industry and I wonder if that remained in the minds of actors (at that time) who were being considered for spin-offs. It was a lesson learned the hard way.

Jude The Obscure · 05-10-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Well all I know is that Charlotte did go back to DS after the first four episodes of "Facts" then she when back to "D.S." . Then she later leaves D.S. to do nine more eps of "Facts" and then it takes off. I loved the first season. It is one of my favorites much like "A Different World" although some people think opposite about the first season of this shows. LOL.

Storylinewise on DS, this wasn't mentioned. It was as if she didn't leave at all, until her absences were explained as "Oh you can stay in Mrs. Garrett's room, she's away helping out at Kimberly's school."

TVFactFan · 05-10-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Yeah, most likely. Also, I wonder how many actors learned from the whole thing that Norman and Audra went through? I mean, that kind of thing goes through the industry and I wonder if that remained in the minds of actors (at that time) who were being considered for spin-offs. It was a lesson learned the hard way.

I think the only time characters wouldn't be able to return if it's 2 like the ropers, if it's one character then I think that the door is always open

Jude The Obscure · 05-10-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

I think the only time characters wouldn't be able to return if it's 2 like the ropers, if it's one character then I think that the door is always open

That wasn't the case with Polly Holliday and "Alice" (of course that's another board and tons of threads already discussed)

05-08-2008, 11:43 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The details behind Charlotte Rae leaving DS for FOL What are the details behind her having her own show? Was she told she would leave DS for FOL and not be able to return if FOL failed? Anyone know what were the details of her contract or terms?
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05-10-2008, 01:03 PM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Well all I know is that Charlotte did go back to DS after the first four episodes of "Facts" then she when back to "D.S." . Then she later leaves D.S. to do nine more eps of "Facts" and then it takes off. I loved the first season. It is one of my favorites much like "A Different World" although some people think opposite about the first season of this shows. LOL.
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05-09-2008, 07:11 PM	#2
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	don't know the exact details--but I do know she agreed to do Facts only if that show failed, she was allowed to come back to DS. In the first eppy, "Rough Housing", we have Drummond asking her if she is coming back, she replies, "as soon as they find a suitable replacement, I'll be back". Guess, that job worked out too well

05-09-2008, 07:13 PM	#3
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I haven't watched DS other than two episodes. I can't recall the details of what was said. Thanx for that info. So it does sound like she was given the opportunity to come back if FOL failed. I can't imagine she would leave a hit show for something she wasn't sure abt. I am glad she did it.

05-09-2008, 07:24 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	No, Irene, that is said on the first episode of FOL

05-09-2008, 07:26 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Oh that explains it, I am not too fond of the first season of FOL. Just like the first season of A Different World.

05-09-2008, 07:31 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Well you take the good, you take the bad, and there you have a bad spinoff (at first) LOL

05-09-2008, 07:32 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	you crack me up.

05-10-2008, 07:09 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,035	even if FOL did fail it wouldn't have been that difficult to write Mrs. Garret back in since she was in the the "REVOLVING DOOR ROLE" of the show-lol

05-10-2008, 07:14 PM	#10
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	That's what I mean Solomon, they left the door open for her return. But I was wondering simply because of the whole Ropers fiasco where the two actors (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) were given a contract to return ONLY IF THE ROPERS FAILED IN LESS THAN A SEASON. If was yanked after one season. They were obviously upset at that loophole that didn't allow their return.