Behind The Scenes: TV Turmoil - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jasonbigley · 07-29-2008, 05:16 PM

When thinking of shows that did not get along behind the cameras, what shows come to mind?

ALF- I was reading that the show was very demanding and the actors had to work 20 hour days. On the series finale, Max Wright did his last scene and went to his dressing rooms to pack his things. Then he got into his car and left. He never said goodbye to anyone.

Night Court- On the TV Tales special, they said on the last day of work, they came in and were told to pack up and get out. What an AWFUL way to treat your cast after 9 years of hard work. Karen Austin said they fired her because she had Bell's Palsy (sp?) where her face was paralyzed. When this happened, they fired her and they kept it qiuet from public eye.

Out Of This World- Two of the guy actors did not get along on this show.

Three's Company- We all know about this. I think with this situation, time healed wounds, but it is unfortunate that Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers do not speak to each other to this day. Priscilla Barnes has stated that it was the worst 3 years of her life being on the show because of all the turmoil.

The Brady Bunch- The problems with Robert Reed. He did not appear in the last episode.

Something on a more personal level was when I worked at McDonald's. I will NEVER work at one again. The work environment was horrible. Everybody was very crotchety. The 3 people I trained with were 2 b+tches and 1 jack+ss. So in some way, I feel what it is like to be like these actors working in hostile environments.

Overdose · 07-29-2008, 08:03 PM

Roseanne was notorious for having huge back-stage battles with producers and executives. Almost every season there were changes with the staff because of the fighting and arguments.

This is half the reason Roseanne was so groundbreaking because she refused to back down from male executives and pushed to tackle taboo topics with side-splitting, realistic humor.

Jack1000 · 07-29-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonbigley

When thinking of shows that did not get along behind the cameras, what shows come to mind?

ALF- I was reading that the show was very demanding and the actors had to work 20 hour days. On the series finale, Max Wright did his last scene and went to his dressing rooms to pack his things. Then he got into his car and left. He never said goodbye to anyone.

Night Court- On the TV Tales special, they said on the last day of work, they came in and were told to pack up and get out. What an AWFUL way to treat your cast after 9 years of hard work. Karen Austin said they fired her because she had Bell's Palsy (sp?) where her face was paralyzed. When this happened, they fired her and they kept it quiet from public eye.

Out Of This World- Two of the guy actors did not get along on this show.

Three's Company- We all know about this. I think with this situation, time healed wounds, but it is unfortunate that Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers do not speak to each other to this day. Priscilla Barnes has stated that it was the worst 3 years of her life being on the show because of all the turmoil.

The Brady Bunch- The problems with Robert Reed. He did not appear in the last episode.

Something on a more personal level was when I worked at McDonald's. I will NEVER work at one again. The work environment was horrible. Everybody was very crotchety. The 3 people I trained with were 2 b+tches and 1 jack+ss. So in some way, I feel what it is like to be like these actors working in hostile environments.

I Love Lucy: Vivian Vance and Bill Frawley despised each other. He especially hated her. It started on the first day of rehearsal for shooting the pilot episode. Vivian saw Bill on the set, and said to Desi, "That's who's playing Fred Mertz, my husband? Christ, look at him, he looks old enough to be my father." Well, Bill heard Vivian say this and the anger was born. There were times that Vivian would get so ill driving thinking about the friction between Bill and she, that she would often have to pull over to the side of the road and throw up. I think the bitterness between them made a great chemistry on film, because when they traded insults it looked so real!

There is a story that Vivian did toast Bill in a bar, upon learning his death, so maybe they did eventually forgive each other. But filming with the two of them, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Jack

dawsongirl · 07-29-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1000

There is a story that Vivian did toast Bill in a bar, upon learning his death, so maybe they did eventually forgive each other. But filming with the two of them, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Jack

I always understood that toast to be more of a "He's finally dead!" kind of toast.

treky · 07-30-2008, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack1000

I Love Lucy: Vivian Vance and Bill Frawley despised each other. He especially hated her. It started on the first day of rehearsal for shooting the pilot episode. Vivian saw Bill on the set, and said to Desi, "That's who's playing Fred Mertz, my husband? Christ, look at him, he looks old enough to be my father." Well, Bill heard Vivian say this and the anger was born. There were times that Vivian would get so ill driving thinking about the friction between Bill and she, that she would often have to pull over to the side of the road and throw up. I think the bitterness between them made a great chemistry on film, because when they traded insults it looked so real!

There is a story that Vivian did toast Bill in a bar, upon learning his death, so maybe they did eventually forgive each other. But filming with the two of them, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Jack

I've heard a couple stories about that Vivian/Bill "fued". I've heard what you said, but also that they were really good friends off-camera, and just hated working with each other.

treky · 07-30-2008, 02:37 AM

I've heard that Carrol O'Conner and Norman Lear didn't always get along behind the scenes on "ALL IN THE FAMILY"

Rock Hudson and Susan St. James (why does she have "ST." in her name??? I've always wondered that) were constantly arguing behind the camera on "McMILLAN & WIFE", which was why she left the show.

Cybbil Sheperd and Bruce Willis also didn't get along behind the scenes on "MOONLIGHTING"

I've heard that Raymond Bailey sometimes didn't get along with some of his co-stars on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"

70s show watcher · 07-30-2008, 03:15 AM

topher grace was always very distant from most of his castmates on that 70s show the exception being laura prepon .and also john belushi and jane curtin had quite a few problems at saturday night live but to jane;s credit she has often said in inerviews that she really liked john as a prefomer and also that deep down he was a good person and the fights they did have were way overblown by the media and that it was just very sad that he just couldnt overcome his problems

treky · 07-30-2008, 03:56 AM

Penny Marshal and Cindy Williams didn't always get along on "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY", which was one reason Cindy left in the last season.

mstewart · 07-31-2008, 12:15 AM

Alice - Linda Lavin was threatened by Polly Holliday's Flo being the breakout character that she drove Polly off the show into a spinoff that was lousy. I believe if her relationship with Linda Lavin was better she would had come back to Alice. Diane Ladd had problems with Linda as well and she lasted a half a season. She was a good replacement for Polly. When Jolene came on the show was no good after that.

Too Close for Comfort - I heard that Ted Knight and Nancy Dussault did not get along very well especially after she publicly aired her displeasure of the way the show wrote her. Ted was not happy with the way she aired her beef about the show to TV Guide and he thought she should be happy to be in a hit show. Nancy is an excellent actress but underutilized.

PrettyinPink55 · 07-31-2008, 12:22 AM

What about all the drama on 90210 with Shannen Doherty?

treky · 07-31-2008, 01:28 AM

on "GOOD TIMES" Esther Rolle and John Amos got upset when J.J. became the "breakout character". The writers said they'd fix the problem after the first season, but they din't, then they promised to do it after the 2nd season, again they didn't, they gave them one more chance, but again they didn't, so John Amos left after the 3rd season, then Esther Rolle also left after the 4th season.

On "THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" Carl Riener got mad when CBS refused to air an episode he wrote, so he left the show.

Schmoopie · 07-31-2008, 01:44 AM

Those are really interesting! I never knew about William Frawley and Vivian Vance, or Penny Marshall/Shirley Williams either. Hmmm... I can't think of any others off-hand. The ones I had in mind (actually just one "Three's Company") have already been mentioned.

Come to think of it, I didn't know about Cybil Sheppard and Bruce Willis either.

comedyfreak · 07-31-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

Penny Marshal and Cindy Williams didn't always get along on "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY", which was one reason Cindy left in the last season.

Was also the reason Betty Garrett who played Edna left the show. She was tired of all the bickering.

PrettyinPink55 · 07-31-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Those are really interesting! I never knew about William Frawley and Vivian Vance

This one really interests me. Anyone have anymore information???

PrettyinPink55 · 07-31-2008, 09:44 AM

How about all the stuff that went on behind the scenes of Grey's Anatomy with Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight?

07-29-2008, 05:16 PM	#1
jasonbigley Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2008 Location: California Posts: 501	Behind The Scenes: TV Turmoil When thinking of shows that did not get along behind the cameras, what shows come to mind? ALF- I was reading that the show was very demanding and the actors had to work 20 hour days. On the series finale, Max Wright did his last scene and went to his dressing rooms to pack his things. Then he got into his car and left. He never said goodbye to anyone. Night Court- On the TV Tales special, they said on the last day of work, they came in and were told to pack up and get out. What an AWFUL way to treat your cast after 9 years of hard work. Karen Austin said they fired her because she had Bell's Palsy (sp?) where her face was paralyzed. When this happened, they fired her and they kept it qiuet from public eye. Out Of This World- Two of the guy actors did not get along on this show. Three's Company- We all know about this. I think with this situation, time healed wounds, but it is unfortunate that Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers do not speak to each other to this day. Priscilla Barnes has stated that it was the worst 3 years of her life being on the show because of all the turmoil. The Brady Bunch- The problems with Robert Reed. He did not appear in the last episode. Something on a more personal level was when I worked at McDonald's. I will NEVER work at one again. The work environment was horrible. Everybody was very crotchety. The 3 people I trained with were 2 b+tches and 1 jack+ss. So in some way, I feel what it is like to be like these actors working in hostile environments.

07-31-2008, 12:22 AM	#10
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	What about all the drama on 90210 with Shannen Doherty?
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07-31-2008, 01:44 AM	#12
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Those are really interesting! I never knew about William Frawley and Vivian Vance, or Penny Marshall/Shirley Williams either. Hmmm... I can't think of any others off-hand. The ones I had in mind (actually just one "Three's Company") have already been mentioned. Come to think of it, I didn't know about Cybil Sheppard and Bruce Willis either.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-29-2008, 08:03 PM	#2
Overdose Don't mess with Roseanne! Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 27, 2007 Posts: 303	Roseanne was notorious for having huge back-stage battles with producers and executives. Almost every season there were changes with the staff because of the fighting and arguments. This is half the reason Roseanne was so groundbreaking because she refused to back down from male executives and pushed to tackle taboo topics with side-splitting, realistic humor.

07-30-2008, 02:37 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I've heard that Carrol O'Conner and Norman Lear didn't always get along behind the scenes on "ALL IN THE FAMILY" Rock Hudson and Susan St. James (why does she have "ST." in her name??? I've always wondered that) were constantly arguing behind the camera on "McMILLAN & WIFE", which was why she left the show. Cybbil Sheperd and Bruce Willis also didn't get along behind the scenes on "MOONLIGHTING" I've heard that Raymond Bailey sometimes didn't get along with some of his co-stars on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"

07-30-2008, 03:15 AM	#7
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	topher grace was always very distant from most of his castmates on that 70s show the exception being laura prepon .and also john belushi and jane curtin had quite a few problems at saturday night live but to jane;s credit she has often said in inerviews that she really liked john as a prefomer and also that deep down he was a good person and the fights they did have were way overblown by the media and that it was just very sad that he just couldnt overcome his problems

07-30-2008, 03:56 AM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Penny Marshal and Cindy Williams didn't always get along on "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY", which was one reason Cindy left in the last season.

07-31-2008, 12:15 AM	#9
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Alice - Linda Lavin was threatened by Polly Holliday's Flo being the breakout character that she drove Polly off the show into a spinoff that was lousy. I believe if her relationship with Linda Lavin was better she would had come back to Alice. Diane Ladd had problems with Linda as well and she lasted a half a season. She was a good replacement for Polly. When Jolene came on the show was no good after that. Too Close for Comfort - I heard that Ted Knight and Nancy Dussault did not get along very well especially after she publicly aired her displeasure of the way the show wrote her. Ted was not happy with the way she aired her beef about the show to TV Guide and he thought she should be happy to be in a hit show. Nancy is an excellent actress but underutilized.

07-31-2008, 01:28 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	on "GOOD TIMES" Esther Rolle and John Amos got upset when J.J. became the "breakout character". The writers said they'd fix the problem after the first season, but they din't, then they promised to do it after the 2nd season, again they didn't, they gave them one more chance, but again they didn't, so John Amos left after the 3rd season, then Esther Rolle also left after the 4th season. On "THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" Carl Riener got mad when CBS refused to air an episode he wrote, so he left the show.

07-31-2008, 09:44 AM	#15
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	How about all the stuff that went on behind the scenes of Grey's Anatomy with Isaiah Washington and T.R. Knight?