Where was Todd during season 8? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LondonBRIDGES · 08-22-2008, 12:59 PM

He was MIA during a lot of episodes. I know Kim was booted because of the pregnancy and Gary had health issues but what was his deal? Was it the drugs???

anny84 · 08-22-2008, 01:58 PM

Starting from season 7, producers and writers decide to give more space to Arnold and Sam characters. Indeed Todd Bridges appearance already was strongly reduced since season 7, just one episode was based on Willis in season 7 ("Undercover Lover") and one in season 8 ("Willis goes to college").

According to IMDB, Bridges began to have troubles with authorities after Diff'rent Strokes was cancelled from ABC. But, in the DS Unauthorized Story Movie, first troubles seem to happen on 1984, just when the season 7 was produced.

One guess: the "Undercover Lover" episode talks about drugs in the school, and Willis talks about drugs stupidity. Odd. Maybe it's just not a coincidence.

Anny

LondonBRIDGES · 08-22-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anny84

Starting from season 7, producers and writers decide to give more space to Arnold and Sam characters. Indeed Todd Bridges appearance already was strongly reduced since season 7, just one episode was based on Willis in season 7 ("Undercover Lover") and one in season 8 ("Willis goes to college").

According to IMDB, Bridges began to have troubles with authorities after Diff'rent Strokes was cancelled from ABC. But, in the DS Unauthorized Story Movie, first troubles seem to happen on 1984, just when the season 7 was produced.

One guess: the "Undercover Lover" episode talks about drugs in the school, and Willis talks about drugs stupidity. Odd. Maybe it's just not a coincidence.

Anny

Thanks but that was a bad move on their part. It's been said many times here that Sam's entrance is when the ratings dropped. Though I personally don't find him as annoying as some.
The new Maggie (Mary Ann Mobley) didn't cut it for me. She just didn't have the spunk of Dixie.
But that's all water under the bridge now (no pun intended)

stevea · 08-22-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonBRIDGES

...I personally don't find (Sam) as annoying as some.
The new Maggie (Mary Ann Mobley) didn't cut it for me. She just didn't have the spunk of Dixie.
But that's all water under the bridge now (no pun intended)

I totally agree. But evidently the new characters = the DS jump the shark moment.

Mobley overacted the part, especially the Sam's Missing eps. Dixie seemed totally at ease.

TVFactFan · 08-22-2008, 07:13 PM

In all Honesty, it was time for the Willis Jackson character to have a reduced role because he was much older and not living at home anymore so why would there be eps based on Willis? It looks like he should have been spinned off

Nat's #1 Fan · 08-23-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Mobley overacted the part, especially the Sam's Missing eps. Dixie seemed totally at ease.

I totally agree with you. Throughout the Sam's Missing episodes, I was cringing at the horrible acting she was doing. I could've done a better acting job than her; especially her last line at the end of the first part where she says, "Please find my son". Ugh, worst actress ever

. She either acted too over-emotional or not emotional at all. I don't care for either of the Maggies but I prefer Dixie to Mary Ann Mobley. She at least acted better and Sam's Missing could've been a more powerful episode had she been on it.

ThomasE · 08-27-2008, 10:02 PM

We had a big discussion about Mary Anne's acting chops. She was very beautiful but was a little green during some moments. Willis was away at college so it is quite understandable that he would have his appearances reduced on the show during the last season.

anny84 · 08-28-2008, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Willis was away at college so it is quite understandable that he would have his appearances reduced on the show during the last season.

Yes Thomas, this is the reason built into the comedy helping the audience to understand "why" Willis appearances are reduced a lot. But we're trying to understand the real reason, that is, if this happened in some way while Todd begun to have serious troubles with law. Please remember that Todd's appearances are really reduced in the season 7 too, when Willis still went to hi-school.

Anny

ThomasE · 08-28-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anny84

Please remember that Todd's appearances are really reduced in the season 7 too, when Willis still went to hi-school.

Anny

Is there a pun intended?

anny84 · 08-29-2008, 01:46 AM

I don't know where's the pun, I really talk a very poor english, please explain it to me

Anny

LondonBRIDGES · 08-29-2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anny84

I don't know where's the pun, I really talk a very poor english, please explain it to me

Anny

"high" school

anny84 · 08-29-2008, 01:44 PM

Sure, "high" ... that's what I meant (like in "hi-score", hi is a diminutive of high). But where's the funny pun?

Anny

DSfan · 08-29-2008, 02:33 PM

To be on drugs is sometimes referred to as being high and he was in high school.

LondonBRIDGES · 08-29-2008, 03:48 PM

Ohmigod you really are green. LOL I can't believe it took this much time to break this down

anny84 · 08-29-2008, 03:51 PM

Oh, I understood

I didnt know it.

In Italy we use "alticcio" a kind of diminutive of italian word "alto" ("high" in english) in order to refer someone a bit drunk.

Odd simile...

Anny

08-27-2008, 10:02 PM	#7
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	We had a big discussion about Mary Anne's acting chops. She was very beautiful but was a little green during some moments. Willis was away at college so it is quite understandable that he would have his appearances reduced on the show during the last season.
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08-22-2008, 12:59 PM	#1
LondonBRIDGES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 59	Where was Todd during season 8? He was MIA during a lot of episodes. I know Kim was booted because of the pregnancy and Gary had health issues but what was his deal? Was it the drugs???

08-22-2008, 01:58 PM	#2
anny84 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 11, 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 29	Starting from season 7, producers and writers decide to give more space to Arnold and Sam characters. Indeed Todd Bridges appearance already was strongly reduced since season 7, just one episode was based on Willis in season 7 ("Undercover Lover") and one in season 8 ("Willis goes to college"). According to IMDB, Bridges began to have troubles with authorities after Diff'rent Strokes was cancelled from ABC. But, in the DS Unauthorized Story Movie, first troubles seem to happen on 1984, just when the season 7 was produced. One guess: the "Undercover Lover" episode talks about drugs in the school, and Willis talks about drugs stupidity. Odd. Maybe it's just not a coincidence. Anny

08-22-2008, 07:13 PM	#5
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,955	In all Honesty, it was time for the Willis Jackson character to have a reduced role because he was much older and not living at home anymore so why would there be eps based on Willis? It looks like he should have been spinned off

08-29-2008, 01:46 AM	#10
anny84 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 11, 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 29	I don't know where's the pun, I really talk a very poor english, please explain it to me Anny

08-29-2008, 01:44 PM	#12
anny84 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 11, 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 29	Sure, "high" ... that's what I meant (like in "hi-score", hi is a diminutive of high). But where's the funny pun? Anny

08-29-2008, 02:33 PM	#13
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	To be on drugs is sometimes referred to as being high and he was in high school.

08-29-2008, 03:48 PM	#14
LondonBRIDGES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 59	Ohmigod you really are green. LOL I can't believe it took this much time to break this down

08-29-2008, 03:51 PM	#15
anny84 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 11, 2007 Location: Italy Posts: 29	Oh, I understood I didnt know it. In Italy we use "alticcio" a kind of diminutive of italian word "alto" ("high" in english) in order to refer someone a bit drunk. Odd simile... Anny