Debbie Reynolds episode??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

McGillicuddy · 04-19-2009, 08:44 AM

Does anyone know if there is a story behind the casting of Debbie Reynolds as Truby, when Dorothy is about to remarry Stan, and leave? I wonder if this was the point Bea Arthur was ready to pack it in, and the producers were trying to line up someone to replace her. The episode is just kind of bizzarre anyway--Why would Truby move in before Dorothy actually moved out? What did Dorothy do with her stuff in the interum? Why would Truby attend Dorothy and Stans' wedding? And then at the end they just said oh sorry Debbie Reynolds, you're going to have to leave, Dorothy's staying!

sodalake · 04-20-2009, 10:46 AM

"There Goes the Bride Part 1 and Part 2" are two of my favorite episodes of the show. Back at the time in 1991, I don't remember there being any talk of Bea Arthur wanting to leave the show. I don't think there was ever any intent to have Debbie Reynolds replace her. I think Debbie's character Truby was just written to move in and attend the wedding to have a bigger role in the episode-after all these episodes aired in February 1991 during sweeps month for ratings and guest stars such as Debbie were used to boost ratings.

OOliver · 04-22-2009, 05:18 PM

I never enjoyed the story either, it was a bit too far fetched.

However, I do recall remember reading/hearing at the time that Arthur wanted out and two different endings were shot for 'part 2', the other in which Arthur did leave and Reynolds was added to the cast of they couldn't convince her to stay at least until the season's end.

sodalake · 04-23-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

I never enjoyed the story either, it was a bit too far fetched.

However, I do recall remember reading/hearing at the time that Arthur wanted out and two different endings were shot for 'part 2', the other in which Arthur did leave and Reynolds was added to the cast of they couldn't convince her to stay at least until the season's end.

I could understand that IF this had been the season ending episodes of the season, but they weren't and aired in February. If a second ending was filmed and Bea Arthur indeed was leaving, I assume they would have saved this episode to have been the season finale--unless Bea was wanting to leave in the middle of the season.

OOliver · 04-25-2009, 06:31 PM

She may have wanted to leave in the middle of that season, and perhaps the producers (and network) wanted to make the change during the February sweeps (which would have been filmed in December of the previous year, I believe) to get incredible ratings and a ton of press coverage. That would definitely make sense.

04-19-2009, 08:44 AM	#1
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Debbie Reynolds episode??? Does anyone know if there is a story behind the casting of Debbie Reynolds as Truby, when Dorothy is about to remarry Stan, and leave? I wonder if this was the point Bea Arthur was ready to pack it in, and the producers were trying to line up someone to replace her. The episode is just kind of bizzarre anyway--Why would Truby move in before Dorothy actually moved out? What did Dorothy do with her stuff in the interum? Why would Truby attend Dorothy and Stans' wedding? And then at the end they just said oh sorry Debbie Reynolds, you're going to have to leave, Dorothy's staying!

04-20-2009, 10:46 AM	#2
sodalake Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 109	"There Goes the Bride Part 1 and Part 2" are two of my favorite episodes of the show. Back at the time in 1991, I don't remember there being any talk of Bea Arthur wanting to leave the show. I don't think there was ever any intent to have Debbie Reynolds replace her. I think Debbie's character Truby was just written to move in and attend the wedding to have a bigger role in the episode-after all these episodes aired in February 1991 during sweeps month for ratings and guest stars such as Debbie were used to boost ratings.

04-22-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	I never enjoyed the story either, it was a bit too far fetched. However, I do recall remember reading/hearing at the time that Arthur wanted out and two different endings were shot for 'part 2', the other in which Arthur did leave and Reynolds was added to the cast of they couldn't convince her to stay at least until the season's end.

04-25-2009, 06:31 PM	#5
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	She may have wanted to leave in the middle of that season, and perhaps the producers (and network) wanted to make the change during the February sweeps (which would have been filmed in December of the previous year, I believe) to get incredible ratings and a ton of press coverage. That would definitely make sense.