Characters that overstayed their welcome in High School - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ThomasE · 05-24-2010, 10:57 AM

Name characters that you thought were supposed to graduate at a certain time but then they just wound up staying an extra year or two. I have been making this observation over the years and it is annoying. I will just throw out a few:

Karen Foster - Step by Step 6 years
Jeff Stone - The Donna Reed show. He was a senior and ended up a senior again after Shelley Fabares left the show.

All right you guys, I know more but am giving you a chance to throw them out there.

Jude The Obscure · 05-24-2010, 12:32 PM

The entire cast of "Head of the Class"?

it also seems that Richie, Ralph and Potsie were in school an extra year. (The first season already had them attending their JUNIOR prom).
The same with Jo and Blair on The Facts of Life--when the show started Blair was already a sophomore!

MickeyMac · 05-24-2010, 02:24 PM

The sweathogs on Welcome Back Kotter. That show was on for four years and they only moved up one grade. By the last series it was more than obvious these guys looked like they should be out of high school (then again the actors were already in the mid 20's).

factsoflife · 05-24-2010, 03:04 PM

On "Dawson's Creek" the show started in their sophomore year; but somehow the ended up in high school for an extra year.

oz615 · 05-24-2010, 07:44 PM

Julie and Mary Beth from Hang Time (6 years)
Maria from Saved by the Bell:The New Class (5 years)
Romeo and Bullethead from the Steve Harvey Show (6 years?)
Laura and Steve from Family Matter (7 years)
+ the entire cast of California Dreams and City Guys

Adamantium · 05-24-2010, 08:09 PM

That '70s Show - Eric, Donna, Hyde, Kelso and Fez were in high school for the first five seasons.

catlover79 · 05-24-2010, 08:39 PM

I think DJ on Full House was a high schooler for 5 years, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

treky · 05-25-2010, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

The sweathogs on Welcome Back Kotter. That show was on for four years and they only moved up one grade. By the last series it was more than obvious these guys looked like they should be out of high school (then again the actors were already in the mid 20's).

yes; you're right. I heard an interview with Gabe Kaplan once where he was saying that he also thought that was ridiculouis.
He was saying that he suggested to ABC that they graduate and move on to college and Mr. Kotter ends up being their teacher again; that way the show would be believable and could go on for 4 more years. But they didn't listen.

Marvo301 · 05-25-2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yes; you're right. I heard an interview with Gabe Kaplan once where he was saying that he also thought that was ridiculouis.
He was saying that he suggested to ABC that they graduate and move on to college and Mr. Kotter ends up being their teacher again; that way the show would be believable and could go on for 4 more years. But they didn't listen.

Well they were meant to be remedial students so it makes a little bit of sense that it would take them longer to finish high school than normal. And they don't really seem like college material to me. Just graduating high school would be a major accomplishment for the Sweathogs!

treky · 05-25-2010, 02:45 AM

I'm sorry; I meant to say a juioner college.

Torgo · 05-25-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yes; you're right. I heard an interview with Gabe Kaplan once where he was saying that he also thought that was ridiculouis.
He was saying that he suggested to ABC that they graduate and move on to college and Mr. Kotter ends up being their teacher again; that way the show would be believable and could go on for 4 more years. But they didn't listen.

Wasn't that part of why Gabe left the show?

McGillicuddy · 05-25-2010, 10:50 AM

Well, in the case of That '70's Show, the first season was 1976. Each season was like just a half year, cause the show lasted 8 years, but they had to stay in the '70's,( its "The '70's Show"). Unlike the long running Happy Days set in the 50's, which was carried on into the '60's.

old grouch · 05-25-2010, 01:52 PM

Wasn't Joanie Cunningham in high school for six years???

Lorimar Television · 05-25-2010, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think DJ on Full House was a high schooler for 5 years, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

She graduated Jr. high at the end of season 4, and started high school in season 5. She was graduating at the end of the eight season, so she was in high school the correct amount of years.

treky · 05-25-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Wasn't that part of why Gabe left the show?

I think so.

05-24-2010, 10:57 AM	#1
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Characters that overstayed their welcome in High School Name characters that you thought were supposed to graduate at a certain time but then they just wound up staying an extra year or two. I have been making this observation over the years and it is annoying. I will just throw out a few: Karen Foster - Step by Step 6 years Jeff Stone - The Donna Reed show. He was a senior and ended up a senior again after Shelley Fabares left the show. All right you guys, I know more but am giving you a chance to throw them out there.
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05-24-2010, 03:04 PM	#4
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,745	On "Dawson's Creek" the show started in their sophomore year; but somehow the ended up in high school for an extra year.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

05-24-2010, 08:39 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I think DJ on Full House was a high schooler for 5 years, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.
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05-24-2010, 12:32 PM	#2
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The entire cast of "Head of the Class"? it also seems that Richie, Ralph and Potsie were in school an extra year. (The first season already had them attending their JUNIOR prom). The same with Jo and Blair on The Facts of Life--when the show started Blair was already a sophomore!

05-24-2010, 02:24 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	The sweathogs on Welcome Back Kotter. That show was on for four years and they only moved up one grade. By the last series it was more than obvious these guys looked like they should be out of high school (then again the actors were already in the mid 20's).

05-24-2010, 07:44 PM	#5
oz615 Sitcoms Online Thread Killer Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 06, 2007 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 268	Julie and Mary Beth from Hang Time (6 years) Maria from Saved by the Bell:The New Class (5 years) Romeo and Bullethead from the Steve Harvey Show (6 years?) Laura and Steve from Family Matter (7 years) + the entire cast of California Dreams and City Guys

05-24-2010, 08:09 PM	#6
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,830	That '70s Show - Eric, Donna, Hyde, Kelso and Fez were in high school for the first five seasons.

05-25-2010, 02:45 AM	#10
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I'm sorry; I meant to say a *juioner* college.

05-25-2010, 10:50 AM	#12
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Well, in the case of That '70's Show, the first season was 1976. Each season was like just a half year, cause the show lasted 8 years, but they had to stay in the '70's,( its "The '70's Show"). Unlike the long running Happy Days set in the 50's, which was carried on into the '60's.

05-25-2010, 01:52 PM	#13
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Wasn't Joanie Cunningham in high school for six years???