I Didn't Think it Was Really Fair That Roseanna Christiansen (Carmen) Got Fired! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-12-2010, 04:50 PM

Marla Gibbs was fantastic as Florence, but when she left to do her own sitcom for CBS and Carmen was introduced, that should've been it. Carmen should've remained as the maid for the Jeffersons. I thought it was unfair to remove her once CBS pulled the plug on the spin-off. Just my opinion...

catlover79 · 06-12-2010, 04:53 PM

Too bad Carmen couldn't have become the Willises' maid. That way she could've stayed on and Florence could've still been the Jeffersons' maid.

Mr. Television · 06-12-2010, 05:09 PM

Roseanna went on to be the Ewing maid on Dallas so she wasn't out of work long

The Dallas website actually interviewed her not long ago.

http://ultimatedallas.com/dallasinte.../roseanna.html

I was actually glad that Florence was back. No offense to Ms Christiansen but Florence was a scene steeler and the later seasons would have been subpar without her.

catlover79 · 06-12-2010, 05:14 PM

Thanks for sharing that, Sonny!! I actually forgot that she appeared on Dallas.

McGillicuddy · 06-12-2010, 05:20 PM

I imagine Marla Gibbs was promised she could return to The Jeffersons, if Checking In didn't make it. But on Alice, when Polly Holliday left to star in Flo, and that show didn't make it, she did NOT return to Alice.

But getting back to the actress who played Roseanna, she probably was warned her character may just be temporary.

Mr. Television · 06-12-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Thanks for sharing that, Sonny!! I actually forgot that she appeared on Dallas.

You're welcome.

She did have a much smaller role on Dallas than she would have had on the Jeffersons. It wasn't really fair to her but I think Florence was just too important to the Jeffersons to take a chance. I don't really think Florence should have been spun off anyway. CBS didn't even give her show much of a chance so it didn't seem that they were really behind it either.

catlover79 · 06-12-2010, 05:22 PM

Along those same lines, Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his Dukes of Hazzard spinoff, Enos, flopped, he would be allowed to return to Dukes. Maybe Marla Gibbs had a similar clause in her own contract.

Mr. Television · 06-12-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Along those same lines, Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his Dukes of Hazzard spinoff, Enos, flopped, he would be allowed to return to Dukes. Maybe Marla Gibbs had a similar clause in her own contract.

It could have been. I wonder if Roseanna was even supposed to be a regular. Checking In was canceled in the spring of 1981 so the Jeffersons knew by the time that filming started for the next season that Marla was available.

McGillicuddy · 06-12-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Along those same lines, Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his Dukes of Hazzard spinoff, Enos, flopped, he would be allowed to return to Dukes. Maybe Marla Gibbs had a similar clause in her own contract.

Another one, Abe Vigoda spinning off to Fish. From what I remember he was still on BM while on Fish. (Monika, how was this handled?)

catlover79 · 06-12-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Another one, Abe Vigoda spinning off to Fish. From what I remember he was still on BM while on Fish. (Monika, how was this handled?)

Yeah, but supposedly he wanted too much money to return, and Danny Arnold blocked Abe's return. (Though Abe did turn up later on for a guest appearance toward the end of the show's run.)

TVFactFan · 06-12-2010, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Marla Gibbs was fantastic as Florence, but when she left to do her own sitcom for CBS and Carmen was introduced, that should've been it. Carmen should've remained as the maid for the Jeffersons. I thought it was unfair to remove her once CBS pulled the plug on the spin-off. Just my opinion...

She wasn't funny Brian-lol I think she would have been gone whether Checking In was a success or not.

Brian Damage · 06-12-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She wasn't funny Brian-lol I think she would have been gone whether Checking In was a success or not.

I disagree, besides, they didn't give her enough time to gel with the cast.

TVFactFan · 06-12-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I disagree, besides, they didn't give her enough time to gel with the cast.

She had no chemistry with George, the Main character-lol Now Florence had no chemistry with

Ralph
Tom
Mother Jefferson
Lionel

BUT............She had it with the character who kep the show watchable who was GEORGE!!!-lol

Brian Damage · 06-12-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

She had no chemistry with George, the Main character-lol Now Florence had no chemistry with

Ralph
Tom
Mother Jefferson
Lionel

BUT............She had it with the character who kep the show watchable who was GEORGE!!!-lol

Again, sometimes chemistry takes a little time. Carmen didn't have that luxury. It was kinda unfair.

Jude The Obscure · 06-13-2010, 07:49 PM

The Carmen character could have been worked in as a recurring character--like suggested earlier--for the Willis' or Bentley. The Willis' did have a maid--whom we never saw again after the first episode--Diane.

06-12-2010, 04:50 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I Didn't Think it Was Really Fair That Roseanna Christiansen (Carmen) Got Fired! Marla Gibbs was fantastic as Florence, but when she left to do her own sitcom for CBS and Carmen was introduced, that should've been it. Carmen should've remained as the maid for the Jeffersons. I thought it was unfair to remove her once CBS pulled the plug on the spin-off. Just my opinion...
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-12-2010, 04:53 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Too bad Carmen couldn't have become the Willises' maid. That way she could've stayed on and Florence could've still been the Jeffersons' maid.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-12-2010, 05:09 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Roseanna went on to be the Ewing maid on Dallas so she wasn't out of work long The Dallas website actually interviewed her not long ago. http://ultimatedallas.com/dallasinte.../roseanna.html I was actually glad that Florence was back. No offense to Ms Christiansen but Florence was a scene steeler and the later seasons would have been subpar without her.
	__________________ Sonny

06-12-2010, 05:14 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Thanks for sharing that, Sonny!! I actually forgot that she appeared on Dallas.

06-12-2010, 05:20 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I imagine Marla Gibbs was promised she could return to The Jeffersons, if Checking In didn't make it. But on Alice, when Polly Holliday left to star in Flo, and that show didn't make it, she did NOT return to Alice. But getting back to the actress who played Roseanna, she probably was warned her character may just be temporary.

06-12-2010, 05:22 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Along those same lines, Sonny Shroyer had it written into his contract that if his Dukes of Hazzard spinoff, Enos, flopped, he would be allowed to return to Dukes. Maybe Marla Gibbs had a similar clause in her own contract.

06-13-2010, 07:49 PM	#15
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The Carmen character could have been worked in as a recurring character--like suggested earlier--for the Willis' or Bentley. The Willis' did have a maid--whom we never saw again after the first episode--Diane.