Do You Think Bobby Wheeler Was A Stereotype on 'Taxi?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-04-2011, 12:39 AM

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...+conaway&hl=en

In this article dated in 1983, Jeff Conaway said that his Bobby Wheeler character was nothing more than a bad stereotype of what an actor is. He said he had no choice but to leave the show because the character was no good. Do you agree???

Retro4Life · 02-04-2011, 10:51 AM

I think he's being a bit harsh. Sure, Bobby was vain and cocky but he had a heart, too and I always enjoyed the character. As far as "had to go", well, the show only lasted a couple more years without him so it wasn't like he would have had to wait that long to taste his freedom. Like most actors who left successful shows at the height of the show's popularity, I think it would have been better for his career if he'd stayed, but that's just my opinion.

Dr. Thong · 02-04-2011, 12:07 PM

It's BS bravado if you ask me. Basically, he made a bad career move and is trying to justify it, to save face. He ended up doing soaps and informercials after leaving Taxi and then ended up as a celebrity drunk/addict doing "reality" shows.

He made a bad move and probably regretted it.

Marvo301 · 02-04-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's BS bravado if you ask me. Basically, he made a bad career move and is trying to justify it, to save face. He ended up doing soaps and informercials after leaving Taxi and then ended up as a celebrity drunk/addict doing "reality" shows.

He made a bad move and probably regretted it.

MickeyMac · 02-04-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's BS bravado if you ask me. Basically, he made a bad career move and is trying to justify it, to save face. He ended up doing soaps and informercials after leaving Taxi and then ended up as a celebrity drunk/addict doing "reality" shows.

He made a bad move and probably regretted it.

I couldnt agree more.

Dr. Thong · 02-04-2011, 08:56 PM

Wow! Glad to see two "agrees" in a row!

catlover79 · 02-05-2011, 04:10 AM

I agree, too!! I mean, Jeff Conaway had a hit (Grease) before Taxi and one after (Babylon 5) - but leaving the show when he did was a bad career move. It took him years to get another decent role, and now he's reduced to Celebrity Rehab. He looks at least 10 years older than he really is. Sad AND scary.

ratner43 · 08-01-2013, 06:55 AM

Been thinking about this question a lot and I gotta say no, Bobby was a character that jumped out at me when he was part of an ensemble.

Barry Kemp wrote a lot of Bobby episodes and he mentioned in an interview that Bobby was written as the insecure one, and it's a believable behind the shallow exterior lies a beaten actor.

The Charles Brother said something interesting, Bobby was like the anti Louie, he was tall, blonde and had talent

ratner43 · 10-22-2013, 03:11 PM

http://www.emmytvlegends.org/intervi...ple/sam-simon#

sam simon mentioned how he became expendable, I still stand by the fact that the writers should've feed on the Louie/Bobby parallel like Diane and Carla on Cheers. I found Taxi a good show but it couldn't last long because they couldn't give the normal characters like Bobby and John their due like Cheers did. I'm always curious what would've happened to the show if the Charles Brothers were running it without people like Jim Brooks hovering over their backs

Torgo · 10-23-2013, 09:07 AM

I thought he left the show to star in the extremely short lived Wizards & Warriors.

02-04-2011, 12:39 AM	#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	Do You Think Bobby Wheeler Was A Stereotype on 'Taxi?' http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...+conaway&hl=en In this article dated in 1983, Jeff Conaway said that his Bobby Wheeler character was nothing more than a bad stereotype of what an actor is. He said he had no choice but to leave the show because the character was no good. Do you agree???
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-04-2011, 10:51 AM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I think he's being a bit harsh. Sure, Bobby was vain and cocky but he had a heart, too and I always enjoyed the character. As far as "had to go", well, the show only lasted a couple more years without him so it wasn't like he would have had to wait that long to taste his freedom. Like most actors who left successful shows at the height of the show's popularity, I think it would have been better for his career if he'd stayed, but that's just my opinion.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

02-04-2011, 12:07 PM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	It's BS bravado if you ask me. Basically, he made a bad career move and is trying to justify it, to save face. He ended up doing soaps and informercials after leaving Taxi and then ended up as a celebrity drunk/addict doing "reality" shows. He made a bad move and probably regretted it.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

02-05-2011, 04:10 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I agree, too!! I mean, Jeff Conaway had a hit (Grease) before Taxi and one after (Babylon 5) - but leaving the show when he did was a bad career move. It took him years to get another decent role, and now he's reduced to Celebrity Rehab. He looks at least 10 years older than he really is. Sad AND scary.
	__________________ "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

10-23-2013, 09:07 AM	#10
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,029	I thought he left the show to star in the extremely short lived Wizards & Warriors.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

02-04-2011, 08:56 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Wow! Glad to see two "agrees" in a row!

08-01-2013, 06:55 AM	#8
ratner43 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2013 Posts: 16	Been thinking about this question a lot and I gotta say no, Bobby was a character that jumped out at me when he was part of an ensemble. Barry Kemp wrote a lot of Bobby episodes and he mentioned in an interview that Bobby was written as the insecure one, and it's a believable behind the shallow exterior lies a beaten actor. The Charles Brother said something interesting, Bobby was like the anti Louie, he was tall, blonde and had talent

10-22-2013, 03:11 PM	#9
ratner43 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2013 Posts: 16	http://www.emmytvlegends.org/intervi...ple/sam-simon# sam simon mentioned how he became expendable, I still stand by the fact that the writers should've feed on the Louie/Bobby parallel like Diane and Carla on Cheers. I found Taxi a good show but it couldn't last long because they couldn't give the normal characters like Bobby and John their due like Cheers did. I'm always curious what would've happened to the show if the Charles Brothers were running it without people like Jim Brooks hovering over their backs