Wouldn't A Crossover Episode With Bob & Mary Richards Been Beneficial??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-24-2011, 11:02 PM

Or was it better to keep the two shows and all of their characters seperate from one another?

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-25-2011, 12:28 AM

...Bob was originally slated to appear as Mary's IRS auditor, "Robert C. Brand", in the episode "1040 or Fight" {November 28, 1970}- however, because he was afraid of flying to Hollywood to film the episode, Paul Sand played the role (and later got his own short-lived MTM series, "PAUL SAND IN FRIENDS AND LOVERS").

I don't think there was any idea of having Bob or Mary visit each other's series...even with a programmer like Fred Silverman in charge of CBS' schedule at the time, and he was the king of "cross-overs", including Mary's later appearances on "RHODA" and "PHYLLIS".

Zoneboy · 02-25-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...Bob was originally slated to appear as Mary's IRS auditor, "Robert C. Brand", in the episode "1040 or Fight" {November 28, 1970}- however, because he was afraid of flying to Hollywood to film the episode, Paul Sand played the role (and later got his own short-lived MTM series, "PAUL SAND IN FRIENDS AND LOVERS").

What source might this info be from? I'm not doubting you but I am curious.

Thanks in advance..

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-25-2011, 02:25 AM

...one is from the book "Love Is All Around: The Making of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'" by Robert S. Alley & Irby B. Brown- the other is from tv.com.

Zoneboy · 02-25-2011, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...one is from the book "Love Is All Around: The Making of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'" by Robert S. Alley & Irby B. Brown- the other is from tv.com.

Thanks again, I have an easier time believing the book than tv.com

Bonsai · 02-26-2011, 10:33 PM

It would have been too gimmick-y for them to share a storyline, but......

....it might have been fun for them to have a brief chance encounter at an airport or a concert or something.....with each show (on the same night) showing the incident in the context of its own storyline.....and with Bob Hartley and Mary Richards remaining strangers.

Feel free to say "what the $&#@ are you talking about, Bonsai?"

Retro4Life · 02-26-2011, 11:21 PM

I think a crossover between the two shows would have worked, as long as it was like a cameo of Bob being Mary's therapist or something. I don't see anything long like a two-parter happening, but the mood and sensibilities of the two shows would have matched up well, I think.

CAJeannieFan57 · 02-27-2011, 12:43 PM

Sounds like fodder for a fan-fiction, to me. :-) Somebody with a good knowledge of both shows, and a good writer, should do it. (Not me - I'm not THAT comfortable with MTMS to do that.)

catlover79 · 02-27-2011, 03:04 PM

They could've made a joke about Bob's sister Ellen being an exact ringer for Mary's annoying friends Twinks and Sparky.

Howard Arnell was a spitting image of Carol's annoying fiance Don (the guy with bad feet). Mr. Carlin used to go to high school with Mary under the name of Eldon Colfax.

Of course, those roles were played by the same actors: Pat Finley, Richard Schaal and Jack Riley.

McGillicuddy · 02-27-2011, 03:16 PM

Jack Reilly also played Barry Barlow, who was interested in renting Rhoda's apartment when she was going to move back to New York the first time.

TVFactFan · 02-27-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...one is from the book "Love Is All Around: The Making of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'" by Robert S. Alley & Irby B. Brown- the other is from tv.com.

Your posts no longer have credibility after saying tv.om was one of your sources.

McGillicuddy · 02-27-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...Bob was originally slated to appear as Mary's IRS auditor, "Robert C. Brand", in the episode "1040 or Fight" {November 28, 1970}- however, because he was afraid of flying to Hollywood to film the episode, Paul Sand played the role (and later got his own short-lived MTM series, "PAUL SAND IN FRIENDS AND LOVERS").

I don't think there was any idea of having Bob or Mary visit each other's series...even with a programmer like Fred Silverman in charge of CBS' schedule at the time, and he was the king of "cross-overs", including Mary's later appearances on "RHODA" and "PHYLLIS".

What do you mean Bob Newhart was afraid to fly to Hollywood to film the episode? Wasn't The Bob Newhart Show filmed out there?

TVFactFan · 02-27-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

What do you mean Bob Newhart was afraid to fly to Hollywood to film the episode? Wasn't The Bob Newhart Show filmed out there?

He got his information from tv.com so his post no longer can be taken seriously. Plus this poster always post facts like he was there or knew someone who was involved.

Brian Damage · 02-27-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

He got his information from tv.com so his post no longer can be taken seriously. Plus this poster always post facts like he was there or knew someone who was involved.

Sol, what is wrong with TV.com? Besides, TV Knowledge fan is very knowledgeable about classic sitcoms.

TVFactFan · 02-27-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Sol, what is wrong with TV.com? Besides, TV Knowledge fan is very knowledgeable about classic sitcoms.

Nothing is wrong with TV.com but he was posting things like it was something he knew about from experience or being around at the time. Now I believe he is just copying and pasting information trying to appear that he knows a lot about TV shows. He got exposed when he said.....tv.com

02-24-2011, 11:02 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	Wouldn't A Crossover Episode With Bob & Mary Richards Been Beneficial??? Or was it better to keep the two shows and all of their characters seperate from one another?
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02-25-2011, 12:28 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Funny thing you should mention this, 'Brian'... ...Bob was originally slated to appear as Mary's IRS auditor, "Robert C. Brand", in the episode "1040 or Fight" {November 28, 1970}- however, because he was afraid of flying to Hollywood to film the episode, Paul Sand played the role (and later got his own short-lived MTM series, "PAUL SAND IN FRIENDS AND LOVERS"). I don't think there was any idea of having Bob or Mary visit each other's series...even with a programmer like Fred Silverman in charge of CBS' schedule at the time, and he was the king of "cross-overs", including Mary's later appearances on "RHODA" and "PHYLLIS".

02-25-2011, 02:25 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Two sources I know of, 'Zoneboy'... ...one is from the book "Love Is All Around: The Making of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'" by Robert S. Alley & Irby B. Brown- the other is from tv.com.

02-26-2011, 10:33 PM	#6
Bonsai Gilligan Ambassador Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 12, 2005 Posts: 356	It would have been too gimmick-y for them to share a storyline, but...... ....it might have been fun for them to have a brief chance encounter at an airport or a concert or something.....with each show (on the same night) showing the incident in the context of its own storyline.....and with Bob Hartley and Mary Richards remaining strangers. Feel free to say "what the $&#@ are you talking about, Bonsai?"
	__________________ I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.------Mahatma Gandhi

02-26-2011, 11:21 PM	#7
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I think a crossover between the two shows would have worked, as long as it was like a cameo of Bob being Mary's therapist or something. I don't see anything long like a two-parter happening, but the mood and sensibilities of the two shows would have matched up well, I think.
	__________________ 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."

02-27-2011, 12:43 PM	#8
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	Sounds like fodder for a fan-fiction, to me. :-) Somebody with a good knowledge of both shows, and a good writer, should do it. (Not me - I'm not THAT comfortable with MTMS to do that.)
	__________________ Donna

02-27-2011, 03:04 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	They could've made a joke about Bob's sister Ellen being an exact ringer for Mary's annoying friends Twinks and Sparky. Howard Arnell was a spitting image of Carol's annoying fiance Don (the guy with bad feet). Mr. Carlin used to go to high school with Mary under the name of Eldon Colfax. Of course, those roles were played by the same actors: Pat Finley, Richard Schaal and Jack Riley.
	__________________ "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

02-27-2011, 03:16 PM	#10
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Jack Reilly also played Barry Barlow, who was interested in renting Rhoda's apartment when she was going to move back to New York the first time.