Which Character Suffered More in Richie's Absence? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 03-17-2011, 02:47 AM

To me, it's a toss up between Lori Beth and Potsie. Both characters needed to have Richie around to play off of to really work. After Ron Howard left, it seemed like they only really used Lori Beth for "ghost" storylines involving Richie (like their "wedding" and the birth of their son). I also found it funny that Richie wasn't allowed to be at least temporarily discharged from the Army so that he could be there for his son's birth (it kind of made Richie look bad if you asked me).

With Potsie, I honestly don't know why Anson Williams stayed on after Ron Howard and Donny Most left. The writers didn't really know what to do with Potsie. All of the "youth" storylines that Potsie, Richie and Ralph once occupied were now transferred to Joanie, Chachi and Jenny (and to a lesser extent, the students that Foznie and Roger taught at Jefferson High). I think there was a period where they tried to make him into the Cunningham's surrogate son in Richie's absence (like having Potsie work at Howard's hardware store).

tmac81s · 03-17-2011, 05:10 AM

I agree.

Lori Beth seemed to be around more than she had been, lol! They did kind of use her to keep Richie's spirit on the show.

Potsie too, he didn't have any of his friends left. They did work him into some episodes, but it still felt kinda weird. i think they wanted to have some old characters around, even if just in the background, while the new ones were introduced, to keep the show feeling familar.

BTW--did Potsie EVER graduate college?

Marvo301 · 03-17-2011, 06:07 PM

I think the Potsie character suffered greatly due to the departure not only of Ritchie but Ralph as well. The writers had no idea what to do with Potsie once Ritchie and Ralph were no longer there for him to interact with. And it seems like didn't really try either. It seems like the writers choose to concentrate on Joannie and Chachi and the newer/younger characters and Potsie and Loribeth just faded into the background.

Waterston_Fan · 03-17-2011, 07:31 PM

I think it's both Lori Beth and Potsie.

I just don't understand why LB gets married then leaves for a few weeks and comes back to the C's and have her baby. Then she leaves again in this season or the 10th..

I would think that LB would want Richie there for the birth of their kid and she should have been in Greenland.

Dr. Thong · 03-18-2011, 11:05 AM

Both characters suffered, but in my opinion, Anson Williams moreso.

They really did not seem to know what to do with him without Ron and Donny's characters to play off of. No wonder why Anson said that the magic was gone when they left.

In a way, though, Goodfriend's character got a boost. She got promoted to full cast member status and because of the wedding and childbirth, had a reason to interact with the Cunninghams, who were now her family.

And the reason Richie didn't make the wedding was because Ron Howard left the show! I always thought Fonzie standing in for Richie was lame. They should have waited until Ron returned in the final season and had their marriage and move to California as the plot line for the show.

biffbronson · 03-22-2011, 07:16 AM

I'm trying to remember if Anson's episode when he's hired as the nightclub singer was before or after Ron and Donny left. Regardless, that's probably one of the best uses of his character in a single story. Potsie did always have Fonzie around -- and sometimes he really needed him!

I agree with Dr. Thong about Lori Beth's interaction with the Cunninghams, especially all of her scenes with Marion.

Heidi Dawn · 03-22-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

I'm trying to remember if Anson's episode when he's hired as the nightclub singer was before or after Ron and Donny left. Regardless, that's probably one of the best uses of his character in a single story. Potsie did always have Fonzie around -- and sometimes he really needed him!

I agree with Dr. Thong about Lori Beth's interaction with the Cunninghams, especially all of her scenes with Marion.

Are you referring to 'A Potsie Is Born?'. It was in the 7th season, before Ron and Don left.

To answer the question to this thread, I'd say Lori Beth and Potsie suffered the most in Richie's absence.

Dr. Thong · 03-23-2011, 11:07 AM

Here's something that strikes me as being odd. Okay, Richie couldn't get time off to marry Lori Beth, so Fonzie acted as a stand-in. Yet, somehow, he managed to find time for a honeymoon. Why didn't he just wait until he could get the time off and just do the wedding right before the honeymoon?

Heidi Dawn · 03-23-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Here's something that strikes me as being odd. Okay, Richie couldn't get time off to marry Lori Beth, so Fonzie acted as a stand-in. Yet, somehow, he managed to find time for a honeymoon. Why didn't he just wait until he could get the time off and just do the wedding right before the honeymoon?

I was thinking the same thing. Actually, they should have had Richie and Lori Beth get married before Ron left and had Ron guest-star in the episode where the baby was born.

Dr. Thong · 03-23-2011, 03:57 PM

Agreed.

TMC · 03-23-2011, 05:03 PM

I wonder if Ron Howard had any say or approval in regards to storylines involving him after he left the show?

Marvo301 · 03-23-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Here's something that strikes me as being odd. Okay, Richie couldn't get time off to marry Lori Beth, so Fonzie acted as a stand-in. Yet, somehow, he managed to find time for a honeymoon. Why didn't he just wait until he could get the time off and just do the wedding right before the honeymoon?

They didn't have a honeymoon. Lori Beth visited Ritchie at the army base in Greenland. However she could only visit him on the base if they were already married. That's why they got married via telephone with Fonzie as the proxy.

Dr. Thong · 03-23-2011, 09:19 PM

Oh, I forgot. It's been so long since I saw that episode.

But still, the wedding thing was cheesy. They should have waited until Richie came home.

Fonziefan1 · 04-30-2011, 10:02 PM

Lori Beth was sort of used to carry the memory of Richie, but at the same time it gave her limitations since by the time the 10th season came around they most likely didn't have her back because they didn't want a little kid crawling around the Cunningham house. It just wouldn't have worked in my opinion. So basically 2 -post Richie seasons is all she got.

TMC · 05-02-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fonziefan1

Lori Beth was sort of used to carry the memory of Richie, but at the same time it gave her limitations since by the time the 10th season came around they most likely didn't have her back because they didn't want a little kid crawling around the Cunningham house. It just wouldn't have worked in my opinion. So basically 2 -post Richie seasons is all she got.

They pretty much gave all of the cute kid spotlight on Heather O'Rourke's character.

03-17-2011, 02:47 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,621	Which Character Suffered More in Richie's Absence? To me, it's a toss up between Lori Beth and Potsie. Both characters needed to have Richie around to play off of to really work. After Ron Howard left, it seemed like they only really used Lori Beth for "ghost" storylines involving Richie (like their "wedding" and the birth of their son). I also found it funny that Richie wasn't allowed to be at least temporarily discharged from the Army so that he could be there for his son's birth (it kind of made Richie look bad if you asked me). With Potsie, I honestly don't know why Anson Williams stayed on after Ron Howard and Donny Most left. The writers didn't really know what to do with Potsie. All of the "youth" storylines that Potsie, Richie and Ralph once occupied were now transferred to Joanie, Chachi and Jenny (and to a lesser extent, the students that Foznie and Roger taught at Jefferson High). I think there was a period where they tried to make him into the Cunningham's surrogate son in Richie's absence (like having Potsie work at Howard's hardware store).

03-17-2011, 05:10 AM	#2
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	I agree. Lori Beth seemed to be around more than she had been, lol! They did kind of use her to keep Richie's spirit on the show. Potsie too, he didn't have any of his friends left. They did work him into some episodes, but it still felt kinda weird. i think they wanted to have some old characters around, even if just in the background, while the new ones were introduced, to keep the show feeling familar. BTW--did Potsie EVER graduate college?
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03-17-2011, 06:07 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	I think the Potsie character suffered greatly due to the departure not only of Ritchie but Ralph as well. The writers had no idea what to do with Potsie once Ritchie and Ralph were no longer there for him to interact with. And it seems like didn't really try either. It seems like the writers choose to concentrate on Joannie and Chachi and the newer/younger characters and Potsie and Loribeth just faded into the background.
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03-18-2011, 11:05 AM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Both characters suffered, but in my opinion, Anson Williams moreso. They really did not seem to know what to do with him without Ron and Donny's characters to play off of. No wonder why Anson said that the magic was gone when they left. In a way, though, Goodfriend's character got a boost. She got promoted to full cast member status and because of the wedding and childbirth, had a reason to interact with the Cunninghams, who were now her family. And the reason Richie didn't make the wedding was because Ron Howard left the show! I always thought Fonzie standing in for Richie was lame. They should have waited until Ron returned in the final season and had their marriage and move to California as the plot line for the show.
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03-22-2011, 07:16 AM	#6
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,454	I'm trying to remember if Anson's episode when he's hired as the nightclub singer was before or after Ron and Donny left. Regardless, that's probably one of the best uses of his character in a single story. Potsie did always have Fonzie around -- and sometimes he really needed him! I agree with Dr. Thong about Lori Beth's interaction with the Cunninghams, especially all of her scenes with Marion.
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03-17-2011, 07:31 PM	#4
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	I think it's both Lori Beth and Potsie. I just don't understand why LB gets married then leaves for a few weeks and comes back to the C's and have her baby. Then she leaves again in this season or the 10th.. I would think that LB would want Richie there for the birth of their kid and she should have been in Greenland.

03-23-2011, 11:07 AM	#8
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Here's something that strikes me as being odd. Okay, Richie couldn't get time off to marry Lori Beth, so Fonzie acted as a stand-in. Yet, somehow, he managed to find time for a honeymoon. Why didn't he just wait until he could get the time off and just do the wedding right before the honeymoon?

03-23-2011, 03:57 PM	#10
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Agreed.

03-23-2011, 05:03 PM	#11
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,621	I wonder if Ron Howard had any say or approval in regards to storylines involving him after he left the show?

03-23-2011, 09:19 PM	#13
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Oh, I forgot. It's been so long since I saw that episode. But still, the wedding thing was cheesy. They should have waited until Richie came home.

04-30-2011, 10:02 PM	#14
Fonziefan1 Ayyyyyyyy! Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 22, 2011 Location: Howell, NJ Posts: 7	Lori Beth was sort of used to carry the memory of Richie, but at the same time it gave her limitations since by the time the 10th season came around they most likely didn't have her back because they didn't want a little kid crawling around the Cunningham house. It just wouldn't have worked in my opinion. So basically 2 -post Richie seasons is all she got.