If You Could Select A Different MTM Character to Be Spun Off Instead Of Phyllis...... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-29-2011, 11:59 PM

.....Who Would You Choose?

Marvo301 · 09-30-2011, 12:16 AM

Sue Ann Nivens. I would love to see what Betty White would do with Sue Ann as a lead character instead of the supporting character she was on TMTMS.

Brian Damage · 09-30-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Sue Ann Nivens. I would love to see what Betty White would do with Sue Ann as a lead character instead of the supporting character she was on TMTMS.

Excellent choice Marv! That was my 1st thought as well. Boy oh boy, did MTM Enterprises really screw up that opportunity....

Marvo301 · 09-30-2011, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Excellent choice Marv! That was my 1st thought as well. Boy oh boy, did MTM Enterprises really screw up that opportunity....

Did they ever! When they finally got around to giving Betty her own show (The Betty White Show) they had her playing a Sue Ann like character who wasn't Sue Ann and had Georgia Engel co-starring as a Georgette like character who isn't Georgette. I think the folks at MTM where a little intimidated by the less than stellar success of "Phyllis" and decided to give Betty and Georgia's characters different names to distance them from TMTMS.

Brian Damage · 09-30-2011, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Did they ever! When they finally got around to giving Betty her own show (The Betty White Show) they had her playing a Sue Ann like character who wasn't Sue Ann and had Georgia Engel co-starring as a Georgette like character who isn't Georgette. I think the folks at MTM where a little intimidated by the less than stellar success of "Phyllis" and decided to give Betty and Georgia's characters different names to distance them from TMTMS.

Didn't they also have "that guy" from the Lucy Show on there??? Sorry, his name escapes me at the moment.

Marvo301 · 09-30-2011, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Didn't they also have "that guy" from the Lucy Show on there??? Sorry, his name escapes me at the moment.

No Gale Gordon wasn't on this show. It was John Hillerman who later played Higgins on Magnum P.I.

catlover79 · 09-30-2011, 01:41 AM

I wouldn't have spun off anyone. They all worked best as a unit, IMHO.

scotsguy · 09-30-2011, 06:23 AM

Yes Marvo,a planned ue-Ann spinoff din't go through as they felt Phyllis had been toned down as a weekly character on Phyllis and Sue-An would be toned down too so they tried "The Betty White Show".

I liked the Phyllis spinoff,the first season better than the 2nd but the intelligence of Phyllis was toned down form TMTMS.

Retro4Life · 09-30-2011, 09:42 AM

I agree with Monika, the characters all worked best as a whole. "Lou Grant" succeeded because it took the character in a dramatic direction. I really think any other attempts at comedy wouldn't have worked.

Well...maaaaybe Armand Linton.

Brian Damage · 09-30-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I wouldn't have spun off anyone. They all worked best as a unit, IMHO.

Even a really minor character like say 'Chuckles???'

catlover79 · 09-30-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I agree with Monika, the characters all worked best as a whole. "Lou Grant" succeeded because it took the character in a dramatic direction.

Not to mention that Lou Grant was spun off into his own dramatic series after TMTMS had gone off the air. To this day, I think Lou Grant is still the only dramatic series to be spun off from a sitcom. Ed Asner is still the only actor to receive Emmys in both the comedy and drama categories for playing the same character.

catlover79 · 09-30-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Even a really minor character like say 'Chuckles???'

If it was a kid's show, maybe.

Retro4Life · 09-30-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Not to mention that Lou Grant was spun off into his own dramatic series after TMTMS had gone off the air. To this day, I think Lou Grant is still the only dramatic series to be spun off from a sitcom. Ed Asner is still the only actor to receive Emmys in both the comedy and drama categories for playing the same character.

I think you are correct. Dennis Franz kind of did the opposite when he spun off his "Buntz" character from Hill Street Blues into "Beverly Hills Buntz" which was a pseudo comedy spun off from a drama.

comedyfreak · 10-14-2011, 09:45 AM

I think Sue Ann would have been a good spin off, they already knew who she was and just needed someone to work off of.

McGillicuddy · 10-16-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Not to mention that Lou Grant was spun off into his own dramatic series after TMTMS had gone off the air. To this day, I think Lou Grant is still the only dramatic series to be spun off from a sitcom. Ed Asner is still the only actor to receive Emmys in both the comedy and drama categories for playing the same character.

There was the drama The Bradys, spun-off from The Brady Bunch.

09-29-2011, 11:59 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: 63,108	If You Could Select A Different MTM Character to Be Spun Off Instead Of Phyllis...... .....Who Would You Choose?
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09-30-2011, 12:16 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Sue Ann Nivens. I would love to see what Betty White would do with Sue Ann as a lead character instead of the supporting character she was on TMTMS.
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09-30-2011, 01:41 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I wouldn't have spun off anyone. They all worked best as a unit, IMHO.
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09-30-2011, 09:42 AM	#9
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	I agree with Monika, the characters all worked best as a whole. "Lou Grant" succeeded because it took the character in a dramatic direction. I really think any other attempts at comedy wouldn't have worked. Well...maaaaybe Armand Linton.
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10-14-2011, 09:45 AM	#14
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I think Sue Ann would have been a good spin off, they already knew who she was and just needed someone to work off of.
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09-30-2011, 06:23 AM	#8
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Yes Marvo,a planned ue-Ann spinoff din't go through as they felt Phyllis had been toned down as a weekly character on Phyllis and Sue-An would be toned down too so they tried "The Betty White Show". I liked the Phyllis spinoff,the first season better than the 2nd but the intelligence of Phyllis was toned down form TMTMS.