The Wally Plumstead UN-appreciation thread - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OH Nuts! · 05-22-2012, 05:54 PM

I've got to admit, 85% of time I find Wally annoying. If he's not mooching, treating Ginger like garbage, shirking responsibility or just plain inconveniencing others -he's eating Jack (and everyone else for that matter) out of house and home.

I know shows often find it helpful to have a foil, but if there's one fault with this show (and the only one I can think of), it's the overuse of Wally. I just saw the ep "Rick Is Late For Dinner" and for me its the straw that broke the camel's back. Wally asks Rick to take over for him for "five" minutes. Ha ha. With Wally it's never just a few minutes or a few coins... He pretty much leaves poor Rick stranded at Jack's while Kris has this big dinner waiting. Talk about thoughtless and inconsiderate. I'm almost at the point every time I see Wally in an ep, I want to throw a tomato at him. Anyone else feel this way about Wally?

Another thought: would you have like to see story lines around another fraternity brother besides Wally? If so, which one. I think Charley would have been a good choice. Or Kent.

Dobson and Kelly · 05-23-2012, 09:29 AM

I never found Wally annoying, except for the laugh at times. He was totally embarassed many times as they showed an outtake of him splitting his pants during a scene, comments about his weight and looks were frequent and he had to stand by as Rick always got the limelight with his singing. That being said, his contributions to the show outweighed his average acting ability more times than not. Was he an emmy award candidate? No, he was merely a somewhat valuable piece of a collection of good supporting actors on the show. In my opinion Don Defore was the most likeable of the cast of supporting actors on the show.

Cincy Guy · 05-23-2012, 09:29 AM

I've always thought that "Wally" was used for a little change-of-pace comedy relief in the shows. Actor Skip Young even had a very small part in the 1958 science fiction motion picture "The Spider" which was at the same time he was being featured in O & H. I can still recall the bit of laughter that came from patrons in the theatre when they realized who it was.

It might be noted that Skip Young was already in his mid-20's when he started playing "Wally" and he continued to do so up to his mid-30's.

Goldilocks · 05-23-2012, 05:14 PM

I've said it before: Wally was the George Costanza of the 1950's.

Mark Glicker · 05-31-2012, 09:29 AM

I forgot about Wally. These boards are great.

Dobson and Kelly · 05-31-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Glicker

I forgot about Wally. These boards are great.

Please feel free to post more, we need the interplay between posters.

ILUVO&H · 06-01-2012, 01:24 AM

I love Wally. He was harless.

They needed a Wally type who could get into trouble, be a little devious and get the Nelsons in tricky situations. For the image of the show, Dave and Ricky couldn't be written as being anything but perfect so they needed a loveable foil to create those adventures ! In the same way Thorny and moreso Joe worked with Ozzie. I happen to love Joe as well.

Goldilocks · 06-02-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVO&H

I love Wally. He was harless.

You mean "harmless"?

jesmelric · 06-02-2012, 05:03 PM

I actually vacillate back and forth in my feelings about Wally. In some episodes such as The Exploding Book he is a schemer and sort of back stabber. In some episodes such as Wally's Traffic Ticket, he is just plain hilarious.

I read somewhere (Ozzie's Biography, maybe?) Ozzie felt that Dave and Rick were a bit "low-key" so he added the Wally character to sort of liven it up, so to speak. But it was stretching it a bit, I think, that Wally started out as David's frat brother, and ended up as Rick's, longest college experience ever!

That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

matt77b · 06-02-2012, 08:07 PM

Skip wrote the liner notes for the 1985 Rhino Records Rick Nelson Greatest Hits album (released shortly before Rick's death). From reading that one certainly gets the impression that the two of them were indeed friends. Also, not long before Rick died--maybe around 1983--Rick performed a concert near Apple Valley, CA, where Skip was living at the time, and Skip was the emcee.

OH Nuts! · 06-02-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesmelric

That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

I've heard that too. Of course what I think of Skip Young, is completely different from the character he played. My impression is that Skip was a very nice man.

jesmelric · 06-03-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt77b

Skip wrote the liner notes for the 1985 Rhino Records Rick Nelson Greatest Hits album (released shortly before Rick's death). From reading that one certainly gets the impression that the two of them were indeed friends. Also, not long before Rick died--maybe around 1983--Rick performed a concert near Apple Valley, CA, where Skip was living at the time, and Skip was the emcee.

Very interesting, I didn't know any of that, thanks for the info

Dobson and Kelly · 06-05-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesmelric

Very interesting, I didn't know any of that, thanks for the info

Also, Skip and Dave got married about the same time and actually spent part of their honeymoons (with their wives, of course) together. It is interesting to me that with all the television shows on after the Adventures ended, that Skip wasn't in more demand as a character actor.

jesmelric · 06-05-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dobson and Kelly

Also, Skip and Dave got married about the same time and actually spent part of their honeymoons (with their wives, of course) together. It is interesting to me that with all the television shows on after the Adventures ended, that Skip wasn't in more demand as a character actor.

I believe I read somewhere that Skip had health problems in the 80s/90s before he passed, and perhaps that prevented him from doing more television work.

ILUVO&H · 06-06-2012, 09:35 PM

I did see Skip in an episode of Growing Pains in the late 80's.
Not only that, but Parley Baer (Darby) was in the episode as well and in the same scene.

The episode is where Mike was going to marry Julie, but she ends up breaking up with him and leaving him a note at the end of the episode.

Skip and Parley are in a scene at a coffee shop. Parley is the behind the counter and Skip is a customer at the counter. They give Mike advice about marriage and relationships. Skip still had the same 'ol laugh! Looked just like himself only older.

05-22-2012, 05:54 PM	#1
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	The Wally Plumstead UN-appreciation thread I've got to admit, 85% of time I find Wally annoying. If he's not mooching, treating Ginger like garbage, shirking responsibility or just plain inconveniencing others -he's eating Jack (and everyone else for that matter) out of house and home. I know shows often find it helpful to have a foil, but if there's one fault with this show (and the only one I can think of), it's the overuse of Wally. I just saw the ep "Rick Is Late For Dinner" and for me its the straw that broke the camel's back. Wally asks Rick to take over for him for "five" minutes. Ha ha. With Wally it's never just a few minutes or a few coins... He pretty much leaves poor Rick stranded at Jack's while Kris has this big dinner waiting. Talk about thoughtless and inconsiderate. I'm almost at the point every time I see Wally in an ep, I want to throw a tomato at him. Anyone else feel this way about Wally? Another thought: would you have like to see story lines around another fraternity brother besides Wally? If so, which one. I think Charley would have been a good choice. Or Kent.

05-23-2012, 05:14 PM	#4
Goldilocks Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 08, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 693	I've said it before: Wally was the George Costanza of the 1950's.
	__________________ Rest in peace, Davy Jones. You are greatly missed.

05-23-2012, 09:29 AM	#2
Dobson and Kelly Dobson and Kelly Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 24, 2011 Location: Saddle Brook, NJ Posts: 69	I never found Wally annoying, except for the laugh at times. He was totally embarassed many times as they showed an outtake of him splitting his pants during a scene, comments about his weight and looks were frequent and he had to stand by as Rick always got the limelight with his singing. That being said, his contributions to the show outweighed his average acting ability more times than not. Was he an emmy award candidate? No, he was merely a somewhat valuable piece of a collection of good supporting actors on the show. In my opinion Don Defore was the most likeable of the cast of supporting actors on the show.

05-23-2012, 09:29 AM	#3
Cincy Guy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 230	I've always thought that "Wally" was used for a little change-of-pace comedy relief in the shows. Actor Skip Young even had a very small part in the 1958 science fiction motion picture "The Spider" which was at the same time he was being featured in O & H. I can still recall the bit of laughter that came from patrons in the theatre when they realized who it was. It might be noted that Skip Young was already in his mid-20's when he started playing "Wally" and he continued to do so up to his mid-30's.

05-31-2012, 09:29 AM	#5
Mark Glicker Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 29, 2012 Location: New York Posts: 68	I forgot about Wally. These boards are great.

06-01-2012, 01:24 AM	#7
ILUVO&H Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 08, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 505	I love Wally. He was harless. They needed a Wally type who could get into trouble, be a little devious and get the Nelsons in tricky situations. For the image of the show, Dave and Ricky couldn't be written as being anything but perfect so they needed a loveable foil to create those adventures ! In the same way Thorny and moreso Joe worked with Ozzie. I happen to love Joe as well.

06-02-2012, 05:03 PM	#9
jesmelric Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 75	I actually vacillate back and forth in my feelings about Wally. In some episodes such as The Exploding Book he is a schemer and sort of back stabber. In some episodes such as Wally's Traffic Ticket, he is just plain hilarious. I read somewhere (Ozzie's Biography, maybe?) Ozzie felt that Dave and Rick were a bit "low-key" so he added the Wally character to sort of liven it up, so to speak. But it was stretching it a bit, I think, that Wally started out as David's frat brother, and ended up as Rick's, longest college experience ever! That being said I have heard Skip and Rick were actually quite good friends. I have some footage from Rick's funeral and there is a brief shot of Skip and he looks absolutely devastated. I think that might have softened my view on the "Wally" character that I might have found more irritating otherwise.

06-02-2012, 08:07 PM	#10
matt77b Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 17, 2009 Location: All over the USA... Posts: 173	Skip wrote the liner notes for the 1985 Rhino Records Rick Nelson Greatest Hits album (released shortly before Rick's death). From reading that one certainly gets the impression that the two of them were indeed friends. Also, not long before Rick died--maybe around 1983--Rick performed a concert near Apple Valley, CA, where Skip was living at the time, and Skip was the emcee.

06-06-2012, 09:35 PM	#15
ILUVO&H Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 08, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 505	I did see Skip in an episode of Growing Pains in the late 80's. Not only that, but Parley Baer (Darby) was in the episode as well and in the same scene. The episode is where Mike was going to marry Julie, but she ends up breaking up with him and leaving him a note at the end of the episode. Skip and Parley are in a scene at a coffee shop. Parley is the behind the counter and Skip is a customer at the counter. They give Mike advice about marriage and relationships. Skip still had the same 'ol laugh! Looked just like himself only older.