The Eve Plumb Question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 01-23-2013, 07:15 PM

I just watched a clip from an old Jenny Jones show. Most of you probably know it, it's the one where audience members ask Eve to do some Jan dialogue, and moreover, talk about the show. Someone said she seems "bitter" and she kind of bristled at the accusation.

I'm torn here. On the one hand, I want to be disappointed in Eve. I don't know the exact year of the show but it was probably early 90s, and at that time (and even now) Eve was known almost exclusively for being on the BB. Yes, she's had a career with the Groundlings and with painting, etc., but very few know about that. And she certainly KNEW that she was booked on the show because of her BB past more than anything else. Why was it so hard to just give it up for an hour and give folks what they want? I can see if no other topic was covered she might be upset, but she didn't seem to even want to broach the BB at all. There was a streak of ungratefulness, maybe even priggishness to her replies.

However, I have no idea what it was like to grow up the way she and the other kids did. Certainly it wasn't the most healthy way to grow, particularly for the girls who are always under more pressure to be perfect than guys. Maybe she really isn't that crazy about those days and feels like it would be hypocrisy to act like she loved them. That's understandable.

In general, it's always frustrating and sad for me to see former sitcom stars have this reaction. Maybe the best thing for her to have done was to just not come on the show, given her obvious knowledge that the bulk of questions would be about the BB. That sounds a bit cold, I suppose, but if you can't deliver what you KNOW people want, why even bother? If she was booked on a cooking show or a travel show or a poetry show, then the expectation there would NOT have been she'd be expected to talk a lot about the BB. But this is Jenny freaking Jones...what did she really expect?

Thoughts?

DJM77 · 01-23-2013, 11:07 PM

Apparently this is from 1995. I remember watching this when it originally aired. Eve definitely seemed cold and bitter. I can understand why certain people might want to distance themselves from a character that they've played in the past, but given Eve's attitude, I can't understand why she would agree to go on The Jenny Jones Show in the first place. She had to know what she was getting herself into. Why would she subject herself to questions that she didn't want to answer?

Yong Fang · 01-24-2013, 11:24 AM

I may have seen that talk show from the 1990's. I did see Eve Plumb on one of those shows, on a panel of child actors and she wanted to talk about what she was doing at that time, I think she was a painter or artist of some sort.

She refused, just nope, not doing it..to "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!" Even the host was begging her to do it. Flatly refused. Eve seemed almost resentful about doing the show and did not want to bring that up, which was sort of the point of her being there. I hate to say it, but to me she seemed unlikable and seemingly above everyone else. Some snooty rich woman who is mad because no one cares about her life.

She was more of a serious actress and did mature roles. Once she played a prostitute in something. She probably resented being typecast, which is a shame.

But she wouldn't say "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!" if you stuck a gun to her head and ordered her to say it.

Hughsgirl · 01-24-2013, 12:28 PM

Ok, I get what you are all saying but out of all the child sitcom stars I think Eve was probably one that may have a right to be stand offish about that show. Maybe not to the degree that she is, however we have no idea of what she had went through on the set because we weren't there. But IMO, I could see that her character and her real life may have had more in common than the others. What I mean by that is being in Marcia's/Maureen's shadow. Let's face it, Maureen was the most popular girl during the run of the show or so I have read throughout the years - so Eve, I wouldn't doubt was probably up to her eyeballs in Maureen, Maureen, Maureen! I could see that! Do you know how many Marcia-like people I have come across in my world where I could have knocked their teeth out? And most of those people don't really work to get what they have, they get it because of who or what they are or even worse - what they look like. Maureen seems like that kind of person to me. I may be off base but that is my perception. Oh and I don't recall the clip you are talking about. Just wanted to give a different perspective.

Retro4Life · 01-24-2013, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hughsgirl

Ok, I get what you are all saying but out of all the child sitcom stars I think Eve was probably one that may have a right to be stand offish about that show. Maybe not to the degree that she is, however we have no idea of what she had went through on the set because we weren't there. But IMO, I could see that her character and her real life may have had more in common than the others. What I mean by that is being in Marcia's/Maureen's shadow. Let's face it, Maureen was the most popular girl during the run of the show or so I have read throughout the years - so Eve, I wouldn't doubt was probably up to her eyeballs in Maureen, Maureen, Maureen! I could see that! Do you know how many Marcia-like people I have come across in my world where I could have knocked their teeth out? And most of those people don't really work to get what they have, they get it because of who or what they are or even worse - what they look like. Maureen seems like that kind of person to me. I may be off base but that is my perception. Oh and I don't recall the clip you are talking about. Just wanted to give a different perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t58bVuos3Hk

Here's the clip.

I don't know if I completely agree about Marcia always overshadowing Jan...perhaps a BIT, but I think it depended on what age you were. And by the time that any real "teen dream" stuff started, Jan was giving Marcia a run for her money, looks wise.

I'm not sure where you're getting the impression of Maureen being someone who didn't have to work to get what they did, but you're certainly welcome to that impression. It's not one I've ever gotten in any interview I've ever seen with Maureen, who seems content, centered and grateful for just being alive after all the dark years of her youth and early adulthood.

And what about Susan Olsen? She openly embraces her BB past and if Jan was in the shadow of Marcia, then Cindy was even further down the "food chain". But somehow she turned out funny, self effacing, warm and very personable.

I am disappointed in Eve's response here, and moreover, that type of response from any star who's garnered a fan base from a certain body of work, then cops an attitude about talking about it. Yes interviewers and fans should respect that the artist has done OTHER works and should ask about those too, but the artist needs to respect and acknowledge (and maybe even enjoy!) the wonderful memories their art has placed in their fans, and if they don't want to discuss them, they shouldn't go on venues where they KNOW it will be a major topic.

70s show watcher · 01-25-2013, 01:09 AM

i watched the ep when it first aired i thought she came off like a complete and total a;;s

Yong Fang · 01-26-2013, 12:40 AM

Another thing is that Maureen McCormack was something of a "party girl" type of person who took acting very lightly and was probably partying and having more of a "good time", while Eve wanted to be taken as a serious actress. I agree with what someone said about her being in Maureen's shadow.

Eve Plumb was not a pretty child, especially next to Maureen. Puberty was kind to Maureen and not to Eve. It was only in the last season when Eve was about 16 or so that she really came into own physically (see the picture on top of the page).

Another thing to consider is that this show was not a hit back when it was first on, and never cracked the Top 30. Like Star Trek (oddly) people started watching the reruns and the show was/is very youth centric, and then became a franchise, although all the post Brady productions to me were not very good, with Eve Plumb doing them all to pay the bills except for the horrid variety series.

01-23-2013, 07:15 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	The Eve Plumb Question I just watched a clip from an old Jenny Jones show. Most of you probably know it, it's the one where audience members ask Eve to do some Jan dialogue, and moreover, talk about the show. Someone said she seems "bitter" and she kind of bristled at the accusation. I'm torn here. On the one hand, I want to be disappointed in Eve. I don't know the exact year of the show but it was probably early 90s, and at that time (and even now) Eve was known almost exclusively for being on the BB. Yes, she's had a career with the Groundlings and with painting, etc., but very few know about that. And she certainly KNEW that she was booked on the show because of her BB past more than anything else. Why was it so hard to just give it up for an hour and give folks what they want? I can see if no other topic was covered she might be upset, but she didn't seem to even want to broach the BB at all. There was a streak of ungratefulness, maybe even priggishness to her replies. However, I have no idea what it was like to grow up the way she and the other kids did. Certainly it wasn't the most healthy way to grow, particularly for the girls who are always under more pressure to be perfect than guys. Maybe she really isn't that crazy about those days and feels like it would be hypocrisy to act like she loved them. That's understandable. In general, it's always frustrating and sad for me to see former sitcom stars have this reaction. Maybe the best thing for her to have done was to just not come on the show, given her obvious knowledge that the bulk of questions would be about the BB. That sounds a bit cold, I suppose, but if you can't deliver what you KNOW people want, why even bother? If she was booked on a cooking show or a travel show or a poetry show, then the expectation there would NOT have been she'd be expected to talk a lot about the BB. But this is Jenny freaking Jones...what did she really expect? Thoughts?
	__________________ 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."

01-23-2013, 11:07 PM	#2
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,564	Apparently this is from 1995. I remember watching this when it originally aired. Eve definitely seemed cold and bitter. I can understand why certain people might want to distance themselves from a character that they've played in the past, but given Eve's attitude, I can't understand why she would agree to go on The Jenny Jones Show in the first place. She had to know what she was getting herself into. Why would she subject herself to questions that she didn't want to answer?
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

01-24-2013, 11:24 AM	#3
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	I may have seen that talk show from the 1990's. I did see Eve Plumb on one of those shows, on a panel of child actors and she wanted to talk about what she was doing at that time, I think she was a painter or artist of some sort. She refused, just nope, not doing it..to "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!" Even the host was begging her to do it. Flatly refused. Eve seemed almost resentful about doing the show and did not want to bring that up, which was sort of the point of her being there. I hate to say it, but to me she seemed unlikable and seemingly above everyone else. Some snooty rich woman who is mad because no one cares about her life. She was more of a serious actress and did mature roles. Once she played a prostitute in something. She probably resented being typecast, which is a shame. But she wouldn't say "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!" if you stuck a gun to her head and ordered her to say it.

01-24-2013, 12:28 PM	#4
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	Ok, I get what you are all saying but out of all the child sitcom stars I think Eve was probably one that may have a right to be stand offish about that show. Maybe not to the degree that she is, however we have no idea of what she had went through on the set because we weren't there. But IMO, I could see that her character and her real life may have had more in common than the others. What I mean by that is being in Marcia's/Maureen's shadow. Let's face it, Maureen was the most popular girl during the run of the show or so I have read throughout the years - so Eve, I wouldn't doubt was probably up to her eyeballs in Maureen, Maureen, Maureen! I could see that! Do you know how many Marcia-like people I have come across in my world where I could have knocked their teeth out? And most of those people don't really work to get what they have, they get it because of who or what they are or even worse - what they look like. Maureen seems like that kind of person to me. I may be off base but that is my perception. Oh and I don't recall the clip you are talking about. Just wanted to give a different perspective.

01-25-2013, 01:09 AM	#6
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i watched the ep when it first aired i thought she came off like a complete and total a;;s

01-26-2013, 12:40 AM	#7
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Another thing is that Maureen McCormack was something of a "party girl" type of person who took acting very lightly and was probably partying and having more of a "good time", while Eve wanted to be taken as a serious actress. I agree with what someone said about her being in Maureen's shadow. Eve Plumb was not a pretty child, especially next to Maureen. Puberty was kind to Maureen and not to Eve. It was only in the last season when Eve was about 16 or so that she really came into own physically (see the picture on top of the page). Another thing to consider is that this show was not a hit back when it was first on, and never cracked the Top 30. Like Star Trek (oddly) people started watching the reruns and the show was/is very youth centric, and then became a franchise, although all the post Brady productions to me were not very good, with Eve Plumb doing them all to pay the bills except for the horrid variety series.