Buzz and Sonja

[McGillicuddy]

I don't know why Eric Brown and Karin Argoud didn't participate in the Mama's Family DVD sets, but here is Sonya, today:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM5NjxsSEe4

['80sSitcoms]

Wow so now we know how pronounce her last name: "ar-good" (and actually it's "Sonja" with a "j").

They may have declined to participate since they were basically fired from the show or they may not have even been asked in the first place.

I had no idea that "innocent little Buzz" did a rated R movie lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnCwdcCQus

[tlc38tlc38]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I had no idea that "innocent little Buzz" did a rated R movie lol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnCwdcCQus

I may have to look into finding a copy of this movie--haha

[McGillicuddy]

Eric Brown played a teenager seduced by an older woman, in both Private Lessons(1981) and They're Playing With Fire (1984). Both are on DVD, but they're pretty expensive. His last acting role according to imdb was in 1989.

[HuntingtonM15]

Both movies can be rented from Netflix. However, it doesn't seem like either of them is very good.

[Geekspeech]

I'll admitt, I'm curious whether or not Starvista reached out to the actors. It would have been a hoot to see them all in the same room at the same time for the reunion.

I wonder if they would have done an NBC Reunion with Vicki, Carol, Betty, Ken, and Dorothy if the Buzz and Sonja actors could have participated.

[schmave]

I have thoroughly enjoyed the DVDs (I have Seasons 1 and 2 so far). One thing I found odd was in the bonus feature honoring Rue McClanahan, you had Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry and Dorothy Lyman reminiscing about Rue/Fran, and Beverly Archer and Allan Kayser basically were relegated to being bumps on a log because there was absolutely nothing they could contribute to that discussion.

[Frump]

Originally Posted by schmave

I have thoroughly enjoyed the DVDs (I have Seasons 1 and 2 so far). One thing I found odd was in the bonus feature honoring Rue McClanahan, you had Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry and Dorothy Lyman reminiscing about Rue/Fran, and Beverly Archer and Allan Kayser basically were relegated to being bumps on a log because there was absolutely nothing they could contribute to that discussion.

Possibly b/c Kayser and Archer were not on the show at the time Rue was, so there wouldn't really be a lot they could say about her.

[schmave]

Originally Posted by Frump

Possibly b/c Kayser and Archer were not on the show at the time Rue was, so there wouldn't really be a lot they could say about her.

That's exactly what I meant. Just made for an odd dynamic. At least Carol Burnett and Betty White were featured prominently in the retrospectives.

[McGillicuddy]

The only reference that was made of Buzz & Sonja was when Vicki was talking about MF going into syndication, she mentioned that "they" didn't want to bring back "those 2 kids." It was as if she didn't even remember their names.

Another thing I thought was strange, when they were talking about Rue, Dorothy Lyman asked, she's gone now isn't she? How could she not know that Rue McClanahan was deceased?

[Frump]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

The only reference that was made of Buzz & Sonja was when Vicki was talking about MF going into syndication, she mentioned that "they" didn't want to bring back "those 2 kids." It was as if she didn't even remember their names.

Another thing I thought was strange, when they were talking about Rue, Dorothy Lyman asked, she's gone now isn't she? How could she not know that Rue McClanahan was deceased?

Apparantly Celebs a lot of times don't keep up with a lot of things. About their characters that is. I watched an interview with Estelle Parsons ~Bev from Roseanne~ and she hardly even remembered being on the show lol

[quincywagstaff]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

The only reference that was made of Buzz & Sonja was when Vicki was talking about MF going into syndication, she mentioned that "they" didn't want to bring back "those 2 kids." It was as if she didn't even remember their names.

Another thing I thought was strange, when they were talking about Rue, Dorothy Lyman asked, she's gone now isn't she? How could she not know that Rue McClanahan was deceased?

Rick Hawkins also mentioned Vint's kids in his interview. He stated that NBC had a standard formula for it's family sitcoms which included having two teenagers so they were forced to include them. When the show came back in syndication, he said something to the effect that they saw this as a chance to remake the show as they originally wanted and that Buzz and Sonja were just too normal. They added Bubba, since he was an already established character from the Family sketches (although never seen) and had a troubled history that would give the writers a lot more to work with than Buzz and Sonja. He called the actors by their real first names (Eric and Karen) but confessed that he forgot their last names and apologized for that.

Remember, it's been almost 30 years since the NBC seasons and neither Vicki or Rick Hawkins have probably had any contact with them since cancellation.

['80sSitcoms]

StarVista did not reach out to Karen or Eric.

And about Dorothy/Rue sometimes you just remind yourself that someone's gone. Especially if it's been many years and you haven't worked together you just don't think about the fact that they're gone as much or it seems hard to believe still.

[bliss]

I would love to know Eric Brown's memories about being on Mama's Family.
I'm guessing to him it was just another job.

[PracTz]

I always thought those two dodged a bullet by getting out before Bubba got there. Likely Bubba would have wasted no time beating Buzz up and openly vying for 'fave grandkid' status from Thelma. Sadly, I can't imagine Buzz doing more than just being a punching bag.