Was Julie Anne Haddock supposed to be in "Fear Strikes Back"?

[RetroGuy2000]

This is sort of a rhetorical question, because I don't expect anyone here to have the answer, but it seems as if Julie Anne Haddock either was scheduled to appear in "Fear Strikes Back" (episode 3-02), and did not, or she did appear, but her part was cut out.

I say this because This promo photo, taken during the production of "Fear Strikes Back", and published in October 1981, states:

Louis Welch as Self-Defense Instructor, Nancy McKeon as Joanna 'Jo' Marie Polniaczek Bonner, Kim Fields as Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey, Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner, Julie Anne Haddock as Cindy -- Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

The Lost Girls were doing semi-regular episodes as late as January 1982, with JAH last appearing in November 1981 (episode 3-05, "Front Page"). In that episode, both Julies appear, but some portion of their parts are cut out, because one moment they are sitting with Jo at the cafeteria table, and the next moment, JAH is sitting behind her at another table, while Julie Pie is nowhere to be found.

It seems even the small roles they were given in Seasons 2/3 were still 'too large' and were reduced even further in post-production.

['80sSitcoms]

That's very odd; I remember always thinking Cindy might be in the self-defense class scene, because one of the blonde girls sorta looked like her (the one in the lower left of this photo is the closest back-of-head resemblance). It's possible whoever wrote the caption remembered her and thought that might be her, or, you could be right and she was to be in the episode but her part was cut.

It would have been great to see "tough tomboy" Cindy in a self-defense class!

Wait a minute...the class instructor, "Louis Welch"? Welch? Was there nepotism at Eastland Academy's casting room? lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That's very odd; I remember always thinking Cindy might be in the self-defense class scene, because one of the blonde girls sorta looked like her (the one in the lower left of this photo is the closest back-of-head resemblance). It's possible whoever wrote the caption remembered her and thought that might be her, or, you could be right and she was to be in the episode but her part was cut.

In black and white, the girl on the lower left-hand side of the photo does have the closest back-of-the-head resemblance, but close scrutiny of the episode in color reveals that that girl actually has red hair. It's not Julie Anne. In fact, close scrutiny of the episode reveals that none of the girls are Cindy.

However, the only other speaking part in that episode is a sporty-looking blonde girl in braids, credited as Lucy, who sits near the ice cream machine, on the left side of the cafeteria. Lucy obviously knows Mrs. G really well, since she grabs her by the shoulders and then coerces Mrs. Garrett into practicing. I suspect that this part was written with the character of Cindy in mind, and that, when the promo photo went out on October 13, 1981, there was a crossed signal between who was intended to be in the episode and who actually appeared in the episode. Why else would her name appear on this photo, when she only did one other episode that season?

(Also, I think that one girl on the right looks a bit like Alison Arngrim).

It would have been great to see "tough tomboy" Cindy in a self-defense class!

Totally!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

However, the only other speaking part in that episode is a sporty-looking blonde girl in braids, credited as Lucy, who sits near the ice cream machine, on the left side of the cafeteria. Lucy obviously knows Mrs. G really well, since she grabs her by the shoulders and then coerces Mrs. Garrett into practicing. I suspect that this part was written with the character of Cindy in mind, and that, when the promo photo went out on October 13, 1981, there was a crossed signal between who was intended to be in the episode and who actually appeared in the episode. Why else would her name appear on this photo, when she only did one other episode that season?

Oh yeah, I remember her (haven't seen it in a while). That would have been nice if that could have been Cindy.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Oh yeah, I remember her (haven't seen it in a while). That would have been nice if that could have been Cindy.

Well, it was yet another wallpaper part, and I can understand if JAH saw the script and turned it down. With only two lines in a single scene, it wasn't even as robust *ahem* as the small part she got in "Front Page". TV Tropes calls this situation "Being demoted to Extra".

Now, as a TV viewer, I appreciate some attempts at continuity, and keeping one of my favorite characters around. But as someone who also wants to see a good actress treated with dignity, I can understand why an actress would turn down a very small part, if that is indeed what happened here.