Mindy and Kim on "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen (2012)

['80sSitcoms]

Have all you fans seen this before? It aired last year, and I remember catching it on Bravo.

Mindy and Kim on WWHL

But this weekend I just discovered the "After Show" interview part, where Kim talks about George Clooney, and Mindy Cohn denounces a rumor about Molly Ringwald's time on the show (which, RetroGuy2000, if you ever get to find a copy of E's True Hollywood Story on FOL, and "Cast Confessions", you could also add in this part in a "director's cut" release of your awesome Lost Girls documentary).

[RetroGuy2000]

I've seen this video; it's one of the only times I've seen Mindy and Kim directly mention Molly getting the axe.

And yes, I would totally consider adding it to a FOL documentary, if I can ever get a hold of the excellent E! documentary (which has an interview with John Lawlor on getting fired, along with a mention that there was definitely line-counting), Cast Confessions, the very short Julie Pie/Disney World snippet, and those Nick at Nite bumpers where they made light of the fact that Edna Garrett must have killed the Lost Girls during the Halloween episode.

Back to topic: I think Mindy is confusing two things, here: getting fired and getting hired. Getting fired from FOL allowed Molly to go on to bigger and better things than a sitcom, but it did not directly lead to her landing major film roles, as both Julie Pie and Julie Anne could attest. Molly Ringwald had to work her butt off and audition like crazy, and the simple fact is that her departure from FOL didn't directly lead to huge film roles for her.

As late as 1984, Molly was still very upset about what had happened, judging from a newspaper article I read not long ago. I have not heard/read her say anything about it since, but she does not and has not done FOL DVD interviews, FOL guest spots, and doesn't even mention it in interviews. That speaks volumes for me.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Back to topic: I think Mindy is confusing two things, here: getting fired and getting hired. Getting fired from FOL allowed Molly to go on to bigger and better things than a sitcom, but it did not directly lead to her landing major film roles, as both Julie Pie and Julie Anne could attest. Molly Ringwald had to work her butt off and audition like crazy, and the simple fact is that her departure from FOL didn't directly lead to huge film roles for her.

Exactly! "And Molly will be the first to tell you that getting fired from FOL was the best thing that ever happened to her career." Well sure, it's easy to say that now. But like you said, it wasn't the lynch pin in her launching a bigger career, and she was never guaranteed a career. Her big "break", The Tempest, didn't come until 1982; had it been 1980, it might seem a little different. It must be just kind of fun in Hollywood to say "Oh look, that didn't work out, but it's actually good, because look what did work out!"

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

she does not and has not done FOL DVD interviews, FOL guest spots, and doesn't even mention it in interviews. That speaks volumes for me.

Me too, unfortunately. The last time I saw her was on "The Wendy Williams Show" when her book came out a few years ago, and Wendy is totally the type of person to ask her about something personal and embarrassing (but she reads it as "interesting", lol), such as being on season 1 of FOL but getting fired. I can't remember though if she did ask, but since I can't, that probably means she didn't, because of course I love Lost Girl coverage!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Exactly! "And Molly will be the first to tell you that getting fired from FOL was the best thing that ever happened to her career." Well sure, it's easy to say that now. But like you said, it wasn't the lynch pin in her launching a bigger career, and she was never guaranteed a career. Her big "break", The Tempest, didn't come until 1982; had it been 1980, it might seem a little different. It must be just kind of fun in Hollywood to say "Oh look, that didn't work out, but it's actually good, because look what did work out!"

Yes! Great points. And I think it's one thing for Felice, Julie Anne, Julie, or Molly to say "thank god I was fired, because it led to so many great things." It's quite another for someone who wasn't fired to speak for them. If Molly still doesn't talk about it, it may be a bit of a sore spot, even after all these years. And I know she was upset as late as 1984.

It is a testament to Felice's, Julie Anne's, and Julie's good will that they talk candidly and openly about their good times and bad times on the show, and that they've found silver linings. Both Felice and Julie Anne have said things turned out fine in the end, and found silver linings. It shows that they are really forgiving and have good attitudes about life. Julie, too, has allowed it to be brought up, during, for example, her Disney World interview. Molly says nothing.

Me too, unfortunately. The last time I saw her was on "The Wendy Williams Show" when her book came out a few years ago, and Wendy is totally the type of person to ask her about something personal and embarrassing (but she reads it as "interesting", lol), such as being on season 1 of FOL but getting fired. I can't remember though if she did ask, but since I can't, that probably means she didn't, because of course I love Lost Girl coverage!

I really hope the next time Molly does an AMA on Reddit, someone will ask her.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It is a testament to Felice's, Julie Anne's, and Julie's good will that they talk candidly and openly about their good times and bad times on the show, and that they've found silver linings. Julie, too, has allowed it to be brought up, during, for example, her Disney World interview.

Whoa whoa whoa, do you have video or transcript of this? I have never seen or heard Julie P. say anything about FOL, and, being as Sue Ann became the "#2 student" on the show (after Blair) and therefore script-wise would have been the most surprised at being fired, I'm curious to see what she has to say!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I really hope the next time Molly does an AMA on Reddit, someone will ask her.

Oh if I ever have the chance I will ask her in a flash! lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Whoa whoa whoa, do you have video or transcript of this? I have never seen or heard Julie P. say anything about FOL, and, being as Sue Ann became the "#2 student" on the show (after Blair) and therefore script-wise would have been the most surprised at being fired, I'm curious to see what she has to say!

The video is already linked to my "Julie Piekarski, Felice Schachter, and Julie Anne Haddock" playlist on YouTube, but in case you haven't yet seen it, here you go!

They cut out most of her comments, but they do talk about her stint on the show, ever so briefly.

Julie is on Facebook and Twitter, and occasionally links to publicity about her career.

Oh if I ever have the chance I will ask her in a flash! lol

Please do!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The video is already linked to my "Julie Piekarski, Felice Schachter, and Julie Anne Haddock" playlist on YouTube, but in case you haven't yet seen it, here you go!

Wow what a beautiful day at WDW that day!

OH I can't believe it...right after the MMC reporter says "You were on the 1st season of FOL" she says "Correct--" and they cut her off! UGH! That's annoying as it is, but if Sue Ann had been a favorite character of mine that would really tick me off.

Is this the only evidence we have of Julie P. ever commenting on her FOL experience? "Correct"? We have even more from Molly Ringwald, and that was from one interview question in 1984! lol

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Please do!

Once I was at a zoo and standing in line in front of me was this couple, probably in their mid-20s or so. The girl looked so much like Molly Ringwald that it wasn't even funny, and I couldn't pass up commenting to her. So I said, "Hey, I was just curious, has anyone ever told you that you look like Molly Ringwald?" and she smiled a bit with a little nod and said "I've actually gotten that before."

And then her doofus of a boyfriend goes "Who's Molly Ringwald?"



*sigh*, so sad...lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Wow what a beautiful day at WDW that day!

Yeah! And the cool thing is, I have stood there, or right next to there, myself more than a hundred times (when I worked as a photographer at WDW). I know the exact spot they are standing.

OH I can't believe it...right after the MMC reporter says "You were on the 1st season of FOL" she says "Correct--" and they cut her off! UGH!

I know! Damn.

That's annoying as it is, but if Sue Ann had been a favorite character of mine that would really tick me off.

I was ticked off the first time; after that, I just was glad they even brought it up.

Is this the only evidence we have of Julie P. ever commenting on her FOL experience? "Correct"? We have even more from Molly Ringwald, and that was from one interview question in 1984! lol

LOL! No, she has mentioned it other times. For example, here. (page 2 and 3 are about FOL, although on page 1, she talks about bonding with Lisa on the MMC).

She has always stayed very positive, and talks fondly of her castmates, especially Lisa and Kim, who she still remains close to. She also mentions Julie Anne, Charlotte, and Nancy McKeon.

Once I was at a zoo and standing in line in front of me was this couple, probably in their mid-20s or so. The girl looked so much like Molly Ringwald that it wasn't even funny, and I couldn't pass up commenting to her. So I said, "Hey, I was just curious, has anyone ever told you that you look like Molly Ringwald?" and she smiled a bit with a little nod and said "I've actually gotten that before."

And then her doofus of a boyfriend goes "Who's Molly Ringwald?"



*sigh*, so sad...lol

That's funny! And also very, very sad, yes.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

LOL! No, she has mentioned it other times. For example, here. (page 2 and 3 are about FOL, although on page 1, she talks about bonding with Lisa on the MMC).

She has always stayed very positive, and talks fondly of her castmates, especially Lisa and Kim, who she still remains close to. She also mentions Julie Anne, Charlotte, and Nancy McKeon.

Oh, whoa! Thanks, that's so great to finally "hear" some of her thoughts; the last of the Lost Girls I've seen recollections from.

"As for our show, we’d usually rehearse on a Monday, then there would be re-writes over the next few days and finally, we’d do a taping in front of a live audience."

There would be re-writes? There would be re-writes? Then why couldn't they balance out the scripts at least a little better during this "re-write" process? Now the fact that the shows from that season are so unbalanced is even more pathetic...


"I heard that the reason was they didn’t feel audiences could relate to all of the different characters. They couldn’t find enough specific “niches” for each girl to conform to and identify with. Maybe the writers were not able to write in that many characters for only a half hour sitcom?"

Well, she, like most everyone else, heard wrong.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Oh, whoa! Thanks, that's so great to finally "hear" some of her thoughts; the last of the Lost Girls I've seen recollections from.

"As for our show, we’d usually rehearse on a Monday, then there would be re-writes over the next few days and finally, we’d do a taping in front of a live audience."

There would be re-writes? There would be re-writes? Then why couldn't they balance out the scripts at least a little better during this "re-write" process? Now the fact that the shows from that season are so unbalanced is even more pathetic...

Bwaha! I know what you're saying, but the re-writes may have made things more unbalanced. Nichelle Nichols (Uhura on Star Trek) described receiving scripts that had decent-sized parts for her, but as she got the script revisions, her parts were cut out more and more, until by the taping, her lines consisted of, "Aye, captain". She considered leaving the show, but stayed due to the fan support she received, as one of the few visible black women on television during that era.

It seems likely that this happened on FOL, too. The producers had written seven girls, and it's likely the thirteen scripts were written weeks before taping began, but as the season progressed, we observe more and more focus on Blair, Tootie, and Sue Ann, and by the end of the season, Mrs. G talks about being glad that the group is "all together", with only four girls in the room!

That would have happened in the script revision process, and probably came from pressure from the network, who, according to newspaper articles, had conducted testing. So the girls were probably handed blue scripts at the beginning of the week, and by the end of the week, the green script had little for Felice to do.

"I heard that the reason was they didn’t feel audiences could relate to all of the different characters. They couldn’t find enough specific “niches” for each girl to conform to and identify with. Maybe the writers were not able to write in that many characters for only a half hour sitcom?"

Well, she, like most everyone else, heard wrong.

Yes, as we know, other shows can successfully write for more than five characters.

[RetroGuy2000]

BTW, here is the extended interview, with more good stuff!

['80sSitcoms]

Ahh, very interesting points, and definitely a possibility. That must have really sucked though for the "lesser girls" if they saw an initial script with more balanced parts, and then two or three days later it's the Blair/Sue Ann/Tootie show, etc.

[RetroGuy2000]

Well, I wasn't there, and obviously don't know the whole story, but I worked in video production for six years, and television script re-writes are never about finding balance between roles, or making things more fair; it's all about establishing a hit show. Producers and network execs will do anything to obtain that status, including firing the majority of a show's cast if they think it will get results. Lisa Whelchel talks about that here, where she mentions that she had gained weight between Seasons One and Two:

"They made it clear I needed to either lose that weight or lose my job."

Can you imagine FOL without Blair?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, I wasn't there, and obviously don't know the whole story, but I worked in video production for six years, and television script re-writes are never about finding balance between roles, or making things more fair; it's all about establishing a hit show.

Which was eventually why Mama became the undeniable lead character in the syndicated seasons of "Mama's Family" as opposed to the more ensemble NBC seasons.

Although re-writes on The Carol Burnett Show were more about balance in some ways. Vicki Lawrence recalls how in re-write meetings Carol was never concerned about being "the star", but making sure everyone was featured and used to the best of their abilities. She would often say things in the meetings such as "Vicki needs another joke on page 63", etc.; definitely a gem of a show it would have been such a treasure to have been a part of.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Lisa Whelchel talks about that here, where she mentions that she had gained weight between Seasons One and Two:

"They made it clear I needed to either lose that weight or lose my job."

Can you imagine FOL without Blair?

No I can't, thank goodness. And I find that really hard to believe; simply because she was in "knock-out model mode" a the beginning of season two. She must have dropped any weight pretty darn quick!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Which was eventually why Mama became the undeniable lead character in the syndicated seasons of "Mama's Family" as opposed to the more ensemble NBC seasons.

Although re-writes on The Carol Burnett Show were more about balance in some ways. Vicki Lawrence recalls how in re-write meetings Carol was never concerned about being "the star", but making sure everyone was featured and used to the best of their abilities. She would often say things in the meetings such as "Vicki needs another joke on page 63", etc.; definitely a gem of a show it would have been such a treasure to have been a part of.

Great points. Carol Burnett wielded great power on her show; her husband, Joe Hamilton, was the executive producer. So she could insist that each of her co-stars be given a decent amount of material.

Charlotte Rae, despite being the original star of FOL, unfortunately didn't have this power. She states that she had "no say as to who was to stay and who was to go" when the cast was purged.

It obviously was a very different culture on CB's show.

No I can't, thank goodness. And I find that really hard to believe; simply because she was in "knock-out model mode" a the beginning of season two. She must have dropped any weight pretty darn quick!

Well, she did have until October, due to the Actors' Strike of 1980. Taping usually begins during the summer, but new episodes of FOL weren't taped until November.