Were Any of the Females Stars Happy with Their Treatement by the Producers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LittleRickyII · 07-10-2014, 01:20 AM

Suzanne Somers had her notorious feud. In interviews, Priscilla Barnes has seemed rather bitter about the way the producers treated her the entire times she was on the show. Audra Lindley was irked that she and Norman Fell were not given the option to return to the show after The Ropers was cancelled. Ann Wedgeworth was quickly dumped from the show and I assume she couldn't have been happy about that. I'm not sure how Jenilee Harrison feels. She was only there two seasons and seems to have been used just to fill in while they searched for someone else to take over for Suzanne Somers. And ultimately, Joyce DeWitt was very upset about that way they handled her departure: keeping it a secret from her that the format was being changed to exclude her from the show. I have a feeling none of these women had warm feelings about the people in charge of the show. Any thoughts or insights?

Mace Dolex · 07-10-2014, 03:23 PM

I think it was on E!'s THS episode that Jenillee despite her inexperience in acting mentioned that she had a lot of coaching from the cast members and the director, the producers liked her because she was fresh faced and wouldn't put demands like Suzanne did.

LittleRickyII · 07-10-2014, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I think it was on E!'s THS episode that Jenillee despite her inexperience in acting mentioned that she had a lot of coaching from the cast members and the director, the producers liked her because she was fresh faced and wouldn't put demands like Suzanne did.

But then they dumped her and made Priscilla Barnes the new roommate. How did she take that?

JackJanetChrissy · 07-10-2014, 04:13 PM

Yes, female writers for the show Shelley Zellman and Ellen Guylas also commented that how the producers operated the script end of the show was sexist, too. That's in the Come and Knock on Our Door book.

Unfortunately, I think it was a product of the industry and the times. The industry had always been male dominated, and at that time the U.S. was just coming into the gender equality age. I think Suzanne's demands at the end were exorbitant, but I don't think the producers were used to women demanding raises no matter how much or little. Joyce wanted to re-negotiate, too, and had to fight. (That is why she is missing from the episode Stanley's Hotline.) It says something about the producers that the females had to grandstand--like Joyce missing that one week--to be heard.

John made more than either of them (he was the star of the show, but still) and we don't hear about him having money trouble. I'm sure if he had wanted to re-negotiate it would have been regarded as a valid "request" and not a hysterical "demand."

I'm sure Hollywood is still sort of a "boys-club" these days, but at least ppl know enough today to make it at least look otherwise. Back then appearances didn't matter as much and people got treated however the powers-that-were felt like treating them.

Mace Dolex · 07-10-2014, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

But then they dumped her and made Priscilla Barnes the new roommate. How did she take that?

Uhhh...that I don't know, maybe Jenilee was looking for other acting roles.

07-10-2014, 01:20 AM	#1
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Were Any of the Females Stars Happy with Their Treatement by the Producers? Suzanne Somers had her notorious feud. In interviews, Priscilla Barnes has seemed rather bitter about the way the producers treated her the entire times she was on the show. Audra Lindley was irked that she and Norman Fell were not given the option to return to the show after The Ropers was cancelled. Ann Wedgeworth was quickly dumped from the show and I assume she couldn't have been happy about that. I'm not sure how Jenilee Harrison feels. She was only there two seasons and seems to have been used just to fill in while they searched for someone else to take over for Suzanne Somers. And ultimately, Joyce DeWitt was very upset about that way they handled her departure: keeping it a secret from her that the format was being changed to exclude her from the show. I have a feeling none of these women had warm feelings about the people in charge of the show. Any thoughts or insights?

07-10-2014, 03:23 PM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	I think it was on E!'s THS episode that Jenillee despite her inexperience in acting mentioned that she had a lot of coaching from the cast members and the director, the producers liked her because she was fresh faced and wouldn't put demands like Suzanne did.

07-10-2014, 04:13 PM	#4
JackJanetChrissy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 18, 2014 Posts: 1,005	Yes, female writers for the show Shelley Zellman and Ellen Guylas also commented that how the producers operated the script end of the show was sexist, too. That's in the Come and Knock on Our Door book. Unfortunately, I think it was a product of the industry and the times. The industry had always been male dominated, and at that time the U.S. was just coming into the gender equality age. I think Suzanne's demands at the end were exorbitant, but I don't think the producers were used to women demanding raises no matter how much or little. Joyce wanted to re-negotiate, too, and had to fight. (That is why she is missing from the episode Stanley's Hotline.) It says something about the producers that the females had to grandstand--like Joyce missing that one week--to be heard. John made more than either of them (he was the star of the show, but still) and we don't hear about him having money trouble. I'm sure if he had wanted to re-negotiate it would have been regarded as a valid "request" and not a hysterical "demand." I'm sure Hollywood is still sort of a "boys-club" these days, but at least ppl know enough today to make it at least look otherwise. Back then appearances didn't matter as much and people got treated however the powers-that-were felt like treating them.