Beau: Yep, he's even less necessary than I remember... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 08-08-2014, 12:29 AM

It's been many, many years since I've watched the infamous fourth and final season, so I was wondering how I would view the character of Beau, who was played by Stephen Shortridge and added on to be the fourth sweathog since John Travolta's Barbarino only appeared in a handful of episodes that year.

Well, after re-watching his first few episodes, I can say truthfully that Beau was most definitely an unnecessary add-on character. IMO, I think the non-Travolta shows would have been fine with just a trio of Epstein, Washington & Horshack. Whenever he's there, he's given a token line or two, but adds nothing to the scene...or the overall episode.

The new writers definitely did not know what made this show and these characters tick. The show was already suffering from three major disadvantages, the absence of Gabe Kaplan (the show's lead character), the absence of John Travolta & one thing that I think gets overlooked: the show was moved to Monday nights for the final season in fall 1978.

Back then, there were no DVRs or internet to get caught up on episodes of shows we missed and after three seasons on Thursday nights, I imagine there were some people who didn't read TV Guide and tuned in on Thursday nights to find not Kotter, but a new show about a space alien from a planet called Ork.

I'm not saying that keeping the show on Thursday nights would have saved it from cancellation, but TV watchers back then were creatures of habit and some of them may not have known about the time slot switch, which could have affected the ratings. I'm just speculating here, but TV watching was much different in the late '70s in terms of where you found your favorite shows. If you didn't catch an episode, that was it...until rerun season, at any rate.

But getting back to my main point, I don't think they needed to have brought Beau on at all. But...yer mileage may vary.

Dr. Thong · 08-09-2014, 10:29 AM

C'mon Beau bashers and/or Beau boosters!

Chime in!

I'm surprised TV Fact Fan hasn't entered the fray, at the very least!

Marvo301 · 08-09-2014, 05:24 PM

I think their mistake was making Beau a Southener. If they were going to add a new 4th Sweathog it should have been another person from Brooklyn not someone from the South!

Billy K. · 08-16-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I think their mistake was making Beau a Southener. If they were going to add a new 4th Sweathog it should have been another person from Brooklyn not someone from the South!

Yes exactly - or someone from New Jersey or another borough of NYC.

Bonniegirl · 08-16-2014, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy K.

Yes exactly - or someone from New Jersey or another borough of NYC.

Beau didn't fit in at all, even if the show was about remedial learning students in the south. he just wasn't a sweat hog type at all, no matter where the school was!

And esp a school in Brooklyn. I think someone else posted he seemed like he would fit in better with the straight A , nerdy students like Judy and Todd!

If they wanted a southern guy, it would have been better to cast a poor, redneck, hillbilly type (they could have made that funny, a goofy, not very bright, redneck guy) not a Southern guy that looked like he was from rich parents and didn't seem like a remedial student at all!

Dr. Thong · 08-18-2014, 11:27 PM

I have nothing against Stephen Shortridge personally -- he was just a guy who got hired to do a show. I wonder if when he joined the show he thought he'd hit the lottery, only to find out the show was a sinking ship.

I do remember he ended up following up Kotter with a knock-off of Charlie's Angels called Toni's Boys that lasted...well, does anybody here remember it?

But the problem with Beau is that he's too handsome and slick to be a Sweathog, IMO. And the character is just kind of there.

I loved how some people on "Jump The Shark" would rant about how Ted McGinley ruined WBK when he joined the cast.

Poor Ted, he gets blamed for shows he didn't even get a chance to ruin!

DJM77 · 08-20-2014, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I do remember he ended up following up Kotter with a knock-off of Charlie's Angels called Toni's Boys that lasted...well, does anybody here remember it?

I've seen the "Toni's Boys" Charlie's Angels episode. The only info that I could find on "Toni's Boys" was that it was a backdoor pilot on Charlie's Angels and it never got picked up.

mets82 · 08-21-2014, 02:29 PM

You know, I'll throw Beau a bone. I dont think he was that bad. He had tough shows to fill. The bottom line is that the show was waning anyway by that point. Getting moved to Mon. nights, no Mr. Kotter, no Travolta and Beau or even no Beau could save it.

TVFactFan · 08-22-2014, 01:02 AM

He was a complete jackass who sounded like he was from texas and always looked stupid lol

Dr. Thong · 08-22-2014, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

I've seen the "Toni's Boys" Charlie's Angels episode. The only info that I could find on "Toni's Boys" was that it was a backdoor pilot on Charlie's Angels and it never got picked up.

For some reason, I thought it might have had a few episodes aired before cancellation, but that's probably right.

hatwink · 08-22-2014, 09:44 PM

I liked Beau, he had a decent charm, and was a decent dude, but like mentioned before, he had no business being a southern student in a show based in Brooklyn.The writers should have had him as a transfer student from another part of New York, maybe Staten Island, or Queens.I think Stephen Shortridge is a artist now, if I remember correctly.

TVFactFan · 08-22-2014, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatwink

I liked Beau, he had a decent charm, and was a decent dude, but like mentioned before, he had no business being a southern student in a show based in Brooklyn.The writers should have had him as a transfer student from another part of New York, maybe Staten Island, or Queens.I think Stephen Shortridge is a artist now, if I remember correctly.

he should be a cashier somewhere lol

hatwink · 08-25-2014, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

he should be a cashier somewhere lol

That's cold-blooded, LOL!

Bonniegirl · 08-26-2014, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

he should be a cashier somewhere lol

I think he looks like a waiter! But he is indeed an artist!

Out of curiosity I googled Steven Shortridge . He quit acting in the 80's and is concentrating on his painting. ( LOL , maybe house painting)

His art work is shown in galleries across the country

TVFactFan · 08-26-2014, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonniegirl62

I think he looks like a waiter! But he is indeed an artist!

Out of curiosity I googled Steven Shortridge . He quit acting in the 80's and is concentrating on his painting. ( LOL , maybe house painting)

His art work is shown in galleries across the country

he had no choice but to quit since nobody was going to call him for anything lol

08-08-2014, 12:29 AM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Beau: Yep, he's even less necessary than I remember... It's been many, many years since I've watched the infamous fourth and final season, so I was wondering how I would view the character of Beau, who was played by Stephen Shortridge and added on to be the fourth sweathog since John Travolta's Barbarino only appeared in a handful of episodes that year. Well, after re-watching his first few episodes, I can say truthfully that Beau was most definitely an unnecessary add-on character. IMO, I think the non-Travolta shows would have been fine with just a trio of Epstein, Washington & Horshack. Whenever he's there, he's given a token line or two, but adds nothing to the scene...or the overall episode. The new writers definitely did not know what made this show and these characters tick. The show was already suffering from three major disadvantages, the absence of Gabe Kaplan (the show's lead character), the absence of John Travolta & one thing that I think gets overlooked: the show was moved to Monday nights for the final season in fall 1978. Back then, there were no DVRs or internet to get caught up on episodes of shows we missed and after three seasons on Thursday nights, I imagine there were some people who didn't read TV Guide and tuned in on Thursday nights to find not Kotter, but a new show about a space alien from a planet called Ork. I'm not saying that keeping the show on Thursday nights would have saved it from cancellation, but TV watchers back then were creatures of habit and some of them may not have known about the time slot switch, which could have affected the ratings. I'm just speculating here, but TV watching was much different in the late '70s in terms of where you found your favorite shows. If you didn't catch an episode, that was it...until rerun season, at any rate. But getting back to my main point, I don't think they needed to have brought Beau on at all. But...yer mileage may vary.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

08-09-2014, 05:24 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I think their mistake was making Beau a Southener. If they were going to add a new 4th Sweathog it should have been another person from Brooklyn not someone from the South!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-21-2014, 02:29 PM	#8
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	You know, I'll throw Beau a bone. I dont think he was that bad. He had tough shows to fill. The bottom line is that the show was waning anyway by that point. Getting moved to Mon. nights, no Mr. Kotter, no Travolta and Beau or even no Beau could save it.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

08-09-2014, 10:29 AM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	C'mon Beau bashers and/or Beau boosters! Chime in! I'm surprised TV Fact Fan hasn't entered the fray, at the very least!

08-18-2014, 11:27 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I have nothing against Stephen Shortridge personally -- he was just a guy who got hired to do a show. I wonder if when he joined the show he thought he'd hit the lottery, only to find out the show was a sinking ship. I do remember he ended up following up Kotter with a knock-off of Charlie's Angels called Toni's Boys that lasted...well, does anybody here remember it? But the problem with Beau is that he's too handsome and slick to be a Sweathog, IMO. And the character is just kind of there. I loved how some people on "Jump The Shark" would rant about how Ted McGinley ruined WBK when he joined the cast. Poor Ted, he gets blamed for shows he didn't even get a chance to ruin!

08-22-2014, 01:02 AM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	He was a complete jackass who sounded like he was from texas and always looked stupid lol

08-22-2014, 09:44 PM	#11
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	I liked Beau, he had a decent charm, and was a decent dude, but like mentioned before, he had no business being a southern student in a show based in Brooklyn.The writers should have had him as a transfer student from another part of New York, maybe Staten Island, or Queens.I think Stephen Shortridge is a artist now, if I remember correctly.