If the actress who played Elenenor was available in 1980, would she have - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-08-2014, 09:45 PM

been a good replacement for Suzanne?

Basically it would have been a redhead and a brunette and neither one ditzy or goofy. What do you think ?

JackJanetChrissy · 09-08-2014, 11:42 PM

No, I don't think she would have been good. I remember the actress who played Eleanor in "Eleanor's Return" and I kind of hated her. She seemed sort of snobby to me. Maybe if they had someone else play her it could've worked.

I think the original trio worked so well because Janet was the straight man and Chrissy was always sweet and thought the best of Jack. I don't think the show would've been as much fun with two women who are constantly suspicious of Jack or who have no problem putting him down. That would have made Jack more unlikeable. You need the characters to reinforce the audience's opinion of Jack being a good guy.

JSP · 09-09-2014, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

No, I don't think she would have been good. I remember the actress who played Eleanor in "Eleanor's Return" and I kind of hated her. She seemed sort of snobby to me. Maybe if they had someone else play her it could've worked.

I think the original trio worked so well because Janet was the straight man and Chrissy was always sweet and thought the best of Jack. I don't think the show would've been as much fun with two women who are constantly suspicious of Jack or who have no problem putting him down. That would have made Jack more unlikeable. You need the characters to reinforce the audience's opinion of Jack being a good guy.

Interesting theory. I didn't know Jack needed help in being reinforced he was good.

JackJanetChrissy · 09-09-2014, 09:56 AM

He's a good guy character, but the two girls are the ones who make him loveable.

The writers were walking a fine line in Jack's character. They wanted him to be macho and out with a different girl every night, but they somehow had to keep him from sleazy Larry territory. As everyone had a pretty broad characterization, how did the writers achieve this? Chrissy trusts Jack, whereas Janet is always giving him jazz about his love life. So one person (Janet) acknowledges and scolds him about his womanizing, while another person (Chrissy) overlooks that womanizing because she believes his other, good qualities trump the womanizing.

I think that's a cue to the audience on how to perceive Jack.

09-08-2014, 09:45 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,016	If the actress who played Elenenor was available in 1980, would she have been a good replacement for Suzanne? Basically it would have been a redhead and a brunette and neither one ditzy or goofy. What do you think ?

09-08-2014, 11:42 PM	#2
JackJanetChrissy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 18, 2014 Posts: 1,005	No, I don't think she would have been good. I remember the actress who played Eleanor in "Eleanor's Return" and I kind of hated her. She seemed sort of snobby to me. Maybe if they had someone else play her it could've worked. I think the original trio worked so well because Janet was the straight man and Chrissy was always sweet and thought the best of Jack. I don't think the show would've been as much fun with two women who are constantly suspicious of Jack or who have no problem putting him down. That would have made Jack more unlikeable. You need the characters to reinforce the audience's opinion of Jack being a good guy.

09-09-2014, 09:56 AM	#4
JackJanetChrissy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 18, 2014 Posts: 1,005	He's a good guy character, but the two girls are the ones who make him loveable. The writers were walking a fine line in Jack's character. They wanted him to be macho and out with a different girl every night, but they somehow had to keep him from sleazy Larry territory. As everyone had a pretty broad characterization, how did the writers achieve this? Chrissy trusts Jack, whereas Janet is always giving him jazz about his love life. So one person (Janet) acknowledges and scolds him about his womanizing, while another person (Chrissy) overlooks that womanizing because she believes his other, good qualities trump the womanizing. I think that's a cue to the audience on how to perceive Jack.