A "Betty" spinoff for Elinor Donahue - yay or nay? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gidgetgrape · 10-20-2015, 12:07 AM

Robert Young stated in a 1988 interview with James Bawden that a possible storyline for "Father Knows Best" would have been Betty getting married and living over the garage with her husband.

If FKB couldn't continue, do you think Elinor Donahue should have had a "Betty" spinoff show? (If she wanted one, of course)

Road Dog · 05-05-2016, 08:34 AM

How about a spin-off where Betty changes her name to Ellie Walker, moves to Mayberry, and works in a pharmacy. . . Oh wait.

Race's Girl · 06-29-2016, 06:28 AM

A Betty spin off would've been an awesome idea

AB · 06-29-2016, 03:00 PM

If she had a really good supporting cast, it might have worked.

Samme · 07-21-2016, 05:00 PM

I liked Elinor but think she was more support than a lead, and more drama than comedy. She was often too strident on TAGS, but she did surprisingly well in a much smaller role in The Odd Couple.

Babalu · 07-21-2016, 06:12 PM

I don't think Elinor Donahue was likeable enough to carry her own show. Maybe if she had a gimmick like a wisecracking Danny Bonaduce type or Sophia Petrillo the show might have a chance.

Peppermint Patty · 09-23-2016, 02:44 PM

I loved Elinor as Betty and she was a great actress, but the show was help up by Robert Young and really as for the kids in the show the one that got the most laughs it seemed and the better story lines was Bud.

installLSC · 02-20-2017, 04:04 PM

I love the idea of a Betty themed spinoff, but the suggested storyline doesn't seem quite right. Much better to have her move into an off campus apartment and make it a college themed sitcom (even if it requires her to become a grad student.)

OH Nuts! · 02-21-2017, 10:07 AM

YAY! Think it would have been a cool idea-sorry it was never done.

king of comedy · 02-21-2017, 04:58 PM

It could have worked.

Samme · 02-26-2017, 01:24 AM

A Bud spinoff would have worked a lot better. He was a better character, better suited to a sitcom, done by a better actor, and could have probably carried a show. Plus, it seems to have been the only character Billy Gray did well (and he did it great) and he might have been willing to carry on with it.

OH Nuts! · 02-26-2017, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samme

A Bud spinoff would have worked a lot better. He was a better character, better suited to a sitcom, done by a better actor, and could have probably carried a show. Plus, it seems to have been the only character Billy Gray did well (and he did it great) and he might have been willing to carry on with it.

Both could work, but a spinoff for Betty comes to my mind faster. A must say though, a spinoff for Bud does sound intriguing.

gidgetgrape · 03-10-2017, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installLSC

I love the idea of a Betty themed spinoff, but the suggested storyline doesn't seem quite right. Much better to have her move into an off campus apartment and make it a college themed sitcom (even if it requires her to become a grad student.)

Yes, I agree. Betty doesn't seem like the type of girl that would have lived over the garage, husband or not. She went into hysterics over having a "country cousin" in season 4.

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

hifijohn · 04-02-2022, 01:47 AM

Has possibilities.

Tankeryanker · 04-02-2022, 03:24 PM

A "Betty" spinoff would have been great.

View Poll Results: What do you think of FKB spinoff with Elinor Donahue as Betty?
Yay! - A "Betty" spinoff would have been great.	7	43.75%
Nay! - A "Betty" spinoff would have been lousy.	4	25.00%
Undecided	5	31.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

10-20-2015, 12:07 AM	#1
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	A "Betty" spinoff for Elinor Donahue - yay or nay? Robert Young stated in a 1988 interview with James Bawden that a possible storyline for "Father Knows Best" would have been Betty getting married and living over the garage with her husband. If FKB couldn't continue, do you think Elinor Donahue should have had a "Betty" spinoff show? (If she wanted one, of course)

06-29-2016, 06:28 AM	#3
Race's Girl Miss Tremendous Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jan 26, 2005 Location: On Fonzie's bike in front of Arnold's Posts: 23,090	A Betty spin off would've been an awesome idea
	__________________ Girls rock so there, boys.

07-21-2016, 06:12 PM	#6
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	I don't think Elinor Donahue was likeable enough to carry her own show. Maybe if she had a gimmick like a wisecracking Danny Bonaduce type or Sophia Petrillo the show might have a chance.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

05-05-2016, 08:34 AM	#2
Road Dog Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 94	How about a spin-off where Betty changes her name to Ellie Walker, moves to Mayberry, and works in a pharmacy. . . Oh wait.

06-29-2016, 03:00 PM	#4
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	If she had a really good supporting cast, it might have worked.

07-21-2016, 05:00 PM	#5
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	I liked Elinor but think she was more support than a lead, and more drama than comedy. She was often too strident on TAGS, but she did surprisingly well in a much smaller role in The Odd Couple.

09-23-2016, 02:44 PM	#7
Peppermint Patty Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2016 Location: TV Land Posts: 53	I loved Elinor as Betty and she was a great actress, but the show was help up by Robert Young and really as for the kids in the show the one that got the most laughs it seemed and the better story lines was Bud.

02-20-2017, 04:04 PM	#8
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	I love the idea of a Betty themed spinoff, but the suggested storyline doesn't seem quite right. Much better to have her move into an off campus apartment and make it a college themed sitcom (even if it requires her to become a grad student.)

02-21-2017, 10:07 AM	#9
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	YAY! Think it would have been a cool idea-sorry it was never done.

02-21-2017, 04:58 PM	#10
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	It could have worked.

02-26-2017, 01:24 AM	#11
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 676	A Bud spinoff would have worked a lot better. He was a better character, better suited to a sitcom, done by a better actor, and could have probably carried a show. Plus, it seems to have been the only character Billy Gray did well (and he did it great) and he might have been willing to carry on with it.

04-02-2022, 01:47 AM	#14
hifijohn Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 07, 2013 Posts: 209	Has possibilities.

04-02-2022, 03:24 PM	#15
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,043	A "Betty" spinoff would have been great.