Why is Michael McKean not credited in the final season? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tmac81s · 02-01-2016, 12:55 AM

In season 7, Michael McKean and David L. Lander are finally upgraded to being credited in the opening theme song.....However, in the 8th (and final) season, only David is credited. Michael still appears in montages, and appears several times in the season,but is no longer credited in the opening OR closing credits. Even in episodes he's in! Anyone know why?

Gumdrops · 02-01-2016, 02:04 PM

McKean had left because of Spinal Tap. He was in 3 or 4 eps, plus he directed the Playboy episode. Likely, those episodes were the first ones filmed (even if airing order was different) and after those, he was gone.

tmac81s · 02-01-2016, 03:18 PM

I know he left near the end to film the Spinal Tap movie, but my question is, why he did not get on screen credit for the episodes he IS in?

TVFactFan · 02-02-2016, 12:47 AM

Damm so it was only Laverne, Carmine, and Suiqqy?

Who the hell was watching on ABC at this point?

shotzette · 02-02-2016, 11:55 AM

I think he is credited for the specific eps he's in. He was in very few that year since he was promoting Spinal Tap.

Frankly, the last season was such a sh*t show, I'm surprised anything got accomplished. Cindy Williams had said she was done after S7, and then changed her mind about S8 after the rest of the cast had been notified and Betty Garrett and Michael McKean had made other commitments, and Penny had stated that she would not commit to being fully in each episode since she wanted time off. Then, Cindy only stayed for two episodes due to her pregnancy and other issues.

It was a sloppy, uneven season that was painful to watch. When the show becomes the Squiggy, Carmine, Frank, and Rhonda show, it's time to switch the channel.

Gumdrops · 02-02-2016, 12:57 PM

http://emmytvlegends.org/news/our-da...eams-come-true
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...L4HN05-CK-EoeH

Interview with Marshall and Williams (it's a 40th anniversary thing).
After hearing them both talk about how they thought the move to California was a horrible idea, it really makes you wish season 6 had been the last and that they'd done a proper ending rather than slogging through 2 more half-assed seasons.

shotzette · 02-02-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumdrops

Interview with Marshall and Williams (it's a 40th anniversary thing).
After hearing them both talk about how they thought the move to California was a horrible idea, it really makes you wish season 6 had been the last and that they'd done a proper ending rather than slogging through 2 more half-assed seasons.

Actually, the CA move took place in S6. I actually liked S6, the new setting did give them a FOOW perspective. The last Milwaukee season, S5, was pretty hit or miss. The writers had definitely run out of ideas at that point. I wish that the Cali move had been the magic bullet that saved the show, but it had run it's course. S7 was clumsy and S8 the stuff of nightmares. The four major stars all wanted to move on, and many of the performances seemed to be phoned in or have hints of the underlying set tensions.

TVFactFan · 02-02-2016, 09:19 PM

I always hated that the show moved to CA because it prevented more opportunities for a HD/LS crossover ep

Gumdrops · 02-02-2016, 09:37 PM

I know that S6 was the first California season.

All I'm getting at is that if (from what I've read in interviews and stuff) the cast was burnt out on the show around/after season 5, then maybe there should've been an exit strategy in place. And yeah, I know that CW flip flopping all over the place was a lot of the problem.

I know I'm just seeing this with modern goggles on and everything where for most shows nowadays, we get these 'goodbye' seasons and proper series finales.

Mr. Television · 02-02-2016, 09:41 PM

I don't even like watching the California seasons.

Gumdrops · 02-02-2016, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

I don't even like watching the California seasons.

Since MeTV has been showing them, I haven't been watching regularly like I had been. They're into season 8 though, so it won't be long till they cycle back to the beginning. Feels like it's taking forever though. I'll have to make sure and DVR my faves this time around.

TVFactFan · 02-02-2016, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

I don't even like watching the California seasons.

I loved shirley's hairstyle in season 6

shotzette · 02-03-2016, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumdrops

I know that S6 was the first California season.

I'm sorry. I must have misunderstood your previous post where you stated that you wished S6 ( a California era episode) had been their last. No worries.

I wish that TPTB had given the show a proper send off and farewell rather than letting it limp off and quietly die; but it unfortunately is what it is. Moments like these are why I love fan fiction!

tmac81s · 02-06-2016, 12:39 AM

I must have been thinking of when the hub aired the show.....on me-tv I do see he is credited on the eps he is in!

Gumdrops · 02-06-2016, 12:57 AM

Yeah, the various channels do edit things differently.
You really notice it with shows that are on every other channel (like Friends).

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

I wish that TPTB had given the show a proper send off and farewell rather than letting it limp off and quietly die.Moments like these are why I love fan fiction!

On the other hand, having a 'proper ending' doesn't always mean you'll be happy with how it ends. I don't know if you've seen How I Met Your Mother, but I (and a lot of others) are still pissed about that hack job finale. It kinda sucks when TPTB aren't on the same page as you because unfairly or not, it kinda dampens your opinion of the show. And that's when you have to start head-canoning episodes and seasons out of existence.

So, I guess I'm of two minds about it. One part of me thinks a proper finale should've happened. But then I think, what if that finale just ended up being really horrible to the point that the non-ending it got was the better way to go?
Maybe there's just no pleasing me.

But you're right. Fanfic does soften the blow an awful lot.

02-01-2016, 12:55 AM	#1
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	Why is Michael McKean not credited in the final season? In season 7, Michael McKean and David L. Lander are finally upgraded to being credited in the opening theme song.....However, in the 8th (and final) season, only David is credited. Michael still appears in montages, and appears several times in the season,but is no longer credited in the opening OR closing credits. Even in episodes he's in! Anyone know why?
	__________________ "Aaaaayyy"~~The Fonz, "Happy Days" "I've Heard it Both Ways"~~Shawn Spencer, "Psych" "Well how the hell should I know?”~~Thelma Harper, “Mama’s Family”/“Carol Burnett Show”

02-02-2016, 12:57 PM	#6
Gumdrops Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 17, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 63	http://emmytvlegends.org/news/our-da...eams-come-true https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...L4HN05-CK-EoeH Interview with Marshall and Williams (it's a 40th anniversary thing). After hearing them both talk about how they thought the move to California was a horrible idea, it really makes you wish season 6 had been the last and that they'd done a proper ending rather than slogging through 2 more half-assed seasons.
	Last edited by Gumdrops; 02-02-2016 at 01:17 PM.

02-02-2016, 09:37 PM	#9
Gumdrops Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 17, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 63	I know that S6 was the first California season. All I'm getting at is that if (from what I've read in interviews and stuff) the cast was burnt out on the show around/after season 5, then maybe there should've been an exit strategy in place. And yeah, I know that CW flip flopping all over the place was a lot of the problem. I know I'm just seeing this with modern goggles on and everything where for most shows nowadays, we get these 'goodbye' seasons and proper series finales.
	Last edited by Gumdrops; 02-02-2016 at 11:17 PM.

02-02-2016, 09:41 PM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	I don't even like watching the California seasons.
	__________________ Sonny

02-01-2016, 02:04 PM	#2
Gumdrops Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 17, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 63	McKean had left because of Spinal Tap. He was in 3 or 4 eps, plus he directed the Playboy episode. Likely, those episodes were the first ones filmed (even if airing order was different) and after those, he was gone.

02-01-2016, 03:18 PM	#3
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	I know he left near the end to film the Spinal Tap movie, but my question is, why he did not get on screen credit for the episodes he IS in?

02-02-2016, 12:47 AM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	Damm so it was only Laverne, Carmine, and Suiqqy? Who the hell was watching on ABC at this point?

02-02-2016, 11:55 AM	#5
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	I think he is credited for the specific eps he's in. He was in very few that year since he was promoting Spinal Tap. Frankly, the last season was such a sh*t show, I'm surprised anything got accomplished. Cindy Williams had said she was done after S7, and then changed her mind about S8 after the rest of the cast had been notified and Betty Garrett and Michael McKean had made other commitments, and Penny had stated that she would not commit to being fully in each episode since she wanted time off. Then, Cindy only stayed for two episodes due to her pregnancy and other issues. It was a sloppy, uneven season that was painful to watch. When the show becomes the Squiggy, Carmine, Frank, and Rhonda show, it's time to switch the channel.

02-02-2016, 09:19 PM	#8
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	I always hated that the show moved to CA because it prevented more opportunities for a HD/LS crossover ep

02-06-2016, 12:39 AM	#14
tmac81s Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2011 Location: Kalispell, MT, USA Posts: 203	I must have been thinking of when the hub aired the show.....on me-tv I do see he is credited on the eps he is in!