Who else played Andy? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MJFfan · 04-09-2002, 08:28 PM

I was wondering who or how many people played Andy? I know for most of it Brian Bonsall played him, but I'd heard that a pair of twins played him as a baby. Does anybody have more informationon that?

Paula · 04-09-2002, 10:32 PM

No- I wish I knew. Isn't it funny that it seems like sitcom producers always use twins to play as the "baby" on a show? I wonder why??? Besides Family Ties, Full House and Bewitched are other examples I can think of.

And then we never really get to see the "baby" grow. One season they're about a year old, and then the next they appear to be anywhere from 3 to 5 years old, while all the other characters seem to age at "normal" rate. LOL!

P.S....that's a VERY nice picture of MJF!

Janice · 04-09-2002, 11:47 PM

I don't know who played baby Andy. I think the reason that shows use twins is because if one baby gets fussy, the other one can take over.
I also know there are very strict laws that set time limits on child actors, and the laws are even stricter with babies. A baby can only be on the set for a short period of time.
These are just my speculations.

~Tropical Punch 19~ · 04-10-2002, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paula
No- I wish I knew. Isn't it funny that it seems like sitcom producers always use twins to play as the "baby" on a show? I wonder why??? Besides Family Ties, Full House and Bewitched are other examples I can think of.

And then we never really get to see the "baby" grow. One season they're about a year old, and then the next they appear to be anywhere from 3 to 5 years old, while all the other characters seem to age at "normal" rate. LOL!

P.S....that's a VERY nice picture of MJF!

Sitcoms usualy use twins becasue there is a law that babies are not allowed to work more than 4 or 5 hours a day. (i think that many hours) So, they use twins to switch off backa nd forth so they have more time with them. They get rid of the babie usually becasue siitcoms only run about 7 or 8 seasons so if they keep the baby it will only be a few years old at the end of the series. (if the women got pregnant in the middle of the series) Besides, they don't know if the baby can act or not so they just put in a proffessional actor to make it a safe bet. Except on Fiull House and they were stuck with the Olsen twins who really can't act that well.

MJFfan · 04-13-2002, 12:24 PM

I thought another eason was that young children (i.e. toddlers and babies) can get sick more easily so they need a replacment if that happens.

lol, I'm glad you like the pic of MJF.

TJ · 12-05-2003, 12:03 PM

A pair of twin boys, Tyler James Merriman and Garrett Joseph Merriman, were hired alternately to play newborn Andrew.
Born November 30, 1984, the twins were sought out by a casting director who heard of their imminent birth from a member of the Los Angeles club called Mothers of Twins. Each was paid $141 per show and by law spent only two hours a day on the lot.

wingsfan · 12-06-2003, 07:25 PM

i heard that on friends, there are quadruplets that play emma. and i'm pretty sure that at least triplets played the twins (nicky & alex) on full house when they were infants. what everyone else said about working hours is the reason why multiples play the part of infants.

04-09-2002, 08:28 PM	#1
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	Who else played Andy? I was wondering who or how many people played Andy? I know for most of it Brian Bonsall played him, but I'd heard that a pair of twins played him as a baby. Does anybody have more informationon that?
	__________________ ~Charlotte A big fan of family ties

04-09-2002, 10:32 PM	#2
Paula Little Rascals Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 11, 2001 Location: Northern California Posts: 309	No- I wish I knew. Isn't it funny that it seems like sitcom producers always use twins to play as the "baby" on a show? I wonder why??? Besides Family Ties, Full House and Bewitched are other examples I can think of. And then we never really get to see the "baby" grow. One season they're about a year old, and then the next they appear to be anywhere from 3 to 5 years old, while all the other characters seem to age at "normal" rate. LOL! P.S....that's a VERY nice picture of MJF!
	Last edited by Paula; 04-09-2002 at 10:34 PM.

12-06-2003, 07:25 PM	#7
wingsfan Music Geek Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2003 Location: nashvegas Posts: 103	i heard that on friends, there are quadruplets that play emma. and i'm pretty sure that at least triplets played the twins (nicky & alex) on full house when they were infants. what everyone else said about working hours is the reason why multiples play the part of infants.
	__________________ In Christ, Robyn

04-09-2002, 11:47 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I don't know who played baby Andy. I think the reason that shows use twins is because if one baby gets fussy, the other one can take over. I also know there are very strict laws that set time limits on child actors, and the laws are even stricter with babies. A baby can only be on the set for a short period of time. These are just my speculations.

04-13-2002, 12:24 PM	#5
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	I thought another eason was that young children (i.e. toddlers and babies) can get sick more easily so they need a replacment if that happens. lol, I'm glad you like the pic of MJF.

12-05-2003, 12:03 PM	#6
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	A pair of twin boys, Tyler James Merriman and Garrett Joseph Merriman, were hired alternately to play newborn Andrew. Born November 30, 1984, the twins were sought out by a casting director who heard of their imminent birth from a member of the Los Angeles club called Mothers of Twins. Each was paid $141 per show and by law spent only two hours a day on the lot.