Will the Real Joey Barnes Please Stand Up

[LittleRickyII]

Tomorrow (Feb 24, 2017), if I read the schedule correctly, the two episodes that will air will be the last episode of the first season followed by the first episode of the second season. This is the huge format change for this series, and you'll get to see it happen within the same hour. And I wonder: Is it merely a change in format, or is it a transition to an entirely different show? The Joey Barnes character in the first season lives in L.A. with his mother and siblings and works in public relations. The Joey Barnes in the second season lives in Manhattan and is a comedian starring on his own TV show. And the bio that get presented of this new Joey is that he was always in showbiz, and he's been friends with lots of celebrities for many years. There is nothing suggesting this is the same character we observed in the first season, and nothing tying the first season to the second season. So it's odd that they continued using the name Barnes when it seems obvious this is not the same character.

[Hazel Anyday]

What’s even weirder is that Joey didn’t even like season one, when it seems obvious to everyone here that season 1 was the best of all 4 formats Joey morphed his mess of a series into. I wish Joey had had the sense to keep the first season format and filmed the entire series in color, I liked Joe Besser, he could have fitted into the 1st season format some way too.
The only other show that suffered & I do mean suffered so many different season format changes was the Doris Day Show. Once again it was Doris’s first season format that was the best when she lived with her family on a farm. Yet each season Doris’ character name stayed the same but her family disappeared and each season her friends and work place situation changed. It was like Doris in various alternate universes. Like Joey’s show, huh?
I can’t think of any other show that changed itself every season other than these 2. Hazel changed in it’s last season, but still used SOME of the same characters in a different environment, but the whole idea of the series didn’t change.

[Bonniegirl]

I've noticed that! Lately Antenna is showing the eps with Joey, his Mom and siblings! I don't like it NEARLY as much as the other. With his wife, Larry /or Freddy , Mr. Jillson and Hilda!!! That format is hilarious , the other one is rather boring IMO!!! Except I do love his Mom Madge Blake! She could have been a really good addition in the later format! Although I do like Marlo Thomas, I could take her or leave her in this role!!!

I was TOTALLY wondering what was going on lately? I was like Is THIS the Joey Bishop show???

[1960'sTVfan]

My theory on why the format was changed in season 2 is that Joey Bishop no longer wanted to play the role of a bachelor living with his mom. He wanted to play the role of a man married to a hot wife. Makes sense to me anyway, I'd prefer that option too.

The format changes from season to season don't really bother me, I think it keeps the series fresh and interesting.

Joey Bishop must not have got along too well with Joe Flynn or Guy Marks because neither actor lasted long on the show. Joey must have liked Joe Besser because Besser was part of the show during all 4 of it's seasons.

Marlo Thomas is really good looking on the 1st season of this show, better looking I think than she was on That Girl. She's underutilized here on Joey's show, but at least she speaks in a normal voice and I like it. In That Girl, Marlo tends to speak in a raspy voice and her voice cracks a lot, I find it annoying. I suggest others to watch a few episodes of That Girl and you'll see what I mean.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

My theory on why the format was changed in season 2 is that Joey Bishop no longer wanted to play the role of a bachelor living with his mom. He wanted to play the role of a man married to a hot wife. Makes sense to me anyway, I'd prefer that option too.

The format changes from season to season don't really bother me, I think it keeps the series fresh and interesting.

Joey Bishop must not have got along too well with Joe Flynn or Guy Marks because neither actor lasted long on the show. Joey must have liked Joe Besser because Besser was part of the show during all 4 of it's seasons.

Marlo Thomas is really good looking on the 1st season of this show, better looking I think than she was on That Girl. She's underutilized here on Joey's show, but at least she speaks in a normal voice and I like it. In That Girl, Marlo tends to speak in a raspy voice and her voice cracks a lot, I find it annoying. I suggest others to watch a few episodes of That Girl and you'll see what I mean.

Well , hello there Retro Lee!!!! How are you???

I'm not saying I didn't like his Sister . But I preferred her as Ann Marie on That Girl. I liked her more silly, being I'm a silly type girl myself!

And Madge Blake (Joey's Mom ) I can't say enough about her!!! I LOVE that lady!!! Whether she is Joey's Mom or Larry Mondello's Mom, or on Batman!!! And the other day she turned up on a very old B & W Bewitched ep. as an older witch!!! I just ADORE Madge Blake!!!

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Well , hello there Retro Lee!!!! How are you???

I'm not saying I didn't like his Sister . But I preferred her as Ann Marie on That Girl. I liked her more silly, being I'm a silly type girl myself!

And Madge Blake (Joey's Mom ) I can't say enough about her!!! I LOVE that lady!!! Whether she is Joey's Mom or Larry Mondello's Mom, or on Batman!!! And the other day she turned up on a very old B & W Bewitched ep. as an older witch!!! I just ADORE Madge Blake!!!

I'm OK, thanks for asking.

I like That Girl, it's a fun show, good show, but whenever Marlo's voice cracks it just bugs me. I find it annoying.

Madge Blake was a great character actress, she's always good in any show she's in.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

It certainly seems like they were trying to copy the Danny Thomas Show format. The smoking gun would be the way they call their wives Clancy and Texas.

Joey called Ellie "Texas" in some early 2nd season episodes but then I think he stopped doing it because later in the 2nd season and forward I don't recall him saying Texas anymore.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Joey called Ellie "Texas" in some early 2nd season episodes but then I think he stopped doing it because later in the 2nd season and forward I don't recall him saying Texas anymore.

I also really liked Joey's wife ! Ellie was a really good character , a great addition to the show !! How would it have played out if His Mom and Wife were both on together ? I think it would have made some funny story lines . The classic Wife and Mother in law feuding ! Jealous of each other over Joey's attention/affection!

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I also really liked Joey's wife ! Ellie was a really good character , a great addition to the show !! How would it have played out if His Mom and Wife were both on together ? I think it would have made some funny story lines . The classic Wife and Mother in law feuding ! Jealous of each other over Joey's attention/affection!

Yep that's true. Would have been interesting if Madge Blake had stayed on with the series at least on a part time basis and appear occasionally in the episodes.

[LittleRickyII]

So anybody have any clues as to why Joey Bishop's character was again called Joey Barnes in the second format? It doesn't make sense that this is the same person. And by the same token, two S1 episodes aired today with Joe Besser playing Joey's neighbor in Los Angeles, whose name happens to be Mr. Jillson. I'm watching this and I'm like WTF? Mr. Jillson is an apartment building superintendent in Manhattan, not a guy living in the L.A. suburbs. So Joey Bishop decided to bring Joe Besser along for the second season, but why didn't they give him a new name? It doesn't make sense that this would be the same person. This show is so Twilight Zone-ish.

Re: Hazel's comparison to the format changes on The Doris Day Show, I would agree that this compares, with characters mysteriously disappearing or morphing into entirely different people (albeit with the same name).

As for all the fired actors, it seems like it was more than just Guy Marks and Joe Flynn. The early S1 episodes featured Joey's boss and his boss's secretary. But they're both gone by later in the season. Then Bill Bixby shows up for several episodes as an executive at the public relations firm where Joey works before he likewise disappears from the show.

And Bonnie, I love Madge Blake, too! I love her most as Mrs. Mondello on Leave It to Beaver.

[1960'sTVfan]

Maybe Joey Bishop liked the last name of Barnes and didn't want to change it. He might have also thought it would confuse the viewers if the name was changed because they were already used to hearing Joey Barnes. Same thing with Jillson. Maybe the idea was it might confuse the viewers so why change the name.

I didn't mention them, but yes, Joey's boss, secretary, and Bill Bixby were in some 1st season episodes but not the whole season. Maybe Joey Bishop fired them, I'm not sure, but it seems he was known for firing people.

Corbett Monica was another actor Joey seemingly got along with because when Monica replaced Guy Marks in season 2 he stayed on with the show the rest of the way.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Maybe Joey Bishop liked the last name of Barnes and didn't want to change it. He might have also thought it would confuse the viewers if the name was changed because they were already used to hearing Joey Barnes. Same thing with Jillson. Maybe the idea was it might confuse the viewers so why change the name.

I don't know about that. Keeping the same name for brand-new characters IS confusing. Someone tunes in S2 and finds Joey Barnes is suddenly a longtime TV star living in a Manhattan apartment building with Mr. Jillson is working as superintendent. WTF happened? It would have been way less confusing if they made a clean break. Made it The New Joey Bishop Show, with some of the same actors now in new roles.

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I didn't mention them, but yes, Joey's boss, secretary, and Bill Bixby were in some 1st season episodes but not the whole season. Maybe Joey Bishop fired them, I'm not sure, but it seems he was known for firing people.

As we've discussed, it's not only these actors who got fired, but people behind the cameras as well: producers, directors, writers. The lack of stability on that show is probably why it could never find its groove. It seems like Joey Bishop was a very impatient man.

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

Corbett Monica was another actor Joey seemingly got along with because when Monica replaced Guy Marks in season 2 he stayed on with the show the rest of the way.

It's my understanding that Corbett Monica was an old friend of Joey Bishop's. It would have been really bad if he fired his old friend.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

I don't know about that. Keeping the same name for brand-new characters IS confusing. Someone tunes in S2 and finds Joey Barnes is suddenly a longtime TV star living in a Manhattan apartment building with Mr. Jillson is working as superintendent. WTF happened? It would have been way less confusing if they made a clean break.

I think it depends on how you choose to look at it. I can see where some viewers would have been confused if the characters names were changed, even considering the format change that took place after season 1.

I believe Joey Bishop wanted the last name of his character on the show to start with the letter B, that's how he became Joey Barnes. Barnes also has 6 letters like Bishop does, which is interesting but I don't know if that happened by design or if it was just coincidence.

[Bonniegirl]

YAY!!!! We are back to the other format! Today "The honeymoon " ep was on!!! Back to Manhattan, Introduction of Ellie and Freddy! Who I like , I guess I like Larry a little more but Freddy/ Guy Marks is fine with me too!!!

The second format is WAY better than the original!!! I was happy to see Season 2 on today!!!

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

YAY!!!! We are back to the other format! Today "The honeymoon " ep was on!!! Back to Manhattan, Introduction of Ellie and Freddy! Who I like , I guess I like Larry a little more but Freddy/ Guy Marks is fine with me too!!!

The second format is WAY better than the original!!! I was happy to see Season 2 on today!!!

Eight episodes from the 1st season are still left to air, those are scheduled for next week Monday thru Thursday, then back to the 2nd season on Friday.