Was Charlotte Rae ill during her final season on the show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 07-03-2019, 01:15 AM

AKA the first "Over Our Heads" season (1985-86). To give you some perspective, after the first few episodes setting up the new store, Mrs. Garrett fades in the background. Mackenzie Austin (Andy) has a bigger part and more scenes/lines than she does.

Granted, it could be that all of this was done deliberately since they knew that this was going to be Charlotte's last year on the show and they wanted gradually get viewers accustomed to the notion of Mrs. Garrett not being around anymore. I like to believe that this was part of the rationale for why Edna's Edibles was burned down. It really would've have served no point had they not known that Charlotte would be leaving.

Schmoopie · 07-03-2019, 01:31 AM

I agree, but I don't like the way they handled that whole thing with the store burning down. It just seemed like something was missing. I won't rant about it again since I mentioned it in another thread but I have noticed that Andy has gotten more lines.

TMC · 07-03-2019, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I agree, but I don't like the way they handled that whole thing with the store burning down. It just seemed like something was missing. I won't rant about it again since I mentioned it in another thread but I have noticed that Andy has gotten more lines.

One theory that I've read regarding the big transition from Edna's Edibles to Over Our Heads (it's quite obvious that the overall aesthetic of the show was like night and day when you compare those seasons back to back) is because Coca-Cola had just taken over Embassy. They merged it into Columbia Pictures Television during TFOL's last season, so I imagine things were quite hectic. And without Norman Lear still running the company, the focus on social relevance went away.

When you really think about it, the show went from an issues oriented Norman Lear '70s feel sitcom in its first five seasons to a fairly dopey mid '80s, colorful sitcom from about Seasons 7-9. Season 6 is more or less, the transitional season featuring both the issues oriented shows of the previous five seasons to the the more lighter and fun show of the later years.

Lorimar Television · 07-03-2019, 06:05 PM

No I think she was just getting tired of FOL so she asked for a break

07-03-2019, 01:15 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	Was Charlotte Rae ill during her final season on the show AKA the first "Over Our Heads" season (1985-86). To give you some perspective, after the first few episodes setting up the new store, Mrs. Garrett fades in the background. Mackenzie Austin (Andy) has a bigger part and more scenes/lines than she does. Granted, it could be that all of this was done deliberately since they knew that this was going to be Charlotte's last year on the show and they wanted gradually get viewers accustomed to the notion of Mrs. Garrett not being around anymore. I like to believe that this was part of the rationale for why Edna's Edibles was burned down. It really would've have served no point had they not known that Charlotte would be leaving.

07-03-2019, 01:31 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I agree, but I don't like the way they handled that whole thing with the store burning down. It just seemed like something was missing. I won't rant about it again since I mentioned it in another thread but I have noticed that Andy has gotten more lines.
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07-03-2019, 06:05 PM	#4
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	No I think she was just getting tired of FOL so she asked for a break
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