Did "pouting" get the Lost Girls fired?

[RetroGuy2000]

So, as we know, in sharp contrast to the backdoor pilot "The Girls' School", Felice was not getting a lot of lines during the first season of FOL. She says she went to producer Al Burton and asked him about her part: "Where's my part? Where's my character? It had been severely diminished."

According to Felice, Al Burton told her that they were still working on her character. They gave her a boyfriend, Roger, but that was it. After "IQ", I don't think Felice ever had more than ten lines per episode during "that first year".

The producers decided to cull the cast in a Cast Purge between seasons 1 and 2. They said there were "too many girls", but as we know, many TV shows managed large casts just fine: Saved By the Bell, Head of the Class, Eight is Enough, The Brady Bunch, Degrassi, and Step by Step are among them.

Back in 2014-ish, I read a quote by producer Jack Elinson, which I couldn't find later on. I recently rediscovered it, and wanted to share it with you all. It comes from Funny You Should Ask: Oral Histories of Classic Sitcom Storytellers, by Scott Lewellen.

When asked about the Lost Girls, here is what Mr. Elinson had to say. But take what he said with a grain of salt. Keep in mind that John Lawlor was also "made free" at the same time, and there's no way he was "pouting" on the set. Nor was Julie Piekarski, I believe (she had nothing to pout about, since she had plenty of lines, and yet she was also "made free"):

[RetroGuy2000]

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[Lorimar Television]

Hmm interesting theory! I’d say Felice, Julie Anne, and maybe Mindy would have the most gripes

[80s Dude]

This makes no sense that Julie Pie would be one of the ones pouting since in reality Season 1 had a Core Three (Blair, Tootie, Sue Ann). Then you had the middle tier of Cindy, Molly, and Natalie (there were some episodes where Mindy didn't have many lines), and being wallpapered in was Nancy O.

I can see Molly being one of the ones who pouted. She said in interviews in the 80s that she was stubborn, opinionated (much like her character), and had a temper. Felice admitted several times of how she was not happy being wallpaper.

In addition, I am sure the writers and producers felt pressure from parents and agents too. Both Felice and Molly had parent agents.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

This makes no sense that Julie Pie would be one of the ones pouting since in reality Season 1 had a Core Three (Blair, Tootie, Sue Ann). Then you had the middle tier of Cindy, Molly, and Natalie (there were some episodes where Mindy didn't have many lines), and being wallpapered in was Nancy O.

Yeah, it definitely doesn't seem like Julie Pie would have had anything to pout about.

I can see Molly being one of the ones who pouted. She said in interviews in the 80s that she was stubborn, opinionated (much like her character), and had a temper. Felice admitted several times of how she was not happy being wallpaper.

The situation with Felice was so messed up. For whatever reason, she doesn't get any lines. She complains to the producers and is later accused of pouting if she doesn't get any lines. The producers decide to cull the cast, keeping "the best". But Felice never had a chance, having had no lines.

In addition, I am sure the writers and producers felt pressure from parents and agents too. Both Felice and Molly had parent agents.

They did. Ironically, Felice's mom was also Mindy's agent.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Hmm interesting theory! I’d say Felice, Julie Anne, and maybe Mindy would have the most gripes

They did the most griping? Or they had the most to gripe about?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

They did the most griping? Or they had the most to gripe about?

Gripe about.

I'm not Lorimar, but I'm interpreting for him until he comes back.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

This makes no sense that Julie Pie would be one of the ones pouting since in reality Season 1 had a Core Three (Blair, Tootie, Sue Ann). Then you had the middle tier of Cindy, Molly, and Natalie (there were some episodes where Mindy didn't have many lines), and being wallpapered in was Nancy O.

I can see Molly being one of the ones who pouted. She said in interviews in the 80s that she was stubborn, opinionated (much like her character), and had a temper. Felice admitted several times of how she was not happy being wallpaper.

In addition, I am sure the writers and producers felt pressure from parents and agents too. Both Felice and Molly had parent agents.

That's a very good way of putting it and i never quite saw it that way, but the more i think about it, the more i agree:
The top team was definitely BLAIR, TOOTIE and SUE ANN (but don't forget MRS G cos she was the MAIN character)
And
The middle team was definitely CINDY, MOLLY and NAT
NANCY was unfortunately the WALLPAPER!!!

PS: interesting to notice, that although MINDY was a middle team she was chosen to remain in the next season (i know it was CHARLOTTE doing)

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

PS: interesting to notice, that although MINDY was a middle team she was chosen to remain in the next season (i know it was CHARLOTTE doing)

Actually Charlotte had nothing to do with saying who would leave and who would stay. It was the "new regime" of writers Linda Marsh & Margie Peters coming in with the show's producers.

And it's really no surprise that Natalie was kept. She was the "jokester" of the group and got lots of laughs.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

I always had this theory.
They kept Blair because she was the pretty one and her character was "strong" (I don't mean the other girls were ugly).
They kept Tootie because she was the only black girl
They kept Natalie because she was discovered by Charlotte Rae

They fired Nancy, Molly and Cindy because their characters were never developed so much

I really don't understand why they fired Sue Ann. It became the Blair, Tootie and Sue Ann show (and Mrs. Garrett, I don't forget that, Valentina, I love Mrs. Garrett )

I would have kept Cindy or Sue Ann (but Cindy is my first option)

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I always had this theory.
They kept Blair because she was the pretty one and her character was "strong" (I don't mean the other girls were ugly).
They kept Tootie because she was the only black girl
They kept Natalie because she was discovered by Charlotte Rae

I think they kept Tootie because she was clearly an audience favorite, getting so many laughs as the precocious youngster.

I think they kept Natalie because she was the "class clown" of the group and won over audiences. Also, "Nat & Toot" had a great best friendship.

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

They fired Nancy, Molly and Cindy because their characters were never developed so much

I think Cindy and especially Molly were plenty developed, they just weren't written for as heavily as Blair, Sue Ann, and Tootie.

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I really don't understand why they fired Sue Ann. It became the Blair, Tootie and Sue Ann show (and Mrs. Garrett, I don't forget that, Valentina, I love Mrs. Garrett )

Haha yes, you have to keep peace with the United Kingdom here!

It really is boggling about Sue Ann, but I understand what they say. They wanted the "real girl" for audiences to identify with, someone who came from a rough neighborhood/upbringing. It just should not have been at the expense of 4 other girls.

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I would have kept Cindy or Sue Ann (but Cindy is my first option)

Oh mio amico italiano, sapevo che saremmo stati grandi amici! Saluti!

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I think they kept Tootie because she was clearly an audience favorite, getting so many laughs as the precocious youngster.

I think they kept Natalie because she was the "class clown" of the group and won over audiences. Also, "Nat & Toot" had a great best friendship.




I think Cindy and especially Molly were plenty developed, they just weren't written for as heavily as Blair, Sue Ann, and Tootie.




Haha yes, you have to keep peace with the United Kingdom here!

It really is boggling about Sue Ann, but I understand what they say. They wanted the "real girl" for audiences to identify with, someone who came from a rough neighborhood/upbringing. It just should not have been at the expense of 4 other girls.




Oh mio amico italiano, sapevo che saremmo stati grandi amici! Saluti!

I really don't understand why Julie Anne's career suddenly stopped. She was really talented, she deserved her own show

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I really don't understand why Julie Anne's career suddenly stopped. She was really talented, she deserved her own show

Hear, hear!

It seems she got disillusioned with "the industry" (acting in Hollywood) in the early 1980s.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I always had this theory.
They kept Blair because she was the pretty one and her character was "strong" (I don't mean the other girls were ugly).
They kept Tootie because she was the only black girl
They kept Natalie because she was discovered by Charlotte Rae

But Charlotte insisted that she had nothing to do with who was to stay or who was to go... Of course, she did approve the hiring of Nancy McKeon, so in a way, that's somewhat contradicted: she decided Nancy would come on board.

They fired Nancy, Molly and Cindy because their characters were never developed so much

While we never go to see Nancy or Cindy's family, we did get to see Molly's.

I really don't understand why they fired Sue Ann. It became the Blair, Tootie and Sue Ann show (and Mrs. Garrett, I don't forget that, Valentina, I love Mrs. Garrett )

It must have been quite a shock for Julie Pie... although we did get to meet Natalie's sister, and we never did get to meet anyone in Sue Ann's family.

I would have kept Cindy or Sue Ann (but Cindy is my first option)

Keeping Cindy would have been an excellent choice. She had this wistful, willow quality. She could have played well with both the older girls and the younger girls. She would have been a nice bridge between them. We never got a gymnastics episode, or a sports-related episode. We could have had both, had they kept Cindy.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

But Charlotte insisted that she had nothing to do with who was to stay or who was to go... Of course, she did approve the hiring of Nancy McKeon, so in a way, that's somewhat contradicted: she decided Nancy would come on board.

But IIRC, wasn't that more like an "approval just to be sure" kind of thing? In that case though you can kind of understand, 'cause if they're gonna have one small intimate group of core girls and a newcomer coming in, you want some "insurance" from the get-go that you can safely bet she's gonna fit right in and be just fine.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

We never got a gymnastics episode, or a sports-related episode. We could have had both, had they kept Cindy.

Well, "Running" is sports-related, but not sportsy-sports. lol