The Miss Mahoney Appreciation Thread

['80sSitcoms]

Miss Emily Mahoney, Eastland teacher circa 1979 (we're not sure of when she started or ended her teaching career at Eastland). The show's first "character casualty", lost after only 4 episodes.

She was a charter character of the series, who sadly was gone after those first 4 episodes.

What do you like about Miss Mahoney? What did she mean to the show to you?

I liked her feisty old-fashioned "fuddy duddy" opposition to Mr. Bradley's new "freeing" of decades-long rules we saw in "Rough Housing". And it wasn't hard to believe that attitude with that terribly old-fashioned 1800s Victorian get-up and perm helmet they put her in! Despite being allegedly "32", lol ("Fact": Jenny O'Hara was 37 in August 1979). Unfortunately her hair and wardrobe were terrible there, and downright laughable in "Like Mother, Like Daughter" and "The Return of Mr. Garrett". At last she was largely redeemed in "I.Q." with relaxed hair and wardrobe from that actual century. (possibly even the 1970s themselves!)

I also loved her camaraderie with Mrs. Garrett in Mrs. Garrett's bedroom in that episode (one of my favorite lines of her there is the dry, "Don't make me titter" ), and at the the table behind the couch with Mrs. Garrett in "Like Mother, Like Daughter". (which begs the question, is that table always there in season 1, or was it placed there for that episode only?) Having another female adult around added a richer layer to Mrs. Garrett and gave her opportunities for conversation and interaction she couldn't get from the teenage girls she was in charge of (to this day, even with no Miss Mahoney I wish they would have brought in some female teacher as just a recurring character in the classic years to interact with Mrs. Garrett and give her that woman-to-woman interaction that was missing).

My favorite Miss Mahoney episode by far is "I.Q." It's her biggest role in the series, and she displays such a wealth of emotions and attitudes: being explanatory, conscious-easing, bailing, silly, authoritative, disciplinary, disappointed, happy-go-lucky, helping, administering, humorous, and delighted. Certainly the "Emmy-worthy Emily" of the 4 Miss Mahoney appearances!

She was a part of the show from the first episode, and she needed to be kept around, even in name only. For instance, in season 3's "Starstruck" when Mrs. Garrett tells Tootie that Miss Gaffney told her that Tootie missed her last 3 English assignments, that should have been Miss Mahoney (in season 2's "Fear Strikes Back" the victim at the beginning could have been Miss Mahoney, although I would hate for that to have been her since we knew her.)

But something like being Tootie's off-screen English teacher in "Starstruck" would have been a terrific "Easter egg" little bonus for fans who had been watching the show from the beginning. And fans unfamiliar with season 1, if they saw those season 1 episodes later and then cycled back around to season 3 and saw "Starstruck", it would have been a great secret little "Aha!" for the ones who would catch that and make the connection.

Miss Emily Mahoney, you will always be a part of Eastland! (perms and all!)

-

[Lorimar Television]

I missed her after her sudden disappearance as well. Though her character never really got a big storyline she made Eastland believable as a school.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Miss Emily Mahoney, Eastland teacher circa 1979 (we're not sure of when she started or ended her teaching career at Eastland). The show's first "character casualty", lost after only 4 episodes.

She was a charter character of the series, who sadly was gone after those first 4 episodes.

What do you like about Miss Mahoney? What did she mean to the show to you?

Having Miss Mahoney around meant that we'd see an actual Eastland teacher around, for more than one episode. She helped make Eastland feel like a real place, with genuine classroom activity. And she was a character who impressed on the viewers that Eastland was a place of traditions and rules. This gave a depth to the school that was often missing in later seasons, when, for example, Tootie was put in charge of Graduation. In the real world, Freshmen aren't put in charge of seniors.

Had Miss Mahoney stayed on, FOL would likely have been very different. It seemed to me (and maybe I'm the only one, here, that they were hinting at an eventual relationship between Mr. Bradley and Miss Mahoney. even if that never happened, we could have at least gradually seen a professional rapport between Edna and Emily. Remember those episodes where Mrs. G has coffee with Gail or someone else? We could have seen those staff conversations between two regulars, instead of a regular and a character we'd never see again. that would have been really nice, and in my fan imagination, we do see this.

I would have liked to have seen interaction between Miss Mahoney and Howard the Cook. As it stands, Howard never interacted with any characters other than Mrs. Garrett and the Core Four. I can see why Hugh Gillin left after just four episodes, just like Jenny O'Hara. There was little to these characters... but there could have been.

I would have liked to have seen a scene showing Miss Mahoney informing a classroom of Eastland students that the Core Four are in huge trouble, and that they are not to hang out with the troublemakers. We know someone told them about the incident: Margo makes it clear she knows about their crime and punishment deal, as she gloats and calls them the "four stooges". That someone could have been Miss Mahoney: it's someone who works directly with the students.

I liked her feisty old-fashioned "fuddy duddy" opposition to Mr. Bradley's new "freeing" of decades-long rules we saw in "Rough Housing". And it wasn't hard to believe that attitude with that terribly old-fashioned 1800s Victorian get-up and perm helmet they put her in!

Yeah, they definitely fuddy-duddied her up. It would have been nice to maybe see her gradually let her hair down, both figuratively and literally, as Mrs. Garrett gave her advice and examples. That would have been fun to see on screen, even as an occasional thing.

Despite being allegedly "32", lol ("Fact": Jenny O'Hara was 37 in August 1979). Unfortunately her hair and wardrobe were terrible there, and downright laughable in "Like Mother, Like Daughter" and "The Return of Mr. Garrett". At last she was largely redeemed in "I.Q." with relaxed hair and wardrobe from that actual century. (possibly even the 1970s themselves!)

We really did get to see a loosened-up Mahoney for one episode. I really wonder what the rest of the season, and beyond, could have looked like.

I also loved her camaraderie with Mrs. Garrett in Mrs. Garrett's bedroom in that episode (one of my favorite lines of her there is the dry, "Don't make me titter" ), and at the the table behind the couch with Mrs. Garrett in "Like Mother, Like Daughter". (which begs the question, is that table always there in season 1, or was it placed there for that episode only?) Having another female adult around added a richer layer to Mrs. Garrett and gave her opportunities for conversation and interaction she couldn't get from the teenage girls she was in charge of (to this day, even with no Miss Mahoney I wish they would have brought in some female teacher as just a recurring character in the classic years to interact with Mrs. Garrett and give her that woman-to-woman interaction that was missing).

They definitely needed to do that. What kind of school staff member has no friends to speak of for three years?

My favorite Miss Mahoney episode by far is "I.Q." It's her biggest role in the series, and she displays such a wealth of emotions and attitudes: being explanatory, conscious-easing, authoritative, disciplinary, disappointed, happy-go-lucky, helping, administering, humorous, and delighted. Certainly the "Emmy-worthy Emily" of the 4 Miss Mahoney appearances!

It definitely was her biggest role.

She was a part of the show from the first episode, and she needed to be kept around, even in name only. For instance, in season 3's "Starstruck" when Mrs. Garrett tells Tootie that Miss Gaffney told her that Tootie missed her last 3 English assignments, that should have been Miss Mahoney (in season 2's "Fear Strikes Back" the victim at the beginning could have been Miss Mahoney, although I would hate for that to have been her since we knew her.)

Like you, I don't want Emily to have been the attack victim, but I would have liked to have seen her name-dropped occasionally. It would have cost them literally nothing to do this. Heck, if they can mention Howard in Season 4, why couldn't they have mentioned Emily in Season 3?

Miss Emily Mahoney, you will always be a part of Eastland! (perms and all!)
-

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I missed her after her sudden disappearance as well. Though her character never really got a big storyline she made Eastland believable as a school.

Yeah, that level of attention to detail and continuity could have brought an air of authenticity to Eastland, as this great academic institution where tradition and values are upheld. And it's not believable that we'd just never see other regular faculty members at the school.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Having Miss Mahoney around meant that we'd see an actual Eastland teacher around, for more than one episode. She helped make Eastland feel like a real place, with genuine classroom activity. And she was a character who impressed on the viewers that Eastland was a place of traditions and rules.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It seemed to me (and maybe I'm the only one, here, that they were hinting at an eventual relationship between Mr. Bradley and Miss Mahoney.

I don't get that impression, but one thing we've learned from interacting at this board is that so many details of the show can mean different things to different people.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I can see why Hugh Gillin left after just four episodes

Did he?? I never got the "scoop" on Hugh. (get it? "scoop"? A cook? :grouch )

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I would have liked to have seen a scene showing Miss Mahoney informing a classroom of Eastland students that the Core Four are in huge trouble, and that they are not to hang out with the troublemakers. We know someone told them about the incident: Margo makes it clear she knows about their crime and punishment deal, as she gloats and calls them the "four stooges". That someone could have been Miss Mahoney: it's someone who works directly with the students.

That is a neat idea, but I wouldn't want her telling the other girls not to hang out with them. After all, they were on probation, and it seemed like they were largely "chained" to the cafeteria with their many kitchen/cafeteria/cleaning duties.

[80s Dude]

Like Mr. Bradley, I didn't think she should have been every episode, but I thought they could have had many story lines with her through out the Eastland years. I wonder what her reaction with Jo would have been like?

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Having Miss Mahoney around meant that we'd see an actual Eastland teacher around, for more than one episode. She helped make Eastland feel like a real place, with genuine classroom activity. And she was a character who impressed on the viewers that Eastland was a place of traditions and rules. This gave a depth to the school that was often missing in later seasons, when, for example, Tootie was put in charge of Graduation. In the real world, Freshmen aren't put in charge of seniors.

Had Miss Mahoney stayed on, FOL would likely have been very different. It seemed to me (and maybe I'm the only one, here, that they were hinting at an eventual relationship between Mr. Bradley and Miss Mahoney. even if that never happened, we could have at least gradually seen a professional rapport between Edna and Emily. Remember those episodes where Mrs. G has coffee with Gail or someone else? We could have seen those staff conversations between two regulars, instead of a regular and a character we'd never see again. that would have been really nice, and in my fan imagination, we do see this.

I would have liked to have seen interaction between Miss Mahoney and Howard the Cook. As it stands, Howard never interacted with any characters other than Mrs. Garrett and the Core Four. I can see why Hugh Gillin left after just four episodes, just like Jenny O'Hara. There was little to these characters... but there could have been.

I would have liked to have seen a scene showing Miss Mahoney informing a classroom of Eastland students that the Core Four are in huge trouble, and that they are not to hang out with the troublemakers. We know someone told them about the incident: Margo makes it clear she knows about their crime and punishment deal, as she gloats and calls them the "four stooges". That someone could have been Miss Mahoney: it's someone who works directly with the students.



Yeah, they definitely fuddy-duddied her up. It would have been nice to maybe see her gradually let her hair down, both figuratively and literally, as Mrs. Garrett gave her advice and examples. That would have been fun to see on screen, even as an occasional thing.



We really did get to see a loosened-up Mahoney for one episode. I really wonder what the rest of the season, and beyond, could have looked like.



They definitely needed to do that. What kind of school staff member has no friends to speak of for three years?



It definitely was her biggest role.



Like you, I don't want Emily to have been the attack victim, but I would have liked to have seen her name-dropped occasionally. It would have cost them literally nothing to do this. Heck, if they can mention Howard in Season 4, why couldn't they have mentioned Emily in Season 3?

Wow! That was very well said retro bravo!!!!clap

MISS MAHONEY had so much potential indeed, and i would have loved her to mould the 'Core of 4' in class by giving them extra school work, give them more assignment and keep an eye on them too with their scholar activities!party

And yes, it would have been great to have MISS MAHONEY as MRS G's best friend, someone to confide to (other than the 'Core of 4'): and ADULT in every word!
That is definitely something we never see after the retool, except for her occasional boyfriends, and MR PARKER who is really more a BOSS than a FRIEND!!!!

And if we want to let our imagination run a little: we could have had MARGO interacting more in the show, as the one GLOWING openly about the 'Core of 4's' fate, and therefore getting punished by MISS MAHONEY, who then decides to keep an eye on MARGO to see she doesn't cause any more trouble....

There is so much more they could have done with MISS MAHONEY as a character: I would definitely have her take care of JO and BLAIR's graduation instead of a 15 year old TOOTIE yep!!!!!

Whats more, you're absolutely right Retro! MISS MAHONEY did have a crush on MR BRADLEY: (i saw that on the episode 'like mother like daughter') when MISS MAHONEY interrupts MR BRADLEY having a conversation with MONICA WARNER, she hands them a bowl in the middle trying to get their attention.
Also, when MISS MAHONEY is having the ONLY 'heart to heart' talk she ever had with MRS G, she says she's not wearing anything special, and when MRS G continues "who is going to CHAPERON you and MR BRADLEY (on the episode 'Rough housing'), MISS MAHONEY just answers "don't make me gag!"

HOORAY FOR THE TALENTED MISS MAHONEY!!!!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Like Mr. Bradley, I didn't think she should have been every episode, but I thought they could have had many story lines with her through out the Eastland years. I wonder what her reaction with Jo would have been like?

Well, Jo's interactions with several Eastland teachers weren't great. She got Mr. Gideon fired, and treated Gail like garbage. I can't imagine she would have done any better with the tradition-bound Miss Mahoney.

They definitely could have used her throughout the years. How cool would it have been to see her pop up in the Eastland Auditorium in "Read No Evil", as a teacher concerned about the censorship going on at the school?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Whats more, you're absolutely right Retro! MISS MAHONEY did have a crush on MR BRADLEY: (i saw that on the episode 'like mother like daughter') when MISS MAHONEY interrupts MR BRADLEY having a conversation with MONICA WARNER, she hands them a bowl in the middle trying to get their attention.

I take that to be her trying to stop Mr. Bradley from making anymore of an "arse" of himself.

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Also, when MISS MAHONEY is having the ONLY 'heart to heart' talk she ever had with MRS G, she says she's not wearing anything special, and when MRS G continues "who is going to CHAPERON you and MR BRADLEY (on the episode 'Rough housing'), MISS MAHONEY just answers "don't make me gag!"

Yes, she says, "Don't make me titter" in bitter dry humor, confirming she has no designs on Mr. Bradley at all (being thoroughly not amused at the thought).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Wow! That was very well said retro bravo!!!!clap

MISS MAHONEY had so much potential indeed, and i would have loved her to mould the 'Core of 4' in class by giving them extra school work, give them more assignment and keep an eye on them too with their scholar activities!

Now, that would have been cool.

MAHONEY: Girls, your grades have been suffering ever since you were placed on probation. Mrs. Garrett has asked me to look in on you four. Starting tomorrow, you'll all be coming into my biology classroom for additional homework assignments.

TOOTIE: Additional assignments?!

MAHONEY: [Nodding] I'm afraid so, Tootie. As part of the curriculum, you'll be monitoring the rabbits' heart rates, taking measurements, and dissecting frogs.

NATALIE: You want us to dissect frogs?! [to the others:] She wants us to dissect frogs!

JO: But that's totally unfair! We get put on probation, we've got to work in the cafeteria, and now we even have extra homework?

BLAIR: This is all Jo's fault! We never would have stolen the van if it hadn't been for Mr. Goodwrench, here.

And yes, it would have been great to have MISS MAHONEY as MRS G's best friend, someone to confide to (other than the 'Core of 4'): and ADULT in every word!
That is definitely something we never see after the retool, except for her occasional boyfriends, and MR PARKER who is really more a BOSS than a FRIEND!!!!

Yeah, I always felt as though there was a clear boss-employee relationship defined between Mr. Parker and Mrs. Garrett. She was much more likely to need to confide with someone about him than to confide with him.

And if we want to let our imagination run a little: we could have had MARGO interacting more in the show, as the one GLOWING openly about the 'Core of 4's' fate, and therefore getting punished by MISS MAHONEY, who then decides to keep an eye on MARGO to see she doesn't cause any more trouble....

That would have been nice comeuppance.

There is so much more they could have done with MISS MAHONEY as a character: I would definitely have her take care of JO and BLAIR's graduation instead of a 15 year old TOOTIE yep!!!!!

It would have been so cool to see her there! "I've known Blair for four years, and Jo three. Seeing them grow up here at Eastland, where we value tradition and rules, has been my privilege."

Whats more, you're absolutely right Retro! MISS MAHONEY did have a crush on MR BRADLEY: (i saw that on the episode 'like mother like daughter') when MISS MAHONEY interrupts MR BRADLEY having a conversation with MONICA WARNER, she hands them a bowl in the middle trying to get their attention.
Also, when MISS MAHONEY is having the ONLY 'heart to heart' talk she ever had with MRS G, she says she's not wearing anything special, and when MRS G continues "who is going to CHAPERON you and MR BRADLEY (on the episode 'Rough housing'), MISS MAHONEY just answers "don't make me gag!"

It did seem like the chaperone scene was setting that relationship up. Sadly, the cold relationship between Jenny and Charlotte changed the course of the show.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

MISS MAHONEY had so much potential indeed, and i would have loved her to mould the 'Core of 4' in class by giving them extra school work, give them more assignment and keep an eye on them too with their scholar activities

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Now, that would have been cool.

Wow valentina, I'm glad you weren't my teacher. I myself don't like the idea of extra homework for them because they are already overworked when they start their new duties, collapsing on their beds after discussing falling asleep in class, etc. Have a little compassion!

Going valentina's route, it sounds more like Miss Mahoney would become Miss Nelson. (fans of vintage 1980s "Reading Rainbow" should get that, lol).

['80sSitcoms]

cfr has seen the four 1979 shows! He can now share his thoughts here!

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

cfr has seen the four 1979 shows! He can now share his thoughts here!

Well i'm not a big fan of her. I think she was useless right from the start and the way she was always at Mr B's heels was sad. He knew she wanted him and wouldn't give her the time of day because he was probably too busy fantasizing about the girls and Blair's mother .

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Well i'm not a big fan of her. I think she was useless right from the start and the way she was always at Mr B's heels was sad. He knew she wanted him and wouldn't give her the time of day because he was probably too busy fantasizing about the girls and Blair's mother .

I see it differently: i always thought MISS MAHONEY and MR BRADLEY had a great dynamic!!!! (but that doesn't take the fact, that he was probably FANTASIZING about MONICA WARNER and maybe BLAIR too?????)

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I see it differently: i always thought MISS MAHONEY and MR BRADLEY had a great dynamic!!!! (but that doesn't take the fact, that he was probably FANTASIZING about MONICA WARNER and maybe BLAIR too?????)

I'm going to watch Flash Flood in a whole new light now. When Blair tells Mr. B she loves him, you know he's thinking "Well if I can't have the mother..."

I'm going to be watching him close in that one now!