The real reason Lana left

[BestTVever]

Lana sort of replaced Mrs Roper on the show to try and continue the sexual frustration of an older woman on the show. It worked for awhile but many including Ritter questioned the character why Jack is always chasing girls yet always refuses Lana's advances. The actress that played Lana also supposedly saw the character was not developing, etc.
However, I was watching something the other day that explains something that I always wondered about. The actress that played Lana stated that everything changed after the episode "A camping we will go." Joyce and Suzanne complained that Lana got way too much air time and far more lines than the stars of the show.
I always noticed that about this episode. Crissy and Janet are in the background and not pivotal to any scene in the show. After that show Lana got less lines and eventually disappeared from the show. She had a role in dividing Crissy and Janet thinking they were having an affair with Jack in another episode but then she disappeared.
Jealousy is always a problem on successful sitcoms.

[SledgeBarone]

That's a good observation about the female roommates seeming to be afterthoughts.

I think Lana's early exit worked out for the best for everybody. I was entertained by her character (especially in the camping episode) and was sad that she left, but if the writers can't figure out how to write storylines for her and she scrambles the base scenario of the show, then it was better for her to leave too soon, before the character ruins the show too much.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Lana sort of replaced Mrs Roper on the show to try and continue the sexual frustration of an older woman on the show. It worked for awhile but many including Ritter questioned the character why Jack is always chasing girls yet always refuses Lana's advances. The actress that played Lana also supposedly saw the character was not developing, etc.
However, I was watching something the other day that explains something that I always wondered about. The actress that played Lana stated that everything changed after the episode "A camping we will go." Joyce and Suzanne complained that Lana got way too much air time and far more lines than the stars of the show.
I always noticed that about this episode. Crissy and Janet are in the background and not pivotal to any scene in the show. After that show Lana got less lines and eventually disappeared from the show. She had a role in dividing Crissy and Janet thinking they were having an affair with Jack in another episode but then she disappeared.
Jealousy is always a problem on successful sitcoms.

Where did you hear this story about Joyce Dewitt and Suzanne

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by SledgeBarone

That's a good observation about the female roommates seeming to be afterthoughts.

I think Lana's early exit worked out for the best for everybody. I was entertained by her character (especially in the camping episode) and was sad that she left, but if the writers can't figure out how to write storylines for her and she scrambles the base scenario of the show, then it was better for her to leave too soon, before the character ruins the show too much.

The character definitely served no purpose, much older than Jack, too old to be friends with janet and chrissy which made her character useless. She had no connection to the trio like larry, mr, furley and ropers. Just another tenant in the building

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Where did you hear this story about Joyce Dewitt and Suzanne

Its on youtube. It hits home to me because the camping episode is one of my favorites but Janet and Crissy have no significant role. Everyone is chasing everyone and Janet and Crissy put up a tent. So when I heard her say the episode changed everything for her after the complaints, it totally hit home because I sensed it for years. After that episode, Lana's role was so diminished and then poof she disappears.
This was also the peak time of jealousy on the show.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The character definitely served no purpose, much older than Jack, too old to be friends with janet and chrissy which made her character useless. She had no connection to the trio like larry, mr, furley and ropers. Just another tenant in the building

True but after Helen left, they wanted to continue the laughs of an older and sexually frustrated woman. Helen's lines were some of the best putting Stanley in his place. She always had at least one line per show about sexually frustrated life with Stanley.
I dont know why on the show The Ropers they changed Helen and removed her sexually frustrated antics.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

True but after Helen left, they wanted to continue the laughs of an older and sexually frustrated woman. Helen's lines were some of the best putting Stanley in his place. She always had at least one line per show about sexually frustrated life with Stanley.
I dont know why on the show The Ropers they changed Helen and removed her sexually frustrated antics.

Probably because it would have gotten old since the show revolved around them. Al bundy was the same way with peg but that wasnt the joke the entire episode.

[TVFactFan]

For anyone who is interested this is the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NsB7rTATJ0&t=2s

[BestTVever]

I think Ann played a wonderful Lana. I know the character was played out but lets be real, she added so many laughs for when the show was getting close to jumping the shark. It was short lived but she did pump in some new life in a few episodes.
She really should be commended for her outstanding talent because she played the part with such credibility and her chasing Jack esp in the camping episode was fall out of the chair funny.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Lana sort of replaced Mrs Roper on the show to try and continue the sexual frustration of an older woman on the show. It worked for awhile but many including Ritter questioned the character why Jack is always chasing girls yet always refuses Lana's advances. The actress that played Lana also supposedly saw the character was not developing, etc.
However, I was watching something the other day that explains something that I always wondered about. The actress that played Lana stated that everything changed after the episode "A camping we will go." Joyce and Suzanne complained that Lana got way too much air time and far more lines than the stars of the show.
I always noticed that about this episode. Crissy and Janet are in the background and not pivotal to any scene in the show. After that show Lana got less lines and eventually disappeared from the show. She had a role in dividing Crissy and Janet thinking they were having an affair with Jack in another episode but then she disappeared.
Jealousy is always a problem on successful sitcoms.

John Ritter said Lana was so beautiful (she definitely was!) that it made NO sense to have Jack keep turning her down so they didn't know what to do with her.

I think they could've kept her as a recurring character who didn't necessarily appear in every episode. They are creative ways she could've been worked in every 2 or 3 episodes.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

John Ritter said Lana was so beautiful (she definitely was!) that it made NO sense to have Jack keep turning her down so they didn't know what to do with her.

I think they could've kept her as a recurring character who didn't necessarily appear in every episode. They are creative ways she could've been worked in every 2 or 3 episodes.

It was no way for her to fit on the show as a recurring character unless Jack was going to starting dating older woman

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was no way for her to fit on the show as a recurring character unless Jack was going to starting dating older woman

I admit it would've been challenging but more difficult things have been done on TV.

Maybe she could've gotten a job working for the management company or a restaurateur or something.

One reason to keep her was her interactions with Furley were hilarious!!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

John Ritter said Lana was so beautiful (she definitely was!) that it made NO sense to have Jack keep turning her down so they didn't know what to do with her.

I think they could've kept her as a recurring character who didn't necessarily appear in every episode. They are creative ways she could've been worked in every 2 or 3 episodes.

You can however, on the contrary argue that Jack liked pursuing women (and the challenge behind the case) but not being pursued by them. Especially, a decidedly "loose" and "hot to trot" woman like Lana.