Why Zsa Zsa and Not Eva for Countess Calvert?

[PracTz]

Eva Gabor actually DID make a fortune from her wig company and she'd starred as Lisa Douglas on 'Green Acres' so IMO, she'd have been a much more credible cosmetic magnate. Moreover, FWIW, she always seemed to be a nicer person than Zsa Zsa so her genuinely befriending Mrs. G., Jo, and Tootie would have been more believable. Was Eva unavailable or did they somehow think her elder sis was better suited for this one-shot?

[RetroGuy2000]

Wasn't Zsa Zsa the most famous of the Gabor sisters? If it's anything similar to the Michael/Jermaine thing, the producers scored the biggest name they could, and if they couldn't get Zsa Zsa, they might have taken Eva.

They both were doing guest spots on TV series at the time. Either could play wealthy countesses.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Wasn't Zsa Zsa the most famous of the Gabor sisters? If it's anything similar to the Michael/Jermaine thing, the producers scored the biggest name they could, and if they couldn't get Zsa Zsa, they might have taken Eva.

They both were doing guest spots on TV series at the time. Either could play wealthy countesses.

No. I think Eva was about as famous as Zsa Zsa. Yeah, both could have played wealthy countesses or heiresses,etc. but, IMO, only Eva could have believably played a friendly one instead of a sneering one!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

No. I think Eva was about as famous as Zsa Zsa. Yeah, both could have played wealthy countesses or heiresses,etc. but, IMO, only Eva could have believably played a friendly one instead of a sneering one!

We never uttered the name Eva Gabor in our house, but we knew of Zsa Zsa.

The Zsa Zsa slapping incident didn't happen until 1989, so most Americans would not have known until then that she thought so little of blue-collar workers.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

We never uttered the name Eva Gabor in our house, but we knew of Zsa Zsa.

The Zsa Zsa slapping incident didn't happen until 1989, so most Americans would not have known until then that she thought so little of blue-collar workers.

I got the impression that Zsa Zsa was a self-important bore via her talk show appearances from the mid 1970s onward while Eva seemed like a charming and even fun person via her own talk show appearances. Merv Griffin was happy to entrust Eva to sub host for him but no one did the same for Zsa Zsa! BTW, if you ever get the chance, check out Eva learning self-defense on that show . . .from Chuck Norris on that site that rhymes with New Snoob!

Yeah, the episode was OK with Zsa Zsa but IMO it would have been a LOT funnier and more fun with Eva!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

I got the impression that Zsa Zsa was a self-important bore via her talk show appearances from the mid 1970s onward while Eva seemed like a charming and even fun person via her own talk show appearances. Merv Griffin was happy to entrust Eva to sub host for him but no one did the same for Zsa Zsa! BTW, if you ever get the chance, check out Eva learning self-defense on that show . . .from Chuck Norris on that site that rhymes with New Snoob!

Yeah, the episode was OK with Zsa Zsa but IMO it would have been a LOT funnier and more fun with Eva!

Just watched the Merv Griffin Show karate demo with Chuck Norris and Eva. Thanks! That was terrific.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

For the same reason, why Jermaine and not Michael/Arnold and Willis and not Kimberly

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Just watched the Merv Griffin Show karate demo with Chuck Norris and Eva. Thanks! That was terrific.

Your most welcome! Glad you liked it! And what I liked there was that it showed that she was a bit shrewder than her 'Green Acres' counterpart yet STILL was a naturally funny person. Yes, I know that every person's personality somewhat changes via knowingly being on camera but I definitely think it was good glimpse to how the younger Miss Gabor was offcamera (and how she'd have been a hoot on FOL).

[Herbert T. Gillis]

Wiki says Eva was working Match Game at that time.

['80sSitcoms]

Maybe they thought Zsa Zsa would be a good choice for being the head of a company, as she seemed to be the "tougher sister". Even before the cop-slapping incident she just seemed more "robust" than delicate, light Eva (who, by the way, I love her voice acting for as Disney's Duchess and Miss Bianca).

Or maybe they wanted Eva first? Who knows?

Interestingly, I see IMDB says "Countess Calvert" but the other Google search results are showing "Countess Calvet" (which I prefer). I don't recall if we actually saw the name legible on ahy of the boxes or not.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

We never uttered the name Eva Gabor in our house, but we knew of Zsa Zsa.

"Why don't we ever mention Zsa Zsa's TV sister? Is she...you know...'that way'?"

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

"Why don't we ever mention Zsa Zsa's TV sister? Is she...you know...'that way'?"

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

"Why don't we ever mention Zsa Zsa's TV sister? Is she...you know...'that way'?"

Nah, if that were the case, she'd surely be Magda, the "unmentioned" sister.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Nah, if that were the case, she'd surely be Magda, the "unmentioned" sister.

I'm sure Zsa Zsa's onetime husband George Sanders would have preferred that Magda had stayed unmentioned, as he married her years after his split from Zsa Zsa and the marriage melted down after barely a month together!

And, in any case, I never saw ANY performances or appearances by Magda so I have no idea whether she'd have been better or worse than Zsa Zsa playing the countess!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

I'm sure Zsa Zsa's onetime husband George Sanders would have preferred that Magda had stayed unmentioned, as he married her years after his split from Zsa Zsa and the marriage melted down after barely a month together!

I had no idea Zsa Zsa and Magda had both married the same man, but considering all their marriages (apparently 19 in total), it shouldn't be so surprising. I also discovered Zsa Zsa had a line of make-up and skin care products, which she started in 1969.