What-if: ABC had won in court against Dawn Lyn and CBS?

[paul.austin]

I think of the "Nanny and the Professor" pilot episode with Dawn Lyn and ABC suing both her and CBS in an attempt to legally force Dawn to be Prudence in the full series of "Nanny". Dawn had already done some filming as Dodie - if the court had sided with ABC, CBS would be in a real pickle, wouldn't they, given MacMurray's filming deal.

[stevea]

The initial thought would be, change actresses in mid season. I'd say it's never happened but it probably has.

But that wouldn't work with the MacMurray method. You could not only have different actresses episode to episode, out of order, but scene to scene, out of order.

I'd have to wonder if that issue came up in oral arguments.

[paul.austin]

Originally Posted by stevea

The initial thought would be, change actresses in mid season. I'd say it's never happened but it probably has.

But that wouldn't work with the MacMurray method. You could not only have different actresses episode to episode, out of order, but scene to scene, out of order.

I'd have to wonder if that issue came up in oral arguments.

As Dawn later said herself, that - stressful and straining for her - legal saga only happened in the first place because ABC released Dawn from her long-term Prudence contract when it looked like the "Nanny" pilot was a squib and then seriously panicked when they realized that "Nanny" would be going to series after all - had they been more careful, Dawn would have been Prudence Everett throughout "Nanny"'s run whilst another little lady actress would have been young Miss Douglas

[paul.austin]

Lookie here - ABC was stupid enough to send Dawn a contractual release letter - AND SUED ANYWAY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0DMK5unt5c