Here's something else I've wondered - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Christina E · 09-10-2002, 08:34 PM

We've seemed to be talking lately about inconsistencies in the show. I've noticed another that I've finally remembered to ask about.

Some of my favorite shows are the flashbacks. Ever since I saw my first flashback, I've tried to figure out how long Rob and Laura were married before Ritchie came along. From everything I've seen there is no good answer.

In some episodes, they refer to it being several years. In others, it seems like it was shortly after they were married. In the episode about Ritchie being born, they were living in "our old house" and when Laura told Rob she was pregnant, he worked in "our old office". But when they tell the story about how they bought the house and when they moved in, Laura was pregnant in both. When she brought her baby home, it was to the new house.

Also, they lived in Illinois shortly after they were married, but then they lived in Texas for a while, but then they must have moved back to Illinois because Rob worked as a DJ for a while there and then meet with Alan Brady in Chicago.

There are many other things said in many other episodes that just don't add up about their past, especially the early marriage years. I think it's mostly because the writers didn't try to make it all fit when they were writing. They thought of a good idea for a flashback episode, so they wrote it even if it didn't completely fit with what they had said before.

So has anyone else thought of any more inconsistencies?

Christina

Kristen · 09-11-2002, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christina E

So has anyone else thought of any more inconsistencies?

Christina

I don't know if this is an inconsistency or anything, but there IS something I've been wondering about. It has to do with the flashbacks too. How did Millie and Jerry and Rob and Laura become friends? I know Millie and Laura were in the USO together, but was she with Jerry at the time? I don't think anything was ever explained about this.

Kristen

buddy love · 09-11-2002, 08:29 AM

Well I look at it this way. I would say when the show begins Laura is at least Mary's real life age--which is around 25. Rob and Laura got married when she was 17 which means they have been married about eight years when the show started in Oct, 1961--Richie is how old? about seven. So I would say they had him about a year after they married.

SawgrassSteve · 09-11-2002, 08:44 AM

Those are all things I've noticed and wondered about too, ladies. I don't have an answer right now, but I had planned to sit down with my commercial free, uncut DVDs whenever they're released, and go through the programs one by one to find out.
You see, the programs we're watching today are missing parts of scenes. This was done to allow for more commercials. I remember watching in the 70s and seeing scenes and hearing dialog that is no longer there now. Working from memory, I'd say the edited portions seem to be only a few seconds here and there, and may only add up to about 20 - 30 seconds per episode, but as we all know, just one sentence could be an important piece of the puzzle for true fans!
So where are those darned DVDs?

Christina E · 09-11-2002, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
....Working from memory, I'd say the edited portions seem to be only a few seconds here and there, and may only add up to about 20 - 30 seconds per episode...

I know that a lot more then that was cut. I remember reading somewhere that the original episodes were about 27-28 minutes long. Now the max is 22 1/2 minutes, and I know that because I have every episode recorded without commercials, and they take up 22 minutes on average.

I know from the six episodes currently available on VHS that they do cut a lot. When I see any of those episodes on TV now, I notice how much is missing. I wonder if any of that cut time helps us understand these inconsistencies. You are right that there might be more that we don't know. That is a good point that I never thought of.

Christina

MTM1Fan · 09-11-2002, 03:00 PM

In 'The Last Chapter' Rob tells how they were married than, in a voice over, Rob says 'A year and nine months later' and they cut to a flasback of when Laura was pregnant with Ritchie. So I'm guessing he was born a year ( close to two years) after they were married.

MTM1Fan · 09-11-2002, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christina E

In some episodes, they refer to it being several years. In others, it seems like it was shortly after they were married. In the episode about Ritchie being born, they were living in "our old house" and when Laura told Rob she was pregnant, he worked in "our old office". But when they tell the story about how they bought the house and when they moved in, Laura was pregnant in both. When she brought her baby home, it was to the new house.

Christina

We talked about this in a similar post before.

09-10-2002, 08:34 PM	#1
Christina E God Bless America Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 10, 2001 Location: 148 Bonnie Meadow Road Posts: 265	Here's something else I've wondered We've seemed to be talking lately about inconsistencies in the show. I've noticed another that I've finally remembered to ask about. Some of my favorite shows are the flashbacks. Ever since I saw my first flashback, I've tried to figure out how long Rob and Laura were married before Ritchie came along. From everything I've seen there is no good answer. In some episodes, they refer to it being several years. In others, it seems like it was shortly after they were married. In the episode about Ritchie being born, they were living in "our old house" and when Laura told Rob she was pregnant, he worked in "our old office". But when they tell the story about how they bought the house and when they moved in, Laura was pregnant in both. When she brought her baby home, it was to the new house. Also, they lived in Illinois shortly after they were married, but then they lived in Texas for a while, but then they must have moved back to Illinois because Rob worked as a DJ for a while there and then meet with Alan Brady in Chicago. There are many other things said in many other episodes that just don't add up about their past, especially the early marriage years. I think it's mostly because the writers didn't try to make it all fit when they were writing. They thought of a good idea for a flashback episode, so they wrote it even if it didn't completely fit with what they had said before. So has anyone else thought of any more inconsistencies? Christina

09-11-2002, 08:44 AM	#4
SawgrassSteve Loyal Worshipper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,423	Those are all things I've noticed and wondered about too, ladies. I don't have an answer right now, but I had planned to sit down with my commercial free, uncut DVDs whenever they're released, and go through the programs one by one to find out. You see, the programs we're watching today are missing parts of scenes. This was done to allow for more commercials. I remember watching in the 70s and seeing scenes and hearing dialog that is no longer there now. Working from memory, I'd say the edited portions seem to be only a few seconds here and there, and may only add up to about 20 - 30 seconds per episode, but as we all know, just one sentence could be an important piece of the puzzle for true fans! So where are those darned DVDs?
	__________________ The Cult Of Laura

09-11-2002, 03:00 PM	#6
MTM1Fan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 06, 2001 Location: Philadelphia, Pa Posts: 219	In 'The Last Chapter' Rob tells how they were married than, in a voice over, Rob says 'A year and nine months later' and they cut to a flasback of when Laura was pregnant with Ritchie. So I'm guessing he was born a year ( close to two years) after they were married.
	__________________ Why are you reading this, you should be looking at the posts!

09-11-2002, 08:29 AM	#3
buddy love Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 19, 2002 Posts: 189	Well I look at it this way. I would say when the show begins Laura is at least Mary's real life age--which is around 25. Rob and Laura got married when she was 17 which means they have been married about eight years when the show started in Oct, 1961--Richie is how old? about seven. So I would say they had him about a year after they married.