The Willis character became more pleasant as the seasons went on - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 12-02-2002, 11:51 PM

The Willis character of the first couple of seasons was mean, immature and always in a argument with Mr. Drummond. Also joining gangs and being mean to Arnold. I really didn't like the Willis haracer th firs two seasons but i like how the character matured each season and out grew his friends from his old neighborhood. After about 5 seasons, Willis was respectful, pleasant and no longer acted like a outsider but more as a part of the family. Anyone agree?

DarleneIllyria · 12-03-2002, 01:54 AM

Well, I liked Willis in the later years too. However, I think they kind of did Willis' character that certain way on purpose. Willis and Arnold had a major change in their life. Parents were dead and they move to this whole new environment. Arnold adjusted pretty quickly, but maybe that was because he was young. When you get to be about 12 or 13, you start to rebel from parental figures. Mr. Drummond was that parent figure, and maybe Willis thought if he got too close to Mr. D that he would leave them. Mr. D started winning Willis over and Willis found out that he could trust Mr. D and that Mr. D wasn't going to ditch them in anyway. jmo

Brad Russ · 12-03-2002, 03:08 AM

Yeah I think Willis' character grew more and more likeable as the years went on. The thing that I hated though is that as the years went on and the Willis character grew older they seemed to use him on the show less and less. I don't know entirely what the reasons for Todd appearing so seldom in the final couple seasons were, but it would have been refreshing to have Willis there a little more to give Arnold a butt kicking from time to time for his bad attitude. As much as I loved this show I think the later seasons should have focused more on the likeable Willis, and less on annoying Sam, and the angry Arnold.

DarleneIllyria · 12-03-2002, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdntrider7
Yeah I think Willis' character grew more and more likeable as the years went on. The thing that I hated though is that as the years went on and the Willis character grew older they seemed to use him on the show less and less. I don't know entirely what the reasons for Todd appearing so seldom in the final couple seasons were, but it would have been refreshing to have Willis there a little more to give Arnold a butt kicking from time to time for his bad attitude. As much as I loved this show I think the later seasons should have focused more on the likeable Willis, and less on annoying Sam, and the angry Arnold.

I don't know either, but it might've been the budget wasn't as big. I've seen it happen on other shows before where you only have a couple of the big characters on screen together during most of the episode because they couldn't afford to pay out a bunch of money to all the cast for every ep.

Brad Russ · 12-03-2002, 04:07 AM

Yeah that could definitely be true. I know that the budgets of tv shows from the 80's were alot less then they are today. Another thing I just remembered is that when I saw the DS thingy, whatever it was called on E they said Todd was dealing with drug problems during part of his run on the show. Of course this is just speculation on my part but it's possible that they were maybe giving him time off to get his life together. I can imagine it would be pretty difficult shooting a weekly show in that state. Maybe i'll ask Shavar Ross. He always answers these questions for me.

Brian Damage · 12-03-2002, 04:29 PM

I actually agree with SOLOMON on this one. Willis definitely matured as the series progressed while Arnold seemed to become bitter and jealous. Especially when Sam and Maggie moved in.

JethroSimpson · 12-03-2002, 05:05 PM

I always thought that Willis was the most likeable character on the show and that's why he's my favourite.
He may have had a bit of an attitude early on but he had lost both his parents.

The storys were sometimes unfair to Willis I thought, eg in the episode "The Lie," Willis is made to look like the bad guy even though Arnold had been insulting him all through the episode, that's why I dislike that episode so much.

It was a shame he wasn't in the later ones as much, the only one in the last season that focused on him "Willis Goes To College" was one of the best in the season.
I would rather have seen more later episodes focusing on Willis growing up other than silly episodes like "Sam Adopts a Grandparent."

Overall, I definetly agree with Solomon.

Impressions · 12-03-2002, 05:48 PM

He seemed a like he matured over the years, in the later seasons of the show, some of the reasons are was that he apreciated his family and what it meant to be part of the ir family. He seemed like he knew who he was and was proud of it, he adapted to change more easily as the season rolled by, knowing but he was living in a new envoirment and once your living away from familiar soroundings for part of your life from your friends and your relatives it's hard to "fit-in". It's hard to adjust to all the change and uncertain his friendship with his new family would last that long, since they were completely different people. But I think he was happy because he had his brother to look up on him, as a romodel. I guess he understood that many people go through this a lot, and he probably thought he would want to make it easy for Mr. Drummond. =I guess he just wanted to bring the family closer together.

12-02-2002, 11:51 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,024	The Willis character became more pleasant as the seasons went on The Willis character of the first couple of seasons was mean, immature and always in a argument with Mr. Drummond. Also joining gangs and being mean to Arnold. I really didn't like the Willis haracer th firs two seasons but i like how the character matured each season and out grew his friends from his old neighborhood. After about 5 seasons, Willis was respectful, pleasant and no longer acted like a outsider but more as a part of the family. Anyone agree?

12-03-2002, 03:08 AM	#3
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Yeah I think Willis' character grew more and more likeable as the years went on. The thing that I hated though is that as the years went on and the Willis character grew older they seemed to use him on the show less and less. I don't know entirely what the reasons for Todd appearing so seldom in the final couple seasons were, but it would have been refreshing to have Willis there a little more to give Arnold a butt kicking from time to time for his bad attitude. As much as I loved this show I think the later seasons should have focused more on the likeable Willis, and less on annoying Sam, and the angry Arnold.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

12-03-2002, 04:07 AM	#5
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Yeah that could definitely be true. I know that the budgets of tv shows from the 80's were alot less then they are today. Another thing I just remembered is that when I saw the DS thingy, whatever it was called on E they said Todd was dealing with drug problems during part of his run on the show. Of course this is just speculation on my part but it's possible that they were maybe giving him time off to get his life together. I can imagine it would be pretty difficult shooting a weekly show in that state. Maybe i'll ask Shavar Ross. He always answers these questions for me.
	Last edited by Brad Russ; 12-03-2002 at 04:08 AM.

12-03-2002, 04:29 PM	#6
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I actually agree with SOLOMON on this one. Willis definitely matured as the series progressed while Arnold seemed to become bitter and jealous. Especially when Sam and Maggie moved in.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

12-03-2002, 05:05 PM	#7
JethroSimpson Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 01, 2001 Location: England,UK Posts: 1,080	I always thought that Willis was the most likeable character on the show and that's why he's my favourite. He may have had a bit of an attitude early on but he had lost both his parents. The storys were sometimes unfair to Willis I thought, eg in the episode "The Lie," Willis is made to look like the bad guy even though Arnold had been insulting him all through the episode, that's why I dislike that episode so much. It was a shame he wasn't in the later ones as much, the only one in the last season that focused on him "Willis Goes To College" was one of the best in the season. I would rather have seen more later episodes focusing on Willis growing up other than silly episodes like "Sam Adopts a Grandparent." Overall, I definetly agree with Solomon.
	__________________ My Brand New Diff'rent Strokes site is now at- http://chrisdoyle0.tripod.com/ ________________ _______________ Chris D.

12-03-2002, 01:54 AM	#2
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Well, I liked Willis in the later years too. However, I think they kind of did Willis' character that certain way on purpose. Willis and Arnold had a major change in their life. Parents were dead and they move to this whole new environment. Arnold adjusted pretty quickly, but maybe that was because he was young. When you get to be about 12 or 13, you start to rebel from parental figures. Mr. Drummond was that parent figure, and maybe Willis thought if he got too close to Mr. D that he would leave them. Mr. D started winning Willis over and Willis found out that he could trust Mr. D and that Mr. D wasn't going to ditch them in anyway. jmo

12-03-2002, 05:48 PM	#8
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	He seemed a like he matured over the years, in the later seasons of the show, some of the reasons are was that he apreciated his family and what it meant to be part of the ir family. He seemed like he knew who he was and was proud of it, he adapted to change more easily as the season rolled by, knowing but he was living in a new envoirment and once your living away from familiar soroundings for part of your life from your friends and your relatives it's hard to "fit-in". It's hard to adjust to all the change and uncertain his friendship with his new family would last that long, since they were completely different people. But I think he was happy because he had his brother to look up on him, as a romodel. I guess he understood that many people go through this a lot, and he probably thought he would want to make it easy for Mr. Drummond. =I guess he just wanted to bring the family closer together.