Christine's Almost Face Lift - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 12-09-2002, 10:10 PM

I watched, About Face, the episode dealing with Christine trying to decide whether to have cosmetic surgery to improve her chances of finding a job as a new's anchor.
Shelley Fabares has always been an extraordinary beauty in my opinion. I figure About Face aired as she was approaching 50. I can't help but wonder if Shelley had a hard time filming this episode. There is some heavy-duty dialog about her looks. At one point, she refers to her loose skin. She talks about how she's aged, and keeps looking in the mirror, etc.
The truth is, Christine was in a youth-oriented profession.
Shelley is the consumate professional, yet she's still a person with feelings. Even the most confident woman might have trouble with reciting some of the lines that she did. It would be nice if I could remember a few more of them, but I know as I was watching, I kept wondering how she felt.
For the record, I think she's still gorgeous today.

highloon · 12-10-2002, 05:50 PM

Hi Janice, I totally agree with your views on this episode. I think Hayden summed it up perfectly when he said, "What kind of world is it that says Christine Armstrong isn't pretty enough to do her job?"

I have been a fan of Shelly's looks and talent since the Elvis days. Being a big Elvis fan, I remember watching her over and over again in "Girl Happy", "Spinout", and "Clambake", and thinking how pretty and talented she was. Years later, that is still true. Her presence on "Coach" helped make it the success it was and really helped lend class to the production.

Not many women would feel comfortable enough to allow their age and their facial quality to be the subject of nationwide discussion for the sake of a tv show, but Shelly is not your average woman. I was proud of her for participating in such an episode.

Brian Damage · 12-10-2002, 06:27 PM

Shelley has definitely aged beautifully. I'm not an Elvis fan, but Ido remember Shelley from One Day At A Time. She really doesn't look that much different from then till the Coach years.

80sSitcomNostalgic · 12-29-2002, 03:49 AM

I agree that Ms. Fabares is very beautiful.

Although she does possess that 80's frizz perm that almost every American woman had in that era.

TJL · 12-29-2002, 09:26 AM

I wonder how the writing staff approaches the producers and star of the show with a script that deals with a subject matter like this.
"Hey Shelly, can we do a script in which we deal with Christine coming to grips with the fact that she's getting old, and her looks are fading?"
Seriously, writers are walking a thin line when they talk about how a character looks, because you're really talking about the actor portraying that character.
It's like an episode of "Designing Women" I remember when Suzanne (Delta Burke) attends a reunion and her old friends rip into her becasue she's put on a lot of weight.
I would like to think that Shelly Fabres or Delta Burke came up with their respective story ideas themselves, maybe to talk about this problem that other women are going through too.
But I do not see how a writer could come up with an idea like "Delta gets picked on because of her weight" without seeming insensitive.

Janice · 12-30-2002, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
It's like an episode of "Designing Women" I remember when Suzanne (Delta Burke) attends a reunion and her old friends rip into her becasue she's put on a lot of weight.
I would like to think that Shelly Fabres or Delta Burke came up with their respective story ideas themselves, maybe to talk about this problem that other women are going through too.
But I do not see how a writer could come up with an idea like "Delta gets picked on because of her weight" without seeming insensitive.

I remember that episode of Designing Women very well. It was titled, They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?, and was nominated for two Emmys--Outstanding Director and Outstanding Lead Actress for Ms. Burke.
I recall all the hype about it, and if my memory serves me correctly, Delta was very much in favor of the show.

mstewart · 01-10-2003, 12:41 AM

I have been a fan of Shelley Fabares as far back as The Donna Reed Show. She is one of the actresses I always had a crush on. She was beautiful on The Brian Keith Show, The Practice, and especially on One Day At A Time. I couldn't stand her character on One Day At A Time. She definitely aged gracefully except her illness definitely aged her. I saw her on Intimate Portrait on Bonnie Franklin and she did not look the same.

On Coach where she looked her best when the last season and a half of the show when she straightened her hair. She was a hottie. I did not like the 80s frizzed hairstyle she had.

Janice · 01-10-2003, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstewart
On Coach where she looked her best when the last season and a half of the show when she straightened her hair. She was a hottie. I did not like the 80s frizzed hairstyle she had.

I didn't care for her permed hair either. The thing that I don't get is that Coach debuted in 1989 and ran until 1997, so it was really more of a 90s show. Her permed hair was circa early to mid-80s.
They did tone her hair down a bit, because the first season or so, it was really frizzy, but I've thought many times that her hair was outdated for that time period.
To be sure, I asked my hairstylist friend who's been in the business for 25 years, and she told me that the superperm was not popular in the 90s.
Shelley pulled it off because of her extraordinary beauty, but I wish they had her hair normal for the entire run of the show.

catlover79 · 09-14-2008, 11:43 PM

That was a very touching episode. By the way, the receptionist was played by a then-unknown Lisa Kudrow.

Will Dockery · 03-25-2021, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I watched, About Face, the episode dealing with Christine trying to decide whether to have cosmetic surgery to improve her chances of finding a job as a new's anchor.
Shelley Fabares has always been an extraordinary beauty in my opinion. I figure About Face aired as she was approaching 50. I can't help but wonder if Shelley had a hard time filming this episode. There is some heavy-duty dialog about her looks. At one point, she refers to her loose skin. She talks about how she's aged, and keeps looking in the mirror, etc.
The truth is, Christine was in a youth-oriented profession.
Shelley is the consumate professional, yet she's still a person with feelings. Even the most confident woman might have trouble with reciting some of the lines that she did. It would be nice if I could remember a few more of them, but I know as I was watching, I kept wondering how she felt.
For the record, I think she's still gorgeous today.

I caught some aspects of an insecurity of Christine's last night watching the episode where Kelly's mother visits, also.

12-09-2002, 10:10 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	Christine's Almost Face Lift I watched, About Face, the episode dealing with Christine trying to decide whether to have cosmetic surgery to improve her chances of finding a job as a new's anchor. Shelley Fabares has always been an extraordinary beauty in my opinion. I figure About Face aired as she was approaching 50. I can't help but wonder if Shelley had a hard time filming this episode. There is some heavy-duty dialog about her looks. At one point, she refers to her loose skin. She talks about how she's aged, and keeps looking in the mirror, etc. The truth is, Christine was in a youth-oriented profession. Shelley is the consumate professional, yet she's still a person with feelings. Even the most confident woman might have trouble with reciting some of the lines that she did. It would be nice if I could remember a few more of them, but I know as I was watching, I kept wondering how she felt. For the record, I think she's still gorgeous today.

12-10-2002, 05:50 PM	#2
highloon Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 30, 2002 Posts: 82	I agree with you, Janice... Hi Janice, I totally agree with your views on this episode. I think Hayden summed it up perfectly when he said, "What kind of world is it that says Christine Armstrong isn't pretty enough to do her job?" I have been a fan of Shelly's looks and talent since the Elvis days. Being a big Elvis fan, I remember watching her over and over again in "Girl Happy", "Spinout", and "Clambake", and thinking how pretty and talented she was. Years later, that is still true. Her presence on "Coach" helped make it the success it was and really helped lend class to the production. Not many women would feel comfortable enough to allow their age and their facial quality to be the subject of nationwide discussion for the sake of a tv show, but Shelly is not your average woman. I was proud of her for participating in such an episode.

12-10-2002, 06:27 PM	#3
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: 63,108	Shelley has definitely aged beautifully. I'm not an Elvis fan, but Ido remember Shelley from One Day At A Time. She really doesn't look that much different from then till the Coach years.
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12-29-2002, 09:26 AM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I wonder how the writing staff approaches the producers and star of the show with a script that deals with a subject matter like this. "Hey Shelly, can we do a script in which we deal with Christine coming to grips with the fact that she's getting old, and her looks are fading?" Seriously, writers are walking a thin line when they talk about how a character looks, because you're really talking about the actor portraying that character. It's like an episode of "Designing Women" I remember when Suzanne (Delta Burke) attends a reunion and her old friends rip into her becasue she's put on a lot of weight. I would like to think that Shelly Fabres or Delta Burke came up with their respective story ideas themselves, maybe to talk about this problem that other women are going through too. But I do not see how a writer could come up with an idea like "Delta gets picked on because of her weight" without seeming insensitive.
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09-14-2008, 11:43 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	That was a very touching episode. By the way, the receptionist was played by a then-unknown Lisa Kudrow.
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12-29-2002, 03:49 AM	#4
80sSitcomNostalgic Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 111	I agree that Ms. Fabares is very beautiful. Although she does possess that 80's frizz perm that almost every American woman had in that era.

01-10-2003, 12:41 AM	#7
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	I have been a fan of Shelley Fabares as far back as The Donna Reed Show. She is one of the actresses I always had a crush on. She was beautiful on The Brian Keith Show, The Practice, and especially on One Day At A Time. I couldn't stand her character on One Day At A Time. She definitely aged gracefully except her illness definitely aged her. I saw her on Intimate Portrait on Bonnie Franklin and she did not look the same. On Coach where she looked her best when the last season and a half of the show when she straightened her hair. She was a hottie. I did not like the 80s frizzed hairstyle she had.