What show should not added another child? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mstewart · 01-03-2003, 10:15 PM

ALF - They could have hidden Anne Schedeen's pregnancy. She did not look quite pregnant in real life when it was written into the storyline. The baby took the edge out of the show.

Too Close for Comfort - That was a ridiculous plot. For starters a woman, Muriel Rush, in her mid 40s get pregnant. Then they ran the pregnancy into the entire season going into the season opener of the following with her still preggers with the birth. The show was never quite the same after Andrew came along. From what I understood Nancy Dussault was not happy with the lack of development of her character during the first season and she made it known. From that point that's how the pregnancy was written in.

Growing Pains - Adding Chrissy into the mix took the dynamics of the Seaver's away. The show was not enjoyable to watch especially after the instant growth spurt of Chrissy in one season. She did not look like she belong to Jason and Maggie.

TJL · 01-03-2003, 10:44 PM

Any time they add another kid it means two things:

1. The original kids have grown up and are no longer cute.

2. They are running out of ideas, and the show is about to be cancelled.

Example for 1 - The Cosby show - Rudy was now too old to be the cute one, so they brought in adorable Olivia to goof around with Cos.

Example for 2 - Mad About You, Get Smart, Coach, Rosanne...

Sitcomwriter · 01-03-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

1. The original kids have grown up and are no longer cute.

Also in that category are Cousin Oliver on "The Brady Bunch" and Beans from "Even Stevens".

SBTB Geek · 01-04-2003, 01:12 AM

I was disappointed when "Married With Children" added Seven.

The little boy from "Facts Of Life" was annoying too.

Brian · 01-04-2003, 01:47 AM

Oliver in "The Brady Bunch" is a classic example.

GoldenFamilyTies · 01-04-2003, 02:07 AM

Family Ties should not have added Andy, although he wasnt as bad as he could have been, it wasnt good.

Janice · 01-04-2003, 02:40 AM

I don't like when a child is added to any adult comedy. I don't watch kid-oriented shows such as Home Improvement, Full House, The Cosby Show, etc. When an adult comedy like Mad About You or Coach adds a kid, it's my cue to exit left.
My favorite shows are Cheers, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, Barney Miller, Coach (haven't seen the kid yet), Seinfeld and Will & Grace. See a pattern here? NO KIDS.
Family Ties is the only exception but the kids weren't very small. I watch Raymond and Still Standing because they do a good job at hiding the kids.

TJL · 01-04-2003, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
I watch Raymond and Still Standing because they do a good job at hiding the kids.

The Barones should be arrested for child abuse for the way they ignore those kids!

What is great about that show is they don't need the kids to generate laughs. They use them occasionally to propel a storyline, but the action remains on the adults.

Plus, "Raymond" probably won't be around long enough to see the cute little kids grow into pre adolescence, which is when sitcoms about families usually get baby fever and add another kid to the household...

Penny Lane · 01-04-2003, 10:42 AM

Both The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart featured no kids. They left it that way and it was a very good thing!

Coach fell prey to the "baby saving the series" mistake. They wasted a whole season on Christine trying to get pregnant. It got terribly boring!

The Obsolete Man · 01-04-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
I was disappointed when "Married With Children" added Seven.

The little boy from "Facts Of Life" was annoying too.

Yeah, but MWC did the right thing... they got rid of Seven without a word after about a half a season.

Sitcomwriter · 01-04-2003, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

Plus, "Raymond" probably won't be around long enough to see the cute little kids grow into pre adolescence, which is when sitcoms about families usually get baby fever and add another kid to the household...

Well It's supposidly supposed to end next season of course we all know that they can go all "Friends" on us....

Impressions · 01-04-2003, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL

2. They are running out of ideas, and the show is about to be cancelled.

Exactly, that is one of the reasons why they do add characters to their shows, after the show dies down a bit. You have to be careful though, cast additions can sometimes ruin the shows, I've seen it happen many times, and it's not always the answer to save a series. The best thing to go with is to leave the cast additions aside because they can make a even larger dent in the series, even more.

Sitcomwriter · 01-04-2003, 07:58 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Emma (From "Friends") is 5 next season....

TJL · 01-04-2003, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcomwriter
I wouldn't be surprised if Emma (From "Friends") is 5 next season....

So true...

DarleneIllyria · 01-04-2003, 09:15 PM

Sam Drummond- I know they had to add something to Diff'rent Strokes, but they just added the wrong personalities to Sam and Maggie. Also, my ears almost exploded hearing Sam and Maggie talk. I have a southern accent myself, but I don't sound that bad.

01-03-2003, 10:15 PM	#1
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	What show should not added another child? ALF - They could have hidden Anne Schedeen's pregnancy. She did not look quite pregnant in real life when it was written into the storyline. The baby took the edge out of the show. Too Close for Comfort - That was a ridiculous plot. For starters a woman, Muriel Rush, in her mid 40s get pregnant. Then they ran the pregnancy into the entire season going into the season opener of the following with her still preggers with the birth. The show was never quite the same after Andrew came along. From what I understood Nancy Dussault was not happy with the lack of development of her character during the first season and she made it known. From that point that's how the pregnancy was written in. Growing Pains - Adding Chrissy into the mix took the dynamics of the Seaver's away. The show was not enjoyable to watch especially after the instant growth spurt of Chrissy in one season. She did not look like she belong to Jason and Maggie.

01-03-2003, 10:44 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	Any time they add another kid it means two things: 1. The original kids have grown up and are no longer cute. 2. They are running out of ideas, and the show is about to be cancelled. Example for 1 - The Cosby show - Rudy was now too old to be the cute one, so they brought in adorable Olivia to goof around with Cos. Example for 2 - Mad About You, Get Smart, Coach, Rosanne...
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

01-04-2003, 10:42 AM	#9
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,164	Both The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart featured no kids. They left it that way and it was a very good thing! Coach fell prey to the "baby saving the series" mistake. They wasted a whole season on Christine trying to get pregnant. It got terribly boring!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

01-04-2003, 01:12 AM	#4
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	I was disappointed when "Married With Children" added Seven. The little boy from "Facts Of Life" was annoying too.

01-04-2003, 01:47 AM	#5
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Oliver in "The Brady Bunch" is a classic example.

01-04-2003, 02:07 AM	#6
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	Family Ties should not have added Andy, although he wasnt as bad as he could have been, it wasnt good.

01-04-2003, 02:40 AM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I don't like when a child is added to any adult comedy. I don't watch kid-oriented shows such as Home Improvement, Full House, The Cosby Show, etc. When an adult comedy like Mad About You or Coach adds a kid, it's my cue to exit left. My favorite shows are Cheers, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, Barney Miller, Coach (haven't seen the kid yet), Seinfeld and Will & Grace. See a pattern here? NO KIDS. Family Ties is the only exception but the kids weren't very small. I watch Raymond and Still Standing because they do a good job at hiding the kids.

01-04-2003, 07:58 PM	#13
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	I wouldn't be surprised if Emma (From "Friends") is 5 next season....

01-04-2003, 09:15 PM	#15
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Sam Drummond- I know they had to add something to Diff'rent Strokes, but they just added the wrong personalities to Sam and Maggie. Also, my ears almost exploded hearing Sam and Maggie talk. I have a southern accent myself, but I don't sound that bad.