The Gay Housekeeper - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CBSrulz · 03-19-2003, 07:24 PM

What ever happen to the gay housekeeper? I mean hes in The Pilot Episode and then hes just gone? What Happened?
-Dillon

*PinkLady* · 03-19-2003, 10:05 PM

I'm not entirely sure. I guess he didn't really fit in on the show, or he wasn't funny or something, so they got rid of his character.

GoldenFamilyTies · 03-19-2003, 10:15 PM

Sophia was given a bigger part, and Coco was written out, so they could keep the household all females.

TALLguyinKY · 03-20-2003, 03:14 AM

From the mouth---er, pen---of Betty White herself:

"In the first episode, which had been our pilot, there was one more character, the gay housekeeper, played by Charles Levin. When the script was originally written, no one could foresee how well the four women would mesh together, nor how strong Estelle's character, Sophia, would become. Also, with a housekeeper there, the girls wouldn't have had as much access to the kitchen, where so many of our close four-way scenes took place. We used to solve most of our problems around the kitchen table---over cheesecake. So, after the initial show, the part of the housekeeper was written out. The reasons were all valid, but it was a heartbreak for Chuck Levin. Can you imagine the disappointment of seeing the show picked up, then finding you were no longer a part of it? He took it in good spirit, bless him, and came by the set to say hello from time to time. As for us, we spent the first year explaining that he had not been written out because he was gay. Which, just for the record, and who cares, Chuck wasn't."

---from "Here We Go Again: My Life in Television", Betty White, 1995

And the really funny part is, in the index, under "The Golden Girls" the 4th item says, "gay housekeeper character, 200-201". And Betty even says "the gay housekeeper" instead of Coco, just like CBSrulz titled this thread!

By the by, GREAT book for any interested!! Lotsa info on Betty's life, early TV, family and marriage, "MTM", "Mama's Family", and, of course, "Girls" and some on "Palace".

cheers freak · 04-02-2003, 09:09 PM

I really like the quotes of Betty White you've been posting. She's so sweet. And its great that she isn't homophobic and cleared up that it wasn't cause he was gay and that who cares if he was anyway.

TALLguyinKY · 04-04-2003, 11:11 PM

Thanks, cheers freak!

Some o' these can take a LOTta time to type up, so I'm happy to see that a couple of people appreciate gettin' to read 'em (ThomasE commented on the "Golden Palace" passages on here...).

Thanks again, and I love to share these!

cheers freak · 04-04-2003, 11:27 PM

No problem TALLguyinKY. I appreciate you taking the time to type them up so you derserve the reconition.

TALLguyinKY · 04-05-2003, 05:46 AM

03-19-2003, 07:24 PM	#1
CBSrulz Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 23, 2002 Location: l.A. Posts: 80	The Gay Housekeeper What ever happen to the gay housekeeper? I mean hes in The Pilot Episode and then hes just gone? What Happened? -Dillon

03-20-2003, 03:14 AM	#4
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	*ahem* From the mouth---er, pen---of Betty White herself: "In the first episode, which had been our pilot, there was one more character, the gay housekeeper, played by Charles Levin. When the script was originally written, no one could foresee how well the four women would mesh together, nor how strong Estelle's character, Sophia, would become. Also, with a housekeeper there, the girls wouldn't have had as much access to the kitchen, where so many of our close four-way scenes took place. We used to solve most of our problems around the kitchen table---over cheesecake. So, after the initial show, the part of the housekeeper was written out. The reasons were all valid, but it was a heartbreak for Chuck Levin. Can you imagine the disappointment of seeing the show picked up, then finding you were no longer a part of it? He took it in good spirit, bless him, and came by the set to say hello from time to time. As for us, we spent the first year explaining that he had not been written out because he was gay. Which, just for the record, and who cares, Chuck wasn't." ---from "Here We Go Again: My Life in Television", Betty White, 1995 And the really funny part is, in the index, under "The Golden Girls" the 4th item says, "gay housekeeper character, 200-201". And Betty even says "the gay housekeeper" instead of Coco, just like CBSrulz titled this thread! By the by, GREAT book for any interested!! Lotsa info on Betty's life, early TV, family and marriage, "MTM", "Mama's Family", and, of course, "Girls" and some on "Palace".
	Last edited by TALLguyinKY; 03-20-2003 at 06:06 AM.

04-02-2003, 09:09 PM	#5
cheers freak Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 375	I really like the quotes of Betty White you've been posting. She's so sweet. And its great that she isn't homophobic and cleared up that it wasn't cause he was gay and that who cares if he was anyway.
	__________________ Norm: Afternoon everybody Everyone: NORM! Coach: How's life treating you Norm? Norm: Like it caught me in bed with it's wife. ****************************** John Ritter 1948-2003 We miss you

03-19-2003, 10:05 PM	#2
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	I'm not entirely sure. I guess he didn't really fit in on the show, or he wasn't funny or something, so they got rid of his character.

03-19-2003, 10:15 PM	#3
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	Sophia was given a bigger part, and Coco was written out, so they could keep the household all females.

04-04-2003, 11:11 PM	#6
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	Thanks, cheers freak! Some o' these can take a LOTta time to type up, so I'm happy to see that a couple of people appreciate gettin' to read 'em (ThomasE commented on the "Golden Palace" passages on here...). Thanks again, and I love to share these!

04-04-2003, 11:27 PM	#7
cheers freak Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 375	No problem TALLguyinKY. I appreciate you taking the time to type them up so you derserve the reconition.

04-05-2003, 05:46 AM	#8
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439