Roger #2

It is one of the few times I can recall a show recasting a part with an actor who looks dramatically different than the previous player.

I actually prefer Richard Deacon in the part. He's older and seems to fit in more with the three other "parents", Carmel was way too young for the part (just four years older than his "son"!) and frankly did not seem the kind of personality who would get into all those shenanigans with the older cast. I also think Deacon was the better comedian.

I agree with you. Carmel seemed more natural playing off Kaye Ballard.

"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!"

The show definitely feels different with Roger #2.

I think it is safe to say that Carmel ruined a show that would have easily lasted to the early 70s like Green Acres and a few others did. It is a shame what greed can do to a person.

I think Jack Gilford would have been a MUCH better replacement.

For those that have been looking for this show, METV is showing it (I am not sure of the exact schedule).

Recastings depend on who is available and worth the part. I've seen actors put in roles thinking they look like who they are replacing, but they can't bring anything new to the role.

Brandon Routh in Superman Returns is one that springs to mind. He may have looked it, but the entire movie relied on that look and didn't try to bring anything else from him, resulting in one rather boring Kevin Spacey-Parker Posey film.

The Jeff Foxworthy Show is another good example, reworking his entire show and family. I'm watching his show rerun now as I didn't watch it at all back then. The changes are interesting.

Surely they could have found a lesser known who looked like Carmel (who I used to think was English).

Alan Hale Jr would have been available and probably would have done it. Wonder why they didn't ask him? He was just as typecast by Gilligan as Deacon was by Dick Van Dyke.

Slap a moustache on him and his gestures are pretty much the same as Carmel.

I have been reading through the various comments on "ROGER2".
I find these comments accurate, but I have a different take on the
situation of TMIL and its two year stint.

Desi Arnaz in my opinion was one of the smartest men ever to work in the industry. When most think of I Love Lucy & Desilu, Lucille Ball comes to mind. It was Desi who built it - it was Desi who guided it for years (Lucy once called herself "Vice President in charge of Dusting". At first the 'suits' treated Desi like a drum pounding wet back (his words - read his book). This man had more business intelligence than a computer and proved his ability time and time again. If I have not made my point yet, bottom line - Desi was the best. In 1932 he's living in a warehouse with his father cleaning bird cages to eat, and 20 years later he's President and co-owner of what would be the most powerful production company and studio in Television history.

Unfortunately time took its toll. Desi was doing ILL, producing the shows, running Desilu, and working 16-18 hour days 7 days a week. He went past burn out - and eventually (with the aid of Alcohol abuse) lost his position, his power, and his family (Lucy bought him out in 61 or 62).

The Mothers in Law was an attempt to get back - but it was not the 1950's, he did not have the clout he had. It was like trying to get a plane back in the air after the motors were over worked and burned out. It may get in the air - don't expect it to stay there. Desi was acting like it was 1955 and he was producing I love Lucy - he was not and the Networks and sponsors knew it. Had he been more in tune with situations he could have negotiated TMIL to a successful run.

Now the change of Carmel to Deacon. Yea that hurt (no slam to Deacon that man had talent), but it could have worked had Arnaz been working the show and not flying on auto pilot, and false EGO.

Also - read up on Carmel - the man had his deamons. Drugs (some heavy duty) had a lot to play with his decisions. To leave a full season of a series with no replacement gig was not a smart move. I believe his 'decision' to do so was factored more by ego and altered states than a contract dispute. Plus when his name comes up today - people don't say "Oh yea, the guy from the MOTHER IN LAWS, they say - OH YEA HARCORD FENTON MUDD - from Star Trek". [Funny Star Trek - a DESILU PRODUCTION].

Bottom line - you have, albeit a re-worked I Love Lucy concept, some very talented stars of that time, the production quality and live audience presentation known to work in the past - and it failed. Why? in 1955 Desi got General Motors to GIVE 5 or 6 brand new Pontiac Convertables to Desilu for the I LOVE LUCY (Hollywood) episodes. 10 years later he could not get sponsor money to cover expenses. Do the math.

I'm sure they could never have gotten him, but for some reason Joey Bishop pops into my head. He was only 3 years older than Deacon and was already established as a comedic actor.