MovieChat Forums > Room 222 (1969) Discussion > Unhappy production / tense working condi...

Unhappy production / tense working conditions?

posted 15 years ago by millerdsplaydzign
3 replies | jump to latest

In the book "Love Is All Around: The Making of the Mary Tyler Moore Show ", James Brooks and Alan Burns remarked how they found the warmth and positive energy on the MTM set to be such a happy surprise because, on the set of the last show where they worked, it was not friendly; it was notoriously tense. The last show they had in common was "Room 222", making it most likely candidate in that discussion. I tend to believe it, based on memories I have of Denise Nicholas appearing on various talk shows at that time, where she seemed to be something less than nice. Do other members have anecdotal evidence to corroborate Brooks' statement?

[–] sweet1310452 15 years ago

Who knows, but there are sources that say that her husband singer Bill Withers (they were married somewhere around 1972) beat her and that part of the reason was that she was a difficult person to deal with.

Who knows, really, but I read that Nicholas was interviewed for the DVD set. Maybe as a black actress in a prominient role in a TV series she held very high standards and clashed with the producers.

[–] millerdsplaydzign 15 years ago

I've been watching the DVD set, but have not seen her interview yet (but am looking forward to it).

Honestly, after observing these episodes and the integrity of the show through grown up eyes, it is hard for me to think that any actor/actress, regardless of color, could have been realistic about holding a higher standard than those set by the show's creators. Plainly, she had it pretty good in front of the camera, with plenty of good dialogue, interesting situations, a well-written on screen romance with a handsome actor, a smart wardrobe, great hair, and plenty of flattering closeups.

And, as you pointed out, "who knows"? Nicholas may have rhymed with "witch" on more than one occasion both on and off set, but there may have been other factors contributing to a behind the scenes bad vibe than just possible difficulties stemming from her.

Maybe the bad blood was less between actors and creators than it was between creators and network execs. Generally, network goons have not been known for embracing anything new or innovative - especially at that time - and 222 was definitely both of those things.

[–] rsp1011-1 15 years ago

I have seen the interviews on the Room 222 DVDs. Both Denise Nicholas and Michael Constantine are interviewed. Lloyd Haynes has passed and I guess Karen Valentine wasn't available or chose not to participate. James L. Brooks who created the show is there as well as writer Allan Burns. The DVD extra is called "forty years on." Anyway all of them rightfully talk about how proud they are to be associated with the show. The only tension any of them recall is that ABC wanted them to be a comedy not a drama. They constantly fought with them over this. Eventually the laugh track was removed. Constantine recalls that there were bigoted network executives who did not want Room 222 on their network because it had an integrated cast. The times were much different when the show was made. Miss NIcholas states that Gene Reynolds the show's producer has set up a Room 222 scholarship that goes to one male and female student each year. The students are from the Los Angeles area. The DVD ends with Miss Nicholas stating how the show lives on through this scholarship.