The fire episode isn't enough of a satisfactory reason as to why there would be no pictures of Valerie Hogan in the house. Firstly, every item that was in the house PRIOR to the fire is shown to be intact AFTER the fire, right down to the pictures shown on the mantle. Secondly, during the VALERIE era, mention was made quite frequently of Valerie's relatives, including cousin Connie, her parents and her sisters. Surely these people, ironically VALERIE'S FAMILY (yes, folks, the pun is deliberate), would give their dearly departed relative's children a pic or two so that they and Michael, her widowed husband, would have something of hers. Val's parents, who are the kids' grandparents and Michael's in-laws, would surely have done so.
Also to note, Annie Steck, Valerie's friend and NEIGHBOR, should have helped out the Hogans when the house caught on fire. Surely Annie would've helped out her dead friend's family in such a case, but she's never seen or mentioned again. Remember, she lived close enough to the Hogans that her daughter Rebecca saw Willie get pantsed by David, seeing a mole on Willie's rear end. Also, Annie's tree was clogging the Hogan's kitchen pipes in another episode. Annie herself would have a pic or two of Valerie Hogan. Mrs. Poole took pics of Valerie in a couple of episodes as well.
It was as if Valerie Hogan never existed, which never felt right. The boys and Michael showed minimal scarring as well. I didn't expect the show to carry on with mourning her but come on... to have a whole episode in Season 1 where the family is mourning Murray the dog yet to have Valerie Hogan's death barely register on their radar is a bit far-fetched even for an 80s sitcom. I feel like that family lost a bit of their character truth and it never quite came back from that. It's more than simply switching leading ladies. The tone of the show became lightweight and sillier and lost whatever foot it had in being realistic.
Acting as if the Valerie Hogan character was expendable was NOT realistic and I think the show suffered for it. In order for those episodes that introduced Sandy to stick, they had to continue on in that same lightweight generic comedic mold and I think it's the primary reason why the show is remembered more for its behind-the-scenes controversy than it is for its content. Sad, though, for the cast was superb, whether led by Valerie Harper or Sandy Duncan. It's the writing that took a nosedive...
Ed
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