It sure seemed that way whenever I tuned in and the opening credits featured a long list of regular stars in this show. Too many for a half hour sitcom.
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The more I study it, the greater the puzzle becomes.
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Very true. The show was as it's most successful, both critically as well as ratings-wise, it's first few seasons.
During those early days the show was, at it's core, a basic family sitcom about a widower dealing with his two very different daughters. David Leisure popping in from time to time as the wacky/obnoxious neighbor was welcome. Park Overall's blunt yet charming hillbilly was also a fun character. Estelle Getty's addition as a regular seemed like nothing more than a half-hearted attempt at revisiting the glory days of The Golden Girls. Unfortunately, as the series progressed, those supporting players, as well a number of others that were introduced in the latter half of the series, began to take over. And not in a good way.
By the time the final season rolled in the whole "Richard Mulligan Opens Up A Free Clinic In A Bad Part Of Town With The Bailiff From Night Court" storyline (Marsha Warfield btw), it took the show into seriously questionable territory. It quickly went from being overstuffed to kind of being a big mess.
"I'm nostalgic for conversations I had yesterday."share
Its been ages since I've seen the show, I can't even remember how I wandered onto the Empty Nest forum. But these threads are making me look back at the show and put them into context, what I liked and disliked about the show back then.
I really, REALLY couldn't stand Carol. I felt the show worked in spite of her, and Barbara offered a decent counterbalance. But when Barbara was gone, the show was off balance and episodes that focused on Carol kind of dominated it. If Carol wasn't going to leave, then the show, IMO, needed a way to compensate for that, to get that balance back. I felt they got it with the addition of Marsha Warfield's character. Sophia seemed to be some sort of compensation for the lack of Emily (I forgot her character didn't stick with the show from the time she was introduced to the time the show ended).
I'm not sure if I am in the minority or majority as far as those who disliked Carol...it would seem I'm in the minority or else they would have gotten rid of the character at some point and simply brought in Emily or kept Emily around besides 14 measly episodes. But I do think regardless of her popularity the show did whatever it could to make up for the loss of Barbara, and that manifested in different directions and new characters. I don't know what happened at the time to keep Kristy MacNicol from even doing guest appearances, but I can't fault them for trying to keep the show moving and relevant.
I may be in the minority again, but I think the new characters worked. In fact I wish they had simply repurposed the show when Barbara left into what the show became anyway when Maxine Douglas came on in the last two years.
I got so tired of carol between last two season she was like everywhere got real annoying as time went on I thought it could of done better without her I missed Emily,
but liked marsha warfield and Sophia being on there Laverne was one of my favorites phone call between Sophia and dourthy would of been nice.
A little of Carol went a LONG way. And they did need a counterbalance to Carol. Unfortunately, after Kristy McNichol left, they kinda blew it with the casting and characterization of Emily.
shareEmily was good only saw her debut episode but after that she was gone why was kristie in credits if she left.
shareKristy McNichol remained in the opening credits for the remainder of the fifth season because she was still under contract, and her absence at that point was still considered temporary from a contractual standpoint. Then when the sixth season started, Kristy's contract had ended and she was removed from the credits.
sharecharley was my favorite on there him and Laverne Maxine was ok I wanted see more of anyone else but carol.you know
shareI liked the Carol character. But, sometimes, she was too much. The writers should have given her more to do, than simply whine and complain all the time.
Dinah Manoff was/is a great actress. She did an excellent job with that role.
And, of course, we all remember her from Grease!
Agreed, the episodes after Kristy McNichol left that focused on Carol (Dinah Manoff) were like a whole bunch of "Lisa" episodes of the Simpsons, oath weren't bad characters until they started getting obnoxious and/or preachy when the shows decided to focus more on them.
shareAnd, to be fair, I like Dinah Manoff and her acting, I just think she was misused the last few seasons here
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