Difficult Stars to Work For or With

[michael hagerty]

No doubt Robert Reed's mentality about The Brady Bunch stemmed from the fact that he had earlier co-starred on "The Defenders," which was one of the most honored and revered shows of its era. "Bunch" may have been popular with kids, but it certainly wasn't in line for Emmy consideration.

I liked Robert Reed on The Defenders (one of the earliest shows I remember as a kid) and in his recurring role on Mannix. But what did he think he was going to get (beyond starring credits and a weekly paycheck) signing with Sherwood Schwartz, who had just come off Gilligan's Island?

I mean, the opportunity to do a little smooching with Florence Henderson could have been incentive for a lot of actors, but (we later learned) not Bob.

 

[MCarney]

A story I heard was that Robert Reed signed the contract with Paramount TV because they were working on a TV version of "Barefoot in the Park" (he was in the Broadway cast). The show went on the air but with a predominately African-American cast, and Reed was still under contract. So they put him in "The Brady Bunch" because he was a name actor due to his work on "The Defenders". (Ann B. Davis was considered a character actor and Florence Henderson was known for her work in musical theater at the time.) He and his family have refused to let his image be used on much of the merchandising for "Bunch".

 

[FredLeonard]

According to an interview with Stanley and Barry Livingston, during the early seasons of My Three Sons that show and The Lucy Show were being filmed on adjoining sound stages. Barry was on the set regularly (he was adopted later, at this point he played a neighbor kid). They said William Frawley used to get them to bang trash can lids together and ruin Viv's takes next door.

Carl Reiner has said the character of Alan Brady, which he played on The Dick Van Dyke Show, was based on Milton Berle. Buddy was based on Mel Brooks. Sally was based on Selma Diamond, the original bailiff on Night Court. Laura was based on Estelle ("I'll have what she's having") Reiner.

 

[BD Sullivan]

According to an interview with Stanley and Barry Livingston, during the early seasons of My Three Sons that show and The Lucy Show were being filmed on adjoining sound stages. Barry was on the set regularly (he was adopted later, at this point he played a neighbor kid). They said William Frawley used to get them to bang trash can lids together and ruin Viv's takes next door.

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

 

[landtuna]

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

I had always heard he was replaced because of declining health but I'm not sure whether it was voluntary or otherwise. He did seem to harbor resentment of his replacement on the show.

 

[Mark Giardina]

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

I had always heard he was replaced because of declining health but I'm not sure whether it was voluntary or otherwise. He did seem to harbor resentment of his replacement on the show.

According to what I read William Frawley was in very ill health and agreed to 'retire' from playing an active role on My Three Sons.

If it wasn't for Desi Arnaz, Frawley would have ended up in some actor's old folks home broke. Instead Arnaz took a chance and hired Frawley with the promise that he would never show up for work drunk. Kind of ironic since Desi was known to have a few cocktails before and after each show.

 

[michael hagerty]

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

I had always heard he was replaced because of declining health but I'm not sure whether it was voluntary or otherwise. He did seem to harbor resentment of his replacement on the show.

According to what I read William Frawley was in very ill health and agreed to 'retire' from playing an active role on My Three Sons.

If it wasn't for Desi Arnaz, Frawley would have ended up in some actor's old folks home broke. Instead Arnaz took a chance and hired Frawley with the promise that he would never show up for work drunk. Kind of ironic since Desi was known to have a few cocktails before and after each show.

Frawley's health had declined to the point where the studio could not get him insurance. They weren't willing to be liable for anything and everything that could happen to him, so that was the end.

 

[LKellerIII]

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

I had always heard he was replaced because of declining health but I'm not sure whether it was voluntary or otherwise. He did seem to harbor resentment of his replacement on the show.

According to what I read William Frawley was in very ill health and agreed to 'retire' from playing an active role on My Three Sons.

If it wasn't for Desi Arnaz, Frawley would have ended up in some actor's old folks home broke. Instead Arnaz took a chance and hired Frawley with the promise that he would never show up for work drunk. Kind of ironic since Desi was known to have a few cocktails before and after each show.

Frawley's health had declined to the point where the studio could not get him insurance. They weren't willing to be liable for anything and everything that could happen to him, so that was the end.

For what it's worth, there are 2 sides to this story. While Frawley was apparently cantankerous, and enjoyed his liquor, he was well loved. After his death, Desi Arnaz reportedly placed a large ad in the trade papers mourning his passing. It seemed that for his faults; Lucy, Desi, Fred MacMurray and Don Fedderson (producer of My Three Sons) thought quite highly of him.

Some people put the blame more on Vivian Vance for their strained relationship during I Love Lucy. Vance was reportedly resentful toward Frawley because she had to play the wife to a man 20+ years older than she was, which probably went back to her resentment toward Lucy for demanding that she play Ethel as considerably older (and fatter) than Lucy, though in real life, she was actually only 2 years older.

According to Wikipedia, Arnaz offered Vance and Frawley a 'Fred and Ethel' spin off series in the late 50s. Reportedly, Frawley was ready to go, but Vance declined the offer.

 

[onairb]

According to Wikipedia, Arnaz offered Vance and Frawley a 'Fred and Ethel' spin off series in the late 50s. Reportedly, Frawley was ready to go, but Vance declined the offer.

Does that explain why the Mertzes moved to Connecticut with the Ricardos toward the end of 'I Love Lucy', and into the 'Lucy and Desi Comedy Hour' era? Frank Nelson and Mary Jane Croft had been introduced in those first few Connecticut episodes in early '57, but were never seen or mentioned in the specials.

 

[BD Sullivan]

When Frawley was replaced (involuntarily) on MTS, he continued to show up on the set and eventually made himself such a nuisance that he was banned.

I had always heard he was replaced because of declining health but I'm not sure whether it was voluntary or otherwise. He did seem to harbor resentment of his replacement on the show.

According to what I read William Frawley was in very ill health and agreed to 'retire' from playing an active role on My Three Sons.

If it wasn't for Desi Arnaz, Frawley would have ended up in some actor's old folks home broke. Instead Arnaz took a chance and hired Frawley with the promise that he would never show up for work drunk. Kind of ironic since Desi was known to have a few cocktails before and after each show.

Frawley's health had declined to the point where the studio could not get him insurance. They weren't willing to be liable for anything and everything that could happen to him, so that was the end.

Some people put the blame more on Vivian Vance for their strained relationship during I Love Lucy. Vance was reportedly resentful toward Frawley because she had to play the wife to a man 20+ years older than she was, which probably went back to her resentment toward Lucy for demanding that she play Ethel as considerably older (and fatter) than Lucy, though in real life, she was actually only 2 years older.

There's always the story of Vance allegedly shouting "Champagne for everybody" while at a restaurant and hearing of Frawley's death.

 

[FredLeonard]

Supposedly Jack Lord (aka "The Lord") was a pain in the ass on Hawaii Five-O, which explains the turn-over in the main cast.

Jean Hagen quit Make Room for Daddy because Danny Thomas was a pain to work with. And then Sherry Jackson, who considered Hagen her only friend/ally in the case, left, too.

Re: Actors not acting. It always seemed in the scenes between Fred and Ricky that Desi showed a genuine affection for Frawley and wasn't acting. Gale Gordon had great chemistry with Eve Arden but Gordon and Lucy were nowhere near as good as Frawley and whoever he had scenes with, including Viv.

I understand Vance was sick of people on the street calling her "Ethel." That was also a factor in not wanting to do a Fred and Ethel spin-off, and why she insisted on her character having her own name (and being the same age as Lucy) when she came back.

 

[BD Sullivan]

I understand Vance was sick of people on the street calling her "Ethel."

Much like Jean Stapleton being called "Edith" by fans. She actually got sympathy cards when Carroll O'Connor died in 2001.

 

[Ultimajock]

...Casey Kasem (America's Top 10) ;D ...

 

[onairb]

...Casey Kasem (America's Top 10) ;D ...

"BLEEP it! Every time I come out of a BLEEPing up-tempo record, I gotta read a BLEEPing post about how BLEEPing difficult I am to work with! Can't I read something about a BLEEPing dog dying instead? I want a concerted effort..." ;D

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Ponderous.

 

[Mark Giardina]

There's always the story of Vance allegedly shouting "Champagne for everybody" while at a restaurant and hearing of Frawley's death.

It's hard to believe, no matter how they didn't get along, that Vivian Vance, or anyone with an ounce of humanity, would celebrate the death of another human being.

 

[Mark Giardina]

Supposedly Jack Lord (aka "The Lord") was a pain in the ass on Hawaii Five-O, which explains the turn-over in the main cast.

Considering how one-dimensional of an actor he was, Jack Lord apparently felt the need to be in every scene of Hawaii Five-0. Reportedly Lord explained that he was the 'one' who convinced the network to air the show in the first place, thus he deserved the star billing at both the beginning and end of the show.

 

[71dude]

Carroll O'Connor, at least difficult for the writers and producers if not the cast.

 

[FredLeonard]

It's hard to believe, no matter how they didn't get along, that Vivian Vance, or anyone with an ounce of humanity, would celebrate the death of another human being.

Well, people say a lot of things - especially show biz types. Famously, when (widely-hated) Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn died, a big crowd turned out for the funeral. Red Skelton commented, "Give people what they want and they'll turn out for it."

The studio mogul in The Godfather who wakes up with a horse's head in his bed is supposedly based on Cohn; Columbia produced "From Here to Eternity." Cohn reportedly did try to blacklist John Wayne, who had an affair with a starlet in whom Cohn was interested. The Duke handled the matter himself (as you'd expect).

_____________

Jack Lord was cast by the producers of the original Five-O at the last minute. The part was originally offered to Richard Boone, who was living in Hawaii. He turned it down and other actors were considered. Lord was also considered for the role of James T. Kirk but Roddenberry would not agree to the terms he demanded. Lord played CIA agent Felix Leiter in "Dr. No." When Leiter was scheduled to appear in "Goldfinger," Lord demanded equal billing with Sean Connery and another actor was cast.

 

[LKellerIII]

Supposedly Jack Lord (aka "The Lord") was a pain in the ass on Hawaii Five-O, which explains the turn-over in the main cast.

Jean Hagen quit Make Room for Daddy because Danny Thomas was a pain to work with. And then Sherry Jackson, who considered Hagen her only friend/ally in the case, left, too.

Re: Actors not acting. It always seemed in the scenes between Fred and Ricky that Desi showed a genuine affection for Frawley and wasn't acting. Gale Gordon had great chemistry with Eve Arden but Gordon and Lucy were nowhere near as good as Frawley and whoever he had scenes with, including Viv.

I understand Vance was sick of people on the street calling her "Ethel." That was also a factor in not wanting to do a Fred and Ethel spin-off, and why she insisted on her character having her own name (and being the same age as Lucy) when she came back.

My memory of Hawaii Five-O was that the cast didn't turn over until almost the last season, when James MacArthur quit. It could be that MacArthur just wanted to do something else. On the other hand, all you have to do is watch Lord's portrayal of McGarrett (carefully arranged lock of hair and all) to presume he was a vain and difficult person.

Not to pile on Vivian Vance, but her resentments seem strange. Ethel was obviously the role of a lifetime for her, and the role was presumably written before she was cast for the part - as an older, frumpy woman. Lucy was the star of the show, after all..."duh," as they say. I doubt Bea Benadaret would have had the same resentments if she had played Ethel - all you have to do was watch her as Cousin Pearl Bodine on Beverly Hillbillies to see that she didn't mind frumping it up for a role. I was a kid when these shows were on the air, and I don't think I realized it was the same actress that played Kate Bradley.