Billie vs. Christine

[TV Guy]

Who do you prefer? I remember when Markie Post guest starred as Christine, a few episodes before Ellen Foley joined, I liked her. But I got to really like Billie, and I thought she had much more chemistry with Harry than Christine did. I was eventually disappointed when they dropped Billie and brought back Christine.

[Night Court Fan]

Harry and Christine Forever!

[Lynn Wilson]

I'm with Night Court Fan on this! I thought that Billie was too hard-boiled to really click with Harry. Christine's starry-eyed personality was a better balance with Harry Stone (IMHO) and they made a cuter couple. Plus, I think there was more chemistry between Harry and Markie--both on and off the screen. Even now, they are still good friends.

[Pavan]

Markie Post is just so great! She is very dedicated with TV, she has only done ONE theatrical film! She does TV Series, TV Guest Spots, TV Films, TV Specials etc. She is also the most beautiful middle aged woman on TV, as I read once in my local TV Guide when they did a feature on her couple weeks ago when the movie Til Dad Do Us Part came out...

[SafeatHome]

Markie Post - period!

[Mcfly]

Ick, Ellen Foley was the unsexiest woman on television (trying to be nice, I have other things I could say). Markie was beautiful, sexy, and had an incredible bustline.

Markie/Christine 4ever!

[nitcrt1]

If you watch the chemistry between Harry and Christine one cannot help but be mesmerized. The personalities of the two characters complimented each other so well. Harry was the easy-going, spontaneous, carefree guy. Christine was the methodical, sensitive, perfectionist. If you combine both personalities, you get two characters who could stand a learn a thing or two from each. The bond that they had was just to hard to break. Billie was way too rough around the edges. The chemistry between Anderson and Foley was forced and static. The chemistry between Anderson and Post could have lit the city of New York! This is just my opinion.

[Brian Damage]

Markie was fantastic.

[Scoobiedoo30]

Harry and Christine forever

[Mcfly]

Sorry, Ellen Foley looked too mannish. Voice was a little rough as well, hyper.

Markie was beautiful, though she had a higher, chirpier voice. But during her dramatic scenes it could be pretty sexy.

[badbrainsfan]

Ellen Foley is more like the Chyna Doll, and Karen Austin was a too dorky looking. But Markie Post is as hot as the infernos in Phoenix. Pretty face, pretty legs, and pretty body.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Christine. :D

[Mikado]

I agree with the poster...I always thought Harry and Billie had much better chemistry... Markie seemed too "Uptown" to me to be someone whod be attracted to a rebel judge, never seemed real to me. Sure Markie was a "hotter babe" but , right there, youd figure her to be the sort whod chase the "Dan" character.

[nitcrt1]

I think this debate can go on forever. Although I agree that Christine seemed to date men who were more "reserved" I disagree that this was the man who was truly her type. Notice most of those relationships fell by the wayside because she found herself looking for someone a little more exciting and not really like her. I think Harry had more in common with her than he's getting credit for right now. Yes, Harry liked to have fun and was spontaneous (something you feel was the opposite of what Christine wanted). However, Harry and Christine both had a deceased parent, they were both into the arts (Remember Harry was going to take Christine to see "Cats"-trust me not too many guys like broadway musicals. Also Harry went to the opera.) Christine also was going to go to a Mel Torme concert with Harry. Remember, Christine is a Manilow fan but she never said that she didn't like Torme. Both Harry and Christine wanted to have a family albeit not together of course. Most importantly Harry and Christine were very close friends. As for the chemistry between Anderson and Post, I felt it was genuine. I know Harry and Markie were good friends off the set so that helps.

Here's my take on Ellen Foley. Her character was too "tough". I thought almost domineering in quality without showing it. Harry needed someone a little softer. This was one of the reasons I hated the character of Margaret Turner. Like Christine, I think Harry sometimes dated people who were the opposite of what he was looking for. Getting back to the Billie Young character....to me I felt the chemistry was forced and not as natural. I think Reinhold Weege may have felt the same way. That's why Foley was fired.

My final comment is this...if you look at TV couples most are not similar to each other. Lucy and Desi, Sam and Diane and even Chandler and Monica but you still rooted for them and realized oppisites sometimes do attract.

[Pus$y Galore]

Markie Post for sure. At first it took me a bit to get used to her, but after watching the chemistry develop and seeing them both again in reruns, Ellen should have stuck singing backup for Meatloaf.

[ClassicTVGal]

My final comment is this...if you look at TV couples most are not similar to each other. Lucy and Desi, Sam and Diane and even Chandler and Monica but you still rooted for them and realized oppisites sometimes do attract.

Yes, that seems to fit most of television. Here are more examples:

Niles and Daphne from "Frasier"
Laura and Steve from "Family Matters"
Major Anthony Nelson and Jeannie from "I Dream of Jeannie"

(although not so sure if you'd category them here or not)

Same for:

Darrin and Samantha from "Bewitched"

and definately we cannot forget ....

Tony and Angela from "Who's The Boss?"

(And just like someone said about Harry and Markie, Tony and Judith have the same chemistry on and off screen. And to this day are still very very close and great friends)

[Joe F]

Just to continue on that tangent, it's definitely an old television stand-by to put two opposites near each other, and have them attracted.

But can they consummate that attraction? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

If the show starts out with the relationship intact, like Bewitched, main characters can have that relationship. That's common enough. Everybody Loves Raymond is the most recent example. Mad about You was another popular show built on that concept.

And if the characters aren't essentially title characters, it can work. Niles and Daphne were fun to watch.

But I'm not sure it works with title characters developing that relationship through the course of the show.

I thought it spoiled Who's the Boss when Tony and Angela finally broke the tension. On Friends, it almost ruined the show, but since they still acted like single people and hung out with the four other singles, it sort-of worked.

Sam and Diane married would have ruined Cheers. No question about it. Or Mary and Lou on the MTM Show. Rhoda never took off like it should have because the marriage of Rhoda and Joe spoiled the character we had come to love so much. They unmarried her pretty quickly, but the damage was done. David and Maddie hooking up just about ended Moonlighting.

Attraction to opposites is a good theme. Marriage to opposites changes the show too much. It's almost as bad as adding a baby when it comes to entertainment value.

[ekkostar]

Christine :) She's the sobering Yin to Dan's raging Yang.
She really brought balance to Our Favorite Defence Team.

[ClassicTVGal]

Just to continue on that tangent, it's definitely an old television stand-by to put two opposites near each other, and have them attracted.

But can they consummate that attraction? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

If the show starts out with the relationship intact, like Bewitched, main characters can have that relationship. That's common enough. Everybody Loves Raymond is the most recent example. Mad about You was another popular show built on that concept.

And if the characters aren't essentially title characters, it can work. Niles and Daphne were fun to watch.

But I'm not sure it works with title characters developing that relationship through the course of the show.

I thought it spoiled Who's the Boss when Tony and Angela finally broke the tension. On Friends, it almost ruined the show, but since they still acted like single people and hung out with the four other singles, it sort-of worked.

Sam and Diane married would have ruined Cheers. No question about it. Or Mary and Lou on the MTM Show. Rhoda never took off like it should have because the marriage of Rhoda and Joe spoiled the character we had come to love so much. They unmarried her pretty quickly, but the damage was done. David and Maddie hooking up just about ended Moonlighting.

Attraction to opposites is a good theme. Marriage to opposites changes the show too much. It's almost as bad as adding a baby when it comes to entertainment value.

Yes and like Rob and Laura from "The Dick Van Dyke Show". They were already married and did many flashback scenes/episodes. It made the show do well.

But I disagree about Tony and Angela. Yes, like what is said about most shows it does ruin it, and yes, it did feel different after T&A got together, but I honestly think the episodes even later on were still written very well. And I liked after they got together better I think than after Niles and Daphne got together. I mean, yes, those eps were good too, well some, but it really lost something I think, unlike Tony and Angela.

(And for a side note, I was a Frasier and *huge* N&D fan for 5 years)

Mary and Lou? Oh goodness, yikes, I wouldn't even go in that direction! LOL

[nitcrt1]

I think you can join two title characters together as long as you do it at the right time. I was always a Harry and Christine advocate. I thought the writers could have finally brought those two characters together for the very last season. (Ratings records proved that their relationship boosted viewership.) If you brought them together for the very last season, (a.) you would have had nothing to lose at that point and (b.) the writers would have had some fun story lines to play with. If you recall, Christine's dad wasn't too keen on Harry. Imagine if Christine and Harry got together...not only would good old Jack have had to put up with Harry but he also would have had to put up with Buddy. Oh, the writing opportunities missed!

[ekkostar]

I think you can join two title characters together as long as you do it at the right time. I was always a Harry and Christine advocate.

These days we call them "shippers".
The whole Dan/Christine Harry/Christine looks to me like an ongoing debate lately. This has really been the year of shipping for every show/movie/whatever.

By the way, I'm a total kink, so I swing for Dan/Harry. :crazy: :lol:

Anyway, enough about me, back to the discussion.

[nitcrt1]

I don't know. After watching all four "Her Honor" episodes last night on the "My Time Marathon" block, I still have to say that I loved the chemistry between Harry Anderson and Markie Post. I felt so bad for him. (Although I do hate the fact that they cut out Bob Wheeler's line, "Don't worry, the girl scouts broke his fall." ) It was okay though because I never saw the scene after that before. Anyway, getting back to the Harry and Christine situation, I loved at the end when he started pulling the arms and legs off the blue bear saying, "She loves me. She loves me not." It was so cute and pathetically sad.

[Angelique 2]

Both Billie and Christine were good but Christine was on longer and her character wore a little thin with me she was too prim and goody goody at times, still she was very funny in a number of episodes,but I liked Billie better I liked how she kept Harry on his toes.Christine calling Harry 'Sir' most of the time was pretty stupid it made her look too schoolgirl to me.What I did enjoy about Christine was her interaction with Dan that was funnier than anything that went on between Harry and Christine:happyface

[megamanj2004]

I'm sorry, but Ellen Foley couldn't act to save her own life. Right up there w/ Bonnie Franklin for the worst female actresses of all-time. Markie Post, even though she can sometimes come out as too "wifey" at times, I gotta give her props though as far as her figure goes.

It was a good thin that Weege changed his mind about keeping Markie Post after S2. Ellen Foley, no way, man!

Just wished she gave Harry a chance, though. They're right for each other!

[nitcrt1]

Thank goodness someone else feels like I do. I never thought Ellen Foley was a very good fit. I also agree that her acting was lousy. Additionally, her chemistry with Harry Anderson was flatter that the black keys on a piano. Everytime I watch the episode with she and Harry on his birthday in her apartment, I cringe and gag.

I actually have to correct you a bit. Reinhold Weege wanted Markie Post on the show from the very beginning. He basically told that once she was out of her contract with the "Fall Guy" to give him a buzz. She did. So as far as him keeping her on the show, there would be no question. She was definitely going to be there for the long haul. Ellen Foley never stood a chance when it came to staying. She was fired.

As for Markie Post, I thought she added a soft touch that the show needed especially with all that testosterone. The fact that her character was a goody two shoes could get on your nerves sometimes. However, this is what heightened her connection with Harry and softened the mix of characters a bit. You needed a character like her around, because she looked out for everyone. These qualities also added to her chemistry with Harry. Harry was a free spirit who liked to have fun but never scheduled his life. He needed someone who could help him on that end. That's where Christine came in. Christine was a perfectionist who longed to have some fun. That's where Harry came in. Because of these aspects of their personalities, I thought they made...well could have made...a very good couple. I agree that Christine should have given Harry that opportunity. If you noticed in the episode where they sort of "broke-up" ("A Guy Named Phantom-Part Two"), she was the one who opened her mouth first and said she didn't want to be Harry's girlfriend. So at that point, what was Harry going to say, "I don't care I still want to be your boyfriend." Wrong!!! That whole situation, as they would say on "Night Court", "sucked rocks!"

In terms of Markie Post's chemistry with Harry Anderson, I thought they worked very well toghther. They looked comfortable with each other on screen and looked good together period. I know that they both got along very well off screen and that helps.

[nitcrt1]

Both Billie and Christine were good but Christine was on longer and her character wore a little thin with me she was too prim and goody goody at times, still she was very funny in a number of episodes,but I liked Billie better I liked how she kept Harry on his toes.Christine calling Harry 'Sir' most of the time was pretty stupid it made her look too schoolgirl to me.What I did enjoy about Christine was her interaction with Dan that was funnier than anything that went on between Harry and Christine:happyface

To address Christine's shall we say habit of calling Harry, "Sir", she did do that a lot early on. Yet, remember, Harry is a judge so out of respect the writers had her addressing him as "sir". Mac called Harry "sir" a lot too. Of course, as the years went on and Christine and Harry became closer, she would call him Harry. Dan worked with Harry a bit longer than the rest, so he had no problem addressing Harry by his name. If you even want to a step further, Harry didn't call Christine by her first name too often. He always addressed her as "Miss Sullivan." Again, I think the way that the staff addressed Harry was based in part on how their character's pesonality was.

Addressing Christine's interaction with Harry and Dan, keep these things in mind. Yes, situations with Dan and Christine tended to bit a bit funnier because Dan was a rutting pig. All Dan wanted to do was get into Christine's pants. So, he's going to have comments for her and she will retaliate. On the other side of things, Harry was a gentleman. Therefore, you aren't going to generate the same kinds of reactions between these two characters. Yet, I loved when Harry and Christine had a fight. There's where the humor came in. They always had good arguments. The gold in their interaction came after their arguments. There was either a kiss which followed it or some emotional declaration.

What's my point? My point is this. The writers and Reinhold Weege had a formula for the way their characters interacted with each other based on the personality of the characters themselves. Think of it this way. Christine brought out the raging pervert side of Dan which made their scenes funny. Christine helped fuel the sexual tension between she and Harry and this made their scenes a bit more subtle because they held back. Dan would just let things fly.

[CeeBO]

Opinions are like ...ummmm...belly buttons. Everyone has one. Ellen Foley was very funny as Billie, and her underlying toughness is just what the doctor ordered for the show. Foley is a fine actress, and could have continued to evolve on the show, just as Markie did. The fact that most people seem to forget, is that the show may not have made it through it's second season, if Foley had not joined the cast. I'm not saying that another actress could not have pulled it off, but the addition of Billie and Mac were crucial to the shows survival.

I liked both Billie and Christine. I prefered Billie. She helped to add much needed spark to the show. I do agree that the episode where Billie and Harry were together in the apartment was weak, but they had some really nice moments. Billie was New York. The show NEEDED her at that point. If Markie Post wasn't so charming, the size of her boobs wouldn't have carried her through. I will not take away from Markie's talent or beauty, but I thought Billie was MUCH funnier, and REAL...and so, she was sexier, at least to me...nevermind her bustline.

The problem with Foley was on-set friction between her and some of the other cast members. From what I understand, she had an underlying toughness in her private life at that point, some personal problems. Everyone got along for a good while, and the shows producers credited Foley for a job well done. But the good feeling didn't last. If all had been as it might have been on the set, I don't believe they would have replaced Ellen, even with the curvacious Post.

"Night Court" had built up it's audience thanks to the better quality of the season two shows, and would have continued to grow. But the job was simply meant for Post. I still don't think she was better, just different. I loved the episodes with Billie ("The Woodchuck Song" was a hysterical moment), and I can't wait for the next dvd set. I just hope they do a better job with it than they did with the first one (although I really didn't enjoy the first season much).

The only thing that really irritated me is when they recycled the storyline of Christine going to jail for defying the court, just as Billie had. That really sucked!

With the firing of Foley (I was so disappointed and...well, angry!), and the tragic death of Selma Diamond, I sort of stayed away from the show for a long while. Although I never watched it again in it's original run, I did catch reruns with Post, and warmed to her considerabley.

From what I understand, Foley continues to work onstage, and is happily married with two boys. I hear she has mellowed, and I hope she is having a good time. I'll never forget her.

Christopher

[mphs95]

Both Billie and Christine were good but Christine was on longer and her character wore a little thin with me she was too prim and goody goody at times, still she was very funny in a number of episodes,but I liked Billie better I liked how she kept Harry on his toes.Christine calling Harry 'Sir' most of the time was pretty stupid it made her look too schoolgirl to me.What I did enjoy about Christine was her interaction with Dan that was funnier than anything that went on between Harry and Christine:happyface

Oh I agree. I was a H/C fan as a kid but watched a few years ago"Giving Thanks" and converted to D/C. Dan got very vulnerable and you could tell he really cared about Christine. I picture all the antics he pulled on her over the years as like a little boy who likes a little girl. He picks at her and torments her to get her attention.

They were opposite enough that it could have worked. Dan would have to be faithful, but think about how Christine would loosen up w/ him. The girl was so prim I think she would have exploded with the sex. I really think the chemistry between H/C seemed almost like brother & sister/best friendish. She protested with his antics, but she put up with them when most would have just said F*** You.

I have thoughts of fanfic in my head of D/C but still thinking about it. What do you all think?