Does anyone else here like my idea of a reunion?

[Benny JR]

Okay, I would LOVE to do a TV Movie Reunion for this truly great and under-rated show. I would call it "The Hogan Family Reunion". It would star all original cast members (except Rich, obviously) and I would even like to bring Valerie Harper back, not as Valerie Hogan, but as her character Liz Gianni from "City" in a cross-over. Here's what the story would be:


PART 1.

It's 2009 and Sandy is planning a family reunion. David got married and moved away and is currently living in Texas. David's wife died years ago in childbirth while giving birth to his teenage Son. His Son's name is Michael, after David's Father, Mike.

Sandy has invited David and Michael to the family reunion, which will take place in a few days. Mark and Willie have also married and moved away, they married their girlfriends who were seen in the show's final Season. Neither of the couple's have children.

Mike is still an airline pilot and it is just himself, their Father Lloyd and Sandy who are living at home now. Michael will be home in a few days for the reunion. Sandy is free from school because it is the Summer and she has some time off to relax, but she is bored and this is why she is planning the reunion to see everyone again.

Mrs. Poole will also be there too and she is helping Sandy plan the reunion. Sandy has also invitied David's old pal Burt, who he has not seen in years as a surprise fro David. Another newcomer will be Michael and Sandy's never before seen niece, Kate (Justine Bateman). Kate is very close to her Cousin David, but it has been almost 10 years since they last saw each other, so they are very excited to see each other again.

It's three days before everyone arrives home and there is a new neighbour moving in next door. Nobody has yet seen this 'mystery person', but we do know she has a thirty-something daughter and the woman speaks with a strong New York accent, these two people will be revealed soon.

It is now the day of the reunion, everyone is back and there is a good atmosphere in the air. During lunch, there is a knock at the door. Mark answers and it is a very attractive woman. She introduces herself as Penny Gianni (Lu Anne Ponce), a few seconds later, her Mother, Liz (Valerie Harper) arrives at the door, but we cannot see Liz's face because she is carrying a large box of gifts for her new neighbours. She puts the box down and when Mark see's her face, he collapses, thinking it is his Mother come back to life.

Penny runs into the Hogan's living room calling for help while Liz tries to see if she can get Mark to come around. Sandy comes running out of the kitchen to see what the noise is, she is shocked at how much Liz looks like Valerie. After a while, Liz is introduced to everyone and there is just pure shock at how similar she is to Valerie. Mike and Liz really hit it off.

David is delighted to see Kate after all these years and everyone notices how alike they are. Penny does not like the way Mike is really obsessive with her Mother, simply because she looks like Valerie, but she gets on well with Sandy and they both have a lot of similar interests.

END OF PART 1.

[Edster2973]

Interesting story idea, and it could actually work with some tweaking. The only thing that would seem odd is the show going back to actually acknowledging Valerie after 4 seasons of having her barely mentioned. I think the show was the poorer for how it basically ignored her existence, but it happened, and I think anything now would just seem to "not fit". Of course, the show's initial treatment of her character's demise didn't "fit" either.

Aside from that, I think it's an interesting idea. As for me, I wish there was someway to rewrite the show's history at that point where she never died or, at the very least, a depiction of the family actually being affected by her death.

Fat chance...

Ed

[Benny JR]

Well Edster, you just proved my point. I think it is well time that, if any reunion does come our way, that they SHOULD acknowledge Valerie as having existed. This is the main reason why I wrote Valerie Harper into the story.

[Edster2973]

Well Edster, you just proved my point. I think it is well time that, if any reunion does come our way, that they SHOULD acknowledge Valerie as having existed. This is the main reason why I wrote Valerie Harper into the story.

I agree with you man. I think it is high time for sure. I'm just saying that it feels odd that there'd be any raw emotions coming from the family concerning Valerie when she barely seemed to register on their radar for 4 years (4 1/2 years if you consider that Sandy's first ep was 6 months after Valerie died).

As horrible as their treatment of her death was on the show, I think it left fans assuming that any emotions that were felt were worked out offscreen before Sandy's first episode (a little too neat and tidy if you ask me, not to mention unrealistic). So to have a story occur where it's suddenly so painful seems inconsistent, that's all.

Again, I like the story, I really do, and think it should be told. I'm just noting that it's inconsistent. Then again, the family, especially the boys, acting basically unfazed by Valerie's death was the most glaring inconsistency. They should've been devastated by the loss of their mother. They were her world and one can see during the Valerie years that they adored her. Seasons 1 & 2 of Valerie seem to be in an entirely different universe than Season 3 of Valerie's Family and Seasons 4 & 6 of The Hogan Family.

So what the hey... one more inconsistency isn't going to hurt much... lol. If the show can survive the mistreatment of its original star, then surely this movie idea can withstand any scrutiny. Go with it!

Ed

[Benny JR]

I'm wondering if I should pitch this idea to one of the Cable TV Movie Company's? Also, the house Liz moves into could be Annie Steck's old house.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I would like to see a Hogan Family Reunion.

[JAldridge86]

Make Valerie's character Rhoda Morganstern, and I'm all for it...LOL.

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by Justin S. Aldridge

Make Valerie's character Rhoda Morganstern, and I'm all for it...LOL.

Sorry, but that could never happen. Valerie Harper doesn't own the rights to the Rhoda character, whereas she does own the rights to the Liz Gianni character and partly owns the Valerie Hogan character. So the best bet would be Liz Gianni.

Ed

[JAldridge86]

Only kidding, seeing none of this will even happen, sadly.

[Heidi Dawn]

I like the idea of a reunion, but I would have Valerie Harper appear as Valerie Hogan in a ghostly form, checking in on her family from beyond the grave.

[Scoobiedoo30]

How long has it been since The Hogan Family been off The Air

[Edster2973]

1991

[Scoobiedoo30]

that is going to be 19 year's time sure fly's