Diane Ladd's exit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

sodalake · 01-04-2009, 03:12 PM

Why was it that Diane Ladd left the show in the middle of the season? Most actors finish out the season and leave at the end if they or the show doesn't renew their contract. It seemed so abrupt at the time how Belle called and quit and then Jolene came on the scene and was hired.

Did Diane leave beause of Linda Lavin? I never understood why her time on the show was so brief. I know Linda Lavin had good things to say about Celia Weston (Jolene) in an interview. I assume Linda got along fine with Celia because she wasn't as well known as an actress and didn't try to steal Linda's spotlight as being the star of the show.

Dr. Thong · 01-04-2009, 03:19 PM

From what I understand, it was a similar situation to what happened with Polly Holliday: Clashing egos.

Ironically, Diane Ladd played Flo in the movie the show was based on, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. It must have been weird for Diane Ladd to have originated a character and later play the character replacing the character she originally played.

Go figure.

catlover79 · 01-05-2009, 10:05 PM

I've heard that Linda Lavin had similar problems with Diane Ladd that she had with Polly Holliday. A shame, really. Still, in less than a full season, Diane Ladd won the Golden Globe for the role of Belle.

Jude The Obscure · 01-05-2009, 10:43 PM

Actually Diane did a full season--if you figured how she came on when Flo was spunoff as a mid season replacement, then near the end of the next season, left and was replaced by Jolene for the last six or so episodes.

catlover79 · 01-05-2009, 10:52 PM

OK...it's been YEARS since I've seen the Diane Ladd episodes.

Jude The Obscure · 01-05-2009, 10:58 PM

^I would say the same, except for the brief time ION was insane and actually aired OLD shows

catlover79 · 01-05-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

^I would say the same, except for the brief time ION was insane and actually aired OLD shows

Yeah, I was working nights when ION aired Alice and missed the Diane Ladd era.

OnTheMarkTexas · 10-05-2009, 06:24 PM

According to Ellen Burstyn's autobiography, she was cut out of the whole sitcom project altogether. The only actors who made the transition from the film to the show were Vic Tayback and Alfred Luter -- who was let go after the pilot and replaced with Philip McKeon.

As for Diane Ladd, like Elley Burstyn, she wasn't even contacted about the sitcom when it was in pre-production. I'd love to know the story behind how she got the role of Belle. Did the writers create the role just for her or was the part already in existance she came along after the fact?

I remember watching the E True Hollywood Story episode about ALICE and Diane said that she was brought in around the time that Polly Holliday was completing her last couple of shows and they happened to pass each other one day. Polly made a comment something along the lines of the egos on the set being a challenge to deal with on a daily basis. Diane was only on the show for a short time when she came to realize exactly what Polly had meant.

I do know that Diane would only take the role if they agreed to sign her to just one season (mid-1980 to mid-1981). Typically, she would have been bound by a 5-year contract. She made it clear that she was not happy with her time on the show, either.

Dr. Thong · 10-05-2009, 08:30 PM

As I recall, the Belle character was solely a creation of the show, ironically to fill the void by Flo's (Polly Holliday) departure. So Diane, who played Flo in the movie (if I'm remembering correctly) replaced the character she created in the movie.

I can't imagine that Ellen Burstyn would have wanted to do the show, as she had a movie career at the time the show premiered. It was not considered a good career move back then to go into a sitcom if you had a hot career making features.

Diane Ladd was smart to only sign up for one year, because she probably would have ended up in an unhappy situation where her and Linda Lavin came to blows.

It's too bad that the egos destroyed that show. Diane Ladd was okay and Celia Weston did a good job filling in the third lead spot once Diane left, but the show was never the same once Polly Holliday left.

Whatever personal issues the actresses had, there was a great creative chemisty between the original cast members onscreen. They should have appreciated their success and gone the distance together, but alas, it was not meant to be.

catlover79 · 10-05-2009, 09:32 PM

Does anyone know how well Vic Tayback got along with the actresses? I've read that he was very close to Philip McKeon (his own son was about Philip's age and he would take both boys to ballgames and such) but I don't know how well he got along with everyone else. To me, he seemed like such a teddy bear - both on-screen and off.

Dr. Thong · 10-06-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Does anyone know how well Vic Tayback got along with the actresses? I've read that he was very close to Philip McKeon (his own son was about Philip's age and he would take both boys to ballgames and such) but I don't know how well he got along with everyone else. To me, he seemed like such a teddy bear - both on-screen and off.

I never heard anything about any animosity towards Tayback -- he seemed to be well-regarded by the actresses as far as I know. From what I gather, I think he stayed out of the catfights (sorry!) and ego battles and just appreciated the fact he had a regular gig on a hit prime time show.

Too bad Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday didn't feel the same way.

catlover79 · 10-06-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I never heard anything about any animosity towards Tayback -- he seemed to be well-regarded by the actresses as far as I know. From what I gather, I think he stayed out of the catfights (sorry!) and ego battles and just appreciated the fact he had a regular gig on a hit prime time show.

Too bad Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday didn't feel the same way.

Yeah, that's the impression I got. He just seemed to be an all-around good guy.

JAlanRuss72 · 10-09-2009, 01:25 AM

Vic must have got along well with Polly Holliday- he was the only one who made a guest appearance on her spinoff series "Flo".

catlover79 · 10-09-2009, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

Vic must have got along well with Polly Holliday- he was the only one who made a guest appearance on her spinoff series "Flo".

He did? I never knew that. Cool.

comedyfreak · 10-09-2009, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He did? I never knew that. Cool.

Me either and I use to watch Flo and don't remember him being a guest.

01-04-2009, 03:12 PM	#1
sodalake Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 109	Diane Ladd's exit Why was it that Diane Ladd left the show in the middle of the season? Most actors finish out the season and leave at the end if they or the show doesn't renew their contract. It seemed so abrupt at the time how Belle called and quit and then Jolene came on the scene and was hired. Did Diane leave beause of Linda Lavin? I never understood why her time on the show was so brief. I know Linda Lavin had good things to say about Celia Weston (Jolene) in an interview. I assume Linda got along fine with Celia because she wasn't as well known as an actress and didn't try to steal Linda's spotlight as being the star of the show.

01-04-2009, 03:19 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	From what I understand, it was a similar situation to what happened with Polly Holliday: Clashing egos. Ironically, Diane Ladd played Flo in the movie the show was based on, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. It must have been weird for Diane Ladd to have originated a character and later play the character replacing the character she originally played. Go figure.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

01-05-2009, 10:05 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I've heard that Linda Lavin had similar problems with Diane Ladd that she had with Polly Holliday. A shame, really. Still, in less than a full season, Diane Ladd won the Golden Globe for the role of Belle.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-09-2009, 01:25 AM	#13
JAlanRuss72 Eternal Member Eternal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 22, 2006 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 488	Vic must have got along well with Polly Holliday- he was the only one who made a guest appearance on her spinoff series "Flo".
	__________________ Jeff Russell Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/Jrussell1972

01-05-2009, 10:43 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Actually Diane did a full season--if you figured how she came on when Flo was spunoff as a mid season replacement, then near the end of the next season, left and was replaced by Jolene for the last six or so episodes.

01-05-2009, 10:52 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	OK...it's been YEARS since I've seen the Diane Ladd episodes.

01-05-2009, 10:58 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	^I would say the same, except for the brief time ION was insane and actually aired OLD shows

10-05-2009, 06:24 PM	#8
OnTheMarkTexas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 05, 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 61	According to Ellen Burstyn's autobiography, she was cut out of the whole sitcom project altogether. The only actors who made the transition from the film to the show were Vic Tayback and Alfred Luter -- who was let go after the pilot and replaced with Philip McKeon. As for Diane Ladd, like Elley Burstyn, she wasn't even contacted about the sitcom when it was in pre-production. I'd love to know the story behind how she got the role of Belle. Did the writers create the role just for her or was the part already in existance she came along after the fact? I remember watching the E True Hollywood Story episode about ALICE and Diane said that she was brought in around the time that Polly Holliday was completing her last couple of shows and they happened to pass each other one day. Polly made a comment something along the lines of the egos on the set being a challenge to deal with on a daily basis. Diane was only on the show for a short time when she came to realize exactly what Polly had meant. I do know that Diane would only take the role if they agreed to sign her to just one season (mid-1980 to mid-1981). Typically, she would have been bound by a 5-year contract. She made it clear that she was not happy with her time on the show, either.

10-05-2009, 08:30 PM	#9
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	As I recall, the Belle character was solely a creation of the show, ironically to fill the void by Flo's (Polly Holliday) departure. So Diane, who played Flo in the movie (if I'm remembering correctly) replaced the character she created in the movie. I can't imagine that Ellen Burstyn would have wanted to do the show, as she had a movie career at the time the show premiered. It was not considered a good career move back then to go into a sitcom if you had a hot career making features. Diane Ladd was smart to only sign up for one year, because she probably would have ended up in an unhappy situation where her and Linda Lavin came to blows. It's too bad that the egos destroyed that show. Diane Ladd was okay and Celia Weston did a good job filling in the third lead spot once Diane left, but the show was never the same once Polly Holliday left. Whatever personal issues the actresses had, there was a great creative chemisty between the original cast members onscreen. They should have appreciated their success and gone the distance together, but alas, it was not meant to be.

10-05-2009, 09:32 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Does anyone know how well Vic Tayback got along with the actresses? I've read that he was very close to Philip McKeon (his own son was about Philip's age and he would take both boys to ballgames and such) but I don't know how well he got along with everyone else. To me, he seemed like such a teddy bear - both on-screen and off.