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Specific Episode Discussions
Subject: Memories
Name: k.
Date: Wednesday, 02-Jun-1999 08:57:30
Message:I thought yesterday's show was very well done. It was the first time I had seen it in a long time and I was suprised how emotional it was. Betty Buckley did a great job - it was nice that they did a show about Abby's feelings from the past - and it was touching to see Tom's concern about losing her.
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Name: Julie
Message:
I agree. I made sure all my EIE friends watched the show, it was so well done, and "real".
Name: Susan
Message:
Betty did background work before taping that episode by interviewing Viet Nam survivors as well as people who had lost family members in that war. The show and the preparation she did opened up memories for her as well. During college, she was part of a Miss America tour that entertained soldiers and visited in hospitals. She recounted in the article that I read that this episode made her relive that experience which made her portrayal of Abby in that show more realistic.
Name: k.
Message:
Thanks for the reminder - I remember reading that article (Ms Magazine right?) when I was a kid. I remember it was pretty graphic - like journal entries from her visits to hospitals in Vietnam.
Name: Susan
Message:
The article was indeed from Ms. She did write some of her journal entries or paraphrased them, I can't remember which. I will have to look at my copy. It is one of my favorite episodes.
Subject: The Night They Raided the Bradfords
Name: Nathan
Date: Saturday, 08-May-1999 00:41:42
Message:Tonight's show (I'm being lazy and not checking the title, but I think it was "the night they raided the bradfords") was one of my all time favorites. After the intensity of yesterday's show in which everyone was yelling at everyone else over Nicholas, it was refreshing to see the clan involved in a very humorous situation. One interesting thing I noticed while watching today was that it seemed like the laugh tracks had been removed. There were funny lines followed by awkward moments of silence during which I distinctly remember hearing laughter the last time I saw this episode. I wonder if someone at master control had one of the audio channels switched off. It was just sort of weird.
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Name: Missy
Message:
That was one of my favorites too. That was so funny!
Subject: Today's Episode
Name: Nathan
Date: Thursday, 06-May-1999 22:39:55
Message:Geez, could the kids have been anymore selfish during today's episode? Poor Nicholas. I mean, I grew up as a latch-key kid and loved it, but Nicholas didn't really have that option. Instead, he was stuck with brothers and sisters who constantly complained about having to hang out with him. And then, I couldn't believe what a jerk Tom was to Abby!! You all are right when you post messages about how shabbily Tom treats her.
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Name: Mary
Message:
I was thinking that now-a-days they'd be leaving Nicholas at home with a Nintendo, 6 pack of cokes, and a lunchable--with orders not to open the door. Did you notice when Tommy wanted to give Nicholas some $$ to buy pop-corn at the drive-in ? His date told him it was TOO dangerous to let Nicholas wander around. At last someone has sense !
Name: Amy
Message:
I dont understand Tom at all. Did he marry Abby just so he would have someone to look after his kids, cook and clean, he could have gotten a housekeeper for that. I think Abby was taken for granted mostly by Tom and as kids will do they take their cue from the adults. I also wonder why Nicholas never took to calling Abby "Mom", they seemed pretty close.
Name: Susan
Message:
Nicholas does call Abby "Mom" at the end of today's episode, Big Shoes, Little Feet. Maybe by continuing that theme, the role of Abby as step-mom would be blurred. Even years later in the reunion episodes, they all called Abby by her name and not "Mom".
Name: ?
Message:
I wonder why they didn't continue having Nicholas call Abby, mom. It was a very touching moment, but didn't seem to mean anything afterwards because he didn't call her that anymore after that - at least that I can remember.
Name: Julie
Message:
I wonder too...it was so sweet when he called her mom. Like he was giving her a special gift.
Subject: Takin the show on the road
Name: Amy
Date: Sunday, 02-May-1999 22:00:16
Message:I liked how this week they took the show on the road with David, it was cool seeing new people and getting away from the family, who can be overwhelming at times, especially Mondays episode with Tom again ranting at Joannie like shes a child, in real life Joannie would never have continued living there being treated like a baby. It did seem however that she was a bit of rebel, stayin' out all nite and throwing her sex life in her fathers face, causing all that tension.
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Name: Julie
Message:
LOL... this has nothing to do with your actual thread content but... the title of the thread made me think of Betty and the show she did during the last season of EIE... "I'm Getting My Act Together And Taking It On The Road"
Name: d.t.
Message:
methinks this was supposed to be a pilot of a spinoff series starring "David" and his female traveling companion. wonder why this never got off the ground?
Name: Susan
Message:
David seems immature, too. First, he took off on the motorcycle, now this. He can't seem to deal with adversity. This is my least favorite story line.
Name: Shiela
Message:
I remember being disappointed in this episode when it was originally aired - not being able to catch up with the other Bradfords. After seeing it again, I didn't think it was as bad as I originally did. When looking at the episode guide to find out the actress' name who played David's traveling companion, I discovered that this episode was listed as being the season finale. That would explain my being so disappointed - what an anticlimactic ending to the season. On a seperate note - isn't the actress who played David's traveling companion the same actress who played his girlfriend in "little rich girl." That was the episode where he met a girl at her father's construction firm (or some type of building industry company), they started dating and then she started to change him and became very controlling. I'm almost positive it's the same actress but could not find any evidence on the episode guide.
Subject: Joanie vs. Abby
Name: Nathan
Date: Friday, 30-Apr-1999 21:39:51
Message:What did y'all think of the arugment between Joannie and Abby in tonight's episode (The Graduates)? I hadn't seen that scene since I was a teenager in the 80's. I remember being so fascinated with the realism when I was young. I must have been focused solely on that aspect of it b/c as I watched and heard what the discussion was about (what Joannie might do with her life in the future), I realized that I never actually paid attention to WHAT they were talking about intially. It was of particular interest to me b/c I'm going through similar life decisions in my own life right now. As for Joannie's comments to Abby towards the end of the discussion and her later apology in the laundry room, I'm glad that the writers once in a while showed that the Bradford kids weren't unphased by the loss of their mother. Tommy was the only other one who seemed to show signs of really missing the mother (in the X'mas show).
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Name: Tina Fraga
Message:
Hello Nathan: I love the scene where Abby and Joannie got into it. It brings a lot of what a lot of teenagers and young adults are facing today. I'm glad that Abby and Joannie talked at the end. What other episode do you like?
Name: Jodi
Message:
Somehow knowing that in real life Laurie is actually a few months older than Betty made the scene lose something for me. I'd like to see the outtakes from that episode.
Name: Sheila
Message:
Yes! I thought exactly the same thing! When Joannie and Abby had the confrontation in the bedroom, as well as the apology in the laundry room, I thought that they must be difficult scenes for these actors because they are so close in age - yet the scenes obviously call for characters of different ages and experiences. Also, I thought it was interesting that the laundry room was used for one of the scenes. That was the room that Joan eventually turned into a darkroom. I don't think that room was shown in many scenes after the death of the mother, so it seemed poignant. Can anyone list other times the laundry room was used in scenes after Joan, the character, died? By the way, I've posted here before but never listed my name - so I guess I finally decided to "come out" in a manner of speaking.
Name: Susan
Message:
There are a couple of other times when kids are doing laundry: When the girls couldn't afford their apartment, they came to talk to Mary who was doing laundry, when Susan brought her baby home, she was washing diapers. Those are a couple I remember.
Name: Jodi
Message:
I also felt a little impatient with Joannie--after all she was supposed to be 22. At 22 I hadn't lived at home in 4 years and was going through a divorce, and I'd have done anything to avoid living at home again. To be fair, however, since then I've taught women who are anywhere from 18-22 and up and sometimes they need a mother figure to talk to. And sometimes the guys, too.
Name: Susan
Message:
Joannie's mother probably would have reacted the same way as Abby. Elizabeth was younger and her problem was more immediate. Joan would have assumed that Joannie could wait since she was older. Second, Joannie would have said something like "You always liked Elizabeth better" or something like that if she was really frustrated. Same situation, different people.
Name: Amy
Message:
I was blown away by the whole scene, I dont even remember this the first time around, so this is the first time seeing it with ADULT eyes. Abby was a competent person , but the only one she was really warm and motherly to was Nicholas, which is understandable, the rest she was like a friend to, but tho everyone else was older, ya still need mothering even when your older. But I laugh at the scene also cuz I know they're the same age.
Name: kal
Message:
I thought both scenes were great as well. What amazed me was how oblivious Tom was. He never seems to see or be aware when Abby is helping one of the kids or being attacked by one. If I knocked on my husband's study door asking to speak to him and he turned me away - I'd be furious. Abby was way too patient and considerate! And to top it off, in the end he is the one that looks like the great understanding parent when they do Elizabeth's mock graduation. Abby definately doesn't get enough credit!
Name: jodi
Message:
I agree. I'd have told him to take his 8 kids and his constant demanding his own way and stuff it. But it was TV and we know in real life Betty Buckley would never have put up with it. I don't like the way he demands that Abby totally give in and give up her life to cater to him and the kids, and then when she does try to offer advice or help he tells her to butt out.
Name: cinsmith1
Message:
Yeah, if you really think about it; Abby raised those kids more than he did. Part of it was due to her age being closer to the kids. But they were his kids, she shouldn't have had to shoulder as much as she did,
Subject: Bully Father
Name: Selly
Date: Saturday, 20-Mar-99 01:41:39
Message:Has anyone noticed in the past episode, where Tommy had to write a theme for school, that Tom was acting like a child toward him. He was bullying his son and wasn't that understanding Tommy's difficulties. In fact, maybe that's why in the EIE wedding reunion show, he was made to be the bad guy and still difficult. He always had problems since his mother died. I thought Tom was a monster to him (finish that paper or else, your not listening to me,etc.). He was ranting and raving. Anyone agree or disagree?
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Name: Mary
Message:
I think it is a typical father/son interaction. A lot of dads are really tough on a teen age son ( but not a daughter) because they know that no one will EVER kiss a grown man's butt and give him an even break... I think Tom is just getting Tommy ready for the real world.
Name: Amy
Message:
Tom was scaring the crap out of me with his attitude, it was so out of character, although he was a bit of a tyrant on some issues, he was generally easygoing. The whole thing reminded me of my school days when I drew a complete blank on math, I just did'nt understand and any tutoring ended up with both of us banging our heads on the table, which proves Abby right, family should not tutor.
Name: Jodi
Message:
I agree. I'm a mom and a teacher and I get exasperated with Tom's attitude. Tommy is old enough to sink or swim--his choice. Tom needs to lighten up.My parents were the type that demanded straight A's and I won't do that to my son. I've told him I'd rather he get an F that he works hard for than an A that he cheats for. This means that I have to step back and let him take the consequences if he chooses not to do the work. I just tell him that he'd better not plan on us supporting him.
Of course, this attitude is not like EIE where they all stayed home forever, letting Tom boss them around and even ground Joannie when she was supposed to be 22 (she was actually 32!) Only on TV . . .
Name: Michelle
Message:
I'm glad someone else noticed that. Most of the older TV shows have the parents always doing and saying the right thing, but Tom really messed up sometimes. I think he is really hard on Tommy, and I find him to be kind of stubborn and sometimes he won't even listen. He's also too old fashioned, like when Elizabeth wanted to go on the pill and Mary wanted to move in with her boyfriend. But I found that he mellowed out a little toward the end of the show's run.
Name: ?
Message:
There's nothin' wrong with old-fashioned....The world wouldn't be the disaster it is today if more people were old-fashioned. But I agree, Tom was very stubborn and often times very selfish.
Name: Missy
Message:
Nobody's perfect. Not even dads.
Subject: Second Talent Show Episode
Name: Gwynne
Date: Thursday, 28-Jan-99 23:21:33
Message:I today's episode, Betty Buckley she sung a great song, she was the best in the so called talent show!! Awright, Grant was good too.
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Name: Branshee
Message:
The album (and it really was an album, no CD! Might still be around on cassette) is titled Betty Buckley. Also on it is the other song she sang the first time they did a telethon thingy on the show, So La.
Name: Nathan
Message:
I found Elizabeth's routine a bit painful to watch (I was on the phone with the TV muted). Nancy and Nicholas' act was cute and goofy- as I guess it was supposed to be, right?
Name: Gwynne
Message:
I thought Mary did a nice job answering the phone!!
Subject: Vows
Name: Julie
Date: Monday, 25-Jan-99 20:03:35
Message:So... who else laughed at the end scene of vows?? I laughed so hard when Tom gave Abby his little speech about the wedding night being about the blushing bride and the handsome groom finally being alone... he gets her all warmed up then... shuts out the light and says goodnight. I loved the way Abby said "Goodnight??!!!" LOL!!!
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Name: L
Message:
That end was great! Don't you think it would have been even better if there was some other dialogue while the Fred Astaire song was being played?
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