The show was canned cuz the cast were out of control - Eight Is Enough (1977) Discussion

[–] zaphod08 17 years ago

As far as I can recall, 4 of them had problems and 4 didn't.

In the kingdom of the blind, you're the village idiot.

reply

[–] BigRich 17 years ago

Love that Joannie was actually older in real life than her screen step-mom Abby. ha

Yeah, but wasn't Mary playing the oldest daughter? I find that more funny that a girl 7 years younger than the oldest female actress on the show is playing the eldest child or eldest daughter than one of the actresses portraying the one of the daughters being older than the "step" mom. Plus, it was never stated that Betty's character was that "young". From my view point as a little kid, Betty always seemed older.

It went in this order (taken from: http://www.becoming.net/eie/cast.html:

The Eight Children

Mary ( Lani O'Grady )
David ( Mark Hamill, Grant Goodeve )
Joanie ( Laurie Walters )
Nancy ( Kimberly Beck , Dianne Kay )
Elizabeth ( Connie Newton Needham )
Susan ( Susan Richardson )
Tommy ( Chris English, Willie Aames )
Nicholas ( Adam Rich )

IMO, Betty looked older than all the kids.

_
Every person that served can be called a veteran, but not every veteran can be called a Marine.

reply

[–] zaphod08 17 years ago

I don't think that was correct. I'm fairly certain that Susan was older than Nancy, and she was definitely older than Elizabeth.

In the kingdom of the blind, you're the village idiot.

reply

[–] BigRich 17 years ago

You're right. Susan Richardson (Susan) is 18 days older than Dianne Kay (Nancy).

_
Every person that served can be called a veteran, but not every veteran can be called a Marine.

reply

[–] AunteeE 17 years ago

I'm pretty sure that the ages went this way:
David
Mary
Joannie (who was adopted)
Susan
Nancy
Elizabeth
Tommy
Nicholas

I remember the episodes where Tom remarried and it was Elizabeth, as the youngest daughter, who was upset. Don't ask me who the Vice President was at the time, but I can remember useless stuff forever!

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] IrishRose5 17 years ago

I didn't know Joannie was adopted!

reply

[–] dfortier5 17 years ago

Joanie was NOT adopted! Where in the world do people get these things is beyond me!

The birth order is correct in the tv show and in the real Braden family.

See the post entitled " The REAL "Bradfords" " on the next page to get on the real family with real birth dates and all.

"I'd rather believe what I believe and be wrong than believe what you believe and be wrong."

reply

[–] sjbradford 17 years ago

Seriously - Joanie wasn't adopted!

You can remember the birth order using the Bradford's silly saying: Dumb Martians Just Sit Nearby Eating Tender Noodles. Or for the reverse: Never Try Eating Nectarines Since Juice May Dispense (which is also the title of the pilot).

reply

[–] isisdawonder 17 years ago

Thank God somebody posted those...because I was reading through everybody's posts wondering why nobody said anything. Also, Joannie is named after the mom, Joan. Not adopted.

reply

[–] Twinka2 14 years ago

Joanie was not adopted. In one episode she stated that she looked like Joan, her mother; this was when she was speaking to Abby. Interestingly enough, Laurie Walters and Diana Hyland did kind of favor each other.

reply

[–] nrangerseven 10 years ago

That conversation was ridiculous. Joanie and Abby looked alike. I still remember being pissed off about that as a kid.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.

reply

[–] JoWilli (21521) 6 years ago

joanie was adopted, it was confirmed in the tv movie last year...

reply

[–] Duncan_Idaho02 10 years ago

Where on Earth did you get that Joannie was adopted from? I love Eight is Enough and not once have I ever heard somebody state this. The show itself indicated she was a biological child of the Bradfords so where does this come from?

reply

[–] jefgg 13 years ago

It is easy to believe in the late '70s some young actors were using drugs and acting obnoxious. "Eight Is Enough" was probably expensive to produce because it had a large cast. One of the reason reality shows became popular was that those shows don't have actors earning high salaries.

reply

[–] shoopies 12 years ago

The kids go like this. David 22, Mary 21,Joannie 20, Susan 19, Nancy 18, Tommy 16, Elizabeth 15, Nicholas 7 . Those are the characters ages as of season 1. Not real ages of the actors.

You be suprised which of child actors did not appear in the pilot. Mark Hamill was the original David, he left to do Star Wars. Kimberly Beck was the original Nancy, Curtis Ellison was the original Tommy.

Here's a kicker Ralph Macchio the Karati Kid joined the cast in the last season or two as Abby's nephew Jeremy Andretti.

Susan was only one the kids to marry in the series her baby was Sandra Sue. It was never said whjat babies played the role.

reply

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ryanxxx 12 years ago

The kids go like this. David 22, Mary 21,Joannie 20, Susan 19, Nancy 18, Tommy 16, Elizabeth 15, Nicholas 7. Those are the characters ages as of season 1.

Tommy was younger than Elizabeth. Elizabeth was 15, Tommy was 14, and Nicholas was 8 during the first season.

Susan was only one the kids to marry in the series her baby was Sandra Sue.

Incorrect. In season 4 Susan married Merle and David married Janet in a double ceremony.

reply

[–] Duncan_Idaho02 10 years ago

You be suprised which of child actors did not appear in the pilot. Mark Hamill was the original David, he left to do Star Wars. Kimberly Beck was the original Nancy, Curtis Ellison was the original Tommy.Curtis Ellison was the original Tommy.

This is incorrect. Chris English was Tommy in the pilot. I am not sure who Curtis Ellison is, but he did not play Tommy, unless that is some alias for Chris English.

reply

[–] Adam60z (3781) 6 years ago

Mark Hamill had already done Star Wars prior to this. He then had a car accident, which is why he was replaced.

reply

[–] robertpatasnik 12 years ago

I couldn't believe what replace it "The Greatest American Doofus oops sorry(NOT) Hero starring William Katt. Don't know what he was thinking, I watch the first hour of a 2 hour episode no where near a superhero, always running into walls, what ever happen after I didn't care ABC must have been on drugs LOL yes I was mad saying they replace Eight is enough for this. yes again ABC was out of their minds. of course going up CBS and NBC had better programs to watch.

reply

[–] bsmith441 10 years ago

Yes that was the case. The ratings were still very good but as you stated the kids were constantly getting into trouble and from what I heard the Producers were fed up. The show was cancelled due to bad behavior by multiple actors. Had it only been one, they might could have replaced them, but there was no way you could get rid of everyone, lol.

reply

[–] banders46 9 years ago

Another factor is that back then, they were a lot quicker to cancel something with decent ratings if they had enough episodes for a strong syndication package. Canceling the show enabled them to save all the production costs (including salaries for those out-of-control actors) and start cashing in on the syndication. From what I understand, reruns and syndication aren't nearly the cash cow they used to be, because we have so many other content options.

reply

[–] apfortony 10 years ago

Eight is Enough was moved to Saturday nights half way threw the fifth season. Away from the familiar Wednesday time slot the ratings fell and ABC swung the axe. I remember them adding Ralph "Karate Kid" Machhio to up the cute factor but it didn't help. Shades of cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch!

reply

[–] ilahilda 10 years ago

I recall reading Lani, Grant, and Adam had substance abuse problems. Did other cast members have them as well? I was a kid at that time and didn't pay attention to the celebrity news then.

reply

[–] lakesgirl2 10 years ago

Willie did too.

reply

[–] ilahilda 10 years ago

Thanks, I forgot about him.

reply

[–] cinsmith1 9 years ago

Susan too, she started doing coke to lose her real-life baby weight.

reply

[–] Popcorngal (4928) a year ago

She really had a messed up life after the show's fame. Especially after she met some shady people in South Korea.

reply

[–] dWillVanGreemen 8 years ago

Never heard those rumors before
but they do stand to reason
because somehow
you can just tell by watching

Then by process of elimination
that must mean that
L Walters
Di Kay
C Needham
and W Aames
are not doped up
and spinning out of control

You can just about tell that
by watching any episode
especially
Di Kay and C Needham
because they are perfection

Not since the Golden Years
of Classic Hwood
have you seen actresses
as pretty as
Di Kay and C Needham
or as sweeet as L Walters

or at least until you watch D Mills
or anyone as beautiful and talented
as D Mills, Di Kay and C Needham
which was very rare
after Hwood
abolished the Hays Code in 1967

A couple of female Country stars
were also very beautiful
and talented around this time
but way too much time has passed since them

Therefore
good for
L Walters
Di Kay
C Needham
and W Aames
for bypassing that drug craze
and looking good to this day
for knowing how to keep in control

[harp] 🎻 [saint] [candle] [piano]

âª  Not even Mad Scientists
get it right every time

reply

[–] lakesgirl2 8 years ago

Willie Aames has been pretty open about his abuse of drugs and alcohol. He seems to be good today.

I believe it was Brian Patrick Clarke (Merle) who said in the E Hollywood True Story that 5 of the 8 kids were on drugs and alcohol. Laurie Walters, Dianne Kay and Connie Needham seemed to steer clear of all this. I think it was Grant Goodeve, Lani O'Grady, Susan Richardson, Willie Aames and Adam Rich that all had problems. I do think all of the guys seem to be doing well today. But of course with addiction, that can all change pretty quickly.

reply

[–] Popcorngal (4928) a year ago

I knew about Grant, Adam, Willie, and Lani's substance issues, but never knew about Susan. Although I knew she faced other hardships. Luckily Grant and Willie turned their life around. I hope Susan did too.

reply

[–] nycruise-1 9 years ago

Druggies!

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

reply