I wonder why the producers didn't consider Lana to be the third roommate when Suzanne Somers left the show. I think this would have been a perfect idea that the producers apparently overlooked! Can you imagine Lana constantly coming on to Jack in the apartment.
Agreed. Lana was too old to be the roommate. Ann Wedgeworth was 45 when she joined the show and would have been 46 the following season. Plus, she didn't leave the show on good terms. She quit midseason after her character's screen time was limited.
As for Cindy, producers said they didn't feel she was a good fit. As they put it, "being klutzy wasn't sexy." Somers played the dumb blonde well. Terri was a better fit though than Cindy.
I agree with you. Ugly is not a word to use to describe her. I think some people do not know what ugly is. And the actress in real life has such inner beauty. I met her and what a warm, kind person, one of the nicest celebrities I have ever met. She is very personable and funny and really listens to you and carries on a conversation with genuine sincerity.
I wouldn't have wanted Lana as the 3rd roommate ... but I always LOVED Lana. Am I the only one who was sad she was written out?
Ann Wedgeworth was funny and sexy - maybe a little too overtly sexy for the show. I loved her voice, her flashing eyes, her delivery of double-entendres. I was just watching some re-runs of season 4 (haven't seen those episodes in years), and Ann's character is even funnier than I remembered. She and John Ritter played off of each other really well.
She really stood out on the show - you can't take your eyes off of her any time she's on camera!
I tend to wince when she's nasty to Furley. I know he's supposed to be a sad sack loser but more often than not, it came off like she was kicking a puppy. At any rate, in a cast of cartoon characters (mostly) she was the cartooniest of them all, and I think she threw off the balance of the show.
^^ Yeah, she wasn't on the show long enough to take the character anywhere, or even make Lana particularly likable (she came off more like a villain). Ann was a terrific comedic actress and I'm sure could've done a lot on the show - more than Jenilee Harrison, that's for sure.
Lana constantly coming onto Jack got old VERY FAST! NO WAY that would work. Even John Ritter said on man in his right mind would turn down someone as gorgeous as Lana. That's why Lana only lasted 1 year! It was totally unrealistic for Jack to keep refusing such a hot lady like Lana!
At the same time, this unflappable drive to produce big laughs does cultivate a lot of undeniably hysterical moments, particularly for John Ritter, who plays well off of both his new castmates. Unfortunately, while Ralph Furley is a comedic slam-dunk for the series, Lana, from conception, is a one-note character, and far beneath the talents of the brilliant Wedgeworth; she disappears from the show in December. Nevertheless, Season Four is most often cited by fans as their favorite. Why? The laughs are BIGGER. Thus, there are a lot of classic installments, many of which contain two or three memorable bits. (Also, the honorable mentions are particularly notable this season.) But I have picked ten episodes that I think exemplify this season’s strongest installments. For new fans, this list will give you a place to start. For seasoned fans, there might be a few surprises.