Actor G.W. Bailey plays Lt. Thaddeus Harris in Police Academy 1, 4, 5, 6 & 7. However, in parts 2 & 3 he is replaced by Art Metrano who plays Lt. Mauser, a similar character to that of Lt. Harris. Does anyone know reason for G.W. Bailey´s absence in the 2nd and 3rd parts?
shareHe had probably other projects that he wanted to do.
Another way of looking at it (some might say reading into it too much), is that in the second film, the crew were on "Their First Assignment" and on the streets as opposed to the Police Academy, therefore Harris, Callahan, and Commandant Lasard were not at that location (despite Commandant Lasard's brief appearences). I suppose they wanted another Harris-type character so they created a new one in Mauser for that location. Part III is a little tricky though since the main plot was two police academies competing to be the one sole academy of the state. Mauser was now in charge of one, and the crew were with Lasard's academy. I do wonder why they didn't have Harris in with them. Perhaps since his character is so similar to Mauser that they didn't want to overkill. But then again, maybe the first answer is correct in that the actor who plays Harris was unavailable due to other projects. Just a theory of mine for the above.
shareI agree with evilrepublicanralph's explanation as to why Harris wasn't in Police Academy 2! But for 3, it might have made more since to have Harris running another police academy instead of Mauser. But i figure, G.W. Bailey being involved in other projects probably was the reason he didn't return for part 3 at least!
Bang your head..., metal health will drive you mad!
Here is how I figure where Harris was in all of the movies.
1 - Leuitent Harris instructor at the academy
2 - Leuitent Harris instructor at the academy
3 - Capt Harris was promoted and put in charge of his own precient
4 - Capt Harris was promoted and put in charge of his own precient, was brought in charge of acadmey while Lassard was gone
5 - Still at the academy and was sent back there because they figure he was not doing a really good job at the precient he was in charge of.
6 - In charge of different precient
7 - Might of been sent back to Academy after it is found out he was the leak they were looking for in #6
Well, Bailey was doing other films in 1985 and 1986. He was in Rustlers Rhapsody (directed by Hugh Wilson of PA) and then Short Circuit, which also costarred Steve Guttenberg. But 1987 was a banner year for him, because he was in this film, Mannequin (with future Sex and the City costar Kim Cattrall) and Burglar. Okay, they may not have been great films, but at least the guy was working. Maybe Harris came back in the fourth one because Art Metrano (Mauser) didn't want to do anymore films in the series and Bailey was willing to come back.
shareActually.. you could say GW Bailey reteamed with Kim Cattrall (both were in PA1).
shareWith part 2 it made sense because Harris was an Academy instructor in 1, and part 2 wasn't set at the Academy. The only scene you see at the Academy was Lassard in his office talking to his brother on the phone.
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