It Was Not Intended For Sophia To Appear Frequently On The Golden Girls
Show: The Golden Girls
Original Network: NBC
Est. Production Budget: $200,000 per episode*
It was not originally planned for Sophia Petrillo, the charming and sassy mother of Dorothy on The Golden Girls, to be a major character. But viewers loved actress Estelle Getty’s portrayal of the sardonic matriarch so much that the show’s producers decided to add her as a regular cast member. At the time of filming, Getty was actually a year younger than her on-screen daughter, who was portrayed by the amazing Bea Arthur. Producers were forced to write Charles Levin’s “Coco” out of the show in order to create space for Sophia as a regular.
It Was Not Intended For Sophia To Appear Frequently On The Golden Girls
The NBC President Nearly Let Michael J. Fox Go From Family Ties Because He Was Unable To “see that face on a lunchbox”
Show: Family Ties
Original Network: NBC
Est. Production Budget: $250,000 per episode*
Before Family Ties even aired, Michael J. Fox was on the verge of being fired from his breakthrough role as Alex P. Keaton because NBC’s president at the time didn’t believe he had what it took to become a major star. Gary David Goldberg, the show’s producer, battled to keep him on the program. Fox went on to have a prosperous career in Hollywood after proving his skeptics wrong with his performance and popularity. His iconic portrayal of Alex P. Keaton solidified his place in television history and continues to be a fan favorite.
The NBC President Nearly Let Michael J. Fox Go From Family Ties Because He Was Unable To See That Face On A Lunchbox
