About Todd Mayo Expertise At one time I had nearly every episode on tape. I am least familiar with the 1987-88,88-89,89-90 seasons. I am so-so on 1990-91. I`m a little weak on 1984-85 as well.
Expert: Todd Mayo Date: 1/3/2006 Subject: Why did these people leave the show.
Question Have you any idea why Barbara Bel Geddes left the show? Also was Donna Reed fired when she decided to return or was she only hired as a temp. replacement?
Also,Susan Howard(Donna Krebbs)was one of my favorites(she still is as I still watch this faithfully thanks to SoapNet)do you know what the reason behind here departure was? Did she quit or was she fired?
These are questions that I had when the show was in first run production yet had no one to answer them
Thanks!!
Answer Barbara left the show for one season for health reasons. That's all they ever said about her hiatus, "health reasons." As for Donna Reed, they had a regular two or three year contract with the show. They offered to buy her out of the contract when they saw what a disaster having ANYONE other than Barbara play the role of Miss Ellie. Donna Reed sued the producers and they finally settled but Reed did not depart with grace. Good news was we got the REAL Miss Ellie back.
As for Susan Howard, I never got the story on why she left the show. I personally liked her character very much and I liked Donna and Ray together. I never got a good explanation.
I never understood why they didn't try harder to keep Victoria Principal. I would have spent whatever it cost to keep her. I would have done the same to hold on to Patrick Duffy during the "dream season." It is a huge mistake to let a major actor who plays an intergal character go as we learned from the mistakes of the times in question.
