A Chat With V.I.C.I.'s real Daddy

Howard, Small Wonder fans wanna know . . .

Q.  Before it got tech-massaged where did Vicki's name come from?

A.  I made up Vicki's name.  Actually it was VICI which stands for VOICE INPUT CHILD IDENTICANT.  I added the "K" so it could be pronounced better.

Q.  Did sci-fi play a part in the initial creation of Vicki?

A.  No, I never worked or wrote in science fiction and it did not inspire my creation of Vicki.  I will say, however, that my interest in science fiction probably played a part in it.

Q.  You consider your work in "My Living Doll" more comedy than sci-fi then?

A.  I was the producer/head writer of "Living Doll" which was created by someone else.  I rewrote and produced the pilot and then developed the series.  I didn't write any original scripts because I was too busy helping other writers develop stories and rewriting their scripts as necessary, editing, casting, post-production, etc., etc.

Q.  Do you think it's possible to do a show starring a robot that seriously explores how it changes its family?

A.  I really don't have all the answers as to what a new SW theme would concentrate on.  Of course I would want to have the elements of family relationship changes, sensitivity, thoughtfulness, etc.  Yes, you can do all this with a robot and I did do a lot of it on the original SW.

Q.  While we saw some former stars drop by the Lawsons, why didn't you cast some "known" personalities in the show?

A.  I never wished for any "guest" names to be on the show.  The robot and her relationship to the family and neighbors is what made it work.  I didn't try to jazz up the ratings with trick casting.  Maybe I should have but we'll never know.

Q.  Considering how racy most teenage stuff is today, do you think a teen Vicki would've worked without becoming a beach bunny Barbie doll?

A.  A teenage Vicki wouldn't have worked at the time because our target audience, according to demographics, was young, the one we went for and which made the show a success.  That's the audience the studio wanted and so did I.  Times were different then.

Q.  What's the origin of Vicki's pinafore and trademark "tunnel roll" bobbed ponytail?

A.  Vicki's pinafore was one of many the wardrobes designers sketched for me before production began.  I liked it best as it had both a distinctive "doll-like" quality and look.  We later changed it to "regular" kids clothing sometimes as Vicki became more "human."  Same with her hair, and I did change her hair on occasion to please Tiffany Brissette, the girl who played Vicki.

Q.  Any actress chosen to play Vicki had to've had more than average thespian pluck to play a straight emotionless role, true?

A.  Hundreds of girls vied for the part.  We simply wanted the best child actress for the role.  That was Tiffany Brissette; she understood the role perfectly and nobody else was even a close second.  You should have seen Tiffany when she was told she got the part!  Delirious with joy!

Q.  Did Tiffany like playing Vanessa?

A.  Yes, Tiffany indeed loved to play Vanessa because it was such a different character than Vicki and a fun challenge.  I liked Vanessa, too, and had the series continued I would have had more appearances by Vanessa.  By the way, I made up the name Vanessa because it sounded kind of "saucy" to me.  Also, it began with a V!

More Questions & Answers (May 29, 2000)

Q.  Former SW stage crew members recall Jerry Supiran as a mischievous tyke.  Did he come across to you that way?

A.  Yes, Jerry Supiran was a mischievous tyke who bugged the crew but was a good little actor.  I had no problem with him, just his mother.

Q.  What was the earliest thing you did on TV?

A.  The earliest thing I did on TV was the Meet Millie show on CBS in the 1950s.

Q.  Did you really work on the Brady Bunch?  Did you meet the kids?

A.  Yes, I produced and was head writer for The Brady Bunch starting with its second season and until it went off the air.

Q.  Are you a vegetarian?  What's your favorite snack on the set?

A.  Who could possibly care if I'm a vegetarian which I'm not?  I'll eat almost anything.

Q.  The SW home page says you got the idea from watching video games, but what was the very first grain of inspiration to create a show about a robot?

A.  No, I did not get the idea for SW from watching video games which I don't watch.  Seeing the movies "Blade Runner" and "E.T." started my thinking.

Q.  Where did you get the ideas for the songs on the show?  Did you write the one Tiffany sang in the "Book-It" show?

A.  I wrote the lyrics for the SW theme music, also I rewrote the lyrics for the song Tiffany sang on "Book It."

Q.  What's your most memorable SW shows?  Which did you yourself write alone?

A.  I have no "most memorable" SW episode.  I wrote the pilot show alone.

Q.  Did you have a 'love-hate' nickname among cast and crew on the SW set?

A.  There were no "love-hate" nicknames on the set as far as I know.  If the kids had them, I wasn't aware or cared.

Q.  Did you do any speaking engagements about the show?

A.  I lectured a few times at writing classes and answered any questions that were asked about SW.

Q.  Some former SW staff say Tiffany was more of an exceptionally talented mimic than actress.  Do you agree about this difference and assessment?  Was it actually an advantage playing Vicki?

A.  Tiffany was both a talented mimic and actress.  She was very intelligent and understood the concept of a robot.

Q.  Did you have any unfulfilled ideas to do a separate space show?

A.  No, I don't have any unfulfilled ideas re a space show.

Q.  Who's your most admired producer and directors?

A.  I don't have any "most admired" producers or a directors, I admire many in each catagory.

Q.  What are your five top favorite TV shows of all time?

A.  I don't have five top TV shows of all time.  I liked a lot of them.  I seldom watch comedies (series) on TV now as I think most of them are kaka.

Q.  If you accept the fact that Small Wonder carried many android-doting Roddenberry audiences (like was announced at Fairchild Star Trek Convention in Feb), do you think you could create a different robot show based on the same wholesomeness of Small Wonder?

A.  Yes, I undoubtedly could create a different robot show with the same wholesomeness of SW.  But why give away my secrets??!!

Q.  Did you claim any show props or souvenirs when it wrapped like the others did?  What kind of SW show mementos do you have?  Can you be as descriptive as you can please?

A.  No, I have no props or mementos from SW.  Fox took it all.  However I do have all the tapes and scripts.

Q.  The SW Home Page claims there were actually two wrap parties for the show.  Why and did you attend both?

A.  I think there actually were two wrap parties for SW and I did attend them both.  One, if I remember, was at the studio in Hollywood and the other was at a restaurant at Universal City.

Q.  Was SW the first show you were executive producer of?

A.  I was an Executive Producer long before SW, including the shows I did for Norman Lear for six years.

Q.  In the SW episode "Hooray for Hollyweird," actor Danny Wells played you in a cream jacket acting snobby and copying peoples ideas and bopping people on the heads with newspapers and calling them "What are you, an idiot?"  How close was he to acting like you?

A.  No, actor Danny Wells, a very funny guy, did not play me in a white (cream) jacket.  That's not my style.  It was his own interpretation for the part.

Q.  When you first learn that older teens and college kids and techie types were watching the show?  How did the cast take to the news?

A.  I'm not sure when it was that we learned re: older teens and college kids and techie types were watching our show.  Since the ratings were good, we assumed we had a good cross-section of viewers.  I always felt we'd get the mothers and fathers and siblings to watch over the shoulders of the kids.  Happily, I was right.

Q.  How often did you ever read fan mail?

A.  I seldom read fan mail unless it was addressed to me personally or if it had a complaint about something, which I answered personally.  We didn't get much of that.  Sometimes the kids or the mothers would bring a letter to my attention.

Q.  How set up were you with ideas ready to go for a fifth season of SW?

A.  I had many ideas in the works for a fifth season of SW. Also many story lines, notes.  Too bad!

Q.  We liked Vanessa a lot!  Does she represent impish girls you've known in your life?

A.  I liked Vanessa, too.  She was a cross between many such children I've come across.

Q.  Have you ever taught producing or screen writing?

A.  I've lectured on both TV producing and writing.

Q.  What was the last magazine interview you gave?  Are you going to do anymore?

A.  I haven't done many magazine interviews and I can't remember the last one.  No, I have not been asked to do any current interviews.  Except, perhaps, for The Brady Bunch show on TV recently which I declined.

Q.  When did you learn that Small Wonder was a big hit in Asia and India?  Were you surprised?

A.  I was very happy to hear, though I can't remember exactly when, that SW was a hit in Asia and India.  In fact, when we first sold the show, it was bought by 23 foreign countries.

Q.  What stars were you born under?

A.  I don't know what stars I was born under.  However, I'm a Cancer.

Q.  How did you keep discipline with all those kids with all the child labor laws against you?

A.  The child labor laws didn't bother us.  We stuck to our schedule of allotted hours for children and didn't have any problems.  You keep discipline with kids by giving them limits and responsibility.  We had excellent welfare workers (teachers) for the kids schooling who kept them on the ball, and I did the same on the set.

Q.  If it's true, why do you think actors had such swollen egos?

A.  Actors have swollen egos (adults) because they are famous and make a lot of money and have no basic values.  Those with values realize that they are just a very lucky person.

Q.  Did you do or say anything special with the SW kids to try to keep them from ending up like the Diff'rent Strokes kids?

A.  It's not my responsibility to bring up the kids I work with.  That's the parents job.  Children with no values turn out regrettably bad as young adults.  If anyone other than the parents try to discipline kids nowadays, they get arrested, sometimes the parents do, too.  A sad situation.

Q.  What's the secret of getting the most out of a child actor?

A.  The secret of getting the most out of a child actor is to treat him/her like a short adult!

Q.  Have you ever been to Japan and where?

A.  No, never been to Japan.  However, I did stay a couple of nights at the Hotel Otani in downtown Los Angeles and ate sushi.

Q.  Did the Small Wonder cast have any direct impact in the writing of any scripts, and how much did you allow their feelings to change them?

A.  Yes, the father on the show wrote a couple of scripts for SW and directed one.  I was always open to the suggestions of both the kids and the adults and would sometimes make changes to accommodate them.

Q.  Did you keep any of Vicki's dresses or shoes as a keepsake and how do you feel about them showing up on telethons?

A.  I have no "keepsakes" from Vicki's wardrobe and have ne feelings about them showing up on telethons.

Q.  If invited, would you come talk at a Small Wonder convention?

A.  Depending on the timing, etc., I just might come to talk at a SW convention.

Q.  The Small Wonder Home Page says that the show had a "shoestring budget."  If you had the money you wanted, how would've you done the show?

A.  The shows budget was not a "shoestring" budget.  It was ample for the series.  If there had been a lot more money to play with then, yes, I would have taken advantage of it.  Maybe "travelled" the show to different locations, opened it up to more involved stories at times.

Q.  Where did you get the idea of using the names of your staff as characters on the show?

A.  Using the names of my staff, friends and relatives for characters on the show is not "getting an idea" to do so.  It's a practice often used by writers and producers.

Q.  The first TV Guide listing for "The Bad Seed" states that Vanessa was played by a "Lisa Perry" (ed: We'll fax you that 1987 clipping).  Was she Vanessa originally?  If not who was Tiffany's stand-in then?  Was she much younger than Tiffany since Tiffany was so tiny?

A.  I can't remember the name of the little girl who doubled for Vanessa in scenes with Tiffany, who played both parts.  Tiffany's stand-in was not a child, it was a "little person," usually referred to as midgets.  They were wonderful, and we used many of them as stand-ins and also as actors.

Q.  Exactly what does a executive producer during the day when you have so many other producers doing the job for you?

A.  I didn't have "so many other producers" working for me.  I had just one and though his title was "producer," he actually just wrote or rewrote episodes, he didn't "produce" in the sense that I did.  It was my job to over see every aspect of the production, including rewriting an aforementioned "producer" if necessary.

Q.  How old were you going to let Vicki be if Fox kept the show on?  Would you let her be a teen in a red miniskirt and long hair and longer white tights?

A.  If the show had continued, I would have played Vicki as the same age that Tiffany was at the time.  I also would have changed her wardrobe to reflect her getting older.  I would have covered that "growing up" for Vicki with appropriate dialogue, i.e., the father, having created Vicki, would explain scientifically how he "matured" her.

Q.  What do you think about this quote from Channel Cruisings:  "Excellent points -- and a likely reason that attributed to Small Wonder's incongruous success as an unintended sci-fi show.  Here we have a show about a robot that doesn't involve violence or her/it causing peril or damaging anything or anyone.  This is a BIG point in why there've been so shockingly few attempts to create a series starring an android/robot.  To most studio honchos, robots mean Frankenstein, and that's the kind of "drama" you milk out of that concept.  None's more evident of this than what occurred with "Questor", when NBC honchos just couldn't conceive of an artificial man being a benefactor instead of a bane to mankind.  A "good" robot is an "accidental" robot ( i.e. "Johnny Five" and "Electric Dreams"), but as a series?  Naw.  The concept of a robot emotionally influencing humans in its orbit is a novel realm that is scarcely scratched, and hopefully a new Small Wonder or SW clone will dare that next step if it can fight out of the bag that it can only be done as a kiddie show."

A.  I think the quote from Channel Cruisings has some valid points.

Q.  Were you ever thinking of a show featuring international "flavors" of Vicki?  I mean, a show in which you have Tiffany playing many different Vickis from different countries and races?  Do you think Fox would've let you do it?

A.  We'll never know about a show featuring international flavors of Vicki.  If Fox wouldn't renew the show for a fifth season, they certainly weren't interested in international flavors or SW.

Q.  Did the SW cast have trailers or actual rooms as dressing rooms?

A.  The SW cast had real dressing rooms.

Q.  What was the main differences when you worked for Fox and for Metromedia?

A.  The difference between working for Metromedia and then Fox, was that there was much more interference and second guessing at Fox.  At Metromedia, thanks to that wonderful man who was head of it, Bob Bennett, he gave instructions to everybody to leave me alone.

Q.  Did you have to personally approve of Vicki's dress and hairstyle?  Also, I've been trying to describe Vicki's "tunnel roll ponytail" to my hairdresser for my daughter.  Can you give me the name of Tiffany's hair stylist or do you have any close-up pictures of Tiffany's cute coiffure?

A.  Yes, I had to give my okay for Vicki's dress and hairstyle.  It changed from time to time so I can't explain the style.  No, I don't have any photos of her.

Q.  A lot of moms on-line and a pageant mag said that Vicki was just too sexy doing that pageant in the "Little Miss Shopping Mall" episode, looking too sexy just like JonBenet Ramsey did.  If you knew she looked this provocative would you have changed it?

A.  Vicki didn't look that "provocative" to me and we got no fan mail to reflect that she did then.  No, I wouldn't have changed it.  She just looked "cute" and if people have dirty minds, that's their problem.

Q.  Why wasn't there any Christmas show on Small Wonder like most all sitcoms have?

A.  You know, I actually don't remember whether or not we did a "Christmas Show".  If indeed we didn't, I can't remember any reason why not.

Q.  Will there ever be a Small Wonder cast reunion?  Have you heard of any?

A.  No, I doubt that there ever will be a SW cast reunion.  However, I keep in touch with some of them.

Q.  Who was your "right hand man/woman" on Small Wonder and can you pass your torch to him to keep your show and sci-fi legacy alive for more generations to enjoy in sparkling new ways?

A.  I didn't have a "right hand man or woman" on the show and didn't and don't intend to "pass it on" to anyone.

Q.  Where did you get the idea of making Vicki atomic powered?  Weren't you afraid of critics?

A.  I really don't remember after all these years if Vicki was atomic powered or not.  However, if she was, I got it from technical research which I did lot of for the series.  I still have reams of notes forwarded to me from scientific clubs suggesting what robots can or cannot do.  I suppose that the limitations and scientific progress will have changed the possibilities by this time.

Q.  Did any robotics companies or schools into robots write you at Small Wonder about the show?

A.  Yes, see my answer to the previous question above.

New Questions & Answers (June 18, 2000)

Q.  Did you carry over any story elements or traits or characterizations from Brady Bunch and Diff'rent Strokes to SW?

A.  No, I didn't carry over any story elements or traits or characterizations from Brady or Strokes to SW.

Q.  This question is a follow-up to the college feminist studies course which included bashing SW; One of the biggest slingers on-line against SW comes from Lifetime Television people whom believe that Vicki represents everything men wish their daughters to be (docile, obedient, dainty).  It's been said that Sally Struthers was very unhappy that SW beat out her "adult comedy" Nine-To-Five in rating every time.  One of their pet peeves also was about Joan Lawson, whom they say was a totally anachronistic "kitchen bunny Joan Cleaver" in the 1980s and "whatever was the obviously male writer thinking of" creating her character.  Where did you get the idea for Joan Lawson and how do you feel about Lifetime and feminist courses feeling this way toward SW?  Do you feel they simply lack a humor or have a legitimate point somewhere?

A.  I'm glad to hear that Lifetime thinks that Vicki represents all the fine qualities that parents would like their daughters (and sons) to have, i.e. polite, well-mannered, obedient, etc.  What a great compliment!  I wish daughters and sons like that on every female exec at Lifetime!  As for the character of Joan Lawson, I wanted to present her as a woman dedicated to being a mother and housewife, emotionally squared away and happy doing it, and not trying to prove she had balls bigger than a man's in the business world.  Refreshingly, there are such women; not all females live their lives according to the barracudas at Lifetime.  However, they're free and entitled to think what they want.  It's their problem, not mine.

Q.  The TV Guide at least once "cover profiles" any high rating series that stays on at least two years.  Since TV Guide never did a single cover or story on SW in four years, even though SW blazed a new concept in syndication and pulled surprise top ratings, do you concur that TV Guide was simply biased against a show it never believed should've been as popular as it was or pulling the ratings it had?

A.  Yes, I'm afraid the folks at TV Guide were biased against SW for the reason you stated: they simply thought it shouldn't be so popular.  We got nothing from them; in fact, we didn't even get much publicity from Fox.  In fact, here I had the only robot on TV and Fox did no merchandising!  SW was a natural for merchandising but all we got was a dreadful rag doll in a pinafore, some lunch boxes and T-shirts.  I was really upset about it and got nowhere when I brought it up to Fox.

Q.  Is it always necessary to re-write a script to the extent the original writer's concept is totally erased?  Is having re-write writers really a "make work" union position forced on producers?  How does the early fledgling writer remaining inside you feel about this practice?

A.  No, it's not always necessary to re-write a writers original script to the extent that his concept is totally erased.  I did a lot of re-writing but only to keep the characters consistent with what I created and perhaps to add a better joke, in my opinion.  I never re-wrote "story" because I always okayed the story before the writer began writing it.  Re-writing was never as you put it, a "make work" position forced on me.  In my career I've been re-written many times as a free-lance writer contributing to episodes of a series I didn't create.  It's a necessary part of TV series as you can't expect a free-lance writer to come in and write a script perfectly the first time or even if he/she does several scripts.  I suppose some ego-maniac producers abuse the process but I truly don't think I did.  The less I re-wrote the better I liked it, less work!

Q.  You previously said Tiffany's stand-in was a midget.  Why not just another child?  Were midgets used to help Tiffany's self-esteem cope with her tiny size?

A.  Midgets were used to give them work!  They don't get that many opportunities in TV and they were wonderful!  Better than some ex-SW members.  Tiffany's esteem was just fine.

Q.  Were there things you missed not having done on Small Wonder the first time simply because of time and cost pressures?  Can you give examples what else you you've done?

A.  Perhaps the thing I most missed not doing on SW was to develop Vicki into a more mature young lady, to take advantage of Tiffany herself maturing as she got older.  But, alas, we weren't picked up for another season.

Q.  You admirably restrained yourself from giving Vicki off-the-wall super powers; is this a result of the technical background research you did?

A.  Yes, I restrained from giving Vicki "off the wall" super powers to keep her within the bounds of what my research told me a robot could do.  I wanted her to be as "real" as possibly a robot could be although I'm sure there could have been more that she could have done and I missed it.  Still, I'd have done much more in future episodes as robotics progressed in real life, but alas, we weren't renewed.

Q.  How often did you actually break away from the office paperwork and get on the set?

A.  I was on the set every day in-between office and production duties.

Q.  Whose red car was it that the Lawsons drove in the "Hooray for Hollyweird" episode?

A.  I can't remember whose red car the Lawsons drove in the Hollywood episode.

Q.  Since as a producer you have to be careful about what you say publicly in addition to having to worry about lawsuits from disaffected writers and slighted stage moms and plagiarism and being ripped off and scammed by hustlers, do you think your producer career has made you far more cynical and less trusting of people than had you went on to be a teacher or a doctor?

A.  No, my career hasn't made me cynical or less trusting of others in my business.  I'm smart enough to know that there are those out there who would like to steal your ideas or screw you in some way (i.e., any studio or network) so one is smart to keep one's own thoughts in one's own head.  That's why we register stories, scripts, etc., at the Writers Guild Of America.  You really do have to be careful, though, as witness the many suits brought by writers against studios, networks, etc.  By the way, I was a doctor -- a script doctor!  Little humor, there.

Q.  Were you in charge of the SW promotion tours the cast took?  Did they ever go abroad?

A.  No, I wasn't in charge of the promotion tours the cast may have taken, that was arranged by the publicity dept and cleared with me.

Q.  Do you think Hollywood is basically a corrupting experience for actors, especially children?

A.  No, Hollywood doesn't have to be a corrupting experience to actors/actresses and children.  Not if your [kids] have parents who can give them some VALUES in life and put acting in its proper perspective, that it's probably just a glamorous phase in one's life, that one is very lucky to have experienced it and especially that one is not special!  Just lucky!!  Ego's are a dangerous thing!!

Q.  Can you recall any story idea that Tiffany might have brought to you, and did she have anything to accentuate her character with?

A.  Tiffany never brought me any story ideas, but when she had an idea about her character, I always was pleased to discuss it with her and use it if possible.  It showed me that she was really interested in the character she was playing and wanted to improve it.

Q.  Exactly if possible, were there any episodes directly inspired by the kids in the cast?

A.  No, there were no episodes of SW inspired by the kids in the cast.  At least, none that I can remember.

Q.  Who designed the SW logo?  If you, where'd you get the idea from?

A.  I didn't design the SW logo, it was designed by my art director who's name escapes me at the moment.  I thought it was very good.

Q.  Is the fact SW had no Christmas show because it was a time when Fox was trying to be PC?

A.  I can't recall any reason why we didn't do a Christmas show and it had nothing to do with any dictates from Fox.

Q.  If a Japanese TV group asked you to do a SW over there, would you go?

A.  If a Japanese TV group asked me to do a SW (robot) show in Japan I would be delighted to go and do it.  However, you can't do a SW show without the approval of Fox.  A different robot show is another matter.

Q.  Do you have a date and location of where the role of Vicki was auditioned?  How many came and exactly what did you ask of the girls and how long did it take?

A.  I interviewed more than a hundred kids for the parts in SW both in Los Angeles and New York.  Every child read scenes from the pilot script,which I wrote, and the casting took a couple of months as I recall.  I asked each girl to do her own impression of a robot as she read.  Tiffany was by far the best of them all.

Q.  We noticed in later episodes Vicki always wearing a watch.  Since a robot wouldn't need a watch, did you give Tiffany the watch to get her to return back to the set on time on breaks?

A.  No, I didn't give Tiffany a watch to get her back to the set on time on breaks.  Real human little girls wear watches and the point of the whole show was to pass Tiffany off as a real human little girl.  You'll recall that as the show progressed over the four seasons, Tiffany's hair and clothing changed to reflect a real human little girl.  That's what real human little girls do.

Q.  In the creative process of doing Vicki's overall effect, did you give the hairdresser and wardrobe lady an idea of exactly what you wanted or was it the reverse?

A.  I gave the hairdresser and wardrobe lady a basic idea of how I wanted Vicki to look and then save them a free hand to develop their own concepts pending my approval.

Q.  Who designed Vicki's robot panel, who has it now, and how much input did you have in the design?  Ex-SW members said that incidences with Tiffany wearing it made the butt of many jokes off-camera.  Can you think of any or were you largely confined to your office to ever know?

A.  I personally designed Vicki's robot panel from questions I asked our research people, and the property dept built it adding their own ideas.  I don't know of any off-camera jokes about it but I'd guess they were all dirty.  Looks I had some pedophiles on the set!

Q.  Off the top of your head, generally how many Vicki pinafores were created?  She wore a different one each day or what?

A.  Vicki had several pinafores in case of damage, soil, etc.  She wore a fresh one every day, as I recall.

Q.  Didn't Tiffany get awfully hot wearing all those laces and crinolines under the stage lights?

A.  Actresses and actors feel warm under stage lights no matter what they're wearing.  Except for bikinis and tongas, natch.

Q.  Was there a subtle reason besides budgets why you didn't give Vicki her own room?  Some say it would been bad humor in an age of homelessness.

A.  There was no "subtle" or any other reason for not giving Vicki her own room.  I simply wanted the robot in a location where she could be controlled and seen if anything went wrong with her mechanisms.  Of course, I risked the obvious sex questions that dirty minds think up when you have a robot female in the same room with a real male child.  That's a problem and subject I didn't wish to tackle because of the time my show was viewed on TV, a family hour and I didn't want to offend parents.  I wanted to let them have their kids watch the show without reservations.

Q.  Since you're a big Hollywood producer you must have a Lake Erie sized swimming pool and wall-to-wall french maids in a cliffside house overlooking Los Angeles.  How close are we?

A.  You're way off!  I don't have a swimming pool or a cliffside house overlooking the city.  As to the wall-to-wall maids, no, just a cleaning lady.  I'm not what you'd call a "big Hollywood producer."  I'm just a happily successful one.

New Questions & Answers (July 3, 2000)

Q.  So why did Fox pull V.I.C.I.'s power plug?  Why kill off a Good Thing?  Why isn't Fox re-running Small Wonder in America??

We need the real story and internal politics of Small Wonder's cancellation!  So, the question is can you scribe in your own words for fans and peeping media any in-depth response outlining exactly the true causes of the cancellation and the parties involved and whether Fox really loathed carrying the show so long.  The questions that fans are asking is: We all know you were against Fox taking SW off, but were there no other "takers" for the show besides Fox?  Since SW was Metromedia's "baby," how long do you think Metromedia would've continued producing the show hadn't Fox stepped in?  Was it really getting too expensive to produce? Were you aware that in the last months of SW that the episodes were scattered all over the week in viewing times, even 3:30 AM Sundays as though Fox was trying to get it out of the way?

A.  Thanks one more time for the info about Small Wonder and the interest showed by Vicki's fans. It's both gratifying and kind of sad to know we had such a successful, clean family show that was cancelled before its time.  However, in this capricious TV business I prefer to look at it as the glass was half full, not half empty.  We did get four years and almost a hundred episodes! Not many series can claim that happy result. Still, I was very upset over the cancellation of SW and tried every way I could think of to get Fox to change their mind.  I know for sure that if the show had stayed with Metromedia we'd have been renewed for at least another year or two.  Not only that but I had a second series ready to go that Metromedia was going to do but that went down the drain with the Fox purchase. As to your question "Why was the show cancelled" the Ex-SW writer was right on the mark when he explained the value of re-runs in syndication to a company.  Other than that, the details aren't very complicated: I'm afraid that the heads at Fox, just didn't like the show.  They were indifferent to it's success and seemed to want to make as much money out of it as fast as they could and dump it.  They bought the show from Metromedia in SW's second season and didn't even want to renew it after that but were forced to by the then-head of Metromedia Bob Bennett who really loved the show and knew it's potential.  He got SW renewed for 48 more episodes after the initial 48, and I felt at the time that when the 48 new ones were finished we'd be cancelled.  Unhappily I was right. The cancellation had nothing to do with rising budgets, etc.  In fact, my budget remained the same for all 96 episodes!  I mean the overall budget which included raises for cast, writers, crew, etc.  SW was a genuine BUY at its cost but that didn't impress Fox.  In fact, Fox didn't even go after merchandising for the show.  They simply put out a few T-shirts, cheap stuff like that.  It was infuriating and I couldn't get Fox to do more.  I had the only robot on TV and they made a sample doll of Vicki - guess what?  A RAG doll!  And that was without my knowledge.  I had told them previously to make a doll that took advantage of the fact that it was a robot, with computers and other devices that kids could use as learning aids.  It fell on deaf ears and I couldn't believe it when they suddenly sent me one of those rag dolls.  I complained, I yelled, begged to no avail. So what do you think?  Only one conclusion makes any sense: Fox hated the show and dumped it as soon as possible.  By that I mean the Execs at Fox.  I knew a lot of people at Fox who loved the show and wanted it to continue but they hadn't the power to make it happen.  Neither did I.  I'm sure there are those who will still say that the show wasn't making it in the ratings, etc., but the numbers and the ratings disprove that.  I have no idea why the new heads at Fox aren't re-running the show, at least on their Family Channel which is so kid oriented.  I've had meetings with them, conversations with them, and there just doesn't seem to be any interest in SW the series, or a re-make. As I always say, onward and upward and thanks for the successes!  I'm not one to bemoan what might have been.  I'll only point out that all the foregoing re: SW's cancellation is from my own personal point of view.  I have no way of knowing what was going on in the minds over at Fox, I can only guess as a rational person who knew a little about the type of people I was dealing with at Fox.  I had no idea of the behind-the-scenes deals between Fox and the other partners that were going on.  I do know, however, that Fox controlled the show and called the shots. I'm always happy to hear from SW fan's questions, and I'm pleased that EX-SW writers still have mostly fond memories of the show.  I think I can honestly say that I had a wonderful relationship with them.  At least for my part, and enjoyed their talent and contributions to SW that helped make it the success it was.

New Questions & Answers (July 24, 2000)

Q.  Will you eventually donate your SW memorabilia to a broadcast museum?  Why?

A.  The only SW memorabilia I have is the tapes and scripts of the show.  Oh - also budgets, etc.  I really don't know what I'll do with them and haven't given it any thought at this time.  We shall see.

Q.  What is the identity of the building used in the SW opener?  How'd you find it?

A.  I really can't remember the exact identity of the building we used in the opener, except that it was some kind of technical biz and my location manager found it.  We put up our own signs at the building to fit our series needs and covered up the signs that were already on the building.

Q.  Normally how long did it take to compose a SW script?  How long to re-write it?

A.  It took a few weeks to compose a SW script if it was written by a free-lance writer.  That's because the freelance writer had to get a story idea, discuss it with me and my staff, go away and make the necessary changes, come back and discuss it again, then go write a first draft, come back and discuss it, go away and write a second draft to accommodate changes and then turn it in.  From that point, my story editors made their changes and then I made further changes that I thought were necessary. This process was shortened considerably if the script was written by my story editors rather than a freelance writer.  That's because it was all "in house" so to speak, we only had to go into each other's office to discuss it.  Also my story editors knew the show and characters far better than an outside writer and their script would require less changes. Because the script process took so long, which it always does when you use a lot of free-lance writers, "lead time" (the time before actual shooting begins) is so important.  It's best to have a LOT of scripts in hand, or in the works, before shooting because you use them up so fast and it takes so long to get them.  Of course if it were an emergency, my staff and I could put a script together in a week at the most, but that's NOT the way to go!

Q.  Did you ever write any original episodes yourself and could you name one?

A.  The only original script I personally wrote alone was the pilot script.  I had too many other duties to perform while in production and my ego didn't demand that I write more of them.  Nor did I take any screen credit for what re-writing I did, even if I gave the writer the idea for the episode and helped him/her work it out.

Q.  Your last answer about Metromedia mentioned an unfulfilled show you had in mind that never came around.  Was it a sitcom?  A western?  A sci-fi show?

A.  The unfulfilled, unproduced show that went down the tube when Metromedia was sold to Fox was a sitcom, more adult than SW.  Who knows.  Maybe one day!

Q.  To what extent did you match or select cast wardrobe with each script?  Did you make the garment selection yourself or by the arbitrary ideas of the wardrobe lady?  Are the cast wearing their "street clothes" on the set, or from head to toe in costume in which you're picky even about the color of socks and hair ribbons they wear?  (in other words, how far does an executive producer "micro-manage" his own show?)

A.  The wardrobe for each character in each episode was first selected by the wardrobe lady, then cleared with me.  If I had any special thing in mind I would consult with her before she chose it.  The cast never wore their own wardrobe in episodes but if they desired to and told me, I would usually try to accommodate them.  After the show was finished (cancelled) I gave some of the wardrobe to the cast members if they wanted them.  No, it's a bad habit to excessively micromanage one's own show, it takes away the creative juices of the individual who runs their own department.  It's not good to have an Exec hanging over one's head.

Q.  We've seen all kinds of "expose" movies about DIFF'RENT STROKES and BRADY BUNCH and FACTS OF LIFE, but they never have any character playing you or even any mention that you were involved in those shows, even when they feature actors playing those shows' make-up lady and gaffers.  Is Hollywood ignoring your role working in these shows?  Could this willful neglect relate to the way you're being treated by Hollywood today?

A.  As regards the "expose" movies and programs about the other shows I've done, "Strokes," "Brady," "Facts," my name wasn't mentioned because those who were the owners of the shows didn't want my name mentioned, I'd guess.  Some people find it very hard to give other people credit for their contribution to the success of a show.  However, I did get screen credit on every episode, and they had the correct address for where to send the checks! It's not "Hollywood" who ignores my role on those shows, it's the individuals who own/created them.  If one were to confront them about it, they'd quickly be most magnanimous to one's face.  Further, I am NOT being treated badly by "Hollywood."  Or the industry.  I've had a great career, for which I'm grateful, and I don't care to work now like I used to.  I don't have the desire or the patience or the financial need.

Q.  If it weren't for union rules, could've you done SW with half the stage and office crew you had? (since the "Blair Witch Project" was only filmed by three people and grossed almost $40 million).  What's the "skeleton crew" minimum you could do a new SW?

A.  Yes, if I were to have done SW non-union, which I didn't want to do, I probably could have done it with less staff.  I have no idea what the "skeleton crew" minimum is for the series.

Q.  Though we don't expect an exact count, approximately how many girls auditioned for Vicki?  More than a hundred?  Less than two hundred?  What were your age restrictions?

A.  I interviewed a hundred or so kids for the roles in SW, both here and in New York.  Actually, I didn't have the time to interview more as we were so close to starting production due to studio scheduling conflicts.  The age restrictions were to have the kids around nine or ten, to leave room for their growth over the years if the series were successful.  As I've told you before, Tiffany was perfect.  And the "little girl next door" Emily Schulman, although she was only 8, was also perfect in my view.

Q.  Lea Hurst, of Sid-Mars casting, mentioned in PBS documentary on sitcoms that it would've taken a special kind of tenacity and reserve for a young girl to play a robot for over four years.  According to her, the near absence of girls playing any robot on TV and film is telling.  Young girls love to emote and express themselves and be animated but playing Vicki was 180 degrees that.  Since you mention that Tiffany was a runaway ideal Vicki candidate and no other girl came close, doesn't that bear out Ms. Hurst's contention that's Tiffany's best talent at playing a robot weren't just thespian?  According to ex-SW writers, Tiffany alone of the regular kids didn't gripe or beef or acted obnoxious to get her way on the set, so maybe in a "positive" way Tiffany was the ideal "oddball" in temperament and humility to play Vicki.  What is your spin on this?

A.  You can tell Lea Hurst of Sid-Mars casting that she is correct; it did indeed take a special kind of tenacity and reserve for Tiffany to play a robot for four years.  It also took restraint, discipline, and talent to do so.  Yes, young girls love to emote and express themselves and be animated but what they "love to do" has nothing to do with the nature of the role, the character they're playing.  Tiffany understood what the character required.  She was capable of playing many different kinds of roles, in my opinion, so I don't agree with Lea Hurst that Tiffany's talents at playing a robot weren't just thespian.  That is, if I understand fully what Lea meant. It's true that Tiffany wasn't demanding or difficult or complaining or acting obnoxious "to get her way."  She didn't need to be, she was treated with respect and everybody liked her and if she had a problem at all, she could always come to me to discuss it.  That wasn't very often.  However, her mother was a pretty good whiner.  I'm sure you've heard the legion of stories in Hollywood about stage-mothers.  Unfortunately there's a lot of truth in them, but nothing that can't be handled.

New Questions & Answers (Aug 01, 2000)

Q.  Did you go to college and what was your major?  If you couldn't be a producer or writer what kind of trade or profession do you think you would've next been happy doing?

A.  No, I didn't go to college.  I got interested in the entertainment bit when I became a kid actor at the age of 11.  I hated acting but loved the behind the camera goings on.  When I graduated from High School I got a job at MGM Studio in the messenger department.  From there I went into the productions department, then the film editing department, then more production department.  Part of my job was to read scripts which got me to thinking I could write better than some of the stuff I was reading.  Then a great thing happened to me, I got fired!  I say "great thing" because it forced me to try writing for a living.  That was in the 50s, and along came TV and after many spec scripts, etc.  I got a shot at a show and, happily, was successful at it.  I have no idea what I would've liked to do in any other business.  It never entered my mind.  Now it's too late!

Q.  As you might already know via media, SONY is embarking on a $ multi-millon program to build real-life android "grandchildren" to serve and nurse their growing elderly population: Major fan/media question on the home page: A creator of a show forecasting such, who had Joan gradually falling in love with Vicki as a daughter with a regard beyond that for any pet, do you believe the fringe benefit of any new SW today is to also pose situations and questions as to the social and family ramifications of letting such intimate technology in the house?

A.  I have no feelings about letting robots or such intimate technology into our homes except to say, why not?  If it can be helpful to humankind and doesn't hurt anyone, I'm for it.

Q.  What or Who inspired you to create Mrs. Brindles' infamous "No No-No No No-No"?

A.  On Mrs. Brindle's "No-no-no-no-no" was something the actress did on her own.  I loved it and had her keep it in all episodes.

Q.  Did any of your family ever appear on the show or that of the cast's?  Were you ever enticed to do a "Hitchcock" cameo on any of the episodes?

A.  No, not any of my family ever appeared on SW episodes.  Nor did I ever do a "Hitchcock."

Q.  Is it true that most off-set hi-jinxs were generally done while the "cat" (you) were away?

A.  It's possible that some of the "hi-jinx" on the set was done while I wasn't present.  I wasn't always on the set, I had many other duties to perform for future episodes, but I always enjoyed them when I was present.  I've pulled quite a few myself in the past.

Q.  In your professional opinion, if a SW revival ever occurred, do you think in today's hi-tech climate that a past retread would work better than a socially relevant updated format?  Is it safer to weigh traditional sitcom camp humor against exploring new sci-fi humor possibilities?

A.  In any new SW show it would be best, in my opinion, to take advantage of both a socially relevant format and the newest technology gimmicks in robotry.  It's been 12 years since SW stopped production and there have been many changes in society and technology since then.  Also, any new SW series would have to deal with the present-day morality and problems that face families and their children.

Q.  Why did you phase out by season two Vicki's innocently sexy chant "I can do anything I'm programmed to do" when it was on it's way to being part of TV pop culture like Arnold Drummond's "Wha'cha talkin' about, Willis??"?  Some speculate that because of Rhoda the robot's own similar suggestive innuendos on MY LIVING DOLL, you decided to withdraw any similar hint of such total submissiveness from Vicki's vocab. (Well, SOMETHING happened!)

A.  Vicki's "I can do anything I'm programmed to do" was NOT intentionally phased out.  It just happened that way.  Perhaps I made a mistake in letting that happen but it wouldn't have made any difference, really, in the future of the series.

Q.  Where'd you come up with the SW theme song?  Why did you change it for season two and what inspired you to?  What other themes have you written?

A.  I wrote the lyrics for the SW theme song, not the music.  I changed it for season 2 (or was it 3?) to give it a fresh, jazzier sound.  I thought kids would like it better.  It's the only theme song I've written.

Q.  Did you originally do Vanessa as a 'one shot' deal before fan mail feedback came in?  Was there any way you could've replaced Vicki with Vanessa in later seasons just like how she slyly took over Vicki's place in "Hooray for Hollywerid"?  When did you create the nickname for Vanessa as the "Mechminx"?

A.  Vanessa was done as a one-shot deal but like all other one-shot deals, if the reaction is good, you do it again.  As for Vanessa "taking over Vicki" that's another thing we'll never know.  No, it wasn't until later on in the show that I heard Vanessa nicknamed the "Mechminx."  Great nickname, huh?

Q.  Would you consider yourself formally retired or in hiatus?

A.  I consider myself mostly retired but I do have a couple of new projects in the hands of an agent.  If something came along that really inspired me (aside from a new SW) I'd take a hard look at it.  I have no desire to work the hours or the stressful way you have to in doing a series.  Been there, done that.  No mas, por favor! If I were to sell a new series the most I'd want to do is consult!

Q.  Have you ever bumped into actors and extras you've worked with?

A.  Yes, I've bumped into and socialized with people I've worked with in the past.  That includes SW people, of course.  I enjoy that.

Q.  In a fun-loving way, some ex-SW insiders say you were "cantankerously creative".  Were you really that strict and no-nonsense on and off the set?

A.  I don't think of myself as being "cantankerously creative" or especially strict and no-nonsense in my dealings.  I did demand a certain discipline from everybody because that's necessary when you're on a time schedule and budget.  We did have a lot of laughs, however, and I'm a pretty 'loose'' kind of guy and never "uptight."  To this day when I meet people I've worked with (except possibly writers who wanted to change my creation into their own vision) they tell me how happy and wonderful it was working together, and how much happier it was than on TV shows they are presently working on.  I take that as a compliment and can only only add that I, like everyone else, am not perfect!

Q.  Some fans who were in SW studio audience fondly recall the "warm-up" man and ex-SW writers say you've known "Bob" for a while.  What's the skinny on this?

A.  The "Warm up" man on SW was indeed named Bobby, He was a very funny stand-up comedian I hired and later he wanted to be a writer.  I helped him learn to do that and gave him some episodes to write on SW.  Presently he's a working writer, successful, but I haven't seen him in a few years.

Q.  In creating Vicki, you must've pondered giving her a unique "gimmick" along the lines of Samantha's nose twitch.  Did you?

A.  I didn't need to give Vicki a Samantha-like nose twitch for a gimmick.  Vicki was a was a robot which IS a gimmick in itself.  Besides, Robots aren't witches and do that stuff. Robots don't do supernatural things.

Q.  If you can do this chronologically by TV season, by which did it dawn on you or the cast that way more than kids were watching the show, as demos and advertisers already knew?

A.  As SW progressed over the seasons, and probably starting at the end of the first season, our researchers informed me that our demographics showed that we were getting older siblings and parents over the shoulders of the kids.  I always thought we would because it was a pleasant, clean, humorous family show that parents would want their kids to watch as against the violent plethora of cartoons that were on at that time in '84.  Also, the show had an interesting new-age concept that I thought would be attractive to kids, which was: if you raise a robot child in a family with real children, how close to human or self-programming could a robot become?  That's what sold the show to Metromedia as against animation all the time.

Q.  Some fan e-mail from wanna-be actors say their moms would've urged them to fudge scenes to get kicked off a show they felt was "holding them back".  Did you have concerns that Tiff might "walk" in lieu that SW wasn't taking full advantage of her non-robotic talents and striking model looks, especially in the late later shows?

A.  I never had any concern about Tiffany "walking" from the show because it was the part of a lifetime for a little girl and she was very lucky to have gotten it.  She did get it because she had the talent for it, but God knows how many talented kids go undiscovered.  It would be a stupid "stage mother" indeed who'd counsel her child to screw up on a hit show because it was "holding her back."  As the show progressed and Vicki became more "human" I changed her wardrobe and manner of acting to conform.  If the show had gone on for another year or two, she would have progressed even further into being more "human."

Q.  Can you reconstruct the day you announced the cancellation to the cast?  Was it done in your office or on the set and during which episode?  How did they take it?  Surprised or expectant?  ex-SW studio teacher Rich Feldman says the only one happy was Surpiran, for reasons that you broke no fooling around on the set and because he felt there were 'better' roles waiting for him (turned out he was super wrong).  How did the announcement change the cast moods doing the remaining shows?  Was there any 'hope to the last' that SW might get picked up again?

A.  The SW cast, like myself, had talked a lot about being picked up for another season well before the end of our last season.  We were kept informed by "friends" at Fox regarding the latest decisions and we all felt that it take a minor miracle to get us picked up in spite of our ratings and popularity.  It was no surprise when we were informed that there would be no pickup but it was still disappointing.  It's kind of like when you love somebody who's ill and they're dying.  You expect it but it hits you hard when it happens.  The only way you can look at it is, you beat the TV odds; most shows fail and we had four great successful years.  Onward and upward!

New Questions & Answers (Aug 24, 2000)

Q.  Besides being known as the fox of the series to many guy-fans, Marla Pennington was reputed to be a very good cook.  Did she bring any of her fare to the set for all to try?  When was the last you heard from her?

A.  Marla Pennington is indeed a superb cook.  She used to make some special dishes and bring them to the set from time to time for the cast.  She also sends her friends a recipe book she concocted at X-Mas each year.  I still see Marla and her husband from time to time.

Q.  Forget about ratings; from a practical scripting and creative sense, what's the max amount of seasons do you think SW could've run?

A.  I think that SW could have comfortably continued for several more seasons without sacrificing quality on scripts or production.  In fact, with all the new technical progress such as the info you sent me, it would have opened up new areas for stories.  Also, as the kids on the show grew older, including Vicki, that too would have opened up new story opportunities.

Q.  Did you see Bicentennial Man?  What'd you think of it?

A.  Yes, I saw Bicentennial Man and found it interesting and entertaining.

Q.  Since you had a live studio audience, how did you manage the special effects in front of them like Vicki's hyperspeed and electrical glows and stuff?

A.  The special effects on the series was not done in front of the live audience, It was done earlier in the week and then shown to the live audience on the t.v. screens at the same time that it was supposed to occur when the actors/actresses were performing the effect.

Q.  Where was your office during SW?  Was it on the set or blocks away?

A.  My office was not on the set.  It was in a separate location in another building a short walk away.

Q.  Do you remember the SW studio teachers?  Do you think it's better and more manageable to have "studio schools" off the set for kid actors instead of private tutors?

A.  No, I don't remember the names of the SW teachers, but they were both men and women and were very pleasant and helpful.  I'm not sure what you mean by "studio schools" off the set as against private tutors.  I do think, however, that either way the "school" has to be close to the set for practical reasons.

Q.  How many writers did you employ at max?

A.  I employed writers in two different ways: First, there were my staff writers, the permanent writers who were story editors and worked on every script and also wrote their own original scripts at times.  Then there were the freelance writers who would come in with story ideas to pitch.  If we liked the ideas, we'd help them develop the story and then they'd write a script, at which point my story editors and I took over for necessary rewriting.  I used a lot or freelance writers on the series as it gave me a wide choice of story ideas.  I never had more than three writers on staff.

Q.  "Little Miss Shopping Mall" was the only show when a cast member was absent all through.  Do your old papers and production logs tell you why Jerry Supiran didn't show up?

A.  Sorry, but I can't really remember why Jerry Suprian wasn't in the "shopping Mall" episode.  Perhaps he was ill.

Q.  Did any of the cast members have any relatives doing cameos on the show?  If so, whose and on which episodes we can look for?

A.  No, there wasn't any relatives doing cameos on the show, including myself.

Q.  What months were your SW filming schedule and what months were free?

A.  My shooting schedules are in storage so I don't have the exact dates in mind.  However, we did begin shooting SW in September '84.  We'd shoot 26 episodes usually, with time-off in-between for holidays, special occasions, etc.  We'd usually take a little longer break in the summer.

Q.  Since Steven King's on-line book has made a smash impression that now authors can completely bypass publishing houses and go on-line to the public with material, do you think this is a viable option for a new SW if studios keep turning you down?

A.  Any on-line activities with SW are up to Fox.

Q.  You slipped in some adult quips on SW.  Were they from your writers or you?

A.  I don't remember the "adult quips" you're referring to on SW.  They could've come from me or my writers.

Q.  Did you ever have to explain certain episodes to Fox Standards & Practices (like Roddenberry did) and did they ever give you suggestions on things you shouldn't do?

A.  I had a good relationship with the folks at Standards & Practices and they seldom had questions for me.  This was due mostly, I think, to the fact that our show wasn't one of a controversial nature.  Also, if and when they happened to have a question, we worked it out amiably, I never had to "clear" a story with them before we had the whole script written, but I did do them the courtesy of sending them a script to read a week before it was shot.

Q.  Since your last replies said that the audition age requirement for Vicki's player was 9 or 10, was it hard to counteract the fact that tiny Tiffany almost looked 8 the same as Emily?

A.  Tiffany may have originally looked as young as Emily (8) to some people, but not to me.  She was 10, a bit small for her age, but perfect for the part.

Q.  Is it true that Dick Christie lives or once lived in Charlie Chaplin's old house during SW?

A.  No, Dick Christie never lived in a house once owned by Charlle Chaplin during our SW shooting.  However, he did live in a house that was once owned by some other comedian of that era and the house was supposed to be haunted by the comedian's "friendly ghost".  It may've been someone like Buster Keaton, etc.

Q.  Did you ever take SW cast and crew on "company picnics"?  What were they like and where?  Are there any pictures of them?

A.  No, we never took our cast on company picnics, but from time to time Metromedia and then Fox had celebrations which we were all invited to.

Q.  Was your original aim for a "PG" or "PG-13" SW?

A.  My original aim for SW was to have a show that would be viewed by children and their families, whatever that rating might be.  I didn't want a series that would be limited to certain viewers by a special rating.

Q.  Did you have any incidents in the studio audience that stopped filming?

A.  No, we never had any incidents with a studio live audience that stopped shooting.  Sometimes audiences would laugh or hoot when we didn't expect it, but we were able to handle that in editing.

Q.  Did you ever go on any publicity tours or appearances with the cast?  If only once, where?

A.  The only times I went on publicity tours with the cast or some of the cast, was to the NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) convention each year.  They were held in places like New Orleans and San Francisco.  Other than NATPE times, if cast members went on publicity tours the studio publicity dept accompanied them.

Q.  Please, precisely, what was a SW audition like?  Did you give the girl a script to read or did you direct her verbally how to act?  Especially and uniquely for playing Vicki, exactly what you looking for?  How rigid they could hold a glassy gaze or walk a wooden soldier walk or talk in a robotic monotone?  As you may've read an article from a India magazine, a top Indian actress in a SW skit found it impossible to keep up a robotic demeanor.  Did you find this equally difficult in the girls at the SW audition?

A.  I auditioned in my comfortable office, with a sofa or chairs for the ones being auditioned.  A printed scene was given to the actor or actress through their agent a week before they were to be auditioned so they could learn it. First I would let the actor/actress read the scene with my casting director in their own way as they saw the part.  Then I would ask them to read it again, giving them a few suggestions, changes, to see how well they took direction and how quickly they could adapt to what I had said.  I wasn't interested in a "wooden soldier walk" or "glassy gaze" but rather an interesting sound in a monotone that would befit a robot who would have no human expression.  Tiffany did it wonderfully on her own conception of a robot and did it even better with some coaching.  The Indian actress doing that SW skit who found it difficult to keep up a robotic demeanor was either a poor actress or she was trying to make the robot HERSELF instead of making herself the robot.  On occasion Tiffany would slip out of her robotic character, but she would quickly stop it when it was pointed out.  Tiffany did it for 4 years; Are you saying the Indian actress couldn't do it for even a few minute sketch???!!!  I repeat, poor actress!

Q.  Seeing how TV Guide snubbed SW for over four years, one also wonders how Tiffany's feminine ego took the fact that during SW other young actresses on other TV series were given lavish features and interviews by major teen and youth magazines which never approached her.  It shows how strong Tiffany's self-esteem was at putting up with the peer "stigma" of playing a robot, especially in high school where kids were always teasing her with robot voices and imitations and doing stupid pranks on her.

A.  I'm sure Tiffany sometimes wondered why other child actresses on other series got more publicity than she or we did.  I can't remember her ever complaining about it, although I sure did to Fox publicity dept.  Tiffany and SW deserved much better than they got from the periodicals in 4 years.

Q.  A pop fan topic: In light that the high fashion world is accepting transvestites to model top class fem fashions and incidents in kiddie pageants when 'girls' were uncovered as boys passing for girls by overly zealous guardians, suppose a very comely boy came to the SW audition and even exceeded Tiffany in talent and he and his mom were willing to "pass him off" as Vicki for SW.  What would be your primary reservations be in lieu today's laxer moral climate?  Do you think there are producers unscrupulous or bold enough to allow such a masquerade to create a hit show?  Also, considering all you've seen in this lifetime, do you think the day will come in which sex requirements to play sex specific roles will be overlooked?

A.  If in an audition for the part of Vicki a mother tried to pass off her little boy for a little girl, I wouldn't have agreed to it.  Morality has nothing to do with it.  If a man wants to dress as a woman that's okay with me, but if the part calls for a female I'd cast a female.  If I had wanted a little boy robot I'd have cast a little boy.  There'd be no point in casting a boy to play a girl unless, of course, that was the point of the story.  There's no shortage of male or female acting talent that would cause me to try to pass off a male child for a female child.

Q.  Were any birthdays ever celebrated on the set?

A.  Everybody's birthdays were celebrated on the set including mine.

Q.  Did you and the cast ever read fan mail together?  Did you filter fan mail for the kids?

A.  No, I never "filtered" mail for the kids.  If fan mail was addressed to them it went directly to them.  If they wanted me to see a particular letter they showed it to me.

Q.  Did you consider your SW stint "love work" or just an enjoyable assignment?

A.  My SW series was indeed LOVE WORK for me.  The most enjoyable series I've done.  We had some problems from time to time, all series do, but it was wonderful.

Q.  There has been since 1989 a rumored "precociously glamourous" pic of Tiffany via a renown Scavullo make-over for a modeling shot.  Do you have any leads on this?

A.  I have no knowledge of the rumored "precociously glamorous" pic of Tiffany via a Scavullo makeover.

Q.  Your message said you only had scripts and production notes left from the show; as the boss, why don't you have any of the SW jackets and coffee mugs and stationary and baseball caps like the writers and crew and other members of the SW production have?

A.  I do have SW jackets and stationery.  I don't have a lot of other stuff.  I guess I'm just not a "saver."  Oh - I also have a few wristwatches from SW.

New Questions & Answers (Sep 29, 2000)

Q.  Was your wife or relative or Joan Cleaver the original inspiration for Joan Lawson?

A.  No.  Joan Lawson was not inspired by any one person.  She is however a mother who is not ashamed to be one instead of only a nanny which is a rarity on TV these days.

Q.  How much more would've it been to do a SW episode on location like a nearby sci museum?

A.  Any on-location shooting is naturally going to be more expensive to do because you're moving everything outdoors.  You're moving equipment and dress accommodations and personnel and on-location support staffing.  Then you must have permits and site caretaking and transportation, public access, and classes for the kids and tutors.  So yes it is more expensive, and that's why sitcoms don't do it often.

Q.  You might not be willing to answer this for concern of being taken for an endorsement of a child model, but the question is, have you ever watched TV lately and said to yourself "Hey, she'd make a great new Vicki!" or "A great new Vanessa!"?  If so, which child on which program or commercial is it or was Tiffany just too unique?

A.  Of course a few come to mind but I won't say who the actor or actresses are.

Q.  At what point did you sense "enough was enough" when it came to gags vs technical credibility; for example, you went so far as having Vicki shake the Lawson house to simulate an earthquake.  That said, what kept you from having her lift whole cars over her head later on?

A.  It was more a common sense brake than a "technical credibility" brake.  If Vicki could do anything people would get bored very quickly.

Q.  If you do a new SW, would you like to/be able to guest star Tiffany in an episode?

A.  Yes, I would like to guest Tiffany in a new show if it happened.

Q.  What particular girl or event made you dream up Vanessa?  What was her "ideal" look to you?

A.  Again, no one person inspired my characters.  She's an amalgam of naughty little girls you see on many sitcoms.

Q.  Did you ever see the original "Bad Seed" movie?  Was she Vanessa's model?

A.  Of course I saw it!  Twice!  The first week it came out.  Patty McCormack was fabulous.  A child actor's actress.

Q.  Did you ever ponder whether doing Vanessa as a (single actress) twin or a separate person?

A.  I thought about a separate actress but I felt Tiffany deserved to limber up in another role for once.

Q.  Suppose that Mechminx episodes were high enough in ratings and fans urging; would've you considered a way to "dump" Vicki and make Vanessa the new "SW" instead?  Script-wise, could it done?

A.  I may've answered this before.  Yes, "Script-wise" it could be done but that's not the same as having to do it, or the need.  It depended on whether Fox would've liked the change.  If they wanted it I would've done it.

Q.  Would've you spent on a new bedroom set for Vicki to satisfy curious Mrs. Fernwald about one?

A.  No.  Robots don't need bedrooms.  The curious Fernwall would have to be deceived in other ways.

Q.  You mentioned that Marla Pennington used to bring dishes to the set from time to time.  Can you recall some of what she brought and what was your favorite?

A.  I can't specifically recall, but we ate anything she bought including the dishes.

Q.  You said in your last reply "On occasion Tiffany would slip out of her robotic character, but she would quickly stop it when it was pointed out."  Exactly what would you or the director tell her when she did; was it something like "You're not Vicki anymore?" or "You're forgetting you're a robot" or what?

A.  The director simply called it out.  It didn't happen often.

Q.  Re: to the question above; were there times when Tiffany "forgot" to turn her "Vicki self" off??

A.  There were incidents when someone flubbed a line or coughed or a prop fell or something short and minor interrupted a taping when Tiffany didn't break character, like in a trance.  That was very professional.

Q.  Do you believe in "method acting" and do you think Tiffany used it to play Vicki so well?

A.  I'm sure that ability played an important part especially during long takes.

Q.  How different is your very first rough draft of the show premise from the way the show finally aired?

A.  I'd have to see my proposal drafts to Metromedia to tell.  There're stored away someplace.

Q.  Most seniors on-line like SW because Vicki's appearance reminds them of "when girls were girls, not grandsons/nephews with bras".  A lot of older moms feel the same way, that Vicki's romantic appearance harkens a time when "femininity was one's social perfume, not a political issue."  In lieu of these many SW fan sentiments and Sony's public announcement to actually build ADAs like Vicki to cater to and care for its aging population, how would this impact the style and subjects of any new SW show?  Can we have a new "50's dressed" Vicki to run against bland universal jeans and sneakers?

A.  I think there are many issues we can do today that were not on Fox's agenda in the show, the original show.  What we do and how we do it of course depends on whether we have a new show to work with.

Q.  In last December's TV Guide on the web you and SW writer Mel Sherer were fighting over making two SW's.  Why don't you two get together and make up so we could get a new show?

A.  No fight.  I have nothing against competition.  If a writer feels he could duplicate SW's success with their own ideas then all the power to him/her.  I always believe let the better man or idea win.

Q.  Did you do any post-SW shows and where?

A.  No.  Those proposals were dumped with SW when it was canceled.