Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon Mastodon USD POLL : How do you think shows should handle actress' pregnancies?
Sign Up


    Enable Dark Mode!

  • What's HOT
  • Premiere Calendar
  • Ratings News
  • Movies
  • YouTube Channel
  • Submit Scoop
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Privacy Policy
Get In Touch
 Join SpoilerTV
Support SpoilerTV
SpoilerTV.com is now available ad-free to for all premium subscribers. Thank you for considering becoming a SpoilerTV premium member!

SpoilerTV - TV Spoilers

USD POLL : How do you think shows should handle actress' pregnancies?

21 Sept 2013

Share on Reddit
Today's User Submitted Daily (USD) Poll was submitted by klutzy_girl who was picked randomly from our Poll Submissions (see below).

Let us know in the comments what you voted for and why?

Want to see your Poll posted on the site? Click the Blue Button below

You can see all the previous User Submitted Polls here.

You can vote for 1 Option.


-
Sign Up for the SpoilerTV Newsletter where we talk all things TV!

51 comments:

  1. Korvasieni21 September 2013 at 11:04

    Whatever option suits the story and character best.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Natalie Powell21 September 2013 at 11:10

    Definitely, if it suits the story then write it in, if its easy to do then hide it but otherwise get creative. it doesn't have to spell the end of a show.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jamie Coudeville21 September 2013 at 11:45

    Write it in only if it makes sense for the story, otherwise hide it

    ReplyDelete
  4. Freda21 September 2013 at 11:54

    I think it depends on the storyline....

    ReplyDelete
  5. klutzy_girl21 September 2013 at 12:40

    Definitely depends on the storyline. Sometimes I like it when they write in it, but other times I don't want them to. Plus, it's hilarious to see the various ways they try to hide it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bazooka21 September 2013 at 12:59

    I would prefer killing off than keeping someone in magazine full of boxes for whole season.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lou21 September 2013 at 13:01

    Really depends I think it becomes awkward when the character has a baby already and then the actress becomes pregnant in real life and suddenly its boom another on screen pregnancy - I'm thinking of Pam in The Office, a second kid wasn't needed story wise but Jenna was heavily pregnant so they didn't have a lot of choice.


    In Parks and Recs though Amy was pregnant and they managed to cover it up in S3 I believe and I didn't realise notice. Guess if its an action show a lot harder to pretend the bump isn't there!

    ReplyDelete
  8. spartigus1521 September 2013 at 13:23

    Hide it!! Grey's Anatomy does a good jjob with this. Pretty much have had the cast have been pregnant once or twice during production and they never wrote it in bc it didnt make sense.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Harkanwar Singh21 September 2013 at 14:06

    No Pregnancy clause.. or modify the story

    ReplyDelete
  10. laura334121 September 2013 at 14:32

    Depends on the storyline and show. Some shows like Grey's is easy to do both,hide and write it in.It would be more difficult to write it (or hide it) into a show like PoI,or NCIS with all the action that goes into this kind of show.Can you see Kenzi running after someone 6,7 months pregnant...?


    Which brings up the question:How will they handle Kenzi being pregnant? I don't know how far along she is,at least 3 months.Will they have her behind the desk before she goes on leave???

    ReplyDelete
  11. phnxgrl21 September 2013 at 14:47

    I believe the best way is to write it in. There is no reason in this day in age to hide any part of natural human evolution.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Linlighthouse21 September 2013 at 14:52

    Pregnancies that come to mind:
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Seinfeld. She sat at her desk, at bar counters, behind Jerry's kitchen island.
    Amy Poehler on Parks and Rec. She was just fat and no one said a thing.
    Phylicia Rashad on Cosby. She had a crying fit because she was getting fat and didn't like it.
    Bree Turner on Grimm. They sent Rosalee away to visit a "sick aunt."
    Anne on Falling Skies. Her character was also pregnant.
    Elyse on Family Ties. Meredith Baxter also pregnant.
    If it doesn't fit the story, as did Summer Glau on Falling Skies, I like to have the character written out of the script for a little while or for the show to go on hiatus.

    ReplyDelete
  13. buck8221 September 2013 at 15:04

    write it in if possible. but not if it doesnt make any sense. but hiding behind huge bags look hilarious too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carl Grimes21 September 2013 at 15:12

    Other - they should fire the actresses for getting pregnant without any sort of consideration how would that affect a television show they act in (and for television that pays them huge money).

    ReplyDelete
  15. klutzy_girl21 September 2013 at 15:18

    Actually, I believe it was the other way around on Falling Skies - Anne got pregnant and then the actress got pregnant in real life. Which is why she disappeared for several episodes.

    ReplyDelete
  16. CP21 September 2013 at 15:19

    It all depends on the show, but if it doesn't work on a show as often the case, write out the character for a while.

    ReplyDelete
  17. klutzy_girl21 September 2013 at 15:21

    That is illegal - for any job. It's why Hunter Tylo sued when that happened to her and won.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stuart Cooper21 September 2013 at 15:52

    Most the time it is best to just hide it. Shows often make reference to the actress putting on weight. Tho it is more obvious depending on how peoples bodies react.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Linlighthouse21 September 2013 at 16:06

    Moon Bloodgood. I thought it was Summer Glau. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sal21 September 2013 at 16:15

    Depends on the show.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Andrea21 September 2013 at 18:24

    Because they probably got pregnant on purpose huh?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Andrea21 September 2013 at 18:25

    Except when it doesnt make any sense at all to the story, which in most cases it doesnt.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Graydon21 September 2013 at 18:53

    Hide it/write it in is my favourite. Particularly enjoyed how Frasier did it with Jane Leeves by writing as her character developing an eating disorder and going to rehab.

    ReplyDelete
  24. oddball8721 September 2013 at 18:56

    I was just thinking of SGA reading your comment actually. That storyline annoyed me greatly. My heart broke for my poor Sheppard/Teyla ship and then they had to bring in that Kanoe dude or whatever his name was. And then I think he was never heard from again after that.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Janneke21 September 2013 at 21:26

    Depends on the show and story.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Nawaf Karmustaji.21 September 2013 at 21:30

    One Tree Hill Hayley got Pregnant in Season 8 and they wrote it in perfectly

    ReplyDelete
  27. celine21 September 2013 at 21:40

    I think the most ridiculous was Marcia Cross on Desperate Housewives, they tried to hide it but they failed. The best example I have of a show that handled it well is when the nanny when the actress who played CC got pregnant, they found ways to make joke about it.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Linlighthouse21 September 2013 at 22:38

    Exactly. That's the problem with trying to hide it. You can't, really. And Marcia Cross had twins, so that's even more difficult.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sarah Dallosto21 September 2013 at 23:05

    As others have said, I think it really depends on the show and storyline. It just makes sense for some but not others.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Back In Black Tricksteress 9522 September 2013 at 04:30

    I went other by that I mean all the options if possible. What if that actress does not have a on-screen partner? then the writers will have to introduce another character. Regardless they could still make it a storyline.
    Hide it in various ways could be a good alternative if the storyline is too far-fetched for the show. There still will be hints of pregnancy when she goes into the middle stages.
    If there was a hiatus the audience will have to wait for a while! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. prpleight22 September 2013 at 05:25

    Most way that's organic to the story. If it works well and easily into the story write it in. If it's inappropriate for the story, hide it. Get one of those shirts Jack's sister used in Eureka.


    In any case, the story is the priority.....

    ReplyDelete
  32. Alex Forrest22 September 2013 at 08:01

    I voted to hide the pregnancy because that's usually best, even if it's somewhat limiting in terms of filming. Adding a baby to a show is a big deal and shouldn't be done merely because the actress is pregnant.
    However, in a situation where it's possible to make the character pregnant (e.g. she isn't infertile, hasn't definitively stated that she doesn't want children) and seems like a good idea story-wise, it's fine to write it in.

    ReplyDelete
  33. KeepPushingUs22 September 2013 at 09:35

    Other:


    Kill them off.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Chloe Bleakley22 September 2013 at 12:58

    It really depends on where the show and the character are at and if it fits the situation. If not then either hiding it if possible or a hiatus until the actress can return to work. To be honest I'd rather a hiatus than a ruined show, storyline, or even character.

    ReplyDelete
  35. phnxgrl22 September 2013 at 13:07

    A good writer can modify any script to make it look organic.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Silvia22 September 2013 at 13:07

    I voted for write it in. But really I think it depends on the character the actress in question plays. If an actress is pregnant and she plays a vampire.... I don't think they'll be able to write that one in.

    So it depends on the character and the situation she's in whether or not to write a pregnancy in. But if possible then I'd love for rl pregnancies to be written into the show.

    ReplyDelete
  37. laura334122 September 2013 at 13:18

    She told the showrunners,so i'm sure the writers already worked it in one way or another.But yeah,she will probably go undercover,or be sitting behind her desk doing 6 months worth of paperwork the team is behind on! ;P


    I love how she is engaged to Eric's brother,and how he plays Eric's stunt double in the show.Keeping it all in the family,all the way around,lol..

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sonja Byrne22 September 2013 at 14:07

    Exactly. There's no easy answer for this question, you just have to do what's best for the character, actress and show.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Rabia Salvatore22 September 2013 at 16:58

    I love One Tree Hill but in that case it made a lot of sense to the story, she was in a stable relationship and already had a kid so it wasn't out of character. When Karen got pregnant I think the actress really was so they wrote it in as Keith's baby but if she wasn't pregnant I don't think that would have happened in the story. Plus her character left anyway so it wasn't that big a deal.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Nawaf Karmustaji.22 September 2013 at 20:39

    Yea. Exactly. I didn't like Karen a lot, she was fine, But i do like Karen's Cafe. hahaha :p

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hungry Emo22 September 2013 at 23:14

    A good writer can write something good and believable but a character having a baby would completely take the character and show in a whole different direction.

    Could you imagine if Sarah Michelle Gellar had gotten pregnant in season two or three of Buffy The Vampire Slayer?



    What about a character that supposedly cannot get pregnant? And then the actress gets pregnant? Do they just write in a 'miracle' and ruin any character development and realism this situation was supposed to bring?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Halliebear24 September 2013 at 01:06

    Even when the writing is good, sometimes the character isn't in a place where having a baby is believable. Like Keri Russell is right in the stage of having her family, but Elizabeth Jennings (the character she plays on "The Americans") would be very much against getting pregnant because of the disruption to her spy work and the fact that they already had their kids 10+ years ago. She's conflicted towards family at times and doesn't parent particularly well, so I have no trouble believing she'd just "take care of it" and a lot of trouble believing she'd ever go through with it. To twist the characters as they've already been established into a complete 180 seems hard to do well in some cases.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Halliebear24 September 2013 at 01:09

    I think it depends on 1. How well it can be hidden by set pieces and costuming and 2. To what extent would it be possible to incorporate into the storyline without it becoming implausible or changing the entire direction of the show? I would not want to see characters take a complete 180 because the actress is at a place in her life where she's ready to have a baby, but the character isn't, and/or it's not believable if they became pregnant on accident that they would go through with it. However, if it works with the story, that's okay too. But I think staying true to the story needs to be the first objective, even if that means a lot of grocery bags and kitchen islands being in the way.

    ReplyDelete
  44. lsbloom24 September 2013 at 01:30

    I'm sorry, but too many pregnancies have hurt (or killed) shows I loved. Life, In Plain Sight, Grimm, Bones. There are clauses that you can't go out and ride motorcycles or cut your hair. It is such a drastic change that can only in some kinds of shows be covered up. They need to plan better, because you just can't require an important character to be written out for 3 months and come back.

    ReplyDelete
  45. BonesForever24 September 2013 at 23:04

    I thought that Bones handled it very well when Emily Deschanel got pregnant. At first people didn't necessarily like it, but it actually forwarded her romantic relationship on the show. Otherwise they might never have gotten together! So I was very happy to see how it impacted the show. Now, sometimes that may not work well. Then creativity has to step in. Time out or hiding it may be the best solution in that case, but it depends on the show.

    ReplyDelete
  46. BonesForever24 September 2013 at 23:10

    Frankly, I thought Bones was getting a bit stale when Emily got pregnant and they both, did a hiatus and wrote it in. I think it gave the show a whole new lease on life, and I love what they've done with it. You have a right to your opinion, but I think it ultimately worked out fine! And I love Bones more than ever! They might never have gotten B&B together otherwise...and that was getting REALLY old! Excuses were running thin.

    ReplyDelete
  47. lsbloom24 September 2013 at 23:12

    They skipped over the getting together!!! It was awful. All that waiting! Then we didn't even get to see it because they rushed because she was pregnant. :-(

    ReplyDelete
  48. BonesForever25 September 2013 at 17:25

    They still have kept the antagonism and banter and it isn't all about babies. In fact the baby is rarely in the show, and they disagree about that. They still solve crimes and disagree about many things. The death of Vincent pushed them over. It made her vulnerable and he reached out to comfort her. I'm not sure anything else would have broken the reserve. That broke the dam between them. They still disagree about many things and still are the people they were. They still solve crimes. They were at something of an impasse. If you were not a shipper, I guess you would have preferred they give up on each other and move on, but central to Bones is their relationship, both the ups and downs. In the books, Brennan and Andy (Booth's equivalent) got together and split up but still love each other. It just didn't work out, mainly because of Andy's problems with a daughter he didn't know about for years. So not sure what you really expected ultimately. Sounds like nothing would have satisfied you. And that's OK. I continue to really like the show--you don't. Hart and Stephen are pursuing their vision for the show. You disagreed and stopped watching. Your privilege.

    ReplyDelete
  49. lsbloom25 September 2013 at 23:40

    I would not have preferred they give up on each other. They've been at an impasse since the beginning of the show. Breaking that impasse is an enormous character-driven moment, not something that was forced on the writers because she got pregnant and they just threw away all their storytelling plans and said "sure lets go this way." It was half-assed and crap. I stopped watching because I hated that stupid computer villain and the idea that Brennan would go on the run was completely antithetical to her entire rational, character. And I was sick of house hunting and baby storylines, which again changed Brennan's personality. Was it a necessary change to reflect how motherhood would alter her? Yes. Hence why she wasn't ever designed to be a mother. The entire point of the poll is to see how people think pregnancies should be dealt with and for me, changing the artistic vision of the show to accommodate it is usually a show killer.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Leah8 April 2014 at 02:55

    I thought the actress who plays Vanpelt on the Mentalist was bad! They tried to hide it too, but she got pretty big, and it was VERY obvious!

    ReplyDelete
  51. hollyu488 April 2014 at 03:08

    I didn't vote for one as all are valid in the situation that suits the show.

    ReplyDelete

NOTE: Name-calling, personal attacks, spamming, excessive self-promotion, condescending pomposity, general assiness, racism, sexism, any-other-ism, homophobia, acrophobia, and destructive (versus constructive) criticism will get you BANNED from the party.