The NBC series "Sisters" is adding a couple of new actresses in a couple of old roles this fall.
Sheila Kelley ("L.A. Law") will assume the role of half-sister Charley, a semi-regular played by Jo Anderson the past season and a half. And Noelle Parker will play Reed, the daughter of Alex (Swoozie Kurtz).Parker's role was previously played by Ashley Judd, who left the series at the end of the 1993-94 season to make movies. Kelley steps into a role that was going strong at the end of last season.
But, according to the show's executive producer, it was Anderson's idea to leave the show.
"She actually decided she didn't want to continue," said Daniel Lipman. "It was very amicable. You're not going to read anything in the tabloids. This is absolutely the truth. Trust me."
Although Kelley and Parker will be playing characters with the same names as characters played by other actresses, Lipman seemed to be indicating that there will be some changes.
"We've told them both, even though they are, in effect, replacing actresses, they're new characters," Lipman said. "There is a certain history that is important, obviously. But we're starting fresh. And Sheila's character will not be what Jo Anderson brought."
But, in the case of Charley, it was that character's popularity that will bring her back in the guise of Kelley.
"People responded very, very well to this character of Charley. The really liked the character and they liked who she was. They liked how she integrated herself with the family. It was very interesting to most people," Lipman said. "So that's why the network - and we concurred - wanted to keep her. So we just start from the word go and she's a new character."
So . . . they really liked the character . . . so they brought her back . . . but it's going to be a different character . . . from the one that everyone liked so much . . .
Now you know why your local television editor is so often confused.