Shannen's podcast "Let's Be Clear"

[lunchking]

PART 2 podcast with Holly is out.

LINK to Spotify link:

open.spotify.com/episode/79GoZUYLP6xSJ2OezBJbgf?si=dxPpb54TTCiCZNiFqP_05A




Rundown of Part 2:

*Shannen made it clear its in the past the drama. Shannen gets this question asked ALL THE TIME constantly. It's time to just share her side so everyone can quit asking about it.

Season 3 and Shannen's firing and Alyssa issues

*She explains the narrative she told all these years was given to her that she quit the show is not true. She's at the point in her life where she doesn't want to keep lying about it. Charmed meant so much to her and she loved the Job, cast and crew. A father who was extremely sick and the show helped provide the care. So when she got taken away her likelihood, it hurt.

*Shannen thinks the idea of quitting a hit show that made so much money for her and enjoys working on is silly that's what so many believe. She loved the show and never would've left.

*Shannen was the highest paid actress because the show was buit around her. When Alyssa found this out it caused her to make a side deal with Spelling for more money than Shannen.

*Spelling did some back door deals. Shannen joked how much knowledge Holly had about stuff she wasn't part of. She admits she keeps every text and email of evidence. Shannen does the same. She loves to have references whenever someone comes to her, she can be quick to go through her receipts.

*It was revealed Alyssa had gone to HR with receipts of all the times she felt uncomfortable on set and working to build a case for a lawsuit. Feeling she was on a very hostile work environment. Shannen mentioned she never knew or found out what in question made Alyssa feel that way.

*None of the issues happened on set Holly made it clear. All the crew and guest stars wouldn't notice it. They never had any tension on set. So by today's standards it wouldn't fly. Nobody had any issues with Shannen on set.

*Someone (assumer Alyssa) forced a ”it’s either she goes or I go” situation, leading to the network firing Shannen in May 2001.

*A trailer talk occurred behind the scenes between the actresses was spoken about in passing about a possible cause for her dismissal but was never elaborated upon further.

*A year after she was fired Shannen kept repaying and trying to find moments where Alyssa felt Shannen was hostile to her and she couldn't find any. They never had it out private or publicly.

*Shannen and Alyssa never had any drama on set. Shannen recalls a time she directed and had to rearrange things around for Alyssa due to a studio note. Shannen was understanding and kind to her. She brought up a time Alyssa's mom was working on creating Shannen's website without Shannen's permission and Shannen told her to take it down. She didn't go further on that bit it's a brief thing she thought maybe added to the tension.

*Holly believes they picked Shannen to be let go because of what happened on 90210 before. It was easier to use as a narrative with the media. Shannen thought that was a valid point.

Post-Shannen Firing 

*They believe the male crew pitted the women against each other and to keep then separated. Because they didn't want them to come together and get equal pay. Holly mentioned she did the most work for little pay and didn't ask for more because she wanted more money for guest stars.

*Holly spoke about her grieving Shannen's departure. She was threatened if she quit, they would sue her and dock her wages for whatever they felt they lost moneywise because of her departure. They forced her to go back to a show she didn't want to go back too.

*Shannen believes they didn't let Holly quit because they can't lose two sisters and the truth would come out because two departures would be hard to sell with the media.

*Shannen believes Holly was the glue to the success of the remainder of the show after she left.

*Shannen mentioned she went with the narrative she quit so her career would survive. She thinks it was ridiculous she'd quit a hit show, If she did, it would be a more epic death. Looking back she wishes she sued for loss of wages of her firing and was honest about it back then.

*Holly spoke about getting the call from Shannen that she was fired.

*Shannen was happy that Rose stepped in in what she brought to the show after she left. The media expected Shannen and Rose hating each other, didn't happen since they saw each other and posed for a photo smiling. Shannen felt that was ridiculous it wasn't Rose's fault she was the replacement.

*Holly mentioned that because Brian and Alyssa were dating at the time, that he may have been somehow an accomplice in Alyssa’s actions. He only recently apologized to Holly for how difficult it was for her to cope with going from season 3 to season 4.

Shannen asked  back for finale 

*Shannen mentioned she was asked back for the finale and she didn't want to do it and declined.
*Shannen has no idea what they had in mind.
*Sadly she didn't read Kern's letter.

Returning for a reboot/continuation 

*Shannen would come back to do Charmed again in a continuation. And that CBS is the reason why they can't. Holly
said there’s also split screen and green screen and people don’t have to work together if they don’t want to. Shannen joked she thinks Prue may be an Elder now.

*Shannen and Holly joked about ideas of a continuation.

To the Fans

*Shannen and Holly want to make it clear talking about this all on the on the podcast isn't to ruin the fandom and fans legacy of the show, but one can't keep hiding the truth forever.

[West]

My opinion on Alyssa has lowered more than it did. That said I can separate actor from character. Nothing can ruin the show for me. 

Shannen's reputation from 90210 just made her an easy scapegoat to be fired for the media to use. 

But the real villains are the WB and producers pitting these women against each other. 

[phoebs]

Dec 18, 2023 3:22:16 GMT -5 shay321 said:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qme0y9l0yfY

i didnt know the horseman and the jenie shared the same pov

 Ohh, what's this, seems interesting. i thought only people From Who's the boss liked alyssa but i have never heard about Kaley Cuoco saying nice things about her or the other guest stars, and rose is quite a character like rik young said, wow

[Melinda Halliwell]

It's the same with JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series. You can like the books still and separate that and the films from her after what's transgressed recently with her.

[shay321]

Dec 17, 2023 13:00:26 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

It's why we practice the method of separating the art from the artist, here.

Even Brad Kern, the showrunner, has had his fair share of scandals, as well, yet many Charmed fans still like his episodes, such as S1E22 "Deja Vu all Over, Again", S2E1 "Witch Trial", S3E22 "All Hell Breaks Loose", etc.

I actually like Holly but hate the Piper character.

And, I don't like Alyssa but love the Phoebe character.

With the invention of social media, it's a lot harder for celebrities to get away with what common folk can probably get away with.

Such as Rose's anger, Holly unfriending people, etc.

I actually think fans are the weird ones, particularly the ones that stalk their beloved celebrity pages, all the time.

I would hope you wouldn't do that to the Average Joe. Celebrities are people, too. Unfortunately, too many people platform them up, like they're Gods, or something, but they're not.

There's a reason why these sayings exist (they existed pre-social media, too):

Separate the art from the artists.

Never meet your heroes.

S2E18 "Chick Flick" practically covered this, very minorly, through the Prue character with Mr. Beck. The very rude and arrogant photographer she looked up to.

Your celebrities are never what they seem.

It's why I've taken a break/quit most (not all) of Social Media. Too negative. A lot more positive things going on outside of it.

Remember to separate the art from the artists and never meet your heroes

i liked what you said, thank you

[summerreading]

I think this quote from Shannen is important.

“We have moved on and we definitely wish everyone peace, love & healing. I have much bigger things in my life to worry and concentrate on. However one can’t keep telling the same story over and over again when it’s not the truth.”


Hopefully fans can respect the stars and not think they have a right to bully and harass Shannen, Alyssa or even Holly on social media over what was said in the podcast.

[Aaeiyn]

Dec 18, 2023 3:31:03 GMT -5 lunchking said:

*Shannen was the highest paid actress because the show was buit around her. When Alyssa found this out it caused her to make a side deal with Spelling for more money than Shannen.

I mean, S1 practically made this clear, that this is "the Shannen show". You can see the struggle in storylines, in S2, when S3 finally put Alyssa, more in the forefront.

I never understood why some (not all) fans think this is a show about "three sisters who happen to be witches". That's not what S1 reads to me. Sure, it's part of it, but S1 definitely propped up Shannen, A LOT, and Holly & Alyssa were practically sidelined. Prue definitely felt like the main character, all throughout S1.

And, I guess, subconsciously, I knew this and why I had/have a hard time liking the Prue character, in general. I don't like "main characters" all that often. I tend to like the side characters more. 'Cause I don't like things shoved in my face to like something. I'm gonna do the opposite.

Which led me to dislike the Phoebe character, eventually, when Alyssa became "more of the star", if you know what I mean. And, why I gravitated towards the Piper & Paige characters. But, I can clearly see now that it's BOTH Piper & Phoebe as the "front characters". And, the Paige character barely had anything going for her, outside of S4.

Most of the focus was on Phoebe's column or Piper's children/estranged marriage with Leo. Poor Paige was the scapegoat. Now, I still relate to the Phoebe character and like her, again, but I never hated the Paige character.

I like my "underdogs" LOL

Still, I think Alyssa acted poorly in this situation, and one of the many reasons I don't like her, but it is what it is. I still like her Phoebe character LOL Along with Paige.

[goldeneye049]

It's so unfair and it hurts my heart to think that Shannen was excited to do season 4 😑 only to end up getting fired. In conclusion, Alyssa was jealous of the friendship, the money and the headliner. Honestly, I didn't think it was that bad. Okay, they are normal human beings and we can deal with coworkers we can't stand, but how could she look in the mirror and hurt someone like that. These are stabs in the back. Especially since Shannen's career ended afterwards. Now, Alyssa was the only one of the four who really wanted to bring the show back and it seems to me that she wanted to talk to Netflix about it. Then Rose got angry and today it seems like the whole team turned away from Alyssa except Julian. I feel a little sorry for her, I don't like hearing people feel bad. She's probably getting a taste of what Shannen has been through before. It's a huge waste. The series is buried. To me, Alyssa sabotaged it and the others are just making money because if they really wanted to, they would bring back the series by making a TV movie, an anime or even a canon novel. The saddest part is Prue's miserable death. (For me)

[Assassin Witch]

Dec 18, 2023 3:31:03 GMT -5 lunchking said:

PART 2 podcast with Holly is out.

Thank you for this review. 

Alyssa.... well, since I have nothing nice to say, I won't.

Just glad that Shannen finally gets to tell her truth and her side.

Also, I wonder if that could be part of Holly and Brian ... not showing the "typical" affection in their characters. Maybe there was still some lingering tension from Holly about the S/A situation? 

[CharmedFaith]

I'm surprised it took Alyssa nearly 3 years to find out that Shannen was making more. I don't blame her for wanting more but ultimately the studio went about it wrong and Spelling/co. shouldn't have agreed to Shannens terms and conditions if they didnt want to follow them.

[rebooted]

Dec 18, 2023 3:31:03 GMT -5 lunchking said:

Rundown of Part 2:

*Shannen made it clear its in the past the drama. Shannen gets this question asked ALL THE TIME constantly. It's time to just share her side so everyone can quit asking about it.

Season 3 and Shannen's firing and Alyssa issues

*She explains the narrative she told all these years was given to her that she quit the show is not true. She's at the point in her life where she doesn't want to keep lying about it. 

I think the point in red sums it up for me. 

If you could lie back then - I'm sure people have created their own narrative of what everybody thinks is true now - which is skewed when you are remembering and trying to match up things and make correlations from 25 years ago. 

To be honest, its been hard for me to rewatch the show again because as Holly has stated, the characters have become more like the actresses in the later seasons its seems.

The show dynamic changed when Lori left and Alyssa was shoulder tapped-in by Spelling. Shannen was no longer the sole star power. The fact they were all paid different should have never been the case.

If I was Alyssa Milano, I would also be mad if I found out this information. 

Its seems like they like invalidating how Alyssa felt about the tension on the set. Every time Alyssa speaks about her experience the other 2 get angry and reject it. It's someone's perception. Just because you don't feel the same, doesn't mean its not true. 

For me personally, I think HMC is the reason why things played out the way there did. She wasn't mature enough and was too young to be able to be anything like Piper who could diffuse the situation. 

[askfreebie]

Very sad for Shannen. What she said aligns with what I and many others have suspected for years. That being said, I still want to hear Alyssa's honest take on these events.

[askfreebie]

Dec 18, 2023 18:38:31 GMT -5 rebooted said:

For me personally, I think HMC is the reason why things played out the way there did. She wasn't mature enough and was too young to be able to be anything like Piper who could diffuse the situation. 

I definitely think that Holly is super messy and flip-floppy but that will be overlooked by many because her and Shannen are friends again. 

[Aaeiyn]

Dec 18, 2023 19:09:34 GMT -5 askfreebie said:

Dec 18, 2023 18:38:31 GMT -5 rebooted said:

For me personally, I think HMC is the reason why things played out the way there did. She wasn't mature enough and was too young to be able to be anything like Piper who could diffuse the situation. 

I definitely think that Holly is super messy and flip-floppy but that will be overlooked by many because her and Shannen are friends again. 

I actually think Alyssa is very messy and flip floppy. Part of the reasons I don't like her. She's very inconsistent.

Holly has been fairly consistent, as far as I can tell. If the only thing we don't like about her, is the whole "unfriending" nonsense, I really don't care about that. As this podcast stated, just because Holly didn't mention anything on Social Media about visiting Shannen, in the hospital, doesn't mean that she didn't nor "doesn't care".

I'm so tired of some (not all) people blowing up the Social Media nonsense to mean something bigger than it actually it is. I'm still "not friends" with A LOT IRL people IK, personally, on A LOT of Social Media, but it doesn't mean I don't talk to them, am "mad at them", "don't like them", etc. I'm with Holly in that there are SO many other ways to be in contact with people, that doesn't involve Social Media.

Quite frankly, it's none of our business to know what she's doing, every min, of everyday. I find that so odd. Again, I think Holly has been fairly consistent, unlike Alyssa, but we all have our opinions, I guess.

Just because Holly is "no longer friends with Alyssa" on Social Media, doesn't mean she doesn't talk with her, still. Same thing, when she "wasn't friends with Shannen" yet still was talking to/with her.

I swear, Social Media isn't the end all, be all.

[lunchking]

Dec 18, 2023 19:38:42 GMT -5 Aaeiyn said:

Dec 18, 2023 19:09:34 GMT -5 askfreebie said:

I definitely think that Holly is super messy and flip-floppy but that will be overlooked by many because her and Shannen are friends again. 

I actually think Alyssa is very messy and flip floppy. Part of the reasons I don't like her. She's very inconsistent.

Holly has been fairly consistent, as far as I can tell. If the only thing we don't like about her, is the whole "unfriending" nonsense, I really don't care about that. As this podcast stated, just because Holly didn't mention anything on Social Media about visiting Shannen, in the hospital, doesn't mean that she didn't nor "doesn't care".

I'm so tired of some (not all) people blowing up the Social Media nonsense to mean something bigger than it actually it is. I'm still "not friends" with A LOT IRL people IK, personally, on A LOT of Social Media, but it doesn't mean I don't talk to them, am "mad at them", "don't like them", etc. I'm with Holly in that there are SO many other ways to be in contact with people, that doesn't involve Social Media.

Quite frankly, it's none of our business to know what she's doing, every min, of everyday. I find that so odd. Again, I think Holly has been fairly consistent, unlike Alyssa, but we all have our opinions, I guess.

Just because Holly is "no longer friends with Alyssa" on Social Media, doesn't mean she doesn't talk with her, still. Same thing, when she "wasn't friends with Shannen" yet still was talking to/with her.

I swear, Social Media isn't the end all, be all.

I agree completely. I don't follow one of my closest friends on SA but just today communicated with them through text messages. It's not that deep. It's like everyone expects celebrities to be posting 24/7 about their personal lives and friendships.

[lunchking]

Dec 18, 2023 18:05:21 GMT -5 Assassin Witch said:

Dec 18, 2023 3:31:03 GMT -5 lunchking said:

PART 2 podcast with Holly is out.

Thank you for this review. 

Alyssa.... well, since I have nothing nice to say, I won't.

Just glad that Shannen finally gets to tell her truth and her side.

Also, I wonder if that could be part of Holly and Brian ... not showing the "typical" affection in their characters. Maybe there was still some lingering tension from Holly about the S/A situation? 

No worries.

Me, too. She deserves to speak her truth. 

[CharmedFaith]

Alyssa already denied these very rumors when they came up right before S4 aired. I dont see her changing her tune.

We know she thinks that it was like being in High School with S/H. She and Shannen didnt get along, one would be ok with the other on opposite days, she regrets her part in it.

I think the ONLY way she would speak on it is if she spoke with Shannen and sadly....no one is interested in actually speaking and getting to the source of things. THey'd rather just be in their individual corners without comparing stories.

[rebooted]

Dec 18, 2023 20:17:53 GMT -5 CharmedFaith said:

Alyssa already denied these very rumors when they came up right before S4 aired. I dont see her changing her tune.

We know she thinks that it was like being in High School with S/H. She and Shannen didnt get along, one would be ok with the other on opposite days, she regrets her part in it.

I think the ONLY way she would speak on it is if she spoke with Shannen and sadly....no one is interested in actually speaking and getting to the source of things. THey'd rather just be in their individual corners without comparing stories.

100% agree. 

perhaps they all need to watch Power Outage together and resolve it between themselves. 

[louislemon]

I’m akin to believe Shannen and the news just makes me upset because of the way she was treated and the fact that she wanted to come back to season 4 and was even in talks to direct some episodes and then we have people scheming behind her back.

This is very upsetting and makes me wish Phoebe had died instead of Prue.

[~.:Alysha:.~]

I’m so torn with this whole narrative. Phoebe was my absolute favourite character and it saddens me to hear about all the drama! I feel for Alyssa in a way, it would of been hard in that dynamic as obviously Shannen and Holly were already friends and had history, being only the 3 girls I feel Alyssa would of felt left out a lot which could of caused some of the drama - I can just imagine how it would of been with 3 women, 2s company 3s a crowd! I know what it’s like to be in that situation and it is not a fun time.

Since listening to these podcasts my opinion on Holly has changed, I loved her and often thought of her as the mediator, but something’s just doesn’t line up for me. In HoH she said she that when she was in hospital she had such nice memories because they were all getting along and they were both there by her side, now Shannen is saying Alyssa kept her away and Holly is just going along with it? I feel like she is very flaky and often sides with who’s hot at the time.

I hope Shannen brings Alyssa on so they can just clear the air!