Song is Over: Fanfic/speculation/discussion on the Cleary’s after the show ended

[anna0852]

14 hours ago, savannah31401 said:

I was really hoping for a voice over letting us know what happened to all the brothers. Something that could have been added when they knew the show was being cancelled. I would love to know about how the boys ended up in life.

Here's my take, in Tim Doyle's voice of course:

"The summer of 72 ended up being a lot of changes for the Cleary family but there weren't the last. Dad finally stopped grumbling about Lawrence's pyschology degree after he went into practice and Dad found out what he was making in a year. Fiona didn't last but Lawrence managed to not move back home when they broke up, once again making him Dad's favorite. Eddie went the distance with Wendi. He spend 40 years as a pediatric nurse while Wendi went into pharmacuticals. They have 2 kids and live in Washington state now. 

Frank *did* move out, much to Dad's surprise and Mom's delight. He's a priest in Pasadena. According to his parishioners confessing to him is a particularly painful process. Who knew a priest could actually get into trouble for assigning *too much* penance.

Joey managed to finish high school with no criminal record, went to college (and even remembers the experience) then onto law school. He's making an ungodly amount of money doing corporate law, putting together deals and mergers. He's on wife #4 as of two months ago. 

William wrote several sci-fi books, trying to become the next 'big' author. Mom would never admit it but she read each one front to back as soon as they came out. It was never really known if she was proud of what he accomplished or just making sure he wasn't writing about her.

Pat is a Walt Disney Imagineer, with a focus on ride development and the back story that goes into each attraction. He spent most of his career in Orlando but still got back to California every so often. He finally got Mom and Dad to Disneyland just a couple of years before Mom passed away. Dad almost lost his mind at the price of a soda while Mom insisted on riding the Matterhorn three times in a row.

Andy is a chemical engineer for a petroleum company. He mostly works between the North Sea oilfields in England and the artic fields in Alaska.

All eight of us earned our college degrees. 

Dad retired in 1998. He and Mom spent the next 10 years traveling as much as they could to avoid their 13 grandkids. We lost Mom in 2009 and Dad 3 years later.

And me? I never did become a famous star in front of the camera. I did eventually find a woman to put up with me, who even started what I can only call a 'support group text message chat' for the various Cleary daughters-in-laws. I did end up with a very successful career as a TV producer. I was even able to develop show based on my family. Which got cancelled after 1 season by a short-sighted network. No one appreciates true talent these days."

Edited May 22, 2019 by anna0852

[rhys]

Brava, Anna, well done. Especially Joey. If course he went into law.

[HelenCrump]

Anna, I love that!  If you aren't writing for TV, you should be.

[MartyMart]

On 5/21/2019 at 11:33 PM, savannah31401 said:

I was really hoping for a voice over letting us know what happened to all the brothers. Something that could have been added when they knew the show was being cancelled. I would love to know about how the boys ended up in life.

Maybe:

Lawrence: Married Fiona, moved to Seattle, had 6 kids, all girls, went to work for an unknown computer startup called Microsoft, retired wealthy.

Eddie: Broke up with Wendi after high school, joined the Air Force and trained in avionics, later went to work for the same defense contractor as his dad. Married a co-worker, had 2 kids, a boy and a girl.

Frank: Took a job as a security guard after high school to help pay for college, liked it and joined the LAPD after graduation, became a lieutenant in internal affairs, he loves his job and never married.

Joey: Continued to run various schemes until he had a life changing moment at 16, joined the seminary and became a priest, secretly indulges in fine cigars and occasionally, a bottle of Irish whiskey.

Timmy: Appeared in several TV shows and movies but never got his breakout role, sold an idea and script which became a hit, works as a writer, producer and TV showrunner, never married.

William: Wrote a best selling science fiction trilogy making him a world famous author, published dozens of popular sci fi and fantasy novels, married his best friend from high school, Steven.

Pat: Blossomed in high school and was recruited to be a fashion model which led to a career in films, married Hollywood’s biggest female star, adopted 11 special needs kids and is wildly happy.

Andy: Became a high school math teacher, married his college sweetheart and bought a house next door to the Cleary family home, took care of his mom and dad till the end, never had or wanted kids.

Edited May 23, 2019 by MartyMart

[Angeltoes]

The real "Peggy" died in 2015.

https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/glendalenewspress/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-louise-doyle&pid=176952588&referrer=0&preview=false

And "Mike" in 2001.

https://elvaq.com/news/2001/09/05/beloved-social-science-instructor-civicminded-glendale-resident-succumbs-to-heart-disease/

Edited May 23, 2019 by Angeltoes

[libgirl2]

4 minutes ago, MartyMart said:

Maybe:

Lawrence: Married Fiona, moved to Seattle, had 6 kids, all girls, went to work for an unknown computer startup called Microsoft, retired wealthy.

Eddie: Broke up with Wendi after high school, joined the Air Force and trained in avionics later went to work for the same defense contractor as his dad. Married a co-worker, had 2 kids, a boy and a girl.

Frank: Took a job as a security guard after high school to help pay for college, liked it and joined the LAPD after graduation, became a lieutenant in internal affairs, he loves his job and never married.

Joey: Continued to run various schemes until he had a life changing moment at 16, joined the seminary and became a priest, secretly indulges in fine cigars and occasionally, a bottle of Irish whiskey.

Timmy: Appeared in several TV shows and movies but never got his breakout role, sold an idea and script which became a hit, works as a writer, producer and TV showrunner, never married.

William: Wrote a best selling science fiction trilogy making him a world famous author, published dozens of popular sci fi and fantasy novels, married his best friend from high school, Steven.

Pat: Blossomed in high school and was recruited to be a fashion model which led to a career in films, married Hollywood’s biggest female star, adopted 11 disadvantaged kids and is wildly happy.

Andy: Became a high school math teacher, married his college sweetheart and bought a house next door to the Cleary family home, took care of his mom and dad till the end, never had or wanted kids.

I could so see Joey doing that! 

My God, we are starting to enter the realm of fan fiction! 

[biakbiak]

34 minutes ago, Angeltoes said:

The real "Peggy" died in 2015.

https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/glendalenewspress/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-louise-doyle&pid=176952588&referrer=0&preview=false

So at the time of her death all the boys were married. I wonder if they all had children and the 17* grandkids were spread out or some had big families.

*edited because I didn’t notice that one of her grandchildren had died before her. 

Edited May 23, 2019 by biakbiak

[Angeltoes]

29 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

So at the time of her death all the boys were married.

It appears so, although I've noticed lately in obituaries that the name in parentheses isn't necessarily the survivor's spouse.  Sometimes it's their significant other when they aren't married but are in a long term relationship.

[biakbiak]

2 minutes ago, Angeltoes said:

I've noticed lately in obituaries that the name in parentheses isn't necessarily the survivor's spouse.  Sometimes it's their significant other when they aren't married but are in a long term relationship.

It said she was survived by her sons and their wives in addition to the parentheses.  

Edited May 23, 2019 by biakbiak

[SmithW6079]

On 5/23/2019 at 3:25 PM, Angeltoes said:

The real "Peggy" died in 2015.

https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/glendalenewspress/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-louise-doyle&pid=176952588&referrer=0&preview=false

And "Mike" in 2001.

https://elvaq.com/news/2001/09/05/beloved-social-science-instructor-civicminded-glendale-resident-succumbs-to-heart-disease/

The dad was a college professor in real life. I wonder why Tom Doyle made him a blue collar worker on the show.

[tribeca]

Lawerence and Fiona never married but lived in sin (tm Peggy) with their two girls.  Lawerence works as a social worker.   

Eddie and Wendy broke up many times before getting married.   They have one daughter. Eddie manages the garage company he use to drive for.  He worked his way up.  Mike is very proud.   Wendy is a doctor. 

Frank lives in Florida is an engineer volunteers part time at catholic charities.  He married once but is now divorced.  They share custody of two daughters.  Peggy and Mike visit every winter.  Peggy sides with Franks ex in the divorce.  

Joey is a high powered defense attorney.  He is now defending aunt Becky in court.  He was been married and divorced three times.  He has five daughters    

William is a famous author.  He still plays many instruments and has done a few shows just for family and friends.  He is married with two daughters.  

Pat is a famous chef.  Owns many restaurants and has his own cooking show on food network.  He creates many interesting combos saying his moms cooking inspired him to be a better cook.  He is married with four daughters. 

Andy is a jack of all trades. he couch surfs at all his brothers houses except Frank since Frank will charge him rent.   Timmy has given him bit parts in all of his shows He has one daughter with his one and off again girlfriend  

Timmy went into show business and is trying to get someone to pick up his wonderful show.  

[SoMuchTV]

56 minutes ago, tribeca said:

Lawerence and Fiona never married but lived in sin (tm Peggy) with their two girls.  Lawerence works as a social worker.   

Eddie and Wendy broke up many times before getting married.   They have one daughter. Eddie manages the garage company he use to drive for.  He worked his way up.  Mike is very proud.   Wendy is a doctor. 

Frank lives in Florida is an engineer volunteers part time at catholic charities.  He married once but is now divorced.  They share custody of two daughters.  Peggy and Mike visit every winter.  Peggy sides with Franks ex in the divorce.  

Joey is a high powered defense attorney.  He is now defending aunt Becky in court.  He was been married and divorced three times.  He has five daughters    

William is a famous author.  He still plays many instruments and has done a few shows just for family and friends.  He is married with two daughters.  

Pat is a famous chef.  Owns many restaurants and has his own cooking show on food network.  He creates many interesting combos saying his moms cooking inspired him to be a better cook.  He is married with four daughters. 

Andy is a jack of all trades. he couch surfs at all his brothers houses except Frank since Frank will charge him rent.   Timmy has given him bit parts in all of his shows He has one daughter with his one and off again girlfriend  

Timmy went into show business and is trying to get someone to pick up his wonderful show.  

LOL.  I see what you did there with all the daughters 🙂

[HeySandyStrange]

22 hours ago, SmithW6079 said:

The dad was a college professor in real life. I wonder why Tom Doyle made him a blue collar worker on the show.

To make him and the family more relatable to the average viewer? The Goldbergs did the same thing, in real life dad Goldberg was a doctor, on the show he sells furniture. 

Edited May 25, 2019 by HeySandyStrange