HARPER ‘HURT’ IN BEING DROPPED

Valerie Harper expressed “surprise and profound disappointment” Thursday at the news that she was being replaced by Sandy Duncan as the star of the NBC comedy series named after her, “Valerie.”

“I still don’t know why the producers told me not to come back to work,” Harper said in a prepared statement. “It was entirely their decision and one that I don’t understand. After working so hard on something for over three years, I am hurt that they didn’t communicate with me in a more forthright manner.”

Harper had walked off the show July 27 following a dispute over salary demands, then returned to the set during the second week of fall production after missing the taping of the first episode, according to Lorimar, the company that produces the series for NBC.

But the problems were not resolved, Barbara Brogliatti, Lorimar’s vice president for corporate communications, said Thursday. “We thought we had resolved our differences, but needless to say, things didn’t quite work out as we had expected. We still have these major differences, and we’ve moved on to what we think is the best thing for the show.”

The production company announced Wednesday that Duncan had been hired to take over for Harper, a four-time Emmy Award winner for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Rhoda.” The show was on a production hiatus this week.

Brogliatti confirmed that Harper’s husband, Tony Cacciotti, who served as co-executive producer of the series, also had left. “He’s also involved in the differences,” she said, adding that Cacciotti would not be replaced.

Brogliatti refused to comment on whether the decision to replace Harper had anything to do with Harper’s financial demands. Both the actress and her husband had “profit participation” in the show, she said.

Harper’s attorney, Robert Albrecht, said that Harper was informed by Lorimar earlier this week that the company would no longer require her services. He said that Harper had not made any new demands since her return to work last week. “In our view, Lorimar unlawfully terminated her contract in bad faith and refused to allow her on the set,” he said.

“Valerie” will resume shooting Aug. 31 following a two-week hiatus to permit rewriting and reworking of the show, said Barry Stagg, another Lorimar spokesman.

The show will retain the title “Valerie,” Lorimar officials said. Duncan will portray Sandy Hogan, sister-in-law of the now-absent Valerie Hogan, who moves into the Hogan household to take care of the three sons (played by Jason Bateman, Danny Ponce and Jeremy Licht) while their pilot-father (Josh Taylor) is traveling.

Stagg said that Valerie Hogan’s absence would be explained on the show. “In the finest tradition of Lorimar, as when we didn’t tell anybody who shot J.R. (on ‘Dallas’), you’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “It will be revealed on the screen.”

After Harper walked out on July 27, Lorimar had filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking an injunction to enjoin the actress from working anywhere else during the remaining four years of her six-year contract. Lorimar spokespersons would not comment on whether that suit was dismissed.

In the statement released by her public relations firm Thursday, Harper said that she had filmed the first episode of the fall season on Aug. 7 “in perfect accordance with the script that was handed to me when I reported to work.” Stagg said that Harper filmed the second fall episode--not the first--on Aug. 7.

Neither Harper nor Cacciotti could be reached for additional comment.