Character departure that did not hurt show, but you still missed

[tvje]

What character departure from a sitcom, that did not hurt the shows ratings or popularity did you still miss?

I am not talking about character departure that obviously hurt the show, for example Richie from Happy Day, or Junior from Good Times.

Here is my list, some of them are very obscure choices, but they are still my choices. I am hoping for you guys to come up with some obscure choices.

Stan (Martin)
Denise (Cosby show, A Different World)
Coach (Cheers)
Diane (Cheers)
Kirk (Newhart)
Sara (Steve Harvey show)
Sophia (Steve Harvey show)

[Brian Damage]

Diane(Cheers)
Bobby(Taxi)

[Chocoholic]

Catherine (NewsRadio)
Bobby (Taxi)
Alex (Wings)

[Chain Gang Member]

Chrissy Snow & The Ropers(Three's Company)

[Dean Winchester]

Mrs. Garrett - Facts Of Life AND Diff'rent Strokes (the first season with Cloris is actually my favorite FOL season)

[Adamantium]

Bobby Wheeler (left "Taxi"after season 3)
Catherine Duke (left "NewsRadio" during season 4)
Richie Iannucci (left "The King of Queens" after season 3)
John Burns (left "Taxi" after season 1)
Minkus (left "Boy Meets World" after season 1)
Mr. Turner (left "Boy Meets World" after season 4)
Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (died at the end of season 3 of "Cheers")

[EmoJoe]

Cole (Charmed)

[TJL]

While "M*A*S*H" climbed higher in the ratings after McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers left at the end of season three, many fans will argue that their departure greatly changed the show.

[Jokerette]

- Ralph Malph (Happy Days)
- Kimberly and Willis (Diff'rent Strokes...okay so Willis never really left but you saw much less of him once that Sam brat came in)
- Diane and Coach (Cheers)
- Denise (Cosby/A Different World)
- Steve (Married With Children)

[tvje]

I forgot about Colonel Blake and Trooper John from M.A.S.H., I'll add them to my list.

[APPLEI]

"flo"-alice
"the ropers"-threes company
"juile"-one day at a time

[Chain Gang Member]

Steve Rhodes (Married With Children)

Richie Cunningham(Happy Days)

Ralph Malph(Happy Days)

Jeff(What I Like About You)

Midg Pinciotti(That 70s Show)

Cody Lambert(Step By Step)

Barney Fife(Andy Griffith Show)

[Lee]

Originally posted by tvje:
I forgot about Colonel Blake and Trooper John from M.A.S.H., I'll add them to my list.


That's Trapper John as in Trapper John M.D. starring Pernell
Roberts(1979-86 CBS)

[EmoJoe]

Also,

Steve (Full House)

[Marvo301]

I really missed Det. Nick Yemena on Barney Miller after Jack Soo, who played him, passed away.:(

[James]

Mine are the following:

Betty Garrett/Edna Babish DeFazio - Laverne & Shirley
Shawn Harrison/Waldo Geraldo Faldo - Family Matters
Don Knotts/Barney Fife - The Andy Griffith Show
Michael Learned/Olivia Walton - The Waltons
Ed Marinaro/Sonny St. Jacques - Laverne & Shirley
Sasha Mitchell/Cody Lambert - Step By Step
Jo Marie Payton/first Harriette Winslow - Family Matters

[barwars]

Originally posted by James
Don Knotts/Barney Fife - The Andy Griffith Show

I think many people agree that when Don Knotts left, TAGS did suffer.


Anyways....

Coach (Cheers)
Diane Chambers (Cheers)
Stanley and Helen Roper (Three's Company)
Ralph Malph (Happy Days)
Minkus (Boy Meets World)
Mrs. Garrett (Diff'rent Strokes)

[mstewart]

Originally posted by James
Mine are the following:

Betty Garrett/Edna Babish DeFazio - Laverne & Shirley
Shawn Harrison/Waldo Geraldo Faldo - Family Matters
Don Knotts/Barney Fife - The Andy Griffith Show
Michael Learned/Olivia Walton - The Waltons
Ed Marinaro/Sonny St. Jacques - Laverne & Shirley
Sasha Mitchell/Cody Lambert - Step By Step
Jo Marie Payton/first Harriette Winslow - Family Matters

Four of the departures from the list above I disagree with.

Don Knotts, Barney Fife, brought some of the best comedy in the five years he was on The Andy Griffith Show. The proof in the pudding was the five emmys he won throughout his five years on the show. Without Barney the character of Andy Taylor was not very good on his own.

The Waltons lost its voice of reason when Michael Learned departed the show in 1979 and came back for a few episodes the following season. Her absence from the show, as well as Richard Thomas, Will Geer and Ellen Colby, was strongly felt. Ralph Waite, as good an actor he is, needed Miss Michael Learned to help carry the show out.

If it wasn't for Sasha Mitchell, Cody Lambert, Step By Step would had been cancelled by the second season. The show was never quite the same after he left. They tried to fill the void with Bronson Pinchot and he did not quite fill the void.

Jo-Marie Payton, Hariette Winslow, left a void by leaving Family Matters. I do validate her anger and unhappiness when her role was taken a back seat to Urkel. The whole Urkel thing just went overboard and it took the whole shift about a family to a nerdy idiot who did not have a life. I did not the enjoy the 2nd Hariette they brought in. She was lame.

[mstewart]

Originally posted by APPLEI
"flo"-alice
"the ropers"-threes company
"juile"-one day at a time

The departure of Polly Holliday, Flo, caused Alice to, as they say, jump the shark. I realize that Linda Lavin could not carry that show by herself. Diane Ladd was a suitable replacement but, again, Linda's ego was bruised because Belle was getting all the laughs. I understand Linda Lavin made life for Diane Ladd, as well as Polly Holliday, a living Hell on Alice. Jolene was not the one and show was never quite the same again.

The departure or firing of MacKenzie Phillips, Julie Cooper Hovath, hurt One Day at A Time badly. She was the heart and soul of the show especially when she was featured in the storylines. Her issues were real and teens were able to identify with. Julie's battles with Ann was a situation that every teen and parent can relate to. Valerie Bertinelli and Bonnie Franklin could not hold the show together without MacKenzie. The three of them had that special chemistry and bond. Thank God that MacKenzie got her life together and she looks wonderful. She is a great actress and look forward to the One Day At A Time reunion next season.

The Ropers departure of Three's Company, along with Suzanne Somers the season after that, brought more intelligence and better comedy. Don Knotts, as Mr. Furley, was playing Barney Fife again and was LOL funny. Priscilla Barnes brought in more intelligence to the show. The sex jokes were getting tiring and old. Plus I think the addition of Don Knotts and later Priscilla Barnes brought the character of Janet out more and made her more funnier. Plus Joyce DeWitt's natural beauty was shown more by her hairstyle change and dressing her better. She wasn't as plain Jane as she was during the Suzanne Somers years.

[James]

Originally posted by mstewart
Don Knotts, Barney Fife, brought some of the best comedy in the five years he was on The Andy Griffith Show. The proof in the pudding was the five emmys he won throughout his five years on the show. Without Barney the character of Andy Taylor was not very good on his own.

I thought Mayberry, R. F. D. was a good way to continue the legacy that was The Andy Griffith Show. Sure, Don left, but it was nowhere near as bad as Andy leaving.

The Waltons lost its voice of reason when Michael Learned departed the show in 1979 and came back for a few episodes the following season. Her absence from the show, as well as Richard Thomas, Will Geer and Ellen Colby, was strongly felt. Ralph Waite, as good an actor he is, needed Miss Michael Learned to help carry the show out.

I have read about plans to continue the series as Waltons Mountain after it ended in 1981, although they never became a reality. It would have focused on the background characters of the show such as Ike and Corabeth Godsey and the Baldwin ladies. Although there have been specials produced since the show ended, I would have loved to see the show continue into the 1950s in the form of full seasons.

If it wasn't for Sasha Mitchell, Cody Lambert, Step By Step would had been cancelled by the second season. The show was never quite the same after he left. They tried to fill the void with Bronson Pinchot and he did not quite fill the void.

I for one LOVED the addition of Bronson Pinchot to SBS! As you may recall, he played Balki Bartokomous on Perfect Strangers, and I thought the "glory days" of 1986-1993 were back! Long live Jean-Luc!

Jo-Marie Payton, Hariette Winslow, left a void by leaving Family Matters. I do validate her anger and unhappiness when her role was taken a back seat to Urkel. The whole Urkel thing just went overboard and it took the whole shift about a family to a nerdy idiot who did not have a life. I did not the enjoy the 2nd Hariette they brought in. She was lame.

I personally thought Steve Urkel made Family Matters great. He certainly kept me watching the show! "Did I do that?"

In conclusion, the shows were not hurt, but these departed characters were missed!

[mstewart]

I think Eight Is Enough was a good show after Diana Hyland, who played Joan Bradford, passed away during the first season. Quite tragic and so young. Even though she was missed but the writers were smart in giving Tom Bradford a wife. I don't think the show would had survived if they kept Tom Bradford a widower. Abby was a good voice of reason for the family and a friend for the adult Bradford children. She was a great stepmom to Nicholas who was so young.

[Chain Gang Member]

Jeff-What I Like About You

[Brent88]

Did NOT hurt the show:

Rachel(Telma Hopkins) from "Family Matters"
Judy(Jaimee Foxworth) from "Family Matters"
Richie(Brian McClure) from "Family Matters
Waldo(Shawn Harrison) from "Family Matters"

To be honest... the only one I REALLY missed was Waldo. I didn't even know Judy left the show til years later. :rotflmao:

The departure of Harriette(JoMarie Payton) KILLED the show. It was already going downhill but this put the nail in the coffin. The execs could have helped the show a bit by just killing her off or something, instead of bringing someone else in. The second Harriette sucked.

[Penny Lane]

Kirk- Newhart
Rhoda- The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Leslie- Newhart
Buzz and Sonia- Mama's Family
Rue McClanahan-Mama's Family

[Will and Grace Fanatic]

Becky departed Roseanne in the 5th season and a new actress was hired to play the part. The departure didn't really hurt the ratings that bad.

[Rene]

darlene(roseanne) she came back for eps but only for like 2 min

[Chambers]

Diane (Cheers)
Coach (Cheers)
Lilith (Cheers - I wish she had stayed on longer)
Janice (Friends - even though she was never a regular, she started to appear less and less)
Minkus (Boy Meets World)

Characters I miss because the actors were replaced:
The Original Morgan (Boy Meets World - I hated the older kid they hired later)
The Original Becky (Roseanne)
The Original Darrin (Bewitched)

[I am Roboto]

Diane Chambers/Shelly Long - Cheers
Coah/Nicholas Colossanto - Cheers
Edith Bunker/Jean Stapleton - Archie Bunker's Place
Murray Klein/Martin Balsam - Archie Bunker's Place
The Ropers/Norman Fell, Audra Lindley - Three's Company
Chrissy Snow/Suzanne Somers - Three's Company

[Sean Snow]

Norman Fell & Audra Lindley (The Ropers) -- Three's Company
Although I liked Don Knotts as Mr. Furley, he wasn't as good as the Ropers, IMO. I loved the verbal sparring between them, and for me it never got old. They were wonderful supporting characters.

Suzanne Somers (Chrissy) -- Three's Company
I thought Chrissy was funnier than both Cindy and Terri. Terri had her moments, but I felt like the writers didn't give her a clear-cut personality. One week she acted one way, the next another...I also think that the last two of Terri's three seasons were the weakest seasons of the entire show.

Jean Stapleton (Edith) -- Archie Bunker's Place
Although she didn't really play a big role in ABP, it was hard imagining Archie without Edith.

Cindy Williams (Shirley) -- Laverne & Shirley
The show did not work with Laverne by herself, IMO. Laverne needed a sidekick. I think they made the right decision to take it off the air despite the fact they were still in the top 30.

Don Knotts (Barney) -- The Andy Griffith Show
I don't like the show at all, but I think the Barney-less episodes are much worse than the ones with him.

[Ant-Lox]

when The Ropers left Mr Ferly was a good replacement....

[I am Roboto]

Originally posted by Ant-Lox
when The Ropers left Mr Ferly was a good replacement....

I agree. In retrospect it seems like if it had been anybody but Don Knotts it wouldn't have worked...

[Dean Winchester]

I know I am alone on this, but once Diane left, Cheers was never the same to me

[Chambers]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I know I am alone on this, but once Diane left, Cheers was never the same to me

It might have been different, but the show was still good. In terms of ratings, it became even more popular. So technically, her departure did not hurt the show.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by DianeDiane
It might have been different, but the show was still good. In terms of ratings, it became even more popular. So technically, her departure did not hurt the show.

well, I think Cheers became "comfort food" in it's latter seasons, much like how latter seasons of Andy Griffith that are widely regarded as inferior to Don Knotts era shows actually scored higher ratings, and how Friends went to #1 after most of it's fans agreed the show was out of it's prime. All three of those series went to #1 very late in their runs, even tho the #1 season wasn't exactly regarded as the best season ever.

Not bashing the latter seasons, but I personally think the first 5 episodes were far better than the Rebecca ones.

[barwars]

I dont think Cheers ever got to the point of being "comfort food"

Whereas The Andy Griffith Show, Friends, and even Cheers' spinoff - Frasier did.

I think Cheers was actually at its best in Season 11.

but thats just me.
and the show DID take on a different feel when Diane left -- but I liked the "new" way more. Although Diane (the character) is 100 times funnier than the character of Rebecca.

[spunkygirl]

Originally posted by barwars
I dont think Cheers ever got to the point of being "comfort food"

Whereas The Andy Griffith Show, Friends, and even Cheers' spinoff - Frasier did.

I think Cheers was actually at its best in Season 11.

but thats just me.
and the show DID take on a different feel when Diane left -- but I liked the "new" way more. Although Diane (the character) is 100 times funnier than the character of Rebecca.

Hmmm I am in between I like the early years alot better, and cannot stand Rebecca, but I love the later seasons cause Woody is my favorite character.

[barwars]

Originally posted by Topanga
cannot stand Rebecca

me either.
in general.... I just dont like Kirstie Alley.

[CrazieIsha]

Originally posted by mstewart

If it wasn't for Sasha Mitchell, Cody Lambert, Step By Step would had been cancelled by the second season. The show was never quite the same after he left. They tried to fill the void with Bronson Pinchot and he did not quite fill the void.

I agree with the Cody thing too. Jean Luc was on and kinda funny but he was really never as funny as Cody. Rich was also a replacement to him too but as you can tell I really didn't mind too much about that. I like Jason Marsden too.

[Glampire]

I'd have to say definitely Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show went on for quite a while without him, and it had some great stuff, but I still missed the character.