Question about The role of Lionel being played by Mike Evans and Damon Evans

[TVFactFan]

Was this the first time in TV History that two different people played one role on a TV Sitcom? And if so what was being said in newspapers by the crtics?

[Janice]

Off the top of my head, there were the infamous 2 Darrins on Bewitched, which to this day still generates controversary as to who delivered the best portrayal.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by JanLady617
Off the top of my head, there were the infamous 2 Darrins on Bewitched, which to this day still generates controversary as to who delivered the best portrayal.

Oh okay-thanks. So that would have meant that it wasn't a big deal since it happened in the 1960's

[Janice]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


Oh okay-thanks. So that would have meant that it wasn't a big deal since it happened in the 1960's
That's right, and also because Lionel was a secondary star. It would've been a bigger deal if they changed George or Louise.
Also, on Bewitched, the original Gladys Kravitz died and was replaced.
On another show, a western called, Alias Smith and Jones--one of the stars Peter Duel killed himself and was replaced by another actor. I think the show only lasted another year after that.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by JanLady617

That's right, and also because Lionel was a secondary star. It would've been a bigger deal if they changed George or Louise.
Also, on Bewitched, the original Gladys Kravitz died and was replaced.
On another show, a western called, Alias Smith and Jones--one of the stars Peter Duel killed himself and was replaced by another actor. I think the show only lasted another year after that.

I guess the thing I will never understand is why wasn't the Lionel character just written out of the show since he played the Lionel character from 1971-1975. I think the Jeffrsons could have definitely went on without the Lionel character Maybe the writers should have had Lionel go to college or the army over seas since Mike Evans returned in 1979. So Damon leaves and then MIke returns. Made no sense. Well Maybe Mike Evans thought Good Times was going to be a long runnning sitcom.

[Janice]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


I think the Jeffrsons could have definitely went on without the Lionel character Maybe the writers should have had Lionel go to college or the army over seas since Mike Evans returned in 1979.
I think that, no matter who played him, Lionel was needed to connect them to the Willis' via Jenny....in-law conflict, that sort of thing.

[Brian Damage]

Exactly, you would have had to punish the Jenny character as well if you made the Lionel character disappear because the two were married. Other characters that were played by two different actors were Becky Connors on Roseanne, the mother on Family Matters and the wife on Fresh Prince of Bel-aire.