Shows Where Your Favorite Character Leaves

[Adamantium]

Wings - Lowell Mather (played by Thomas Haden Church) is my favorite character in a group of really great characters. However, he leaves the show at the beginning of the 7th season. The show ends after the 8th season, so there two seasons sans Lowell.

M*A*S*H - Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) is my favorite character as the nervous commanding officer. Although the show ran longer without him, to me, the best is when he's around.

Bewitched - Although the character stayed, Darrin Stephens (played by Dick York) was never the same once there was an actor's switch. York gave the show some passion and heart that the second Darrin didn't.

What are some of yours?

[Mikado]

Happy Days- (Richie) I'd grown up watching Ronnie Howard and when he left, so did I
AITF-(Mike and Gloria) the show just wasnt the same without the "kids"...Archie lost his fangs without his fave "whipping boy" Mike and, without Gloria, there wasnt any cute girl to watch. :p
Cheers- (Diane) This show lost it's heart when Shelly Long left, it was still funny, but, it went from romantic comedy to sex farce, and was the worse for it.
M*A*S*H- (Radar) Klinger was ok as "company clerk" but, you can't replace a BMW with a Hyundai
Archie Bunker's Place- (Edith) Archie - Edith= CRAP (nuff said)

[catlover79]

This is a question right up my alley. One of my favorite shows is Barney Miller, and I just loved Chano (Gregory Sierra). He was the first regular to leave (after Season 2). I was disappointed - I felt the character was one of the most interesting on the show and I would've loved to see the character grow and evolve over the years. Plus he was a hottie. :eyes: :drool: :lol:

Adam, I agree with you about Bewitched. Dick York was a very talented and underrated actor. He WAS Darrin - plus the chemistry he and Elizabeth Montgomery had was out of this world. When he left, so did the all the romance and fun. :(

[AB]

Laverne & Shirley - I hated when Cindy Williams (Shirley) left the show, it just wasn't the same at all.


All In The Family - When Mike & Gloria and then eventually Edith left the show, that was a real low point too.

[tv star collector]

THE REAL McCOYS - When Kathy Nolan left the show, it wasn't the same
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - When Don Knotts left to pursue a movie career
HAPPY DAYS - When both Ron Howard and Donny Most left the show
BARNEY MILLER - When Abe Vigoda to left to star in his own spinoff series
LAVERNE & SHIRLEY - Without Cindy Williams, it was only half a show
WELCOME BACK, KOTTER - When both Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta left
ALICE - When Polly Holliday left to star in her own spinoff series
MORK & MINDY - When Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr left the show

[Buffyboy323]

Laverne & Shirley - I hated when Cindy Williams (Shirley) left the show, it just wasn't the same at all.
I agree. Shirl was my favorite character on the Laverne & Shirley. I was upset when she left - though I only had to sit through a month of episodes without her, since I didn't start watching the show until syndication. ;)

[BensonFan]

Laverne & Shirley - I hated when Cindy Williams (Shirley) left the show

I thought it was pointless without her.

[catlover79]

I thought it was pointless without her.
Why'd they even try to keep the show going without her - and keep SHIRLEY in the title??!! :confused: :mad:

[Adamantium]

Why'd they even try to keep the show going without her - and keep SHIRLEY in the title??!! :confused: :mad:

That's similar to "Chico and the Man." In the fourth season, Chico (played by Freddie Prinze, who had just died) was gone. They replaced him with a 12 year old boy, named Raul. Ed called him Raul, most of the time, but once in a while, he'd refer to him as "Chico." I guess that way they could keep the title.

That's another show that was pointless to continue after a major cast change occured.

[catlover79]

That's similar to "Chico and the Man." In the fourth season, Chico (played by Freddie Prinze, who had just died) was gone. They replaced him with a 12 year old boy, named Raul. Ed called him Raul, most of the time, but once in a while, he'd refer to him as "Chico." I guess that way they could keep the title.

That's another show that was pointless to continue after a major cast change occured.
Agreed.

[JulieSomoski]

I hated how Rhoda left on Mary Tyler Moore to do her own show. She was always my favorite character on MTM, and she seemed a lot duller on her spinoff.

[catlover79]

I hated how Rhoda left on Mary Tyler Moore to do her own show. She was always my favorite character on MTM, and she seemed a lot duller on her spinoff.
Mary and Rhoda went together like peanut butter and jelly! When that element was taken away, it just wasn't the same. At least they would occasionally guest star on the others' show, and Valerie Harper (along with Cloris Leachman) did come back for the series finale of MTM.