Why is Season 1 so different from other seasons of shows?
For example:
1. The Cosby Show house was different.
2. Family Matters house was different.
3. Different characters- then suddenly gone.

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch-different characters

Ellen is one show I can think of that where season one was significantly different from the next seasons. By season two, her original friends were gone and bunch of different (and much better) characters came along. I think the creators realized things weren't going work if they didn't change things around.

Originally posted by Chambers
Ellen is one show I can think of that where season one was significantly different from the next seasons. By season two, her original friends were gone and bunch of different (and much better) characters came along. I think the creators realized things weren't going work if they didn't change things around.

even tho I intend on buying season 1, I'm not excited because it is NOT the "Ellen" of seasons 2-5 that I loved.

season 1 is different for a lot of shows because most shows are struggling to find their identity in the first seasons, whereas in latter seasons, most of that stuff has been established and they can spend more time focusing on the characters and plots.

BuffySlayer79 has hit it spot-on. Take for example the first season of M*A*S*H. Many of the characters would speak of relatives, home towns or middle names that would then change in the next season (or even in the same season). It takes a while for writers and actors to get settled. Another grand example of this is the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation which is drastically different than the other six seasons.

In terms of characters appearing in the first season and not in the next, there are two main reasons. First, the actor/actor is not happy with the role and walks, as was the case with Denise Crosby/Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation. On the other hand, the producers may be unhappy with a character and drop it, or the writers may feel that there are too many characters and some have to be dropped. In the first season of M*A*S*H there were many supporting characters who were dropped when the second season rolled around. It was even worse for V: The Series when several cast members were written out mid-season in an attempt to up the ratings. It did not work and the first season became the last. NBC's Jesse, despite being a Top Ten hit, was reworked drastically from Season One to Season Two, with Jesse's family being dropped and her job changing. Two new castmembers were added but the ratings dropped and the series was canned.

Another reason why first seasons are different has to do with production value. If the first season is a shortened test season or a mid-season replacement, money may be an issue. Two examples, Buffy, The Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek. Both first seasons were half-seasons intended to test the waters. Thus, both shows had limited budgets, which is best reflected in the respective high schools. If I am not mistaken, the shows each had only one hallway that they continually redressed to make it look like they were filming in an entire school.

Originally posted by ILOVETV86
1. The Cosby Show house was different.


The house was only different for the pilot.

Boy Meets World Season 1 is the most different season from all the rest of the seasons.

Even in the pilot, they had a different classroom set than the rest of that season, plus alot of different characters than the rest of the series(Minkus, a couple of the kids Cory was in class with)

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Boy Meets World Season 1 is the most different season from all the rest of the seasons.

Even in the pilot, they had a different classroom set than the rest of that season, plus alot of different characters than the rest of the series(Minkus, a couple of the kids Cory was in class with)


Its my favorite.
(although I still love Season 2,3,4,6 and 7)

5.... eh.
I never liked Angela, and Jack was useless until Rachel came along.