Why did Leonard leave the show? I can't find anything beside a rumor that he brought a gun to the set of the show. I find it hard to believe. His chemistry with the cast members was great.

No one out there knows anything about him. He was on 11 episodes and just disappeared. Someone please tell me if you know what happened.

That rumor sounds pretty crazy. There's nothing about it in Judith's book. I didn't remember that Franklyn Seales was in two first season episodes.

Somebody on the old Jump the Shark page for Silver Spoons (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031124947/http://www.jumptheshark.com/s/silverspoons.htm) brought this up. When I first came across it, I immediately went here to see if anybody else heard about it.

It jumped after the 3rd season. Reason behind Leonard Lightfoot leaving the show: he brought a gun to the studio, and apparently had some serious personal problems (this is inside info). He was quickly replaced by Franklyn Seales. Yes, Derek leaving was not a good thing. Ricky and his parents hated Jason, and were jealous of his popularity (also inside info). Kate marrying Edward was ordered by the network, as was the casting of Alfonso (who wasn't bad).

I of course, can't really corroborate what has been said because I can't find anything else to back up that statement about Leonard Lightfoot being fired for bringing a gun to the studio. I do wonder if the stigma of getting fired (if you want to call it that) after only one season had a very adverse effect on Leonard's career (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Lightfoot#Filmography). Many of his acting roles were of bit parts or walk-on guest starring roles. Besides Silver Spoons, his highest profile acting gig was on the sitcom She's the Sherriff with Suzanne Somers. And his last credited acting job was on an episode of Brooklyn South back in 1997.

Leonard Lightfoot brought nothing to the show. Dexter was a definite improvement. And Derek wasn't worth it either. Ricky needed an actual best friend, not someone who was nasty to him. Justine Bateman was a lot better actress than her brother. (I don't care if he got lots of roles in recent years, am basing this on Silver Spoons and The Hogan Family compared to Family Ties.) There wasn't anything wrong with Kate marrying Edward either, they were meant to be together.