I was wondering why Cathy Silvers wasn't there for season 11? It would have made sense for her character to be there, since her BFF Joanie returned to Milwaukee. I know they wanted to keep it down to mostly the core characters, but she'd been on the show for 3 seasons (and metioned for several before that). She did return for the finale at least!

I was wondering if it was Cathy's choice, or the producers/writers? I could see the writers not wanting Joanie to have a friend to hang with, it would make sense for her to concentrate on going to school/teaching after her breakup with Chachi, no one to take her mind off it so she threw herself into her school/work.