For example, my favorite character in M*A*S*H is Henry Blake. He, along with Trapper John, are in the first three seasons, but then there are eight seasons without them.

On In the House, I much prefer the first two seasons when Jackie (played by Debbie Allen) was there, along with her son Austin (Jeffery Wood). However, there are three seasons without them. Jackie and Austin only appear in the first 26 out of 76 episodes, yet I feel the show was at its best with them - before Alfonso Ribeiro joined the cast as Dr. Maxwell Stanton in season three.

I prefer the Bub/Mike years of My Three Sons. They were there for the first five seasons. There was then seven seasons without them, plus Bub left in the middle of season five, so he’s in even less.

This next one is a case of the same character/different actor. On The Munsters, I prefer Beverly Owen as Marilyn over Pat Priest. Owen was only in the first 13 episodes, whereas Priest was in 57.

I feel I have some more shows yet I’m drawing a blank, so I’ll have to mention the other shows later.

Gunilla Hutton as Billie Jo on “Petticoat Junction”. She was only in season 3.

I liked Beverly Hillbillies when Pearl was on there. That was only season 1 and there were 8 to follow.

Lisa > Heidi on Home Improvement

Gladys Kravitz (Alice Pearce), of course, Bewitched, although I think that she was more a recurring than regular cast member in the first two seasons.

I wouldn't say she was a favorite or preferred, but I think
Crystal (Natalie West) on Roseanne.
When I watch reruns, I like the Crystal episodes but it could be coincidental with Becky 1, and with it also being the earlier episodes of the show when the kids were young too.

I preferred Cindy and Sue Ann to Jo, on The Facts of Life.

I wouldn't say she was a favorite or preferred, but I think
Crystal (Natalie West) on Roseanne.
When I watch reruns, I like the Crystal episodes but it could be coincidental with Becky 1, and with it also being the earlier episodes of the show when the kids were young too.

I definitely prefer Crystal over Nancy, who started off funny, but quickly grew annoying.

Pearl on THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

Henry Blake on MASH-MacLean Stevenson made a HUUUGE mistake by leaving that show (which he later admitted in an interview)