and I said no, you have four, unless you don't count Earnie.

How many shows have completely ditched a character?

Happy days did one son. Big Valley ditched another son, Eugene I think was his name and M3S diched Mike.

I am not sure of any others. Do you know of any other shows?

Carrie on King of Queens had a sister who disappeared after a few episodes. Dobie Gillis's brother disappeared after a few appearances.

Daniel Boone (1964 series with Fess Parker): After the 2nd season, daughter Jemima Boone vanished. Someone will have to help regarding any subsequent mention, if any. (And such a shame Veronica Cartwright was removed - she had 1 b/w season, 1 color -- and was reaching the glorious apex of her gorgeousness, very lovely!)

Boone was also originally set to have an additional son in the cast, but I don't recall if he was included in the pilot episode before being cut. Darby Hinton "moved up" to play only son Israel Boone in the series, he'd been originally planned as a younger brother.

At the end of the fifth season of The Danny Thomas Show, Sherry Jackson (who had played Danny's daughter Terry since the show's start) left the show.

In the sixth season Terry was said to be in school, abroad.

In a seventh season story arc, Terry returned (played by Penney Parker) and met and married a comedian, named Pat (portrayed by Pat Harrington Jr.).

After this arc it was as though she never existed, and for the remainder of the show (which ran eleven seasons) she was never mentioned again.