I've been watching the Sanford and Son sleepover. I never watched S&S before. That show is funny. A few Fred-less shows were aired, and I found them almost unwatchable.
It's the same for me when Archie was absent from All In The Family. It's simply not enjoyable for me.
On The Bob Newhart Show, there's quite a few episodes without Newhart, and same deal....not good.
Stars really carry their shows. I think Three's Company took a hit when Suzanne Somers was MIA, but I still enjoyed it which tells me that she wasn't the star of the show despite what she thought.
Does anyone enjoy their favorite shows when the star isn't there?

It's the same deal with the few Ally-less episodes of Ally Mcbeal" from last season.Those episodes were pretty bad mainly because Little Ally=More Claire.

I also remember not liking the "Friends" episode The One With Joey's Award" for it's lack of Chandler Bing aka Matthew Perry.

Originally posted by Janice
I've been watching the Sanford and Son sleepover. I never watched S&S before. That show is funny. A few Fred-less shows were aired, and I found them almost unwatchable.
It's the same for me when Archie was absent from All In The Family. It's simply not enjoyable for me.
On The Bob Newhart Show, there's quite a few episodes without Newhart, and same deal....not good.
Stars really carry their shows. I think Three's Company took a hit when Suzanne Somers was MIA, but I still enjoyed it which tells me that she wasn't the star of the show despite what she thought.
Does anyone enjoy their favorite shows when the star isn't there?


Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR.

I liked James Evans on Good Times. I know a lot of people here seem to say he's not funny or memorable, but I laughed at him. Although it's been years since I've seen an episode without him, I'm sure he was greatly missed.

Kotter was only in 7 episodes of the fourth season of "Welcome Back, Kotter." What was the point in doing the show without Kotter? Barbarino only appeared in 10 episodes. The two main characters were gone. Why go on?

Originally posted by TVAdam
I liked James Evans on Good Times. I know a lot of people here seem to say he's not funny or memorable, but I laughed at him. Although it's been years since I've seen an episode without him, I'm sure he was greatly missed.

Kotter was only in 7 episodes of the fourth season of "Welcome Back, Kotter." What was the point in doing the show without Kotter? Barbarino only appeared in 10 episodes. The two main characters were gone. Why go on?


Yeah I agree, I only watch agew episodes of WBK and i know that Vinny and Kotter was the two main characters.

Bewitched also had a few "Darren-less" episodes after Dick York was forced off the show due to his health problems. Those episodes weren't as good to me because Darrin and Samantha were always foils for each other..when they were together on an episode, the plots seemed to work better.

I saw an ep. of "Cheers" the other night (I still like watching that, even though I must of seen some episodes 4 & 5 times by now!) without Ted Danson that I hadn't seen before, & I didn't think it was that great. It was allright , but that's all.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR. a lot of people didn't like "Good Times" then.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Yeah I agree, I only watch agew episodes of WBK and i know that Vinny and Kotter was the two main characters. those episodes without Gabe Kaplan & John Travolta were REALLY, REALLY BAD!

But, you know Gabe Kaplan had a good idea for the show at that point, but ABC (the network that aired it) just ignored it. He said "what if Mr. Kotter took a job teaching at a juniior college in the area, and the first day he finds out that Barbarino, Horseshack, Epstein & Washington are his students again?"

They decided not to do that though, unfortunataly, & that's partly why he left.

Originally posted by treky
a lot of people didn't like "Good Times" then.


Are you saying that a lot of people didn't like Good Times when James was still on?

Originally posted by treky
I saw an ep. of "Cheers" the other night (I still like watching that, even though I must of seen some episodes 4 & 5 times by now!) without Ted Danson that I hadn't seen before, & I didn't think it was that great. It was allright , but that's all.

That's because Cheers is an ensemble comedy, but with two main characters (I don't know if that makes too much sense but if you watch Cheers you know what I mean) Ted Danson and Shelley Long. I think that most of the Sam-less episodes are in the last 6 seasons not the first 5. Since they were the two main characters after Shelley Long left the show, the titled of "Main Characters" shifted to "Main Character". Sure Kirstie was added and so was bebe (well bebe had been appearing since the 4th season but they started focusing on her after Shelley left, or in the last episodes of the 5th season) to fill in the lack of estrogen left by Shelley, but they weren't main characters. So all the Main character attention instead of being focused on two people went to one. That's why that the episodes without Sam don't feel right, he is such an indispensable part of Cheers.

Denise left A Different World after season 1

Originally posted by cutie
Denise left A Different World after season 1

Lots of people tell me that the show became better after Denise left the show.

Sanford was not much worth watching without Redd Foxx. It never would have made it past the pilot stage without him.

Diff'rent Strokes without Dana was no good. Didn't make sense. Plus the new addition characters were no match for her--not even close.

Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.

Originally posted by Kitt
Sanford was not much worth watching without Redd Foxx. It never would have made it past the pilot stage without him.

Diff'rent Strokes without Dana was no good. Didn't make sense. Plus the new addition characters were no match for her--not even close.

Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.


Different Strokes without Dana?????????????-You got be kidding

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Different Strokes without Dana?????????????-You got be kidding I'm not sure if I understand your comment.:confused:

Originally posted by Kitt
I'm not sure if I understand your comment.:confused:

You said that Different Strokes was no good without Dana. And that's What I didn't understand.

Originally posted by Kitt
Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.
I agree Kitt. I think Jack Tripper was really the heart of the show. If John Ritter left, I don't think the show would have survived.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
You said that Different Strokes was no good without Dana. And that's What I didn't understand. Then we disagree. Dana was uneasonbly and unfortunately fired from the show in the later years. The show stunk without her. I loved Dana's character on the show. Did you like the red headed dufus kid instead of Dana? If you didn't care for Dana and her Kimberly character that's your opinion. I liked her.

Originally posted by Kitt
Then we disagree. Dana was uneasonbly and unfortunately fired from the show in the later years. The show stunk without her. I loved Dana's character on the show. Did you like the red headed dufus kid instead of Dana? If you didn't care for Dana and Kimberly character that's your opinion. I liked her.


When I watched DS, i only paid attention to Mr. Drummond, Arnold, and Willis. I always ignored these characters

Kimberly
Pearl
Maggie
Sam
Adele
Ms. Garret

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
When I watched DS, i only paid attention to Mr. Drummond, Arnold, and Willis. I always ignored these characters

Kimberly
Pearl
Maggie
Sam
Adele
Ms. Garret I didn't watch DS in it's first run. But I have watched it since. And for reasons that you don't understand -- so in a way this in not a fair conversation -- those other characters are quite secondary to me. I zero in on Dana. I love to watch her expressions and here her talk. But even if you're not as enamored with her as I am, I don't see how you could overlook her smile.
:)

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
When I watched DS, i only paid attention to Mr. Drummond, Arnold, and Willis. I always ignored these characters
Kimberly
Pearl
Maggie
Sam
Adele
Ms. Garret
Sounds like you don't like girls. :happyface
Dana Plato was a living doll. I only watched the show a few times, yet her charm was evident. She was the pretty factor that most shows require, and she delivered.

When Bea Benaderet was absent from Petticoat Junction due to her getting treatments for her lung cancer there was a huge hole in the show with her absence. When she passed the show was never the same. It became quite unwatchable.

The following shows weren't the same when the lead actress went on maternity leave:
Phylicia Rashad, The Cosby Show, out for a number of episodes when she gave birth. The show was not the same without her.

Meredith Baxter Birney was on maternity leave from Family Ties. She is the glue to the show and her absence was felt.

Susan St. James, Kate & Allie, was on maternity leave. The show was not enjoyable and when she came back her performances weren't quite the same.

Sanford & Son had Redd Foxx MIA and the shows still manage to be entertaining with Grady stepping in.

All in the Family with the three parter of Archie missing was still entertaining. Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers did a good job with those episodes in spite of not having Carroll O'Connor there.

Facts of Life was never the same when Charlotte Rae's role began the shrink. She was the glue to the show and the star. I did not enjoy the show especially after she left. I did not enjoy Cloris Leachman on that show and I am a big fan of hers.

Originally posted by Janice
Sounds like you don't like girls. :happyface
Dana Plato was a living doll. I only watched the show a few times, yet her charm was evident. She was the pretty factor that most shows require, and she delivered.


I included Sam and he is not a girl

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
I included Sam and he is not a girl
I was kidding birthday boy. We all know you like girls. ;)

Originally posted by Janice
I was kidding birthday boy. We all know you like girls. ;)

He just has a lot of vexation with them. :p

Originally posted by Kitt
Then we disagree. Dana was uneasonbly and unfortunately fired from the show in the later years. The show stunk without her. I loved Dana's character on the show. Did you like the red headed dufus kid instead of Dana? If you didn't care for Dana and her Kimberly character that's your opinion. I liked her.

I agree. I couldn't stand Sam and Maggie. Those accents - Yuck! They needed a bus to run over them. Possibly one driven by Kimberly.

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Are you saying that a lot of people didn't like Good Times when James was still on? I meant, a lot of people,including me, didn't like it AFTER he left the show.

Originally posted by DianeChambers87
That's because Cheers is an ensemble comedy, but with two main characters (I don't know if that makes too much sense but if you watch Cheers you know what I mean) Ted Danson and Shelley Long. I think that most of the Sam-less episodes are in the last 6 seasons not the first 5. Since they were the two main characters after Shelley Long left the show, the titled of "Main Characters" shifted to "Main Character". Sure Kirstie was added and so was bebe (well bebe had been appearing since the 4th season but they started focusing on her after Shelley left, or in the last episodes of the 5th season) to fill in the lack of estrogen left by Shelley, but they weren't main characters. So all the Main character attention instead of being focused on two people went to one. That's why that the episodes without Sam don't feel right, he is such an indispensable part of Cheers. oh no! You mean there's more "Sam-less" episodes?

well no I think he pretty much shows up in every episode, but there are some episodes where he might only show up for the intro...or isn't really seen as much, and you can tell it's not the same.

There were a few Daphne-less episodes of "Fraiser" and a few Cage-less "Ally Mcbeal" episodes.

There were a couple of "Get Smart" episodes without 99 & several without the Cief and one (When Good Fellows Get Together) that had neither. Also in season 5 there was one episode ("Ice Station Sigfried") without Max (actually Max appeared very briefly & at the beginning, but didn't say anything).

On NewsRadio, there also were several episodes near the end of season 3 & season 4 without Beth, when Vicki Lewis was filming "Mouse Hunt" & "Godzilla." The season 3 episode, "Twins" is the only one without Lisa & Joe is not in season 4's "Monster Rancher."

The absence of Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow) during the later seasons of Three's Company put a hole in the show in which it wasn't near as good as the earlier seasons WITH her.

The Shirley-less episodes of Laverne & Shirley were not as funny as the ones that had Shirley in them. It was never the same after Cindy Williams (Shirley Feeney) left the show.

Happy Days lost some of its spark when Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham) and Don Moist (Ralph Malph) left the series after 1980. The episodes without them weren't as good as the ones with them.

Originally posted by BLT
Joe is not in season 4's "Monster Rancher."

Joe isn't in the pilot either.

Originally posted by LucyFan


Happy Days lost some of its spark when Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham) and Don Moist (Ralph Malph) left the series after 1980. The episodes without them weren't as good as the ones with them.

After watching the post Richie and Ralph episodes lately on TV Land, I think they should have just told Anson Williams and Lynda Goodfriend that they were no longer needed on the show because their characters seem so pointless

shows that sucked w/o certain characters:
Bewitched without Dick York (this means non-Darrin episodes and Dick Sargent episodes)

Happy Days without Ron Howard, Don Most. Then it was even worse when Scott Baio and Erin Moran weren't on

The Bob Newhart Show without Bob Newhart

The Mary Tyler Moore Show wasn't quite as good without Valerie Harper, but it was still a great show so that doesn't really count.

Originally posted by benjamoon
After watching the post Richie and Ralph episodes lately on TV Land, I think they should have just told Anson Williams and Lynda Goodfriend that they were no longer needed on the show because their characters seem so pointless

shows that sucked w/o certain characters:
Bewitched without Dick York (this means non-Darrin episodes and Dick Sargent episodes)

Happy Days without Ron Howard, Don Most. Then it was even worse when Scott Baio and Erin Moran weren't on

The Bob Newhart Show without Bob Newhart

The Mary Tyler Moore Show wasn't quite as good without Valerie Harper, but it was still a great show so that doesn't really count.



I don't remember Joanie and Chachi being important characters on the show

"Facts Of Life" had several episodes in which one or more of the girls weren't present, most notably i've noticed SEVERAL Natalie-Less episodes. Also even before Charoltte Rea left there were several Mrs. Garrett-Less episodes.

On "Saved By The Bell" Jessie is mysteriously abesnt from many of the series episodes, like The Murder Mystery Weekend Episode, The One In The Mall when they are trying to get tickets to the U2 concert and a few others.. Also there are the infamous episodes when Jessie and Kelly are replaced by the annoying and honestly boring Tori character (Leena Creel), the one that rides a motorcycle.

The Golden Girls episoded called "Empty Nest" wasn't exactly without the girls, however it focused on their neighbors and was just dreadfully boring.

OH! The Golden Girls episode entitled "Empty Nests" is, among the fans, the suckiest episode EVER!!!!!!!! The girls we barely in it. And their friend was boring. I think the producers saw it to0 and when Empty Nest finally came on the air it was a completely different show!

I'm sorry, that episode just bugs me.


-Matt

Originally posted by Irresistible
OH! The Golden Girls episode entitled "Empty Nests" is, among the fans, the suckiest episode EVER!!!!!!!! The girls we barely in it. And their friend was boring. I think the producers saw it to0 and when Empty Nest finally came on the air it was a completely different show!

I'm sorry, that episode just bugs me.


-Matt

I have to agree with you... I'm SOOOOOO glad that they had the foresight to completley revamp "Empty Nest" before it debuted. Richard Mulligan, Dinah Manoff and Kristy McNichol are a MILLION times better than the boring friends they had on the "Empty Nest" episode of "The Golden Girls"... And thank god for Park Overall, the funniest thing about Empty Nest, NURSE LAVERNE ALWAYS CRACKS ME UP!

Originally posted by benjamoon
After watching the post Richie and Ralph episodes lately on TV Land, I think they should have just told Anson Williams and Lynda Goodfriend that they were no longer needed on the show because their characters seem so pointless

I counted Anson Williams' appearances in the final season a while back. I don't have the exact number, but Potsie appeared in only about 5 or 6 episodes in the last season. He didn't even appear in the last episode. I think he should have stayed for maybe one season after Richie and Ralph had left. But after that, he was pretty pointless.

Originally posted by LucyFan
Happy Days lost some of its spark when Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham) and Don Moist (Ralph Malph) left the series after 1980. The episodes without them weren't as good as the ones with them.

I Actually enjoy the later episodes more at times :lol:

Originally posted by TVAdam
I counted Anson Williams' appearances in the final season a while back. I don't have the exact number, but Potsie appeared in only about 5 or 6 episodes in the last season. He didn't even appear in the last episode. I think he should have stayed for maybe one season after Richie and Ralph had left. But after that, he was pretty pointless.


I thought not seeing Potsie was a Good Thing for Happy Days

Originally posted by factsoflife
"Facts Of Life" had several episodes in which one or more of the girls weren't present, most notably i've noticed SEVERAL Natalie-Less episodes. Also even before Charoltte Rea left there were several Mrs. Garrett-Less episodes.


What episodes were Natalie not in??? I've never heard of this.

Charlotte Rae missed several toward the end of her last season on the show, and Lisa Whelchel skipped the episode where Natalie lost her virginity. Nancy McKeon missed the first season, and a couple episodes when her contract was in dispute. That's it, though, to my knowledge.

When Jeff Conaway left Taxi, the show seemed to lack something.

Originally posted by jayman75
What episodes were Natalie not in??? I've never heard of this.

According to the SO FOL episode guide, Mindy Cohn wasn't in episode 153, "The Lady Who Came to Dinner," which aired on February 22nd, 1986.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
According to the SO FOL episode guide, Mindy Cohn wasn't in episode 153, "The Lady Who Came to Dinner," which aired on February 22nd, 1986.

Well, FactsofLife said there were "several," but I didn't think there were.

Nancy McKeon missed the first season, and a couple episodes when her contract was in dispute.

To jayman75:
Nancy McKeon was actually not on the show during the first
season. She was not added until the second season.

Originally posted by Sean Snow
According to the SO FOL episode guide, Mindy Cohn wasn't in episode 153, "The Lady Who Came to Dinner," which aired on February 22nd, 1986.

That was the episode i was thinking of when i posted this.

a i didnt think anyboody rembered that ther was a cherrs ep wih without ted danson it was pretty bad the only people i felt worse for then us watching at home were the studio audence i know i would have been disapponted not to see him there and im sure they were too

When Ron Howard (and Donny Most) left Happy Days, I cant bear to watch it. Those episodes are based mostly on Chachi, and the episodes are so.... puke: I also really really hate how they treated Potsie. :grr: