Was a reference ever made to Fran, Buzz, Sonya, Eunice or Ellen after the first two seasons?

Where exactly were Buzz and Sonya supposed to have gone?

Did Iola's first appearance have a reason behind it or did she just appear and we're supposed to assume they were already friends?

Did the show actually reference the fact that there had been an absence of over a year?

What do you think were better, the primetime years or the syndicated years? Personally I like the syndicated years. The jokes were funnier and the episodes aren't nearly as dated as the primetime ones.