TV show retcons/inconsistencies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

opus · 08-31-2025, 11:48 PM

Retcon is an informal term for a revision made to an established story after the story was published or released. The term is a shortening of retroactive continuity.

So let’s name some.

In the pilot of The Cosby Show, Clair asks Cliff, "Why did we have four children?" He replies, "Because we didn't want five. [So Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy]. Then they ended up adding Sondra.

opus · 09-01-2025, 01:44 AM

Ok, and I’m also taking Chuck from Happy Days.

Dream Canteen · 09-01-2025, 01:53 AM

“The Conners” retconned so many things from “Roseanne,” up to and including the existence of children Jackie and Roseanne had during the course of the original series.

JamesG · 09-01-2025, 10:08 AM

The "Will & Grace" revival retconned the original series finale by erasing their children.

The show creators explained the decision was made to keep the focus on the four-friend dynamic.

stevea · 09-01-2025, 10:37 AM

Mama's Family - Buzz and Sonja, Vint's children with his first wife, were main characters in the first two seasons. In the first episode of season three, they were mentioned briefly by Thelma as "no Buzz and Sonja." By the time Vint and Naomi wanted to start an family in season five, there were no such people as Buzz and Sonja.

opus · 09-01-2025, 10:48 AM

In the One Day At A Time pilot Schneider is said to be married and living downstairs with his wife (unseen). It was quickly changed thereafter to that he had been divorced for a while.

JamesG · 09-01-2025, 02:12 PM

Does retconning count for when it’s not done intentionally? New writers simply don’t keep up with the continuity or they “don’t care” to.

Some examples are from The Golden Girls with the ages of their children and an instance where it’s said Rose doesn’t like hospitals but then she volunteers at one.

On The King of Queens they changed how Doug and Carrie first met a few times.

opus · 09-01-2025, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

On The King of Queens they changed how Doug and Carrie first met a few times.

Odd Couple also did that with Felix and Oscar.

opus · 09-01-2025, 02:31 PM

Early in MASH Hawkeye referenced his mother being alive and him having a sister. Then eventually his mother had died when he was young and he was an only child.

Dream Canteen · 09-01-2025, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Early in MASH Hawkeye referenced his mother being alive and him having a sister. Then eventually his mother had died when he was young and he was an only child.

He also mentioned in an early episode that he is married. Plus, Col. Blake’s wife’s first name changed a few times.

opus · 09-01-2025, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Does retconning count for when it’s not done intentionally? New writers simply don’t keep up with the continuity or they “don’t care” to.

Title change. Now either is acceptable in here.

stevea · 09-01-2025, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

On The King of Queens they changed how Doug and Carrie first met a few times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Odd Couple also did that with Felix and Oscar.

I think the writers also did that with an episode of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, with Ann Sothern. It was at odds with "how the met" explanations given on I Love Lucy.

Frank Gannucci · 09-01-2025, 03:34 PM

The Honeymooners had a lot of retcons especially when it came to how Ralph & Alice met the first time as well as how Ralph & Ed met.

But this was during a time when nobody thought these sketches were going to be reran especially the lost episodes.

VTO6685 · 09-01-2025, 04:00 PM

On "The Facts of Life", in the "Adoption" episode, it is revealed that Natalie is a Virgo, but in a later episode, Natalie claims she is a Taurus.

DJM77 · 09-01-2025, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

In the pilot of The Cosby Show, Clair asks Cliff, "Why did we have four children?" He replies, "Because we didn't want five. [So Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy]. Then they ended up adding Sondra.

Plus their living room looked a lot different and much smaller in the pilot.

08-31-2025, 11:48 PM	#1
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,578	TV show retcons/inconsistencies Retcon is an informal term for a revision made to an established story after the story was published or released. The term is a shortening of retroactive continuity. So let’s name some. In the pilot of The Cosby Show, Clair asks Cliff, "Why did we have four children?" He replies, "Because we didn't want five. [So Denise, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy]. Then they ended up adding Sondra.
	Last edited by opus; 09-01-2025 at 02:43 PM.

09-01-2025, 01:44 AM	#2
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,578	Ok, and I’m also taking Chuck from Happy Days.

09-01-2025, 01:53 AM	#3
Dream Canteen Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 11, 2023 Location: California Posts: 524	“The Conners” retconned so many things from “Roseanne,” up to and including the existence of children Jackie and Roseanne had during the course of the original series.

09-01-2025, 10:08 AM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,153	The "Will & Grace" revival retconned the original series finale by erasing their children. The show creators explained the decision was made to keep the focus on the four-friend dynamic.

09-01-2025, 10:37 AM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,834	Mama's Family - Buzz and Sonja, Vint's children with his first wife, were main characters in the first two seasons. In the first episode of season three, they were mentioned briefly by Thelma as "no Buzz and Sonja." By the time Vint and Naomi wanted to start an family in season five, there were no such people as Buzz and Sonja.

09-01-2025, 10:48 AM	#6
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,578	In the One Day At A Time pilot Schneider is said to be married and living downstairs with his wife (unseen). It was quickly changed thereafter to that he had been divorced for a while.

09-01-2025, 02:12 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,153	Does retconning count for when it’s not done intentionally? New writers simply don’t keep up with the continuity or they “don’t care” to. Some examples are from The Golden Girls with the ages of their children and an instance where it’s said Rose doesn’t like hospitals but then she volunteers at one. On The King of Queens they changed how Doug and Carrie first met a few times.

09-01-2025, 02:31 PM	#9
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,578	Early in MASH Hawkeye referenced his mother being alive and him having a sister. Then eventually his mother had died when he was young and he was an only child.

09-01-2025, 03:34 PM	#13
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,073	The Honeymooners had a lot of retcons especially when it came to how Ralph & Alice met the first time as well as how Ralph & Ed met. But this was during a time when nobody thought these sketches were going to be reran especially the lost episodes.

09-01-2025, 04:00 PM	#14
VTO6685 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2023 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 62	On "The Facts of Life", in the "Adoption" episode, it is revealed that Natalie is a Virgo, but in a later episode, Natalie claims she is a Taurus.