Shows with Absent Stars

[Kitt]

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Different Strokes without Dana?????????????-You got be kidding

I'm not sure if I understand your comment.

[TVFactFan]

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

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

[Janice]

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.

[Kitt]

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.

[TVFactFan]

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

[Kitt]

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.

[Janice]

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.
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.

[mstewart]

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.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Janice
Sounds like you don't like girls.
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

[Janice]

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.

[Czas na Zywiec]

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

He just has a lot of vexation with them.

[Czas na Zywiec]

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.

[treky]

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.

[treky]

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?

[DianeChambers87]

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.