Sitcoms where no starting main characters are lost? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stella · 08-03-2004, 12:53 AM

In any long-running sitcom, it is common to have main characters come and go. It is indeed a rarity to have a long-running sitcom where all the main starting characters last from the debut all the way to the series finale. Characters often leave the series for both personal and professional reasons and in some cases, new characters come in. Off the top of my head, it's easy to think of a dozen examples where main starting characters are lost along the way:

1. Three's Company - Chrissy left.
2. Cosby Show - Denise left.
3. The Wonder Years - Karen left.
4. Family Matters - Judy left.
5. Happy days - Richie left.
6. Diff'rent Strokes Kimberly left.
7. Alice - Florence left.
8. Cheers - Diane left.
9. Home Improvement - Randy left.
10. The Jeffersons - Lionel left.
11. Married...With Children - Steve left.
12. Murphy Brown - Miles left.
13. Head of the Class - Mr. Moore left.
14. The Facts of Life - Mrs. Garrett left.
15. Step by Step - Brendan left.

I tip my hat to any sitcom that has the courtesy to bring back a lost main character for the finale. In a few cases, that indeed happened.

But overall, I have the most respect for TV sitcom series where NONE of the main characters are lost. Let's say a long-running series is one that lasts three or more seasons. What are some sitcoms where all the main characters in the debut lasted all the way through to the finale? Amazingly, I was able to come up with a few. Correct me if I'm wrong:

1. Gilligan's Island
2. Taxi
3. WKRP in Cincinnati (great one, considering so many characters)
4. ALF
5. Family Ties
6. The Golden Girls
7. Growing Pains
8. Mr. Belvedere
9. Punky Brewster
10. Too Close for Comfort
11. Who's the Boss
12. Full House
13. Roseanne
14. Seinfeld
15. Friends

Can anyone think of other long-running TV sitcoms that has the honor and distinction of not losing any main starting characters?

James · 08-03-2004, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stella
Can anyone think of other long-running TV sitcoms that has the honor and distinction of not losing any main starting characters?

I'd say The Brady Bunch, although Mike, the father, was absent from the final episode.

Dr. Jazz · 08-03-2004, 01:42 AM

Bobby (and Jeff Conaway) left Taxi after season 3.

I don't think any major characters left the Odd Couple.

Dean Winchester · 08-03-2004, 02:26 AM

Frasier lasted 11 seasons with all 5 principal actors entact

spunkygirl · 08-03-2004, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stella
In any long-running sitcom, it is common to have main characters come and go. It is indeed a rarity to have a long-running sitcom where all the main starting characters last from the debut all the way to the series finale. Characters often leave the series for both personal and professional reasons and in some cases, new characters come in. Off the top of my head, it's easy to think of a dozen examples where main starting characters are lost along the way:

1. Three's Company - Chrissy left.
2. Cosby Show - Denise left.
3. The Wonder Years - Karen left.
4. Family Matters - Judy left.
5. Happy days - Richie left.
6. Diff'rent Strokes Kimberly left.
7. Alice - Florence left.
8. Cheers - Diane left.
9. Home Improvement - Randy left.
10. The Jeffersons - Lionel left.
11. Married...With Children - Steve left.
12. Murphy Brown - Miles left.
13. Head of the Class - Mr. Moore left.
14. The Facts of Life - Mrs. Garrett left.
15. Step by Step - Brendan left.

I tip my hat to any sitcom that has the courtesy to bring back a lost main character for the finale. In a few cases, that indeed happened.

But overall, I have the most respect for TV sitcom series where NONE of the main characters are lost. Let's say a long-running series is one that lasts three or more seasons. What are some sitcoms where all the main characters in the debut lasted all the way through to the finale? Amazingly, I was able to come up with a few. Correct me if I'm wrong:

1. Gilligan's Island
2. Taxi
3. WKRP in Cincinnati (great one, considering so many characters)
4. ALF
5. Family Ties
6. The Golden Girls
7. Growing Pains
8. Mr. Belvedere
9. Punky Brewster
10. Too Close for Comfort
11. Who's the Boss
12. Full House
13. Roseanne
14. Seinfeld
15. Friends

Can anyone think of other long-running TV sitcoms that has the honor and distinction of not losing any main starting characters?

Boy Meets World, none of the main characters left. They had supporting characters come and go, but the main cast was there throughout the 7 year run.

Too Close for Comfort, didn't Ted Knight pass away while that show was still on the air? So technically didn't TCFC lose a main character? Correct me if I'm wrong

jamesanthony · 08-03-2004, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Jazz
I don't think any major characters left the Odd Couple.

The poker playing buddies were only on in year 1, except for Murray who was on it for the whole show, although whether or not Vinnie, Speed and Roy were major players is open to debate. Also, the Pigeon sisters were only in year 1, nancy was only in years 1-2. Again, whether or not they were major is open to debate. Same with Gloria who was in all 5 years, Myrna who was in years 2-5, Miriam in years 3-4.

ThirteenInchEscape · 08-03-2004, 05:45 PM

I always thought Boy Meets World was longer...since it started when he was like in 6th grade or something and ended when he was a sophomore in college.

Kate left Drew Carey...though I stopped watching it a while before that, that's just what I heard, and IMDB backs that up

Mr. Television · 08-03-2004, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Boy Meets World, none of the main characters left. They had supporting characters come and go, but the main cast was there throughout the 7 year run.

Too Close for Comfort, didn't Ted Knight pass away while that show was still on the air? So technically didn't TCFC lose a main character? Correct me if I'm wrong

Actually the show ended when he died but Jackie And Sarah had left the show earlier so it did lose 2 major characters.

spunkygirl · 08-03-2004, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
I always thought Boy Meets World was longer...since it started when he was like in 6th grade or something and ended when he was a sophomore in college.

Kate left Drew Carey...though I stopped watching it a while before that, that's just what I heard, and IMDB backs that up

BMW ran from 1993-2000

barwars · 08-03-2004, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Boy Meets World, none of the main characters left. They had supporting characters come and go, but the main cast was there throughout the 7 year run.

I always though Minkus was a star in the first season

spunkygirl · 08-03-2004, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
I always though Minkus was a star in the first season

Well I never thought of him as a main character, and technically in the first season Topanga would have been considered a guest star character

tvfan0101 · 08-03-2004, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
Kate left Drew Carey...though I stopped watching it a while before that, that's just what I heard, and IMDB backs that up

She did. The actress is now appearing on Scrubs.

TV Guy · 08-03-2004, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr roper
Actually the show ended when he died but Jackie And Sarah had left the show earlier so it did lose 2 major characters.

Technically, the entire five-year run of "Too Close for Comfort" had all the main characters. Ted Knight, Nancy Dussault, and Jm J. Bullock went on to the spinoff, "The Ted Knight Show", in which the two daughters did not appear. After Knight died, the show shut down production, and the lone season of "Ted Knight" was folded into the "Too Close for Comfort" syndication package. But if Knight had not died, "The Ted Knight Show" would have continued production and been syndicated separately from "Too Close".

"Roseanne" lost Lecy Goranson, BTW.

Other shows that kept the casts intact:

"The Nanny"
"I Love Lucy"
"I Dream of Jeannie"
"The Partridge Family"
"Sanford & Son"

James · 08-04-2004, 01:16 AM

I can't believe I forgot to mention Coach!

stella · 08-05-2004, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TV Guy
"Roseanne" lost Lecy Goranson, BTW.

Yes, but I was referring to the actual characters and not the actors or actresses who played them. When actress Lecy Goranson left Roseanne twice, her character was picked up by new actress Sarah Chalke each time. So therefore, the character of Becky did not leave the series, even if she was played by two different actresses.

On a side note, I commend Roseanne's producers for thinking of ways to keep a character alive by bringing in a new actress to replace a departing actress. Off the top of my head, I only know of one other TV series that did this. On Baywatch, after Brandon Call left, Jeremy Jackson was brought in to take over the character of Hobie Buchanon.

08-03-2004, 12:53 AM	#1
stella Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 392	Sitcoms where no starting main characters are lost? In any long-running sitcom, it is common to have main characters come and go. It is indeed a rarity to have a long-running sitcom where all the main starting characters last from the debut all the way to the series finale. Characters often leave the series for both personal and professional reasons and in some cases, new characters come in. Off the top of my head, it's easy to think of a dozen examples where main starting characters are lost along the way: 1. Three's Company - Chrissy left. 2. Cosby Show - Denise left. 3. The Wonder Years - Karen left. 4. Family Matters - Judy left. 5. Happy days - Richie left. 6. Diff'rent Strokes Kimberly left. 7. Alice - Florence left. 8. Cheers - Diane left. 9. Home Improvement - Randy left. 10. The Jeffersons - Lionel left. 11. Married...With Children - Steve left. 12. Murphy Brown - Miles left. 13. Head of the Class - Mr. Moore left. 14. The Facts of Life - Mrs. Garrett left. 15. Step by Step - Brendan left. I tip my hat to any sitcom that has the courtesy to bring back a lost main character for the finale. In a few cases, that indeed happened. But overall, I have the most respect for TV sitcom series where NONE of the main characters are lost. Let's say a long-running series is one that lasts three or more seasons. What are some sitcoms where all the main characters in the debut lasted all the way through to the finale? Amazingly, I was able to come up with a few. Correct me if I'm wrong: 1. Gilligan's Island 2. Taxi 3. WKRP in Cincinnati (great one, considering so many characters) 4. ALF 5. Family Ties 6. The Golden Girls 7. Growing Pains 8. Mr. Belvedere 9. Punky Brewster 10. Too Close for Comfort 11. Who's the Boss 12. Full House 13. Roseanne 14. Seinfeld 15. Friends Can anyone think of other long-running TV sitcoms that has the honor and distinction of not losing any main starting characters?

08-03-2004, 05:45 PM	#7
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	I always thought Boy Meets World was longer...since it started when he was like in 6th grade or something and ended when he was a sophomore in college. Kate left Drew Carey...though I stopped watching it a while before that, that's just what I heard, and IMDB backs that up
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

08-03-2004, 01:42 AM	#3
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,131	Bobby (and Jeff Conaway) left Taxi after season 3. I don't think any major characters left the Odd Couple.

08-03-2004, 02:26 AM	#4
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Frasier lasted 11 seasons with all 5 principal actors entact

08-04-2004, 01:16 AM	#14
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I can't believe I forgot to mention Coach!