Sitcom characters that came back - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

sross1800 · 02-11-2014, 07:41 PM

Just curious, can you think of any sitcom characters that returned to their original sitcom when they weren't on the sitcom in later episodes (and/or in the final episode) like Diane on "Cheers", Randy on "Home Improvement", Steve Hale on "Full House", Steve Rhoades on "Married... With Children", and Richie Cunningham and Ralph Malph on "Happy Days"), and/or on the spin-off of the original show, like Sophia Petrillo on "Empty Nest" and Zack Morris, AC Slater, and Lisa Turtle on "Saved By the Bell: The New Class"?

Thanks!

Sean

tvfan25 · 02-11-2014, 08:12 PM

On "Frasier": Diane, Lilith, Sam, Woody, Carla, Cliff & Norm all reprised their "Cheers" roles.

Archie & Edith Bunker were on "Maude" and Maude was on "All in the Family"

Zelda came back on the last episode of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"

The original Becky came back on "Roseanne"

70s show watcher · 02-11-2014, 08:21 PM

abe vagoda came back as fish for 1 ep of barney miller

Retro4Life · 02-11-2014, 08:30 PM

Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers came back for a couple episodes of All in the Family, and then later, Archie Bunker's Place.

sross1800 · 02-11-2014, 09:01 PM

Another one I forgot about was on "That 70's Show" when Eric returned for the series finale!

MacLeaper · 02-11-2014, 09:04 PM

The characters of Jason Pembroke and his mom both appeared in the "Amityville" episode of Charles in Charge to kick off the second season and hand over the reins to the Powell family.

Stuart Minkus made a later appearance on "Boy Meets World" in the graduation episode after only appearing in the first season during their 6th. grade year.

installLSC · 02-11-2014, 09:17 PM

What about characters (and actors) that were written out of the show then returned? That includes Florida Evans from "Good Times" and Julie Cooper on "One Day At a Time".
Then you have the bizarre case of Lionel Jefferson on the "Jeffersons". Originally played by Mike Evans, then by another actor, then by Mike Evans again. Finally they just dropped the Lionel character altogether.

mr awesome · 02-12-2014, 11:02 AM

Michael, Kelly, Ryan, and Devon (a minor character) on The Office.

comedyfreak · 02-12-2014, 11:59 AM

Joanie and Chachi left Happy Days for their own show and returned to Happy Days after their series was canceled.
Marla Gibbs got her won short lived comedy called Checkin In, after the show was canceled she went back to The Jeffersons.

Adamantium · 02-12-2014, 12:36 PM

Michael J. Fox returned for three episodes of "Spin City" in its final season.

Ted McGriff (David Lascher) returned to "Hey Dude", first as a guest star and then a few episodes later he returned full time to the show.

Rhoda and Phyllis returned to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" for its final episode.

Alex Lambert (Farrah Forke) returned for a guest spot in the middle of season six of "Wings" after leaving at the end of season five.

Barney Fife made a couple appearances all three seasons he was no longer a cast member for on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Marvo301 · 02-12-2014, 02:38 PM

Ritchie and Lori-Beth Cunningham and Ralph Malph returned to Happy Days for a visit.

DJM77 · 02-12-2014, 07:06 PM

Edna Garrett - Diff'rent Strokes
Cody Lambert - Step By Step

RetroGuy2000 · 02-19-2014, 03:42 AM

Cindy, Sue Ann, and Nancy (Julie Anne Haddock, Julie Piekarski, and Felice Schachter) on The Facts of Life, who returned for a reunion episode. Molly Ringwald was the only hold-out.

biffbronson · 02-27-2014, 04:54 PM

On Petticoat Junction, Rufe Davis came back for a late episode as his character Floyd Smoot -- this was after the Wendall Gibbs character had taken over the running of the train (Byron Foulger).

On The Beverly Hillbillies, I believe the oil executive Mr. Brewster came back for at least one color episode. He'd been gone for a long period. (Granny is going to teach his new wife how to do "down on the farm" chores).

biffbronson · 06-23-2014, 02:20 AM

Also, on The Danny Thomas Show ("Make Room for Daddy"), nubile daughter Terry Williams came back in Season 7 (originally played by Sherry Jackson, later by Penny Parker).

02-11-2014, 07:41 PM	#1
sross1800 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2011 Location: Lake St. Louis, MO Posts: 15	Sitcom characters that came back Just curious, can you think of any sitcom characters that returned to their original sitcom when they weren't on the sitcom in later episodes (and/or in the final episode) like Diane on "Cheers", Randy on "Home Improvement", Steve Hale on "Full House", Steve Rhoades on "Married... With Children", and Richie Cunningham and Ralph Malph on "Happy Days"), and/or on the spin-off of the original show, like Sophia Petrillo on "Empty Nest" and Zack Morris, AC Slater, and Lisa Turtle on "Saved By the Bell: The New Class"? Thanks! Sean

02-11-2014, 08:30 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers came back for a couple episodes of All in the Family, and then later, Archie Bunker's Place.
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02-11-2014, 09:04 PM	#6
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	The characters of Jason Pembroke and his mom both appeared in the "Amityville" episode of Charles in Charge to kick off the second season and hand over the reins to the Powell family. Stuart Minkus made a later appearance on "Boy Meets World" in the graduation episode after only appearing in the first season during their 6th. grade year.
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02-12-2014, 11:59 AM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Joanie and Chachi left Happy Days for their own show and returned to Happy Days after their series was canceled. Marla Gibbs got her won short lived comedy called Checkin In, after the show was canceled she went back to The Jeffersons.
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02-12-2014, 02:38 PM	#11
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Ritchie and Lori-Beth Cunningham and Ralph Malph returned to Happy Days for a visit.
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02-11-2014, 08:12 PM	#2
tvfan25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 634	On "Frasier": Diane, Lilith, Sam, Woody, Carla, Cliff & Norm all reprised their "Cheers" roles. Archie & Edith Bunker were on "Maude" and Maude was on "All in the Family" Zelda came back on the last episode of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" The original Becky came back on "Roseanne"

02-11-2014, 08:21 PM	#3
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	abe vagoda came back as fish for 1 ep of barney miller

02-11-2014, 09:01 PM	#5
sross1800 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2011 Location: Lake St. Louis, MO Posts: 15	Another one I forgot about was on "That 70's Show" when Eric returned for the series finale!

02-11-2014, 09:17 PM	#7
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	What about characters (and actors) that were written out of the show then returned? That includes Florida Evans from "Good Times" and Julie Cooper on "One Day At a Time". Then you have the bizarre case of Lionel Jefferson on the "Jeffersons". Originally played by Mike Evans, then by another actor, then by Mike Evans again. Finally they just dropped the Lionel character altogether.

02-12-2014, 11:02 AM	#8
mr awesome Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2013 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 275	Michael, Kelly, Ryan, and Devon (a minor character) on The Office.

02-12-2014, 12:36 PM	#10
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Michael J. Fox returned for three episodes of "Spin City" in its final season. Ted McGriff (David Lascher) returned to "Hey Dude", first as a guest star and then a few episodes later he returned full time to the show. Rhoda and Phyllis returned to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" for its final episode. Alex Lambert (Farrah Forke) returned for a guest spot in the middle of season six of "Wings" after leaving at the end of season five. Barney Fife made a couple appearances all three seasons he was no longer a cast member for on "The Andy Griffith Show."

02-12-2014, 07:06 PM	#12
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,566	Edna Garrett - Diff'rent Strokes Cody Lambert - Step By Step
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02-19-2014, 03:42 AM	#13
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Cindy, Sue Ann, and Nancy (Julie Anne Haddock, Julie Piekarski, and Felice Schachter) on The Facts of Life, who returned for a reunion episode. Molly Ringwald was the only hold-out.
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02-27-2014, 04:54 PM	#14
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,512	On Petticoat Junction, Rufe Davis came back for a late episode as his character Floyd Smoot -- this was after the Wendall Gibbs character had taken over the running of the train (Byron Foulger). On The Beverly Hillbillies, I believe the oil executive Mr. Brewster came back for at least one color episode. He'd been gone for a long period. (Granny is going to teach his new wife how to do "down on the farm" chores).
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06-23-2014, 02:20 AM	#15
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,512	Also, on The Danny Thomas Show ("Make Room for Daddy"), nubile daughter Terry Williams came back in Season 7 (originally played by Sherry Jackson, later by Penny Parker).