Which examples in TV has 'retooling' a show's format made it worse?

[TMC]

For instance:

• The child characters are getting too “old”; let’s bring in a new kid
  
• Let’s move the main setting of the series
  
• Let’s replace or eliminate a main character and hope that viewers won’t notice or will keep watching
  
• Let’s introduce completely implausible plot twists and hope that viewers buy it
  
• Let’s bring on famous guest stars and hope that revitalizes things. Bonus points if they are portraying themselves and not an original characters

[RetroGuy2000]

The final season retoolings of Gimme a Break, Head of the Class, and Roseanne made those shows unwatchable.

I'm not a fan of the later Facts of Life retoolings, but the show is still watchable... dumbed down, but not horrific.

I can't honestly think of any sitcom where the show was improved through retooling. Maybe Newhart.

[howilu]

What about Laverne & Shirley after they moved from Milwaukee to California and following the departure of Cindy Williams in 1982. Those were two major shark jumps.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by howilu

What about Laverne & Shirley after they moved from Milwaukee to California and following the departure of Cindy Williams in 1982. Those were two major shark jumps.

Forgot about L&S's final season without Shirley and Edna. That was garbage.

[Christopher]

The Lucy Show and Mama's Family are two of the worst retoolings a show can have. The Lucy Show had Lucy moving to California dumping her kids and Viv in season 4. It relied heavily on special guest stars those last three seasons. Mama's Family went from being a family show the first two years to a Lucy & Ethel type sitcom in the syndication years with Mama and Iola. I prefer the early years for both shows.

[stevea]

Lucy's retooling was awful, and probably the reason it was successful was because people couldn't get enough of Lucy and her antics, and ignored the ridiculousness of it.

Between the kids and Viv, and Mr. Mooney co-incidentally moving, they might just as well have started a new show.

Regarding adding kids: this has happened soooo many times--some of the worst:

Oliver on Brady Bunch - jump the shark for sure. I don't think ABC had yet sent Sherwood packing, or he probably wouldn't have bothered.

Sam on Diff'rent Strokes - I liked Dixie Carter, and had no problem with Sam (except when he sang), but the additions ruined the concept of the show. Recasting Maggie was a bridge too far, though, and the eighth season should have never happened.

Trisha on The Donna Reed Show - might have been the first for "add a kid." She probably wasn't needed, as it turned out. They added Bob Crane and Ann McCrea as new adults a season or two later, and most stories revolved around the adult relationships. If not the adults, Jeff and Smitty. Trisha was mostly just "there."

Also HOW they added her was totally implausible. The kid just followed them around, and that's it--another kid.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by stevea

Lucy's retooling was awful, and probably the reason it was successful was because people couldn't get enough of Lucy and her antics, and ignored the ridiculousness of it.

Between the kids and Viv, and Mr. Mooney co-incidentally moving, they might just as well have started a new show.

They really should have.

Regarding adding kids: this has happened soooo many times--some of the worst:

Oliver on Brady Bunch - jump the shark for sure. I don't think ABC had yet sent Sherwood packing, or he probably wouldn't have bothered.

Sam on Diff'rent Strokes - I liked Dixie Carter, and had no problem with Sam (except when he sang), but the additions ruined the concept of the show. Recasting Maggie was a bridge too far, though, and the eighth season should have never happened.

I think they had no choice with the Maggie recast: Dixie indicated Gary Coleman made things too difficult for her to continue. One thing I like about that final season is the return of Dana Plato / Kimberly, even for just a couple of episodes.

Cousin Oliver was terrible, but at least it was just him: when The Cosby Show added Cousin Pam, it wasn't just her but her three annoying friends.

[merlinjones]

Originally Posted by TMC

For instance:

• The child characters are getting too “old”; let’s bring in a new kid
  
• Let’s move the main setting of the series
  
• Let’s replace or eliminate a main character and hope that viewers won’t notice or will keep watching
  
• Let’s introduce completely implausible plot twists and hope that viewers buy it
  
• Let’s bring on famous guest stars and hope that revitalizes things. Bonus points if they are portraying themselves and not an original characters

Adding "consummate the relationship / get engaged / get married / have a baby / get divorced / change jobs" to the retooling cliches.

Also "losing the kids along the way" (Lucy Show, Doris Day, etc.)