shows with only one regular - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jamesanthony · 01-18-2008, 10:55 AM

not too many series like this, esp sitcoms:

Bill Cosby Show (1969-71) is the only sitcom that I can think of but I believe there are others.

dramas:

Columbo
Cannon
Murder She Wrote (i think?)
The Fugitive
Run for Your Life

You've got to have some personality to be the only regular in a non-anthological series. Don't think any network would take a chance doing something like this today. If the actor can't do the show, the show is over (that's what caused the Fugitive to end- David Janssen was burnt out from carrying the whole load of the series).

catlover79 · 01-18-2008, 12:50 PM

You're right - Angela Lansbury was the only regular on Murder, She Wrote.

tv star collector · 01-18-2008, 08:39 PM

Does anyone remember a dramatic series that ran on NBC, from 1980 to 1982,
titled Here's Boomer? It starred Boomer, a homeless little dog that "helps some people and humbles others" (to quote TV Guide). I also remember a syndicated series (produced in Canada, I think) titled The Littlest Hobo, about a German shepherd that roamed all over the country helping people in distress. Each of those series had one regular (you didn't
say the regular had to be a human).

gidgetgrape · 01-18-2008, 09:19 PM

Branded (western)

Mr. Television · 01-18-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Does anyone remember a dramatic series that ran on NBC, from 1980 to 1982,
titled Here's Boomer? It starred Boomer, a homeless little dog that "helps some people and humbles others" (to quote TV Guide). I also remember a syndicated series (produced in Canada, I think) titled The Littlest Hobo, about a German shepherd that roamed all over the country helping people in distress. Each of those series had one regular (you didn't
say the regular had to be a human).

I used to watch Here's Boomer.

treky · 01-19-2008, 02:52 AM

also with THE FUGITIVE David Jannsen also decided he didn't want to do it anymore because they would film it on location around the country; and he used to get physically tired; since he was in almost every scene.

Zoneboy · 01-19-2008, 03:55 AM

Each of these series had only one primary regular:

Sea Hunt (Lloyd Bridges)
The Loner (Lloyd Bridges)
The Invaders (Roy Thinnes)
Then Came Bronson (Michael Parks)

comedyfreak · 01-19-2008, 02:09 PM

The Twilight Zone only had one regular Rod Serling.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Alfred himself)
Night Gallery (Rod Serling)
Ghost Story only had one regular, Sebastian Cabot then after half a season he was dropped and the show had no regulars, LOL.

Zoneboy · 01-19-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

The Twilight Zone only had one regular Rod Serling.
Night Gallery (Rod Serling)

I thought about these yesterday but decided that since Rod only served as host and didn't appear in any episodes (except for one) that he shouldn't count. Rod wasn't seen on camera during the first season of TZ until the last episode where he made a cameo appearance.

comedyfreak · 01-19-2008, 10:46 PM

True however, he was still part of the show even though you only heard him.

01-18-2008, 10:55 AM	#1
jamesanthony Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 2,180	shows with only one regular not too many series like this, esp sitcoms: Bill Cosby Show (1969-71) is the only sitcom that I can think of but I believe there are others. dramas: Columbo Cannon Murder She Wrote (i think?) The Fugitive Run for Your Life You've got to have some personality to be the only regular in a non-anthological series. Don't think any network would take a chance doing something like this today. If the actor can't do the show, the show is over (that's what caused the Fugitive to end- David Janssen was burnt out from carrying the whole load of the series).

01-18-2008, 12:50 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	You're right - Angela Lansbury was the only regular on Murder, She Wrote.
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01-19-2008, 02:52 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	also with THE FUGITIVE David Jannsen also decided he didn't want to do it anymore because they would film it on location around the country; and he used to get physically tired; since he was in almost every scene.
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01-19-2008, 03:55 AM	#7
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Each of these series had only one primary regular: Sea Hunt (Lloyd Bridges) The Loner (Lloyd Bridges) The Invaders (Roy Thinnes) Then Came Bronson (Michael Parks)
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01-19-2008, 02:09 PM	#8
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	The Twilight Zone only had one regular Rod Serling. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Alfred himself) Night Gallery (Rod Serling) Ghost Story only had one regular, Sebastian Cabot then after half a season he was dropped and the show had no regulars, LOL.
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01-18-2008, 08:39 PM	#3
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	Does anyone remember a dramatic series that ran on NBC, from 1980 to 1982, titled Here's Boomer? It starred Boomer, a homeless little dog that "helps some people and humbles others" (to quote TV Guide). I also remember a syndicated series (produced in Canada, I think) titled The Littlest Hobo, about a German shepherd that roamed all over the country helping people in distress. Each of those series had one regular (you didn't say the regular had to be a human).

01-18-2008, 09:19 PM	#4
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	Branded (western)

01-19-2008, 10:46 PM	#10
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	True however, he was still part of the show even though you only heard him.