Departures that hurt the most - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ericguy · 10-10-2002, 09:41 AM

What character leaving a show do you think hurt it the most? Alot of people might say Suzanne Somers from TC, but I think my all time vote would have to be Polly Holiday from Alice to start Flo. Alice never really resembled the same show after she left.

callmetootie · 10-10-2002, 10:25 AM

When Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman left MTMS, the show seemed a bit empty and some of it's spunk had gone. It's like the fact that Mary has no more female friends, and is surrounded by Ted, Lou, Murray, etc. The chemistry between the 3 was a reason to why the show was so great. It's not like Georgia Engel and Betty White could replace them...

Janice · 10-10-2002, 10:54 AM

Shelley Long's departure bothered me. I think Cheers lost a great deal.
Suzanne Somer's exit left a void that was never filled.
It was sad when Michael J. Fox had to leave Spin City.

Plasma · 10-10-2002, 11:01 AM

I think Kate Jackson leaving Charlie's Angels did that show in. Also, I felt that when the first Becky left Roseanne, the story line just kinda fell apart. But maybe that wasn't so much of the departure but Roseanne going a little nuts with the story lines.

UpstairsSteak · 10-10-2002, 11:22 AM

When George Clooney left ER I did too. I was on the brink anyway but his departure was my last straw.
I also thought Kate Jackson's departure from CA was bad for the show.

GeorgeCTX · 10-10-2002, 11:32 AM

I think Flo leaving killed the show Alice. I wasn't so sorry to see Suzanne Somers leave TC, they couldn't decide on a personality for her anyway.

callmetootie · 10-10-2002, 11:36 AM

That is true about Shelley Long. When she left, the show lost a major part and most of it's spunk. The only person who really could fill in her place as an intelligent, high-iq, serious kind of gal with Lilith, who unfortunely was not in enough episodes to save it. Kirstie was great in her first season, but her character became this huge ditz. I felt that Sam's character did develop more, as did Cliff....but Woody and Norm really just stood there and delivered some mindless jokes. Carla was basically the same wisecraking little woman.

Ericguy · 10-10-2002, 11:49 AM

Like you said, the change in becky's wasnt much of the problem on Roseanne but the stories got bad...especially that lottery one...Yuch! I also agree with Clooney leaving E/R but I think losing Diane made Cheers better even though it was just ok before but nobody and i mean nobody who really loved Cheers ever agrees with me.

dlemond · 10-10-2002, 12:50 PM

As for sitcoms:

Well, I agree with Flo( on Alice) and Diane (though Cheers was still decent).

Not mentioned were:

Julie on The Love Boat
Vinnie on Welcome Back Kotter (though he made a couple brief appearances).
Richie and Ralph on Happy Days.

To a lesser extent, Randy on Home Improvement because he was the strongest of the kid characters.

Chocoholic · 10-10-2002, 01:20 PM

Lowell on Wings. He was never really my favorite character, but his departure really hurt the show.

Dr. Ross on ER. I still love the show, but it hasn't been the same since he left.

Bill on NewsRadio. They had no control over Phil Hartman's death, but it was still a big loss for the show and for comedy in general.

Ericguy · 10-10-2002, 01:23 PM

Some great answers and some I never thought of....I have another, James on Good times...KILLED the series

Will and Grace Fanatic · 10-10-2002, 01:59 PM

Lecy Goranson leaving her part as Becky on "Roseanne". I think she played that part much, much better than Sara Chalke did. When Lecy played that part it very beleivable.

DarleneIllyria · 10-10-2002, 04:24 PM

Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show
Richie on Happy Days
Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes (I know she made a few guest shots during the last season, but she was such a valuable character during the first seasons.)

Brian Damage · 10-10-2002, 06:29 PM

Diane Chambers(Cheers)
Edna Garrett(FOL)
James Evans(Good Times)
Bobby Wheeler(Taxi)

Czas na Zywiec · 10-10-2002, 06:56 PM

When Mrs. Garrett left FOL and DS. And when Dana left DS. The show was just never the same with that Sam kid around.

10-10-2002, 09:41 AM	#1
Ericguy Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2002 Posts: 185	Departures that hurt the most What character leaving a show do you think hurt it the most? Alot of people might say Suzanne Somers from TC, but I think my all time vote would have to be Polly Holiday from Alice to start Flo. Alice never really resembled the same show after she left.

10-10-2002, 10:25 AM	#2
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	When Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman left MTMS, the show seemed a bit empty and some of it's spunk had gone. It's like the fact that Mary has no more female friends, and is surrounded by Ted, Lou, Murray, etc. The chemistry between the 3 was a reason to why the show was so great. It's not like Georgia Engel and Betty White could replace them...
	__________________ Andrew Carden

10-10-2002, 11:22 AM	#5
UpstairsSteak Shine On Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 303	When George Clooney left ER I did too. I was on the brink anyway but his departure was my last straw. I also thought Kate Jackson's departure from CA was bad for the show.
	Last edited by UpstairsSteak; 10-10-2002 at 11:27 AM.

10-10-2002, 01:59 PM	#12
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	Lecy Goranson leaving her part as Becky on "Roseanne". I think she played that part much, much better than Sara Chalke did. When Lecy played that part it very beleivable.
	__________________ love is love

10-10-2002, 06:29 PM	#14
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Diane Chambers(Cheers) Edna Garrett(FOL) James Evans(Good Times) Bobby Wheeler(Taxi)
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-10-2002, 10:54 AM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Shelley Long's departure bothered me. I think Cheers lost a great deal. Suzanne Somer's exit left a void that was never filled. It was sad when Michael J. Fox had to leave Spin City.

10-10-2002, 11:01 AM	#4
Plasma Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 16, 2002 Posts: 48	I think Kate Jackson leaving Charlie's Angels did that show in. Also, I felt that when the first Becky left Roseanne, the story line just kinda fell apart. But maybe that wasn't so much of the departure but Roseanne going a little nuts with the story lines.

10-10-2002, 11:32 AM	#6
GeorgeCTX Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 13, 2002 Location: Northeast Posts: 59	I think Flo leaving killed the show Alice. I wasn't so sorry to see Suzanne Somers leave TC, they couldn't decide on a personality for her anyway.

10-10-2002, 11:36 AM	#7
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	That is true about Shelley Long. When she left, the show lost a major part and most of it's spunk. The only person who really could fill in her place as an intelligent, high-iq, serious kind of gal with Lilith, who unfortunely was not in enough episodes to save it. Kirstie was great in her first season, but her character became this huge ditz. I felt that Sam's character did develop more, as did Cliff....but Woody and Norm really just stood there and delivered some mindless jokes. Carla was basically the same wisecraking little woman.

10-10-2002, 11:49 AM	#8
Ericguy Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2002 Posts: 185	Like you said, the change in becky's wasnt much of the problem on Roseanne but the stories got bad...especially that lottery one...Yuch! I also agree with Clooney leaving E/R but I think losing Diane made Cheers better even though it was just ok before but nobody and i mean nobody who really loved Cheers ever agrees with me.

10-10-2002, 12:50 PM	#9
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	As for sitcoms: Well, I agree with Flo( on Alice) and Diane (though Cheers was still decent). Not mentioned were: Julie on The Love Boat Vinnie on Welcome Back Kotter (though he made a couple brief appearances). Richie and Ralph on Happy Days. To a lesser extent, Randy on Home Improvement because he was the strongest of the kid characters.

10-10-2002, 01:20 PM	#10
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Lowell on Wings. He was never really my favorite character, but his departure really hurt the show. Dr. Ross on ER. I still love the show, but it hasn't been the same since he left. Bill on NewsRadio. They had no control over Phil Hartman's death, but it was still a big loss for the show and for comedy in general.

10-10-2002, 01:23 PM	#11
Ericguy Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2002 Posts: 185	Some great answers and some I never thought of....I have another, James on Good times...KILLED the series

10-10-2002, 04:24 PM	#13
DarleneIllyria Gone Forum Star Join Date: Oct 15, 2000 Posts: 19,086	Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show Richie on Happy Days Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes (I know she made a few guest shots during the last season, but she was such a valuable character during the first seasons.)

10-10-2002, 06:56 PM	#15
Czas na Zywiec what up Forum Star Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Southwest Side, Chicago Posts: 18,398	When Mrs. Garrett left FOL and DS. And when Dana left DS. The show was just never the same with that Sam kid around.