Refusing to Watch an Episode Because of One Main Character's Complete Absence - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 06-25-2025, 10:56 PM

Have you ever refused to watch a particular episode of your favorite show simply because your favorite main character is completely absent from that episode?

Two examples: Mindy Cohn not appearing in the "The Lady Who Came to Dinner" episode of The Facts of Life, and Valerie Bertinelli missing the "Sonny Boy" episode of One Day at a Time. It would be understandable if you want to skip those episodes on cable reruns, DVD releases, online streaming, and digital downloads.

opus · 06-26-2025, 10:10 PM

I got Sonny Boy ranked 209/209.

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...404618&page=15

I wouldn’t say I “refuse to watch” it but it would definitely be my 209th choice.

opus · 06-27-2025, 02:00 PM

How about most of season 8 of Laverne and Shirley that had no Shirley?

opus · 06-30-2025, 04:54 PM

There’s a MASH episode without everyone in the cast except Hawkeye.

icecream · 06-30-2025, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

There’s a MASH episode without everyone in the cast except Hawkeye.

And while Loretta Swit was the only other cast member in all 11 seasons, she still missed several episodes.

opus · 06-30-2025, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecream

And while Loretta Swit was the only other cast member in all 11 seasons, she still missed several episodes.

Not technically right. While not in the opening credits in the early years, Jamie Farr and William Christopher were also in all 11 seasons (but not every episode). But if you want to go by 11 seasons of being in the opening credits I’ll give it to you.

Dude111 · 06-30-2025, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

Have you ever refused to watch a particular episode of your favorite show simply because your favorite main character is completely absent from that episode?

Yes I stopped watching Rosanne when they got rid of her for such stupid PC reasons!!

The show sucked w/o her.........I am not surprised it ended so quickly!!

Merry24 · 07-01-2025, 12:27 PM

Joesph Kearns George Wilson Dennis the Menace.

Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All In The Family & Archie Bunkers Place.

AMackII · 07-01-2025, 05:41 PM

Does Mary Frann from Newhart also count or not

opus · 07-01-2025, 10:01 PM

Friends is safe to watch. 10 seasons, 236 episodes, the main 6 were in every one.

Edward216 · 07-25-2025, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

Yes I stopped watching Rosanne when they got rid of her for such stupid PC reasons!!

The show sucked w/o her.........I am not surprised it ended so quickly!!

Oh so you think it's OK to be a racist pig?! Absolutely despicable!!

And don't you dare tell me Roseanne Barr's tweet/post wasn't racist because it absolutely IS!!

Ed.

Edward216 · 07-25-2025, 05:31 PM

Yeah, it's not that I hate them but I don't really enjoy the episodes of Diff'rent Strokes that Gary Coleman's not in. So I'll sometimes skip watching them.

Ed.

icecream · 07-25-2025, 05:35 PM

It depends on which character is absent. The One Day at a Time season 2 finale without irritating Schneider was a too rare treat. It was Barbara and Julie almost the whole episode with a brief phone call from Ann. I haven't seen the episode without Valerie but it obviously doesn't sound good.

BigManMike · 07-26-2025, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Friends is safe to watch. 10 seasons, 236 episodes, the main 6 were in every one.

I believe Gilligan’s Island falls in that same category as well as Who’s the Boss?

opus · 07-26-2025, 11:56 AM

IMDB on the surface has Valerie in every episode, but if you dig deeper one of them says “credit only”

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06-25-2025, 10:56 PM	#1
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,984	Refusing to Watch an Episode Because of One Main Character's Complete Absence Have you ever refused to watch a particular episode of your favorite show simply because your favorite main character is completely absent from that episode? Two examples: Mindy Cohn not appearing in the "The Lady Who Came to Dinner" episode of The Facts of Life, and Valerie Bertinelli missing the "Sonny Boy" episode of One Day at a Time. It would be understandable if you want to skip those episodes on cable reruns, DVD releases, online streaming, and digital downloads.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

06-26-2025, 10:10 PM	#2
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,564	I got Sonny Boy ranked 209/209. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...404618&page=15 I wouldn’t say I “refuse to watch” it but it would definitely be my 209th choice.

06-27-2025, 02:00 PM	#3
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,564	How about most of season 8 of Laverne and Shirley that had no Shirley?

06-30-2025, 04:54 PM	#4
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,564	There’s a MASH episode without everyone in the cast except Hawkeye.

07-01-2025, 12:27 PM	#8
Merry24 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 10, 2017 Location: beach Posts: 2,042	Joesph Kearns George Wilson Dennis the Menace. Jean Stapleton Edith Bunker All In The Family & Archie Bunkers Place.

07-01-2025, 05:41 PM	#9
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,223	Does Mary Frann from Newhart also count or not

07-01-2025, 10:01 PM	#10
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,564	Friends is safe to watch. 10 seasons, 236 episodes, the main 6 were in every one.

07-25-2025, 05:31 PM	#12
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,648	Yeah, it's not that I hate them but I don't really enjoy the episodes of Diff'rent Strokes that Gary Coleman's not in. So I'll sometimes skip watching them. Ed.

07-25-2025, 05:35 PM	#13
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,808	It depends on which character is absent. The One Day at a Time season 2 finale without irritating Schneider was a too rare treat. It was Barbara and Julie almost the whole episode with a brief phone call from Ann. I haven't seen the episode without Valerie but it obviously doesn't sound good.

07-26-2025, 11:56 AM	#15
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,564	IMDB on the surface has Valerie in every episode, but if you dig deeper one of them says “credit only”