Shows with Absent Stars - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 06-21-2003, 01:06 PM

I've been watching the Sanford and Son sleepover. I never watched S&S before. That show is funny. A few Fred-less shows were aired, and I found them almost unwatchable.
It's the same for me when Archie was absent from All In The Family. It's simply not enjoyable for me.
On The Bob Newhart Show, there's quite a few episodes without Newhart, and same deal....not good.
Stars really carry their shows. I think Three's Company took a hit when Suzanne Somers was MIA, but I still enjoyed it which tells me that she wasn't the star of the show despite what she thought.
Does anyone enjoy their favorite shows when the star isn't there?

Sitcomwriter · 06-21-2003, 01:59 PM

It's the same deal with the few Ally-less episodes of Ally Mcbeal" from last season.Those episodes were pretty bad mainly because Little Ally=More Claire.

I also remember not liking the "Friends" episode The One With Joey's Award" for it's lack of Chandler Bing aka Matthew Perry.

TVFactFan · 06-21-2003, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
I've been watching the Sanford and Son sleepover. I never watched S&S before. That show is funny. A few Fred-less shows were aired, and I found them almost unwatchable.
It's the same for me when Archie was absent from All In The Family. It's simply not enjoyable for me.
On The Bob Newhart Show, there's quite a few episodes without Newhart, and same deal....not good.
Stars really carry their shows. I think Three's Company took a hit when Suzanne Somers was MIA, but I still enjoyed it which tells me that she wasn't the star of the show despite what she thought.
Does anyone enjoy their favorite shows when the star isn't there?

Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR.

Adamantium · 06-21-2003, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR.

I liked James Evans on Good Times. I know a lot of people here seem to say he's not funny or memorable, but I laughed at him. Although it's been years since I've seen an episode without him, I'm sure he was greatly missed.

Kotter was only in 7 episodes of the fourth season of "Welcome Back, Kotter." What was the point in doing the show without Kotter? Barbarino only appeared in 10 episodes. The two main characters were gone. Why go on?

TVFactFan · 06-21-2003, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
I liked James Evans on Good Times. I know a lot of people here seem to say he's not funny or memorable, but I laughed at him. Although it's been years since I've seen an episode without him, I'm sure he was greatly missed.

Kotter was only in 7 episodes of the fourth season of "Welcome Back, Kotter." What was the point in doing the show without Kotter? Barbarino only appeared in 10 episodes. The two main characters were gone. Why go on?

Yeah I agree, I only watch agew episodes of WBK and i know that Vinny and Kotter was the two main characters.

TV Favorites · 06-21-2003, 08:35 PM

Bewitched also had a few "Darren-less" episodes after Dick York was forced off the show due to his health problems. Those episodes weren't as good to me because Darrin and Samantha were always foils for each other..when they were together on an episode, the plots seemed to work better.

treky · 06-22-2003, 03:47 AM

I saw an ep. of "Cheers" the other night (I still like watching that, even though I must of seen some episodes 4 & 5 times by now!) without Ted Danson that I hadn't seen before, & I didn't think it was that great. It was allright , but that's all.

treky · 06-22-2003, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Well I no longer enjoyed Good Times when John Amos left. He was defintely the STAR.

a lot of people didn't like "Good Times" then.

treky · 06-22-2003, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Yeah I agree, I only watch agew episodes of WBK and i know that Vinny and Kotter was the two main characters.

those episodes without Gabe Kaplan & John Travolta were REALLY, REALLY BAD!

But, you know Gabe Kaplan had a good idea for the show at that point, but ABC (the network that aired it) just ignored it. He said "what if Mr. Kotter took a job teaching at a juniior college in the area, and the first day he finds out that Barbarino, Horseshack, Epstein & Washington are his students again?"

They decided not to do that though, unfortunataly, & that's partly why he left.

TVFactFan · 06-22-2003, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by treky
a lot of people didn't like "Good Times" then.

Are you saying that a lot of people didn't like Good Times when James was still on?

DianeChambers87 · 06-22-2003, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by treky
I saw an ep. of "Cheers" the other night (I still like watching that, even though I must of seen some episodes 4 & 5 times by now!) without Ted Danson that I hadn't seen before, & I didn't think it was that great. It was allright , but that's all.

That's because Cheers is an ensemble comedy, but with two main characters (I don't know if that makes too much sense but if you watch Cheers you know what I mean) Ted Danson and Shelley Long. I think that most of the Sam-less episodes are in the last 6 seasons not the first 5. Since they were the two main characters after Shelley Long left the show, the titled of "Main Characters" shifted to "Main Character". Sure Kirstie was added and so was bebe (well bebe had been appearing since the 4th season but they started focusing on her after Shelley left, or in the last episodes of the 5th season) to fill in the lack of estrogen left by Shelley, but they weren't main characters. So all the Main character attention instead of being focused on two people went to one. That's why that the episodes without Sam don't feel right, he is such an indispensable part of Cheers.

cutie · 06-22-2003, 01:16 PM

Denise left A Different World after season 1

TVFactFan · 06-22-2003, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cutie
Denise left A Different World after season 1

Lots of people tell me that the show became better after Denise left the show.

Kitt · 06-22-2003, 01:59 PM

Sanford was not much worth watching without Redd Foxx. It never would have made it past the pilot stage without him.

Diff'rent Strokes without Dana was no good. Didn't make sense. Plus the new addition characters were no match for her--not even close.

Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.

TVFactFan · 06-22-2003, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kitt
Sanford was not much worth watching without Redd Foxx. It never would have made it past the pilot stage without him.

Diff'rent Strokes without Dana was no good. Didn't make sense. Plus the new addition characters were no match for her--not even close.

Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.

Different Strokes without Dana?????????????-You got be kidding

06-21-2003, 01:06 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Shows with Absent Stars I've been watching the Sanford and Son sleepover. I never watched S&S before. That show is funny. A few Fred-less shows were aired, and I found them almost unwatchable. It's the same for me when Archie was absent from All In The Family. It's simply not enjoyable for me. On The Bob Newhart Show, there's quite a few episodes without Newhart, and same deal....not good. Stars really carry their shows. I think Three's Company took a hit when Suzanne Somers was MIA, but I still enjoyed it which tells me that she wasn't the star of the show despite what she thought. Does anyone enjoy their favorite shows when the star isn't there?

06-21-2003, 08:35 PM	#6
TV Favorites Star of Family Feud Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 19, 2001 Location: United States of America Posts: 3,153	Bewitched also had a few "Darren-less" episodes after Dick York was forced off the show due to his health problems. Those episodes weren't as good to me because Darrin and Samantha were always foils for each other..when they were together on an episode, the plots seemed to work better.
	__________________ TV Favorites Webmaster Classic TV Favorites Game Show Favorites Game Show Favorites Super Store Game Show Favorites Discussion Forums IMPORTANT NOTE RE: GSF TAPE GIVEAWAY- Due to an email glitch with the form I use on the site, any requests for tapes that were emailed after September 2006 need to be resent in order to have your name on the list. The form should be fixed now. Please only resubmit the form once. The new form system will let you know if an error has occurred.

06-22-2003, 03:47 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I saw an ep. of "Cheers" the other night (I still like watching that, even though I must of seen some episodes 4 & 5 times by now!) without Ted Danson that I hadn't seen before, & I didn't think it was that great. It was allright , but that's all.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

06-21-2003, 01:59 PM	#2
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	It's the same deal with the few Ally-less episodes of Ally Mcbeal" from last season.Those episodes were pretty bad mainly because Little Ally=More Claire. I also remember not liking the "Friends" episode The One With Joey's Award" for it's lack of Chandler Bing aka Matthew Perry.

06-22-2003, 01:16 PM	#12
cutie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2002 Posts: 108	Denise left A Different World after season 1

06-22-2003, 01:59 PM	#14
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	Sanford was not much worth watching without Redd Foxx. It never would have made it past the pilot stage without him. Diff'rent Strokes without Dana was no good. Didn't make sense. Plus the new addition characters were no match for her--not even close. Threes company did all right because Jack was carrying the show at least as much as Suzanne Summers was.