Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the years?

[Jayson]

A few that comes to mind for me.

Glen Close on "The Shiled" for one season was a great addition. I wish they would have been able to bring back the character in a different role, in the later seasons.

Comic-Book guy on the "Simpsons" I don't think he was around in the first few years of the show. I think he was a great addition to the cast.


Mr Furley on "Three's Company." I liked the Roper's but Furley was a upgrade because DOn Knotts is brilliant in everything he has done, just about.

Jason

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

I love Don Knotts, but I loved Norman Fell and Audra Lindley, too. I think they were about equally good.

The first show I think of when it comes to improved casting on mainstream shows is M*A*S*H. Every time they replaced somebody, the show got better. Potter was a huge improvement over Blake, Winchester was a huge improvement over Ferret Face, and BJ was a huge improvement over TJ. If only they could have replaced Hot Lips.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The first show I think of when it comes to improved casting on mainstream shows is M*A*S*H. Every time they replaced somebody, the show got better. Potter was a huge improvement over Blake, Winchester was a huge improvement over Ferret Face, and BJ was a huge improvement over TJ. If only they could have replaced Hot Lips.

They did. They replaced her with Margaret. Seriously, she became an almost completely different character over time, starting with that episode with the nurses ("Didja ever once think to offer me a lousy cup of coffee?").

 

[Chekov's Phaser]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

On Cheers, I've always been more partial to Woody than Coach. Maybe not so much Rebecca over Diane though. Also enjoyed the addition of Frasier. Of course that led the way for his own show which I love.

Oh and I agree with RJDiogenes. MASH always did cast replacements well.

 

[Delta Belle]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The first show I think of when it comes to improved casting on mainstream shows is M*A*S*H.... If only they could have replaced Hot Lips.

Loretta Swit did want to leave the show at one point. She was Chris Cagney in the TV movie Cagney and Lacey, during the off season. She was offered the series when it got picked up, but the producers of M*A*S*H wouldn't release her from her contract.

On Charlie's Angels, I liked Cheryl Ladd more than Farrah Fawcett.

 

[acappellasaurus]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The retool of SeaQuest DSV into SeaQuest 2032 was a good one in my opinion.

Some of the changes on West Wing were favorable. The dismissal of Moira Kelly was a good choice, and adding in Josh Molina was cool, but none were worth the sacrifice of Rob Lowe. Etc...etc.

Changing out Betty for Daisy Adair on Dead Like Me was good, but not so much the replacement actress in the d2dvd movie, nor the swapping out of Cameron for Rube. Ugh.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The first show I think of when it comes to improved casting on mainstream shows is M*A*S*H. Every time they replaced somebody, the show got better. Potter was a huge improvement over Blake, Winchester was a huge improvement over Ferret Face, and BJ was a huge improvement over TJ. If only they could have replaced Hot Lips.

They did. They replaced her with Margaret. Seriously, she became an almost completely different character over time, starting with that episode with the nurses ("Didja ever once think to offer me a lousy cup of coffee?").

Well, that's true. They did develop the character over time, as they did with all the characters; but I never really did grow to like her.

On Charlie's Angels, I liked Cheryl Ladd more than Farrah Fawcett.

Ditto.

 

[Hermiod]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The retool of SeaQuest DSV into SeaQuest 2032 was a good one in my opinion.

Michael Ironside is always better than no Michael Ironside.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

What would Melrose Place have been without the addition of SPECIAL GUEST STAR Heather Locklear?

Early on Maimi Vice dumped Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez for Edward James Olmos's Castillo.

 

[Ood Sigma]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

Loved the addition of Ed Helms (as Andy Bernard) on The Office (US).

 

[Spiderpope]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The addition of Alan Johnson, played by Paterson Joseph, to Peep Show. Excellent character played by an excellent actor who should have been the next Doctor Who.

 

[barnaclelapse]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

A few that comes to mind for me.

Glen Close on "The Shiled" for one season was a great addition. I wish they would have been able to bring back the character in a different role, in the later seasons.

Comic-Book guy on the "Simpsons" I don't think he was around in the first few years of the show. I think he was a great addition to the cast.


Mr Furley on "Three's Company." I liked the Roper's but Furley was a upgrade because DOn Knotts is brilliant in everything he has done, just about.

Jason

I could be wrong, but I believe he showed up in season two, but it was a good couple of years before he was worked into the regular flow of the series.

As for the question Woody Harrelson on Cheers is one that comes to mind. Tommy Chong on That 70's Show would be another.

 

[Mistral]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

I've never even seen The Shiled.

 

[Warp Coil]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

Bringing Michael Dorn over to DS9 as Worf seemed like a gimmicky ratings stunt when it was first announced, but the addition of the character actually worked really well on that show!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, overall, had success with the new characters that were introduced. Spike, Dru, Faith, Oz, Anya, Gunn, Lilah, Lorne, Fred...

But, of course, those were sci-fi shows.

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

I liked Priscilla Barnes a lot more than the two dippy blondes they had on Three's Company. Also, another vote here for Furley over the Ropers.

I liked Forest Whittaker on The Shield a lot more than Glenn Close. To me, Glenn Close didn't really add anything to the show. I can't recall a single thing she did in that entire season.

Also, adding Chloe to 24. To date, the only regular character on 24 with a personality.

 

[Aragorn]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The additions of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda really breathed new life into The West Wing. Of course, it also took the show in a completely different direction.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar was a pleasant surprise on NYPD Blue. Fortunately for him, the writing staff situation had settled down and he really benefited from that. Ricky Schroder, on the other hand, got the short end of the stick in regards to the writing staff turmoil.

 

[Cicero]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The additions of Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda really breathed new life into The West Wing. Of course, it also took the show in a completely different direction.

Kristen Chenoweth was excellent, too.

 

[Hunter X]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

I agree on those late West Wing additions.

I also think that although the first season of Prison Break is considered its best, something I agree with, it's hard to imagine the series without William Fichtner as Mahone.

 

[Mysterion]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

The retool of SeaQuest DSV into SeaQuest 2032 was a good one in my opinion.

Michael Ironside is always better than no Michael Ironside.

Agreed. Liked his brief stint on ER as Dr. Swift. Was diappointed that character wasn't around longer. And if David Gerrold ever gets his Star Wolf TV series or movie made, Ironside must portray Captain Hardesty.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Re: Best cast changes in non sci-fi shows you have watched over the ye

I liked every cast change Boston Legal went through except for the one in the fourth season, which was one too many IMO.

The Sopranos had many great additions as the show went on. Richie and Ralphie were great villains. Then there was Janice, Furio, a lot of the core cast was added in season 2. Steve Buscemi's character in season 5 was great too.

Similarly Deadwood continued to build on it's cast as the series progressed. I don't think there was a bad bit of casting or a bad character addition in the history of that show. What a great show this was, gone too soon.