# Has a series ever actually successfully passed the torch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2025, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340 "2025-07-01T06:18:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/61 "2025-07-02T00:31:35Z")
Sure, but wasn’t that in the _sixth_ season or so? Hardly passing the torch if the show is a season or so from going off the air… > [@Broomstick](#): > > I seem to recall _NCIS_ doing a lot of torch-passing. In fact, I don’t think any of the original cast are left, yet the series continues. And if you want to go back further, _NCIS_ was itself a spinoff of _JAG_, where Gibbs was a recurring character, and CDR Rabb IIRC was on a few episodes of NCIS as well. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/62 "2025-07-02T05:26:05Z")
Given R only last one film on his own, not sure that was overly successful! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/63 "2025-07-02T11:41:47Z")
Murdoch Mysteries has done that with the coroner. Originally Julia Later Julia is assisted by Violet Violet takes over and Julia leaves the job but still on the show. Julia leaves the show (except for a couple of guest appearances) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/64 "2025-07-02T12:14:21Z")
Good example, and don’t forget Emily Grace, also brought on as Julia’s second (& eventually lead coroner). Somehow most of my favorite characters on that show are George’s love interests! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/65 "2025-07-02T12:30:56Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Somehow most of my favorite characters on that show are George’s love interests! I love an Effie episode. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/66 "2025-07-02T12:47:32Z")
Yes indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/67 "2025-07-02T17:03:48Z")
I have to say, I think Radar → Klinger is one of the better examples. Both were on the same show, there is footage of Radar directly teaching Klinger how to do the clerk job(radio, bargaining, signing paperwork, etc.). Klinger became the clerk, stopped wearing dresses for the most part, and eventually learned how to clerk about as well as Radar. And the show ran a few more years without Radar. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/68 "2025-07-02T17:22:45Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Klinger became the clerk, stopped wearing dresses for the most part, and eventually learned how to clerk about as well as Radar. But, notably, in very different ways. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/69 "2025-07-02T18:00:51Z")
[deleted] ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/70 "2025-07-02T19:09:23Z")
Which was the right way to do it. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/71 "2025-07-02T19:26:09Z")
How about Parks and Rec passing the torch from Mark to Ben Wyatt in the straight man role? The overlap was only a few episodes, but it was a huge upgrade for the show. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/72 "2025-07-02T19:35:11Z")
[The opening Scene of Fury Road’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6l1KoNkqrw) 5 minutes of movie magic made you forget all about Mel Gibson’s trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/73 "2025-07-02T20:58:53Z")
I saw the thread, knew exactly what to post but you beat me to it. For the life of me I can’t tell first Barnaby from second Barnaby, and ALWAYS have to ask Mrs. Cretin to enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/74 "2025-07-02T21:02:15Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Also _Morse_ and _Lewis_ - Lewis was Morse’s sidekick; Morse dies and that’s the end of the _Morse_ series; _Lewis_ continues… I’d say it’s a fit for the thread. FWIW **Lewis** is by far our top favorite of all the Brit Detective series. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/75 "2025-07-02T21:15:16Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > [The opening Scene of Fury Road’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6l1KoNkqrw) 5 minutes of movie magic made you forget all about Mel Gibson’s trilogy. Uh, yes, but does not meet the requirements. Mel Gibson does not meet Tom Hardy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/76 "2025-07-02T21:17:46Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > In _Unforgotten,_ another UK mystery series, Sanjeev Bhaskar as “Sunny” Kahn was the assistant to Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker. Never been so taken by surprise by a TV series death. Cassie’s dying gobsmacked us. Not to worry- we’d already thought Bhaskar was great in his role, and he carried it on nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/77 "2025-07-02T21:38:24Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > In _Unforgotten,_ another UK mystery series, Sanjeev Bhaskar as “Sunny” Kahn was the assistant to Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker. > > Never been so taken by surprise by a TV series death. Cassie’s dying gobsmacked us. Not to worry- we’d already thought Bhaskar was great in his role, and he carried it on nicely. This isn’t a fit, is it? Sunny doesn’t step in as DI, Jessie James does. Isn’t Sunny still the subordinate? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/78 "2025-07-02T21:39:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I think Radar → Klinger is one of the better examples. Totally agree. MASH had three other incredibly successful torch passings: Colonel Blake to Colonel Potter, Trapper John to B.J. Hunnicutt, and Major Burns to Major Winchester, but none of them meet the OP’s requirement of being on the same show. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/79 "2025-07-02T21:48:41Z")
Also the first one was only there for one season. Hardy time for viewers to gain any familiarity with him. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/80 "2025-07-02T22:35:08Z")
> [@Push\_You\_Down](#): > > I think the original Mission Impossible would count as well? Changing casts never interacted. Briggs was gone and Phelps was in. Rollin was out and Paris was in. Not even a “fare-thee-well”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340.md?page=5)