# 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:** 6
**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 5, 2025, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/101 "2025-07-05T05:48:41Z")
How about _Mission: Impossible_? Jim Phelps (controversially) suceeded by Ethan Hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/102 "2025-07-05T06:40:00Z")
[removed, misread] ---
**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 5, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/103 "2025-07-05T14:42:42Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Jim Phelps (controversially) suceeded by Ethan Hunt. No, mainly because the actor refused to return once he learned they were betraying his character by making him the villain. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/104 "2025-07-05T14:44:24Z")
That one may still count because, while the actor didn’t pass the torch, the character certainly did. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/105 "2025-07-05T15:25:48Z")
**HOUSE** lost most of its supporting cast a couple of times, notably when he held auditions for a new diagnostic team and when he came back from prison and the team had left, and those were my favorite two seasons. Everybody but Cuddy dropped back in from time to time, so there was some real torch-passing, just not in normal time order. Every version of **STAR TREK** has had a degree of torch passing (Chekhov replaces Reilly, Seven of Nine replaces Kes, Kira replaces Kira, and so on). Hell, half of Voyager’s crew got replaced in the very first episode, either by Maquis or a hologram Doctor! Doesn’t get much smoother than that. ---
**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 5, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/106 "2025-07-05T15:33:03Z")
I didn’t watch most of those shows - they meet this guideline? > For a passing the torch to happen though the replacement character and the original character have to be on screen together for a large portion of the work before the torch gets passed. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/107 "2025-07-05T15:45:24Z")
> Maserschmidt > Slightly Less Ignorant Since 2009 (He/Him) > 6m > > I didn’t watch most of those shows - they meet this guideline? Seven of Nine and Kes overlapped, as did Worf and Tasha Yar. Eric Forman worked for Lisa Cuddy for six years before taking her job, I think that should count. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/108 "2025-07-05T17:54:38Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > So for example, Doctor regenerations in Doctor Who … don’t count. But companion handovers do, right? There have been several occasions where a new companion joined shortly before an old one left. Possibly the best passing the torch moment is Turlogh handing over to Peri. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9JBJ5gFxmXU/hqdefault.jpg "Doctor Who - Planet of Fire - Goodbye Turlough, Hello Peri") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JBJ5gFxmXU) Or Mel passing the torch to Ace [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oYeAwGXs9jI/maxresdefault.jpg "Goodbye Mel, Hello Ace! | Dragonfire | Doctor Who") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYeAwGXs9jI) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/109 "2025-07-05T18:11:26Z")
_Last of the Summer Wine_ has has a long succession of different leads, but I don’t know if any of them have ever overlapped or handed over as such - the lead roles turn over when one of the actors playing them dies (which happens a lot because the whole thing of the show is that it’s about old people behaving badly), but I don’t know if there might have been cases where an existing background character has stepped into the lead. _Open All Hours_ Starring Ronnie Barker (as Arkwright, an older shopkeeper) and David Jason (as Granville, the apprentice/delivery boy) was succeeded years later by _Still Open All Hours_, where Arkwright had passed away and Granville (still played by David Jason, having aged since the original series) was now in the older shopkeeper role. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/110 "2025-07-05T18:45:11Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > _Last of the Summer Wine_ has has a long succession of different leads, but I don’t know if any of them have ever overlapped or handed over as such - the lead roles turn over when one of the actors playing them dies (which happens a lot because the whole thing of the show is that it’s about old people behaving badly), but I don’t know if there might have been cases where an existing background character has stepped into the lead. Yes, the characters have overlapped on occasion, according to Wikipedia. In fact Clegg never went away, despite being relegated to a secondary role due to failing health; he managed to appear in every episode. But in most cases there was no actual overlap; Foggy, for instance, was introduced via a letter written by his already absent predecessor. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/111 "2025-07-05T21:43:42Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Asuka](#): > > > > So for example, Doctor regenerations in Doctor Who … don’t count. > > But companion handovers do, right? There have been several occasions where a new companion joined shortly before an old one left. > > Possibly the best passing the torch moment is Turlogh handing over to Peri. > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JBJ5gFxmXU#](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JBJ5gFxmXU#) > > Or Mel passing the torch to Ace > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYeAwGXs9jI#](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYeAwGXs9jI#) I just want to mention that I saw Bonnie Langford (Mel) on Broadway last week. At 60 she still dances like someone half her age. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/112 "2025-07-05T21:59:36Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > > Maserschmidt > > Slightly Less Ignorant Since 2009 (He/Him) > > 6m > > > > I didn’t watch most of those shows - they meet this guideline? > > Seven of Nine and Kes overlapped, as did Worf and Tasha Yar. Eric Forman worked for Lisa Cuddy for six years before taking her job, I think that should count. Nitpick: Eric _Forman_ was played by Topher Grace in _That 70s Show_. Eric For **e** man was the character played by Omar Epps. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/113 "2025-07-08T16:27:56Z")
On the _Blue’s Clues_ episode “Steve Goes to College” Joe is introduced in the same episode as Steve leaves (to go to college.) I’m sure the writers made sure the transition was seamless enough to not confuse their young viewers. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/114 "2025-07-08T16:52:25Z")
This is a great example. [The wiki](https://bluesclues.fandom.com/wiki/Blue%27s_Clues_Classic:_Season_4) says that the two had three episodes together before Joe takes over for Steve. I don’t remember watching the show at this time (I think my two kids were in between ages when this happened), but I remember reading about the show being very specific about addressing that people grown and change and Steve going to college is an example of that. ---
**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 8, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/115 "2025-07-08T17:01:24Z")
Speaking of children’s television, David appeared alongside Mr. Hooper on _Sesame Street_ for over a decade before taking over Hooper’s Store. ---
**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 8, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/116 "2025-07-08T17:29:17Z")
In _The Simpsons_, Principal Skinner is exposed as a fraud and the real Seymour Skinner is given his job. And there was absolutely no problem with this and it is an extremely well regarded episode and… hmmm ok maybe not a great example after all. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/117 "2025-07-08T17:40:46Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > This is a great example. [The wiki](https://bluesclues.fandom.com/wiki/Blue%27s_Clues_Classic:_Season_4) says that the two had three episodes together before Joe takes over for Steve. I don’t remember watching the show at this time (I think my two kids were in between ages when this happened), but I remember reading about the show being very specific about addressing that people grown and change and Steve going to college is an example of that. My youngest was the perfect age for this. We watched as it happened. They did a good job. Later they restarted the show with a third host. I have no idea if they attempted to do a turn over. It was years after the first show ended so the audience was different. All three guys were in the recent movie. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/118 "2025-07-09T09:39:27Z")
Looks like **Ballard** might be a perfect hand off from Bosch - the series are intertwined. Good reviews and don’t miss the first minutes. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nKRJGXgK0Q](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nKRJGXgK0Q) &1 ---
**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 9, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/119 "2025-07-09T11:20:47Z")
Did this Ballard person spend a significant amount of time with Bosch in the antecedent TV series, or is this a cursory spinoff? Just referring back to the OP. Maggie Q is always good for entertainment, the trailer looks good. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340/120 "2025-07-09T22:55:28Z")
Joel–\>Mike on MST3K. They both appeared together before Joel escaped. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-series-ever-actually-successfully-passed-the-torch/1020340.md?page=7)