# TV Binge Watch (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711 "2022-10-04T16:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 446
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8901 "2025-07-29T09:53:44Z")
> [@](#): > > **Real-life crime-solving shows** 1. Forensic Files 2. Dragnet 3. Forensic Factor 4. Cops 5. Cold Case Files 6. The First 48 7. City Confidential 8. America’s Most Wanted Apparently quite a number of fugitives and missing children were located because of the wide net the show cast, and the way the show made people want to get involved. ---
**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 29, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8902 "2025-07-29T13:15:07Z")
> [@](#): > > **Real-life crime-solving shows** 1. Forensic Files 2. Dragnet 3. Forensic Factor 4. Cops 5. Cold Case Files 6. The First 48 7. City Confidential 8. America’s Most Wanted 9. 48 Hours ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8903 "2025-07-29T20:25:10Z")
> [@](#): > > **Real-life crime-solving shows** 1. Forensic Files 2. Dragnet 3. Forensic Factor 4. Cops 5. Cold Case Files 6. The First 48 7. City Confidential 8. America’s Most Wanted 9. 48 Hours 10. On the Case with Paula Zahn pass ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8904 "2025-07-30T01:03:31Z")
> **Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Here’s Larry - McLain Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_ H. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8905 "2025-07-30T01:09:54Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLain Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_ H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ (Corrected the title of entry #1) ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8906 "2025-07-30T01:50:08Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLain Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_ H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons She probably got the spinoff because Linda Lavin couldn’t stand working with her. Lavin couldn’t stand working with her replacement Diane Ladd (Flo from the movie) either, and sent her out the door as well. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8907 "2025-07-30T04:02:00Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > **Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** > > 1. Hello, Larry - McLain Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_ H. > 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ > 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons > 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. — — — ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8908 "2025-07-30T05:05:36Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. The producers assured them that they could come back to _Three’s Company_ if the spinoff didn’t work out. But by then they had Don Knotts. (I also corrected the spelling of McLean Stevenson’s name.) ---
**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 30, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8909 "2025-07-30T15:54:48Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. 6. Enos - Sonny Shroyer’s deputy from the _Dukes of Hazzard_ was spun-off as a fish out of water LA cop. The series was cancelled after one season and Shroyer was lucky to have it written in his contract that he would return to the _Dukes_ if the show was cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8910 "2025-07-30T20:36:38Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. 6. Enos - Sonny Shroyer’s deputy from the _Dukes of Hazzard_ was spun-off as a fish out of water LA cop. The series was cancelled after one season and Shroyer was lucky to have it written in his contract that he would return to the _Dukes_ if the show was cancelled. 7. Whiskey Cavalier - Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) left _The Walking Dead_ for this show, and it was cancelled after one season. ---
**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 31, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8911 "2025-07-31T13:38:28Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. 6. Enos - Sonny Shroyer’s deputy from the _Dukes of Hazzard_ was spun-off as a fish out of water LA cop. The series was cancelled after one season and Shroyer was lucky to have it written in his contract that he would return to the _Dukes_ if the show was cancelled. 7. Whiskey Cavalier - Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) left _The Walking Dead_ for this show, and it was cancelled after one season. 8. Ned and Stacey - Thomas Hayden Church left _Wings_ to star in this romcom alongside Debra Messing but the ratings were not great and the show ended after 2 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8912 "2025-07-31T17:54:17Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. 6. Enos - Sonny Shroyer’s deputy from the _Dukes of Hazzard_ was spun-off as a fish out of water LA cop. The series was cancelled after one season and Shroyer was lucky to have it written in his contract that he would return to the _Dukes_ if the show was cancelled. 7. Whiskey Cavalier - Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) left _The Walking Dead_ for this show, and it was cancelled after one season. 8. Ned and Stacey - Thomas Hayden Church left _Wings_ to star in this romcom alongside Debra Messing but the ratings were not great and the show ended after 2 seasons. 9. The Tortellis - Carla’s ex husband, his trophy wife, and other family members move to Las Vegas. The series is canceled after one season and they eventually return to _Cheers_. ---
**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 31, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8913 "2025-07-31T18:12:49Z")
**Shows That Bombed After An Actor Left A Successful Show To Go Out On His Own** 1. Hello, Larry - McLean Stevenson’s effort after M _A S_H. 2. City of Angels - Wayne Rogers’ first series after he also left _MASH_ 3. Flo - Polly Holiday’s series after _Alice_ was canceled after 2 seasons 4. A.E.S. Hudson Street - Gregory Sierra starred in this comedy series that lasted just 5 episodes, after leaving _Barney Miller_ after two seasons. 5. The Ropers - Norman Fell and Audra Lindley left the hugely successful _Three’s Company_ for this spinoff, which died after a single season. 6. Enos - Sonny Shroyer’s deputy from the _Dukes of Hazzard_ was spun-off as a fish out of water LA cop. The series was cancelled after one season and Shroyer was lucky to have it written in his contract that he would return to the _Dukes_ if the show was cancelled. 7. Whiskey Cavalier - Lauren Cohan (Maggie Rhee) left _The Walking Dead_ for this show, and it was cancelled after one season. 8. Ned and Stacey - Thomas Hayden Church left _Wings_ to star in this romcom alongside Debra Messing but the ratings were not great and the show ended after 2 seasons. 9. The Tortellis - Carla’s ex husband, his trophy wife, and other family members move to Las Vegas. The series is canceled after one season and they eventually return to _Cheers_. 10. In Living Color - Chris Rock was leaving/was fired from _SNL_ and went to _In Living Color_ for 6 episodes. The show was cancelled that year. Next: Shows that were retooled 1. _Tattingers_ becomes _Nick & Hillary_, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8914 "2025-08-01T02:55:31Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. _Tattingers_ becomes _Nick & Hillary_, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. _The Naked Truth_, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8915 "2025-08-01T03:03:47Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. _Tattingers_ becomes _Nick & Hillary_, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. _The Naked Truth_, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. _Barney Miller_ - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8916 "2025-08-01T03:17:52Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. _Tattingers_ becomes _Nick & Hillary_, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. _The Naked Truth_, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. _Barney Miller_ - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. 4. _Teachers Only_ - Sitcom, two seasons, set in a high school. Most of the Season 1 cast was replaced with a different cast for Season 2; the two members that remained kept their names but had different jobs at the school. The school changed also. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8917 "2025-08-01T03:40:07Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. _Tattingers_ becomes _Nick & Hillary_, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. _The Naked Truth_, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. _Barney Miller_ - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. 4. _Teachers Only_ - Sitcom, two seasons, set in a high school. Most of the Season 1 cast was replaced with a different cast for Season 2; the two members that remained kept their names but had different jobs at the school. The school changed also. 5. _The Big Bang Theory_ - the pilot episode featured the characters of Leonard and Sheldon, and two female leads: “Katie” and “Gilda”. Katie was a wise-cracking street-smart woman who moves in with the men, and Gilda was a colleague of theirs. The producers retooled the show by replacing both female leads with Penny, as the guys’ neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8918 "2025-08-01T04:33:16Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. Tattingers becomes Nick & Hillary, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. The Naked Truth, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. Barney Miller - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. 4. Teachers Only - Sitcom, two seasons, set in a high school. Most of the Season 1 cast was replaced with a different cast for Season 2; the two members that remained kept their names but had different jobs at the school. The school changed also. 5. The Big Bang Theory - the pilot episode featured the characters of Leonard and Sheldon, and two female leads: “Katie” and “Gilda”. Katie was a wise-cracking street-smart woman who moves in with the men, and Gilda was a colleague of theirs. The producers retooled the show by replacing both female leads with Penny, as the guys’ neighbor. 6. Seinfeld - originally called The Seinfeld Chronicles, Kramer was a hermit named Kessler, George wasn’t neurotic and there was no Elaine. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8919 "2025-08-01T13:52:47Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. Tattingers becomes Nick & Hillary, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. The Naked Truth, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. Barney Miller - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. 4. Teachers Only - Sitcom, two seasons, set in a high school. Most of the Season 1 cast was replaced with a different cast for Season 2; the two members that remained kept their names but had different jobs at the school. The school changed also. 5. The Big Bang Theory - the pilot episode featured the characters of Leonard and Sheldon, and two female leads: “Katie” and “Gilda”. Katie was a wise-cracking street-smart woman who moves in with the men, and Gilda was a colleague of theirs. The producers retooled the show by replacing both female leads with Penny, as the guys’ neighbor. 6. Seinfeld - originally called The Seinfeld Chronicles, Kramer was a hermit named Kessler, George wasn’t neurotic and there was no Elaine. 7. These Friends of Mine changed to Ellen, characters were dropped and added, and Ellen DeGeneris became more of the focal point of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/8920 "2025-08-02T02:58:17Z")
**Shows that were retooled** 1. Tattingers becomes Nick & Hillary, going from an hour-long comedy-drama to a half-hour sitcom before getting cancelled. 2. The Naked Truth, season one focused on the world of tabloids, then the show switched networks and was retooled to focus more on the lead’s personal life. 3. Barney Miller - early episodes were focused on Barney, and featured his home life as well as his life at the 12th Precinct; Barbara Barrie, who played his wife Liz, had second-billing in the credits. Starting with the second season, the writers refocused the show on the ensemble cast of detectives, and largely wrote the Liz character out of the series. 4. Teachers Only - Sitcom, two seasons, set in a high school. Most of the Season 1 cast was replaced with a different cast for Season 2; the two members that remained kept their names but had different jobs at the school. The school changed also. 5. The Big Bang Theory - the pilot episode featured the characters of Leonard and Sheldon, and two female leads: “Katie” and “Gilda”. Katie was a wise-cracking street-smart woman who moves in with the men, and Gilda was a colleague of theirs. The producers retooled the show by replacing both female leads with Penny, as the guys’ neighbor. 6. Seinfeld - originally called The Seinfeld Chronicles, Kramer was a hermit named Kessler, George wasn’t neurotic and there was no Elaine. 7. These Friends of Mine changed to Ellen, characters were dropped and added, and Ellen DeGeneres became more of the focal point of the show. 8. Roseanne became The Conners after Roseanne Barr was fired from the show for controversial tweets; her character was killed off [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=445) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=447)