# 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:** 491
**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:** [December 30, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9801 "2025-12-30T04:48:34Z")
**Censorship! examples either of movies censored for TV, or TV shows that were censored** 1. When _Eddie and the Cruisers_\* was edited for TV, you couldn’t say “Hell” at a certain time of day, so to make the print safe at any time, they edited out the word “Hell” with silence. Including all the 100, or whatever, times the group’s album, _A Season in Hell_ was mentioned. 2. In _The Big Lebowski_, John Goodman’s line “See what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass” was changed for TV to the head-scratchingly odd “See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps.” 3. In _Happy Gilmore_ Shooter McGavin tries to intimidate Happy by saying, “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”, to which Happy mimics with his reply— here’s it altered for TV— “You eat pieces of **crud** for breakfast?” 4. Four episodes of the original _Star Trek_ – “Miri,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” and “The Empath” – were pulled from airing by the BBC due to their “adult” content (torture, sexuality, insanity, etc.), through the 1970s and 1980s, as the BBC felt that the content was inappropriate for juvenile viewers of the series. 5. When _Blazing Saddles_ was first shown on broadcast television, the sound of whinnying horses was played over the campfire “beans” scene. 6. The _ST:TNG_ episode “The High Ground” (1990) was either censored or not broadcast for years on British or Irish TV due to a reference to Irish Unification brought about, at least in part, by terrorism. For more: [Irish Unification of 2024 | Memory Alpha | Fandom](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Irish_Unification_of_2024) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9802 "2025-12-30T05:14:15Z")
**Censorship! examples either of movies censored for TV, or TV shows that were censored** 1. When _Eddie and the Cruisers_\* was edited for TV, you couldn’t say “Hell” at a certain time of day, so to make the print safe at any time, they edited out the word “Hell” with silence. Including all the 100, or whatever, times the group’s album, _A Season in Hell_ was mentioned. 2. In _The Big Lebowski_, John Goodman’s line “See what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass” was changed for TV to the head-scratchingly odd “See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps.” 3. In _Happy Gilmore_ Shooter McGavin tries to intimidate Happy by saying, “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”, to which Happy mimics with his reply— here’s it altered for TV— “You eat pieces of **crud** for breakfast?” 4. Four episodes of the original _Star Trek_ – “Miri,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” and “The Empath” – were pulled from airing by the BBC due to their “adult” content (torture, sexuality, insanity, etc.), through the 1970s and 1980s, as the BBC felt that the content was inappropriate for juvenile viewers of the series. 5. When _Blazing Saddles_ was first shown on broadcast television, the sound of whinnying horses was played over the campfire “beans” scene. 6. The _ST:TNG_ episode “The High Ground” (1990) was either censored or not broadcast for years on British or Irish TV due to a reference to Irish Unification brought about, at least in part, by terrorism. 7. The last time I saw _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_ on TNT about 10 years ago, it was so heavily edited it wasn’t even sensible. One example: “You changed your name _to_ Latrine? “Yeah. Used to be Shithouse.” It’s a good change.” The spoiler text was completely skipped over. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2025, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9803 "2025-12-30T08:56:12Z")
**Censorship! examples either of movies censored for TV, or TV shows that were censored** 1. When _Eddie and the Cruisers_\* was edited for TV, you couldn’t say “Hell” at a certain time of day, so to make the print safe at any time, they edited out the word “Hell” with silence. Including all the 100, or whatever, times the group’s album, _A Season in Hell_ was mentioned. 2. In _The Big Lebowski_, John Goodman’s line “See what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass” was changed for TV to the head-scratchingly odd “See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps.” 3. In _Happy Gilmore_ Shooter McGavin tries to intimidate Happy by saying, “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”, to which Happy mimics with his reply— here’s it altered for TV— “You eat pieces of **crud** for breakfast?” 4. Four episodes of the original _Star Trek_ – “Miri,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” and “The Empath” – were pulled from airing by the BBC due to their “adult” content (torture, sexuality, insanity, etc.), through the 1970s and 1980s, as the BBC felt that the content was inappropriate for juvenile viewers of the series. 5. When _Blazing Saddles_ was first shown on broadcast television, the sound of whinnying horses was played over the campfire “beans” scene. 6. The _ST:TNG_ episode “The High Ground” (1990) was either censored or not broadcast for years on British or Irish TV due to a reference to Irish Unification brought about, at least in part, by terrorism. 7. The last time I saw _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_ on TNT about 10 years ago, it was so heavily edited it wasn’t even sensible. One example: “You changed your name _to_ Latrine? “Yeah. Used to be Shithouse.” It’s a good change.” The spoiler text was completely skipped over. 8. _Repo Man:_ “I call bullshit on that” was replaced with “I call No Way on that.” ---
**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:** [December 30, 2025, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9804 "2025-12-30T10:25:55Z")
> [@](#): > > **Censorship! examples either of movies censored for TV, or TV shows that were censored** 1. When _Eddie and the Cruisers_\* was edited for TV, you couldn’t say “Hell” at a certain time of day, so to make the print safe at any time, they edited out the word “Hell” with silence. Including all the 100, or whatever, times the group’s album, _A Season in Hell_ was mentioned. 2. In _The Big Lebowski_, John Goodman’s line “See what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass” was changed for TV to the head-scratchingly odd “See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps.” 3. In _Happy Gilmore_ Shooter McGavin tries to intimidate Happy by saying, “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”, to which Happy mimics with his reply— here’s it altered for TV— “You eat pieces of **crud** for breakfast?” 4. Four episodes of the original _Star Trek_ – “Miri,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” and “The Empath” – were pulled from airing by the BBC due to their “adult” content (torture, sexuality, insanity, etc.), through the 1970s and 1980s, as the BBC felt that the content was inappropriate for juvenile viewers of the series. 5. When _Blazing Saddles_ was first shown on broadcast television, the sound of whinnying horses was played over the campfire “beans” scene. 6. The _ST:TNG_ episode “The High Ground” (1990) was either censored or not broadcast for years on British or Irish TV due to a reference to Irish Unification brought about, at least in part, by terrorism. 7. The last time I saw _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_ on TNT about 10 years ago, it was so heavily edited it wasn’t even sensible. One example: “You changed your name _to_ Latrine? “Yeah. Used to be Shithouse.” It’s a good change.” The spoiler text was completely skipped over. 8. _Repo Man:_ “I call bullshit on that” was replaced with “I call No Way on that.” 9. A kind of touching episode of _All in the Family_ that had a scene censored out, which I wonder if it would be allowed today or not, was the episode where Archie changes his grandson’s diaper. It’s done in real time, with Archie talking to himself and the baby, and IIRC, God a bit. The whole episode is just Carroll O’Connor and a bassinet. Anyway, when he does change the baby, they show his (the baby’s) bare butt for all of a second, but it got cut. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9805 "2026-01-04T16:57:11Z")
1. When _Eddie and the Cruisers_\* was edited for TV, you couldn’t say “Hell” at a certain time of day, so to make the print safe at any time, they edited out the word “Hell” with silence. Including all the 100, or whatever, times the group’s album, _A Season in Hell_ was mentioned. 2. In _The Big Lebowski_, John Goodman’s line “See what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass” was changed for TV to the head-scratchingly odd “See what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps.” 3. In _Happy Gilmore_ Shooter McGavin tries to intimidate Happy by saying, “I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast”, to which Happy mimics with his reply— here’s it altered for TV— “You eat pieces of **crud** for breakfast?” 4. Four episodes of the original _Star Trek_ – “Miri,” “Plato’s Stepchildren,” “Whom Gods Destroy,” and “The Empath” – were pulled from airing by the BBC due to their “adult” content (torture, sexuality, insanity, etc.), through the 1970s and 1980s, as the BBC felt that the content was inappropriate for juvenile viewers of the series. 5. When _Blazing Saddles_ was first shown on broadcast television, the sound of whinnying horses was played over the campfire “beans” scene. 6. The _ST:TNG_ episode “The High Ground” (1990) was either censored or not broadcast for years on British or Irish TV due to a reference to Irish Unification brought about, at least in part, by terrorism. 7. The last time I saw _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_ on TNT about 10 years ago, it was so heavily edited it wasn’t even sensible. One example: “You changed your name _to_ Latrine? “Yeah. Used to be Shithouse.” It’s a good change.” The spoiler text was completely skipped over. 8. _Repo Man:_ “I call bullshit on that” was replaced with “I call No Way on that.” 9. A kind of touching episode of _All in the Family_ that had a scene censored out, which I wonder if it would be allowed today or not, was the episode where Archie changes his grandson’s diaper. It’s done in real time, with Archie talking to himself and the baby, and IIRC, God a bit. The whole episode is just Carroll O’Connor and a bassinet. Anyway, when he does change the baby, they show his (the baby’s) bare butt for all of a second, but it got cut. 10. One of the funniest dubs, _Smokey and the Bandit_ subs out “scum bum” for “sumbitch” from Sheriff Buford T. Justice, which he says like a hundred thousand times during the movie. 😊 Pass ---
**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:** [January 4, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9806 "2026-01-04T17:11:30Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final three seasons ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9807 "2026-01-04T17:18:17Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final three seasons. 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9808 "2026-01-04T17:29:22Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final three seasons. 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9809 "2026-01-04T19:13:33Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final three seasons. 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 4. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9810 "2026-01-04T20:00:14Z")
> [@](#): > > **TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final three seasons. 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 4. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 5. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9811 "2026-01-04T20:07:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 2. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 3. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 4. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 5. This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9812 "2026-01-04T21:02:03Z")
[quote=“RivkahChaya, post:9811, topic:972711, full:true”] > [@](#): > > **TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 2. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 3. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 4. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 5. This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. 6. _Road to Avonlea_ - this Canadian series, set in early 20th-Century rural Prince Edward Island, originally centered around Sara Stanley, played by Sarah Polley, when it debuted in 1990. Later seasons focused more on Sara’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1994, Sara was put on a bus, more literally on a ship, to go to study in Europe (she made a guest appearance in the series finale in 1996). This was because Polley hated being in the show and wanted out of her contract. ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9813 "2026-01-04T23:01:32Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 2. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 3. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 4. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 5. This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. 6. _Road to Avonlea_ - this Canadian series, set in early 20th-Century rural Prince Edward Island, originally centered around Sara Stanley, played by Sarah Polley, when it debuted in 1990. Later seasons focused more on Sara’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1994, Sara was put on a bus, more literally on a ship, to go to study in Europe (she made a guest appearance in the series finale in 1996). This was because Polley hated being in the show and wanted out of her contract. 7. _M \* A \* S \* H_ – Several examples. Maclean Stephenson wanted out, so his character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) was writtien out by being rotated home _(and then being killed off en-route)_, to be replaced by Col Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan). And both of Hawkeye’s tentmates – ‘Trapper John’ MacIntyre and Frank Burns – also were written out and replaced. And finally, the company clerk, Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff) was written off by being granted a hardship discharge, with his place being taken by Cpl. Max Klinger – who wasn’t even intended to be,much more than a one-time ‘walk-on’ role/ _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**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:** [January 5, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9814 "2026-01-05T01:35:24Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 4. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 5. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 6. This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. 7. _Road to Avonlea_ - this Canadian series, set in early 20th-Century rural Prince Edward Island, originally centered around Sara Stanley, played by Sarah Polley, when it debuted in 1990. Later seasons focused more on Sara’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1994, Sara was put on a bus, more literally on a ship, to go to study in Europe (she made a guest appearance in the series finale in 1996). This was because Polley hated being in the show and wanted out of her contract. 8. _M \* A \* S \* H_ – Several examples. Maclean Stephenson wanted out, so his character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) was writtien out by being rotated home _(and then being killed off en-route)_, to be replaced by Col Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan). And both of Hawkeye’s tentmates – ‘Trapper John’ MacIntyre and Frank Burns – also were written out and replaced. And finally, the company clerk, Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff) was written off by being granted a hardship discharge, with his place being taken by Cpl. Max Klinger – who wasn’t even intended to be,much more than a one-time ‘walk-on’ role (Housekeeping; entries 1 and 2 had gotten stuck together) ---
**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:** [January 5, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9815 "2026-01-05T14:41:16Z")
**TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 4. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 5. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 6. This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. 7. _Road to Avonlea_ - this Canadian series, set in early 20th-Century rural Prince Edward Island, originally centered around Sara Stanley, played by Sarah Polley, when it debuted in 1990. Later seasons focused more on Sara’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1994, Sara was put on a bus, more literally on a ship, to go to study in Europe (she made a guest appearance in the series finale in 1996). This was because Polley hated being in the show and wanted out of her contract. 8. _M \* A \* S \* H_ – Several examples. Maclean Stephenson wanted out, so his character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) was writtien out by being rotated home _(and then being killed off en-route)_, to be replaced by Col Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan). And both of Hawkeye’s tentmates – ‘Trapper John’ MacIntyre and Frank Burns – also were written out and replaced. And finally, the company clerk, Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff) was written off by being granted a hardship discharge, with his place being taken by Cpl. Max Klinger – who wasn’t even intended to be,much more than a one-time ‘walk-on’ role 9. _Happy Days_ - Older brother Chuck is put on a bus after season 2 and is never heard from again. Fonzie had become the breakout character and established in the big brother role for Richie. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9816 "2026-01-05T16:38:02Z")
[quote=“Intergalactic\_Gladiator, post:9815, topic:972711”] **TV Series Which Continued After the Departure of a Main Actor** 1. _Bewitched_ – when Dick York (Darrin) was forced to leave the series due to poor health, he was replaced by Dick Sargent as Darrin for the show’s final 2. _The Conners_ - when Roseanne Barr was canceled following racist posts on X, as well as just being a general hateful MAGAt. 3. _Cheers_ - After Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) died during the third season, Woody Harrelson joined the cast for the fourth season and remained with the show through the rest of its eleven-season run. 4. _Star Trek: Voyager_ - The show briefly had both Jennifer Lien as Kes and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, but eventually Kes’s telepathic powers surge out of control and she leaves in a shuttle craft to save the ship as she transforms into a higher state of being. As a parting gesture, she transports _Voyager_ almost 10,000 light years closer to Earth, bypassing a large section of Borg space. Behind the scenes, they cut her character for budgetary reasons and the idea that Kes had reached a creative dead-end. Lien was also experiencing mental health issues. 5. _Monk_ - Bitty Schram thought they couldn’t get along without her, and dug her heels in during contract disputes. They let her go, replacing Sharona with Natalie (Traylor Howard). Some fans think the show improved. 6. - This may not count, and if it doesn’t, don’t paste it into the next one, but when Lucy Lawless broke her pelvis, _Xena_ had to get along without her for awhile. They changed the ending of an episode already filmed where she was body switched with another character, so she wasn’t switched back, then had that actress play Xena for an entire episode. It was followed by a couple of odd episodes with very little fighting or any gymnastics, and Gabrielle more prominent. Then we got back to normal after five weeks. - _Road to Avonlea_ - this Canadian series, set in early 20th-Century rural Prince Edward Island, originally centered around Sara Stanley, played by Sarah Polley, when it debuted in 1990. Later seasons focused more on Sara’s cousins, aunts, and uncles. In 1994, Sara was put on a bus, more literally on a ship, to go to study in Europe (she made a guest appearance in the series finale in 1996). This was because Polley hated being in the show and wanted out of her contract. - _M \* A \* S \* H_ – Several examples. Maclean Stephenson wanted out, so his character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) was writtien out by being rotated home _(and then being killed off en-route)_, to be replaced by Col Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan). And both of Hawkeye’s tentmates – ‘Trapper John’ MacIntyre and Frank Burns – also were written out and replaced. And finally, the company clerk, Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff) was written off by being granted a hardship discharge, with his place being taken by Cpl. Max Klinger – who wasn’t even intended to be,much more than a one-time ‘walk-on’ role - _Happy Days_ - Older brother Chuck is put on a bus after season 2 and is never heard from again. Fonzie had become the breakout character and established in the big brother role for Richie. - _Two and a Half Men_ - Charlie Sheen left the show to enter into drug rehab and was replaced by a less funny Ashton Kutcher. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9817 "2026-01-05T16:39:28Z")
I really effed the formatting with my reply. I think there’s one more entry available. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9818 "2026-01-05T16:50:07Z")
> [@knoodler](#): > > I think there’s one more entry available. Actually, no, yours was #10. ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9819 "2026-01-05T16:54:19Z")
OK, thanks. **Best of PBS: Shows you enjoyed on public television** 1. _Monty Python’s Flying Circus_ I watched the full series on late night PBS. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/9820 "2026-01-05T16:59:24Z")
**Best of PBS: Shows you enjoyed on public television** 1. _Monty Python’s Flying Circus_ 2. _Doctor Who_ My introduction to the series was watching old episodes featuring Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee on the PBS station in my college town. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=490) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=492)