TV Shows That Kept Running, Even After Their Star Left
TV is a big business. So when a series is successful (and profitable), execs are going to find any way they can to keep it running for as long as possible. But that means, of course, that something like a star quitting isn’t going to slow down production.
No matter how much fans love that actor or character. Because business is business. And as far as TV is concerned, no star is too big for audiences to completely forget about. At least, not as long as they’re given a proper sendoff. Or not.
So here are 20 TV shows that lost stars but continued to run anyway.
“Beverly Hills, 90210”
Shannen Doherty had a notorious reputation for being difficult on set, so after four seasons of playing Minnesota transplant Brenda Walsh, the actress was written off the show (but at least she got to go to London?).
She was replaced with Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, who basically became the “bad girl” version of Brenda. Thiessen stayed on for the final six seasons, which were probably six seasons too many, but we still watched the shit out of them all anyways.
“Criminal Minds”
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Mandy Patinkin only lasted two seasons on CBS’ “Criminal Minds” before he just stopped showing up to table reads.
Apparently, the subject matter was a little too dark for the actor, who at the time was best known for playing the guy endlessly trying to avenge his father’s death via sword fight.
He went on to land “Homeland,” though, which is a much lighter series.
“Spin City”
In its fourth season, “Spin City” lost its star, Michael J. Fox, due to his worsening health. The actor, who suffers from Parkinson’s, wanted to leave before his condition made it impossible to continue working.
He was replaced by Charlie Sheen, and the show went on for over a year longer, ending its run after season 6.
“Game of Thrones”
OK, so this one is technically kind of a cheat, because fans of the George R. R. Martin “A Song of Ice and Fire” series saw Ned Stark’s death coming from a mile away.
But for those of us who hadn’t read the books prior, having to watch Sean Bean play yet another character that bites it on screen definitely sucked. Of course, “Game of Thrones” hasn’t exactly suffered like Bean’s characters have; the show’s still on, seven seasons later.