SMALLVILLE came up earlier today and I put forth the notion that I knew it was time for it to go when Lex left (along with Lana and the producers). Seems like a show that gets its first major cast defection more than five years in is well past its creative prime. That's usually a sign of actors getting bored and that's usually all up and down the creative ladder.

But off the top of my head, I can think of three shows that survived and thrived when major characters left inside the first three years. Doctor Who (which had a major character leave at the end of its first year and its star got pushed out after three), Law & Order (which turned over a lot of its cast in the first few years), and M*A*S*H (which lost two characters early on and a third not long after... all for pretty much the same reason).

So what are some of the other shows that survived a major cast shake-up to put out some of its best episodes ever.

Cheers post Coach and Shelly Long.

My Three Sons.

Happy Days survived without Chuck.

Threes Company-Roper's and Chrissy left for Mr.Firlie and crap can't remember her name.

Facts of Life-Blair and Tootie and Ms. Garrett stayed everyone else including Mollie Ringwold out the door, Natalie and Joe enter.

Charles in Charge-He started working for a different family with Hot Daughters

Saved by the Bell-Screech, Lisa, Zach and Mr Belding Move from Minnesota-leaving Ms Brooks behind to California where they pick up Kelly Jessie and Slater.

90210-See ya Brenda

NYPD Blue

Facts of Life did it again, when George Clooney, Gomez Adams' Kid and Cloris Leachmen all replaced Ms. Garrett.

I'm not sure that's considered "thriving"

Limping along would be how I define that.

I liked the college years.

Can't forget Baywatch. They lost a bunch of the original life guards after year 1

Married with Children did well after Steve left.

ER

I supposed Happy Days thrived commercially after Ron Howard left, but it was never the same.

Seems like all of these examples fit my original theory that shows can survive a major cast defection in the first few years. Shelly Long leaving Cheers and Radar leaving M*A*S*H are the only ones I see that really work... because a quick check of Wikipedia shows that FACTS OF LIVES was falling during the Miss Edna-free final two seasons.

Cheers is the quintessential example for me. We watched the show in reruns every night at 11:00 in college. Kind of weeknight tradition in the house.

I couldn't imagine the show without Coach. Then, it got to a point where I only wanted to see Woody ones in reruns.

I couldn't imagine the show without Diane. Then, it it got to a point where I only wanted to see Kirstie Alley ones in reruns.

And everybody in the college house felt the same way.

Anyone who wasn't around for the 80s will simply not believe how hot we young fellows found Kirstie Alley in her first few seasons of Cheers.

Disagree on Mash as it was never teh same after those characters left, in my opinion.



Probably the best example.



CHHHUUUUUCKKK!! It jumped the shark when he left



I liked them both physically more than Chrissy. In fact the second one, I had a huge crush on.



A horrible show IMO



Yeah! I heard he was banging one of them and the dorkier one turned out hot as an adult, hotter than the hot one was





It's weird but I have no recollection of this. I remember though that every time I watched it, I kept thinking a live action Archie series would be even better. Properly cast with a hot brunette and cute blonde of course, though I waa lways in love with Midge.

I LOVE THIS SHOW!! His new Modern Family is good too.



Erika Eleniak was my fav.

I'm trying to be a bit objective on the subject. Even if you personally don't like the show after that point, the show went on to its greatest success after that point. I would love to throw Radar leaving the show as an example of a late exit bringing the show down, but that it kept rolling and left on its highest rated episode ever.

Understood. Meanwhile Larry from Three's Company was Barney before Barney.

It's the only show that survived Ted McGinley. He brought down Happy Days & Love Boat... and his look-a-like brought down Welcome Back Kotter.