FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about TV Series That Have Lost  Characters
Quiz about TV Series That Have Lost  Characters

TV Series That Have Lost Characters Quiz


Many TV series have had to deal with the departure of key characters. Some handle it well; some do not.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. TV Trivia
  6. »
  7. TV Mixture
  8. »
  9. Mixture: Classics

Author
robert362
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
98,449
Updated
Nov 16 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
7777
Last 3 plays: Guest 173 (4/10), Guest 68 (4/10), Guest 73 (4/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The most famous example of a successful series losing a key character may be the departure of Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright) from "Bonanza". In which season did Adam leave the series? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Shelley Long's departure from "Cheers" was also a key change for the program. How was her absence explained? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. How was the departure of Ron Howard ("Richie") from "Happy Days" explained? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "MacMillan and Wife" became "MacMillan" when Susan Saint James ("Sally") left the series. How was her departure from the show explained? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "MASH" lost many characters - but still maintained (and even improved) the quality of the series. Who was the first actor we see leave? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Valerie Harper ("Rhoda") left "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". How was her absence explained? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Diana Rigg ("Emma Peel") left "The Avengers" after several years. How was her departure explained? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of these shows solved the problem of an actor (or actress) departing by simply having another actress play the same character? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Sometimes one actor (or actress) is replaced early on - so it is easy to use a different person to play the same role. In which of these series did that occur? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "Golden Girls" tried to make a go of it by continuing the series (with a new name, but the same characters) after one member of the cast decided to call it quits. Which one left? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 173: 4/10
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 68: 4/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 73: 4/10
Mar 05 2024 : Guest 66: 5/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 209: 3/10
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 209: 6/10
Feb 13 2024 : Guest 216: 7/10
Feb 12 2024 : Hayes1953: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The most famous example of a successful series losing a key character may be the departure of Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright) from "Bonanza". In which season did Adam leave the series?

Answer: 6

Roberts decided that he wanted out due to reported creative differences about his character. It was never made clear where Adam went off to, but in season seven reference was made to him living in Paris. "Bonanza" lasted for 14 seasons. Pernell Roberts went on to guest star in many TV shows before starring in the hit "Trapper John, M.D.". Roberts was the third actor to portray the character of Trapper John McIntyre.
2. Shelley Long's departure from "Cheers" was also a key change for the program. How was her absence explained?

Answer: Writing a Novel

During the course of the show, she "toyed" with marriage with some people (other than Sam) and also experienced a breakdown ... but her absence was explained by her going out of town to write a novel. (Long went to the big screen and made several movies - mostly forgettable.)
3. How was the departure of Ron Howard ("Richie") from "Happy Days" explained?

Answer: Military Service

Richie was drafted and sent to Greenland. Howard felt the time had come to move on.
4. "MacMillan and Wife" became "MacMillan" when Susan Saint James ("Sally") left the series. How was her departure from the show explained?

Answer: Fatal Accident

Saint James didn't get along with Hudson. Her character's exit from the show was handled by a passing reference to her death in an airplane accident.
5. "MASH" lost many characters - but still maintained (and even improved) the quality of the series. Who was the first actor we see leave?

Answer: McLean Stevenson

Stevenson wanted out - so his character was killed when his plane went into the sea. Stevenson tried other series - "Hello, Larry" comes to mind. They didn't work out. Linville and Burghoff left later.
6. Valerie Harper ("Rhoda") left "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". How was her absence explained?

Answer: Out-of-town Job

She got a job in New York ... and the "spin-off" was born.
7. Diana Rigg ("Emma Peel") left "The Avengers" after several years. How was her departure explained?

Answer: Re-united with her Husband

Her husband had been "missing" and was presumed dead. Lo and behold ... he turns up.
8. Which of these shows solved the problem of an actor (or actress) departing by simply having another actress play the same character?

Answer: Superman

"Superman" had two people play Lois Lane: Noel Neill and Phyllis Coates. The other choices listed all experienced "defections" by some members of the cast - but replaced the old characters with new ones.
9. Sometimes one actor (or actress) is replaced early on - so it is easy to use a different person to play the same role. In which of these series did that occur?

Answer: Family

Meredith Baxter was not in the original episode of "Family"; she was brought in later. Rene Auberjonois replaced Lewis J. Stadlen in "Benson". Peter Graves ("Mr. Phelps") replaced Steven Hill ("Mr. Briggs")in "Mission. "Boone" (the Fess Parker series) had various characters come and go after Ed Ames ("Mingo") departed.
10. "Golden Girls" tried to make a go of it by continuing the series (with a new name, but the same characters) after one member of the cast decided to call it quits. Which one left?

Answer: Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur decided not to return, so her character was "married off" and the other members of the ensemble came back in (the short-lived) "Golden Palace".
Source: Author robert362

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us