Substitutes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sharon Gless

Did you know that when "Cagney and Lacey" first premiered in 1982, Meg Foster played the role of Christine Cagney? She played the part in the first six episodes of the show, before being replaced by Sharon Gless. In fact, Foster was not the first Chris Cagney either. In the pilot movie in October 1981, Loretta Swit ("Hot Lips" from "M.A.S.H.") was actually the original Detective Cagney.

Answer: Daphne Maxwell Reid

For the first three seasons of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", i.e. 1990-1993, Aunt Vivian Banks was played by Janet Hubert (aka Janet Hubert-Witten). All of a sudden, in the forth, fifth and sixth seasons through 1996, Aunt Viv had a makeover and was played by Daphne Maxwell Reid. It seems that Hubert and Will Smith had an on-going feud which led to her being replaced.

Answer: Damon Evans

Remember Lionel Jefferson, son of George and 'Weezy" on "The Jeffersons". Which one do you recall? "The Jeffersons", a spin-off from "All in the Family" first aired in 1975, with Mike Evans playing Lionel. Mike left after the first season in order to write for the "Maude" spin-off "Good Times".

He was replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) who assumed the role until 1978 when he quit and was replaced by...Mike Evans!

Answer: Pat Priest

Going all the way back to 1964, we have "The Munsters", that family of friendly monsters who believed that cousin Marilyn was the weird one. For fifteen episodes in the first year of the show, Marilyn was played by Beverley Owen. When Beverley left to get married she was replaced by Pat Priest, a look-a-like who played Marilyn for the remainder of the series which ended in 1966.

Answer: Jane Sibbett

This is a tricky one. Did you know that Carol Willick, Ross' ex-wife on "Friends", was initially played by Anita Barone in the episode "The One With The Sonogram At The End" (in Season 1, Episode 2) in 1994? She left to pursue bigger roles and was subsequently replaced by Jane Sibbett. After giving birth to Ross' son Ben, Carol realized she was a lesbian and married Susan Bunch.

Answer: Sarah Chalke

"Roseanne" had one of the more obvious cast transformations. For five seasons, Lecy Goranson played Roseanne and Dan Conner's oldest daughter, Becky. When Goranson left the show to attend Vassar, she was replaced by Sarah Chalke (who later appeared as a doctor on "Scrubs"). Chalke played the role for seasons six and seven until she was replaced by...Lecy Goranson. Both actresses appeared in the reboot in 2018.

Answer: Dick Sargent

One of television's most famous 'switches' of a main character occurred on "Bewitched". From the beginning, in 1964, the role of Samantha's mortal husband, Darrin Stephens, was played by Dick York. In 1969, York was forced to leave the show due to a back injury and subsequent dependence on painkillers.

He was replaced by Dick Sargent who remained in the role for the duration of the show, i.e., until 1972.

Answer: Barney Martin

Here we have a substitution you may not have noticed. On "Seinfeld", in the first season we are introduced to Jerry's father, Morty Seinfeld, in the episode "The Stake Out" in 1989. Morty was played by actor Phil Bruns. Apparently, Jerry and Larry David thought Bruns was not a strong enough character, and the following season Phil was replaced by Barney Martin. Martin continued as Morty for the remainder of the show's run in 1998.

Answer: Noel Neill

For this one we have to go way back to early TV. In 1952 "Adventures of Superman" premiered, starring George Reeves as the 'Man of Steel". Phyllis Coates played the intrepid Daily Planet reporter, Lois Lane. In 1953, the second season, Coates was replaced by a kinder, gentler Lois, now played by Noel Neill. Due to producer conflicts and other commitments, Coates left and Neill, who had appeared in the Superman serials, took over.

Answer: Christina Moore

"That '70s Show" first aired in 1998. The show was about a group of friends in Wisconsin in the 1970s. Most of the scenes took place in Eric Forman's house where he lived with his parents, Red and Kitty, and his sister Laurie. Laurie was initially played by Lisa Robin Kelly until 2003, the show's sixth season, when she was replaced by Christina Moore, due to Kelly's drinking problem.

Answer: Robert Wightman

Who could forget that wonderful large Virginia family living through the depression and World War II on "The Waltons"? The show first aired in 1972, when we met John and Olivia Walton and their seven kids (and Grandma and Grandpa). Richard Thomas played the oldest, John-Boy.

After five seasons, in 1979, Richard Thomas left the show 'to pursue other interests'. He was replaced by Robert Wightman but, by then, not many people were still watching. Goodnight, John-Boy.

Answer: Mila Kunis

Here's a substitution you may have missed because it occurred on the animated comedy "Family Guy". The show is about the dysfunctional Griffith family, i.e. Peter and Lois, and their three kids, Meg, Chris and Stewie (and talking dog Brian). Lacey Chabert ("Party of Five") was the voice of Meg in season one in 1999.

However, Chabert was never credited on the show and wanted to focus her attention elsewhere, so Mila Kunis took over the role in the second season.

Answer: Eartha Kitt

It's 1966 and the campy "Batman" has helped bring color to television. Among Batman's many nemeses was The Catwoman, sexily portrayed by Julie Newmar in the first two seasons. However, according to the scuttlebutt, she left the show because of a scheduling conflict. Newmar was replaced by Eartha Kitt in the third season. Kitt did a purr-fect job in the role.

Answer: Brian Foster

Beginning in 1970, Shirley Partridge and five kids portrayed pop musicians who went from place to place in their psychedelic bus on "The Partridge Family". In the first season Jeremy Gelbwaks was Chris Partridge, one of the younger siblings. Gelbwaks did not get along with the cast and crew and, supposedly, his father's job was being relocated so the following season, and for the remainder of the show in 1974, Brian Foster assayed the role of Chris.

Answer: Melora Hardin

Tony Shaloub is perfect as "Monk", the "defective detective", which first aired in 2002. Adrian Monk was a brilliant homicide detective until his beloved wife Trudy was murdered. In the first two seasons Stellina Rusich appears as deceased wife Trudy in photographs and flashbacks.

In the third season Shaloub and the executive team decided to recast Trudy, and chose Melora Hardin ("The Office") to fill the role through 2009.