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Two Stars Playing One Role.........

posted 8 years ago by Camelot_2000
9 replies | jump to latest

That's one thing I didn't like about TV was when an actor playing a role was later played by somebody else. I felt it ruined the credibility of the show. Which ones have you not liked? Mine are:

Another actor taking over the role of Lionel Jefferson in The Jeffersons. I adjusted to him after awhile, but eventually the former actor came back to play him. I didn't find it right having two actors juggling to play Lionel.

Donna Reed taking over the role of Miss Ellie in Dallas. She only lasted one season before Barbara Bel Geddes returned to the role. Donna later sued over a contract dispute because of that.

I loved the former star of Gladys Kravitz in Bewitched. Unfortunately, she died of cancer by the 3rd season and another actress took over the role. She was equally as good though, but somehow, it just wasn't the same.

Emma Samms taking over the role of Fallon Carrington Colby in Dynasty. She replaced Pamela Sue Martin and the changes were obvious. Nothing can beat the original Fallon, not even a British actress who no way resembled the original.

Dixie Carter on Diff'rent Strokes. I didn't care for this show during its final few seasons, but thought Dixie might spruce things up a bit as Mr. Drummond's new wife. She quit after one season to work on Designing Women and another actress took over the role. Not suprisingly, Diff'rent Strokes was cancelled after that.

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[–] jimdarling 7 years ago

I know this is through hind-sight, but lately I have felt that they blew it on Bewitched when they changed Darrins.

In the very beginning of Season 6, episode 1 they SHOULD have had Dick York either back again for a short scene where he gets changed into something or someone else by a goofy witch or warlock (Aunt Clara or Uncle Arthur), OR they could have used a sequence from an earlier episode. (I know they did that at least once before.)

ANYWAY, time comes to change Darrin back, and Clara/Arthur can't do it at first. When they finally DO change him back - voila, it's Dick Sargent.

Of course, Darrin is VERY upset about this but Sam assures him she still loves him and he'll get changed back soon (he isn't of course). In the meantime, Sam casts a spell on all humans who know Darrin which makes them think he hasn't changed appearances at all.

The biggest problem to all of this is that Dick Sargent would have had to of been a MUCH better actor, in order to continue to emulate the mannerisms of Dick York. I doubt he could have done it, though.