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RSSWait, who are you again? Talking about Cast Replacements
What if one day suddenly you had a new best friend and you never saw your old best friend again? Or if your new colleague suddenly and without much warning became an integral part of your life?
Such is the business of cast replacement.
Someone new joins a show and once he or she is in the opening credits, they are part of our character's world whether we like it or not. Sometimes it seems effortless (Law & Order has handled countless cast switcheroos) and sometimes it's a clunky imposition (ER has weathered the revolving door at County General a lot less smoothly).
We've talked about this before but I thought, in honor of our August great TV debates, it would be fun to chat about it again. What do you think were the best cast replacements of all time?
I have four:
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen replaces Shannen Doherty on Beverly Hills 90210: At the height of the show's popularity, Doherty left the series and took the resident bad girl of Beverly Hills with her. No worries though because the minute Valerie Malone acted all sweet and then went upstairs to roll a joint (just about the baddest a teen could do on TV in 1994), I was so on board with her character. And she never ever let me down. I've been loyal to Thiessen ever since.
Traylor Howard replaces Bitty Schram on Monk: This was a tricky one because in many ways, Monk was a two person show that thrived on the relationship Monk had with Sharona. But the smartest thing the show did was cast Howard whose Natalie is completely different that Sharona. Natalie is less abrasive and her banter with Monk has softer undertone. From her first episode, we knew Mr. Monk was in great hands.
Kirstie Alley replaces Shelley Long on Cheers: She was so good as corporate executive Rebecca Howe that 15 years after the show ended, the Diane vs. Rebecca debate lives on.
Joshua Malina replaces Rob Lowe on The West Wing: Having loved Malina on Sports Night, I was thrilled to have him back on series television and his Will fit right in with the fast talking, quick witted and action oriented crowd.
Those are four of my favorite cast replacements. What are yours? Talk about it below.
Highlights of the Week Ahead
All times listed are eastern standard time for August 4-10
Does anyone else think Miley Cyrus is dangerously close to overexposure and the inevitable backlash that follows? Pre-teens are a fickle bunch. Cyrus hosts The Teen Choice Awards Monday at 8 p.m. on FOX. Mariah Carey performs as surfboards are handed out in categories including Choice Summer Movie: Comedy, Choice Summer Song (including Cyrus' "7 Things"), Choice Movie: Bromantic Comedy, and my personal favorite, Choice TV: Looking For Love.
You guys were divided on this one but I really liked Michelle Trachtenberg's guest star run as the conniving Georgina on Gossip Girl (Monday, CW, 8 p.m.) even if in the end she went out with a whimper instead of a bang.
I'm more confused than ever regarding The Mole (Monday, ABC, 10 p.m.). The people left are my top three suspects. I'll be psyched if the Mole turns out to be Craig just because I think he was the least obvious/most savvy with his antics. Who do you think the Mole is?
So I have to confess to you guys that I haven't been keeping up with The Secret Diary of a Call Girl which has its season finale Monday at 10:30 p.m. on Showtime. But should I have been watching? I gave up after three episodes. Did the show get better?
Speaking of secrets, Amy's parents finally learn hers on The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Tuesday, ABC Family, 9 p.m.). Just when I think the show can't do anything more ridiculous we have a marriage proposal from a 15-year-old. This week, we learn that Amy's mom also was pregnant as a teen. Do you think we've already met her child?
We are down to the final four on So You Think You Can Dance. They'll dance on Wednesday (8 p.m. on Fox) and the winner will be announced on Thursday (8 p.m. on FOX). I was all about Twitch but now I think I'm rooting for Joshua. Thursday night's show also will feature encores of the best routines of the season and a reunion of fan-favorite dancers from the first four seasons. The Jonas Brothers will perform "Burnin' Up" and one person wins $250,000. And the really good news is that the show has already been picked up for a fifth season. If you want to find out when the tour that begins September 20 is coming to your area, visit www.fox.com/dance.
Finally one of my fearless predictions has come true. I was so excited to see Kenny and Stephanie k-i-s-s-i-n-g at the end of My Boys last week. I've been saying forever that I thought the show was plotting to put them together. The second season comes to an end Thursday at 10 p.m. (please note the new time) on TBS. PJ tries to get Jack to return to the wedding while Mike learns more about his new friend (Mimi Rodgers). I'm still kind of hoping Bobby doesn't get married and he and P.J. have a moment. How about you?
That's all for today. I'm back on Wednesday with familiar faces and thoughts on Burn Notice (many of you aren't happy). Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
Yes, I am also confused about The Mole (and why no one watches it haha), but I agree that Craig must be the mole. Definitely not Mark though.
Funny, but my favorite cast replacement EVER was a replacement of Shannen Doherty, too - when Rose McGowan became the third sister on Charmed.
But I also liked Tiffani Thiessen on 90210 better than Doherty, as well.
A cast replacement that I didn't think I could ever like but actually do now is Ziva replacing Kate on NCIS. I like them both and think they both serve good but different dynamics within the team.
I'm sure I'll think of more later, but those are the first that come to mind.
I am more unhappy with Psych this season than I am with Burn Notice. And I'm with you on In Plain Sight-just not loving it.
jimmy smits replaces david caruso on nypd blue
For the right way how to handle cast replacements, just take a look at the teen drama "Heartbreak High". They had a lot of them and handled them really well.
Some of my favorite cast replacements:
- Tara for Oz on "Buffy"
- Wesley for Doyle on " Angel" (Doyle's death was sad but Wesley is an awesome character)
- Illyria for Fred on "Angel"
- Daisy for Betty on "Dead like me"
- Audrey for Andie on "Dawson's Creek"
- Taylor for Marissa on "The O.C."
- Butters for Kenny on "South Park"
And some of my least favorite:
- Riley for Angel on "Buffy"
- Eve for Lilah on "Angel"
- Megan for Alana on "The 4400"
A cast replacement I did *not* like was Joe Mantegna replacing Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds. Gideon was so much better than Rossi. I do like Paget Brewster better than Lola Glaudini, though.
I totally loved the Stephanie/Kenny kissing too! I'd be waiting for it...
And I agree--I really don't want Bobby to get married, and I really want him to have a moment with PJ. I love those two together!
I also liked all the M*A*S*H replacements:
BJ Hunnicut for Trapper John
Col. Potter for Col. Blake
Charles Winchester for Frank Burns
AMY: I agree that the Law & Order franchise does cast changes better than any other show. Also, I agree that Cheers was still good, if not better, after Kirstie Alley came on board.
One of the good cast changes that comes to mind is when Alexis Denisof reprised his role as Wesley on "Angel". He became Angel's new sidekick, replacing Doyle [who was played by Glenn Quinn, RIP :-( ].
You asked whether Miley Cyrus is close to being overexposed, and I would say that she is already there. Sadly, the tabloids are having a field day with Miley, as they would do with Paris, Lindsay, Britney, et al. The main difference is Miley is still underage, so really the tabloids should be backing off. Also, the Hannah Montana marketing (per Disney, of course) has her image on everything from bed sheets to school supplies to clocks. Not only has she hosted the Teen Choice Awards, but she also co-hosted the CMT Music Awards. She and her parents were criticized for a racy photo shoot in Vanity Fair. If all that weren't enough, she still finds time in her busy schedule to post You-Tube videos of her and her friends (sometimes mocking other Disney Channel stars). I sincerely hope Miley does not end up like being Britney Version 2.0, as was suggested by a recent South Park episode titled "Britney's New Look". :-0
I have been saying since the third episode that Craig is The Mole. I think that he is still the most likely, since Mark has earned too much money for the pot. It could be Nicole, but I don't think so since she has done OBVIOUS sabotaging (probably trying to trick other players into thinking she was The Mole). I believe that Alex was eliminated because he answered the quiz as if Nicole were The Mole.
My favorite was Charles Emerson Winchester III replacing Frank Burns on M*A*S*H. They replaced an incompetent doctor with a doctor who was superior to the existing characters in many ways and invigorated the dynamic for several years.