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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.

Author
robert362

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
98,449

Updated
Nov 16 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
7820

Last 3 plays: Guest 209 (6/10), Guest 92 (4/10), Guest 75 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

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

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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

World Travel

Nervous Breakdown

Writing a Novel

Marriage

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Question 3 of 10

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

College

Military Service

New Job

Vacation after Graduation

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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

Crime victim

Ongoing Illness

Fatal Accident

Divorce

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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

Larry Linville

Jamie Farr

Gary Burghoff

McLean Stevenson

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Question 6 of 10

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

Out-of-town Job

Travel

Marriage

Illness

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Question 7 of 10

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

Marriage

Killed on the job

Retirement

Re-united with her Husband

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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

Little House on the Prairie

Three's Company

Superman

Gunsmoke

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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

Daniel Boone

Mission: Impossible

Family

Benson

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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

Bea Arthur

Betty White

Estelle Getty

Rue McClanahan

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 07 2024 : Guest 209: 6/10
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 92: 4/10
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 75: 7/10
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 136: 9/10
Oct 12 2024 : Guest 90: 6/10
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 173: 6/10
Sep 27 2024 : Guest 99: 6/10
Sep 22 2024 : Guest 166: 5/10

Score Distribution

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.
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