10 TV Character Replacements Better Than the Originals

The ever-changing nature of the entertainment industry means that The need to replace a character on a television show comes up more often than one might expect. This change could be due to a number of factors, from simple scheduling conflicts and technical considerations to full-on behind-the-scenes drama and scandalous firings. While the facts of the specific case may differ, the burden of show production remains the same: finding a worthy replacement for the outgoing actor, a task that is easier said than done.

Although history is full of TV character replacements that didn’t work, some shows managed to triumphantly shake this trend with a substitute that was better than the original. Changing an established character is no easy task in and of itself, presenting as many paths to failure as a simple recast of the TV actor in question, if not more. Finding an artist who can surpass the original in terms of quality makes things even more complicated, making the rare case in which a show manages to do so organically all the more impressive.

10

Winston Bishop (new girl)

Replaced Ernie “Coach” Tagliaboo

Starring in 145 episodes and forming an integral aspect of the hit show’s enduring success, it’s difficult to imagine a version of New girl which did not present Fargo Emmy winner Lamorne Morris as Winston Bishop. A fan favorite that was well received by critics Morris’ character replaced Damon Wayan’s Ernie “Coach” Tagliaboo immediately after the show’s pilot episode.

Although he became a key character after returning in New girlIn the third season, the character of Wayan was originally written out of the series due to scheduling commitments with another sitcom. The coach’s departure to live with his girlfriend meant that Winston’s character was introduced as a former roommate from the show’s cadre of characters, looking to fill the empty room that belonged to Wayan’s care. Coming seamlessly into the process, Morris began to make his character beloved without missing a beat.

9

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld)

Claire replaced

Seinfeldof Elaine Benes is a role that Julia Louis-Dreyfus is practically synonymous with. Integral to the enduring success of one of the most popular and beloved shows of all time, the notion of someone else playing Louis-Dreyfus’s fiery charge is akin to imagining Friends without Jennifer Aniston playing Rachel. Surprisingly, that’s almost what the audience ended up getting.

American actress Lee Garlington was entrusted with the lead female role in Seinfeld original pilot episode, playing Claire, a waitress friend of Jerry and George. However, when the show was finally picked up by NBC, the decision was made that Seinfeld’The female lead needed to come from a similar social class as the rest of the cast for the sake of credibility, making Garlington’s waitress character impractical. Louis-Dreyfus was called to play Elaine and never looked back, giving life to one of the most praised and influential faces in television comedy.

8

Woody Boyd (cheers)

Replaced “Coach” Ernie Patuso

The fourth season of the highly successful sitcom Health saw the introduction of Woody Harrelson’s Woody Boyd. A simple-minded, lovable bartender from the show’s titular establishment Harrelson’s character was brought in to replace fan-favorite “Coach” Ernie Patuso in the fourth season. This casting change was precipitated by a tragic development, with Patuso actor Nicholas Colasanto passing away from a heart attack.

While there was no replacing a character as beloved as Coach, Harrelson’s well-meaning bartender quickly became an established fixture on the acclaimed series. Well received by fans and critics, Harrelson appeared in 200 episodes of Health after debuting in 1985, with his take on the character paying respectful homage to the memory of Colasanto’s coach while also introducing audiences to a hilarious new face for the hit show.

7

Colonel Sherman Potter (M*A*S*H)

Replaced Colonel Henry Blake

One of the funniest war comedy dramas of all time, M*A*S*H* is notable for featuring several successful character changes over the course of 11 seasons. The show the most successful import in this regard is Harry Morgan’s Sherman Potter; Replacing McLean Stevenson’s Colonel Henry Blake, the American went on to play the role in all but three of the hit show’s subsequent episodes after being introduced in the fourth season.

Providing the show with a realistic and grounded presence, Morgan began working on his new role following the departure of his predecessor. The actor’s portrayal of Potter lent an air of assurance and gravitas to his arc that was arguably not present in Stevenson’s take on Blake, providing Hawkeye and Co. with a credible authority figure who was simultaneously capable of eliciting laughs from the audience. public.

6

Malia Tate (Teen Wolf)

Replaced Cora Hale

A prominent role at the start of the MTV show’s third season Teen Wolf, the story indicated that Adelaide Kane’s Cora Hale was poised for great things as the series progressed, only for the character to fade into obscurity almost as quickly as she arrived. Kane left the show after being tempted by a top position on the CW period drama Reign, leaving a void that was quickly filled by an exciting new face.

A werecoyote who spent her formative years living in the desert in her alternate form, Shelley Hennig’s Malia Tate has provided an attractive new face to the show’s cast since her first appearance. Tate’s increased involvement saw his cast member status go from recurring to regular starting in season four, with Hennig’s mix of blunt honesty and charming sweetness winning over any doubters in short order.

5

Ben Wyatt (Parks and Recreation)

Replaced Mark Brendanawicz

For one reason or another, fans of Parks and Recreation never gravitated toward Paul Schneider’s Mark Brendanawicz. A no-nonsense urban planner from the town of Pawnee, Schneider’s protégé never really found his comedic footing on the show, despite his supposed status as a key character. Consequently, Mark Brendanawicz was written out of the proceedings after season 2 and was never mentioned again, with Adam Scott’s Ben Wyatt stepping in to fill the void left by Schneider’s character.

Unlike its predecessor, Scott’s charge quickly became one of Parks and Recreation most beloved characters and the main love interest of the series’ protagonist, Leslie Knope. Taking on the role of the show’s voice of reason, Scott’s performance as Ben received rave reviews from critics throughout the remainder of the series, citing the actor’s ability to deftly balance his straight man role as Ben with gut-busting humor.

4

Paige Matthews (delighted)

Replaced Prue Halliwell

Shannen Doherty’s ignominious exit from the fantasy drama Enchanted presented the show’s producers with an unenviable conundrum. Although the American actress received praise from fans and critics for her performance as the powerful witch and Charmed One Prue Halliwell, things apparently fell apart behind the scenes on the show due to a feud between Doherty and her co-star Alyssa Milano.

After Doherty was reportedly fired from the show, Prue’s death was written into Enchanted narrative, with Rose McGowan’s Paige Matthews replacing her as the younger half-sister of the surviving Halliwell siblings. Filling the void left by such an established character was no easy task, but although McGowan’s new face presented an entirely different personality to the more pragmatic Prue, it proved to be just as entertaining. McGowan’s performance was well received and highlighted as a notably brilliant aspect in the show’s later seasons.

3

Morgause (Merlin)

Replaced Nimueh

While Michelle Ryan’s Nimueh serves as an excellent antagonistic foil to Colin Morgan’s titular protagonist throughout the first season of the hit BBC fantasy drama MerlinThe casting of Emilia Fox as the villain who replaces her raised the bar to a whole new level. A ruthless sorceress, deadly warrior, and half-sister to Morgana Pendragon, Fox’s arc as the Machiavellian Morgause blows her predecessor out of the water in almost every way imaginable.

Relentless, charismatic and deviously intelligent, Morgause proved to be a formidable adversary for Merlin, seamlessly stepping into the role of the show’s main antagonist following Nimueh’s death. His presence served to further elevate the quality of the program after an excellent first season, with Fox delivering an electrifying performance to bring one of the Merlin Most memorable villains come to life in a wickedly brilliant way.

Replaced Pierce Hawthorne

Chevy Chase’s time as millionaire Pierce Hawthorne in the cult classic series Community ended in controversy, with several instances of erratic behavior culminating in the actor’s firing from the show after he allegedly used a racial slur during an on-set rant. Pierce was later written out of the series, with the fifth season revealing that Chase’s character died of dehydration while collecting sperm samples.

Played by Breaking Bad star Jonathan Banks, Buzz Hickey wasn’t a direct replacement for the character of Chase in the traditional sense, but ended up indirectly filling the void left by Pierce. An intelligent criminology professor and army veteran, Buzz presented a much more compelling and nuanced character than Pierce ever was, aided by the usual excellent performance that the public expects from extremely talented benches. Hickey may have only appeared in the show’s fifth season, but he made a memorable impression in his brief time with Community.

1

Captain James Kirk (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Replaced Captain Christopher Pike

A notable curiosity in the history of one of the most successful and long-running science fiction shows of all time, Star Trek: The Original Series’ The first pilot episode originally starred Jeffrey Hunter in the lead role of Captain Christopher Pike. Poor feedback for the first iteration of the show meant that this state of affairs only lasted one episode, with NBC moving to order a second pilot that starred an entirely new figurehead for the series. Said figure took the form of William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk, and the rest is history.

Shatner’s opinion on the USS Enterprise The Captain quickly turned into one of the most popular and influential science fiction characters ever conceived, as well as arguably television’s most prominent example of a better-than-original character replacement. Hunter’s fleeting reverence as Pike was relegated to little more than a footnote until Anson Mount’s modernized take on the character returned in season two of Star Trek: Discovery, a successful return that led to its own spin-off show in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.