Summary
- Actor exits can ruin a TV show if not handled well, like Steve Carell leaving The Office in season 7.
- Characters like Fiona Gallagher in Shameless were the backbone of their shows, leading to decline after their departure.
- Departures like Donald Glover in Community or Angus T. Jones in Two and a Half Men caused major impacts on the shows.
Losing a beloved TV show character was always tricky, but it was even more disappointing when an actor's decision to leave ruined their respective shows. Over the years, several TV shows have lost key cast members during their runs, whether that be because the character's storyline had come to a natural conclusion or their actor decided to step away for personal reasons or to focus on other projects. These departures were generally handled with grace and creativity, although there have been some TV exits that were totally out of character, such as Andy (Adam DeVine) in Modern Family, for example.
Regardless of the reasoning behind it, what made many TV show departures even more impactful was the loss of an actor, even more so than their character. Whether they were a main or supporting cast member, the exit of an actor was immediately noticeable for audiences, especially as their absence caused a huge change in the overall atmosphere of their shows, and some TV shows tried continuing without their main character. For many actors, their departure resulted in the show becoming ruined, either slowly declining in quality until its end or within moments of the first episode without them.
|
Relevant Actor |
TV Show |
Character |
|---|---|---|
|
Steve Carell |
The Office |
Michael Scott |
|
Topher Grace |
That '70s Show |
Eric Foreman |
|
Donald Glover |
Community |
Troy Barnes |
|
Poussey Washington |
Orange is the New Black |
Samira Wiley |
|
Robert Sheehan |
Misfits |
Nathan Young |
|
Emmy Rossum |
Shameless |
Fiona Gallagher |
|
Angus T. Jones |
Two and a Half Men |
Jake Harper |
|
Mike Ross |
Suits |
Patrick J. Adams |
8 Steve Carell In The Office
Character: Michael Scott
The Office
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The Office is the U.S. remake of the British comedy mockumentary series of the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a Dunder Mifflin Paper Company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, led by their unconventional and clueless boss, Michael Scott. The series covers nine years of footage as they find themselves recorded through their work days and off times.
- Cast
- Mindy Kaling , Jenna Fischer , Kate Flannery , Ed Helms , Craig Robinson , Paul Lieberstein , Ellie Kemper , B.J. Novak , Angela Kinsey , Oscar Nunez , Rainn Wilson , Brian Baumgartner , Phyllis Smith , Leslie David Baker , Creed Bratton , Steve Carell , John Krasinski
- Release Date
- March 24, 2005
- Seasons
- 9
The Office became immensely popular both during and after its run for several reasons, specifically because of Steve Carell's Michael Scott. The Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin was one of the most interesting fictional characters to grace the TV screen, keeping audiences entertained with his cringeworthy behavior, absurd schemes, and wild personality. In season 7, Carell departed the show as Michael was reunited with Holly (Amy Ryan), and the two moved away to be nearer to her family. Behind the scenes, his exit was less simple than it appeared, as Steve Carell explained on The Office Ladies podcast (via Spotify).
Unfortunately, when The Office season 8 came around, the show wasn't the same anymore without Michael, and the show went downhill afterward.
The actor spoke about his emotional ending on the show and how he believed it was time to move on to other projects and let others enjoy the spotlight. However, it has also been reported that Carell's contract wasn't renewed, which he wasn't expecting. Speaking to the podcast hosts, Angela Kinsey, who played Angela, and Jenna Fischer, who played Pam, Carell stated that NBC did not approach him to renew the contract after it expired in season 7. Unfortunately, when The Office season 8 came around, the show wasn't the same anymore without Michael, and the show went downhill afterward.
7 Topher Grace In That '70s Show
Character: Eric Foreman
That '70s Show
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That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s.
- Cast
- Topher Grace , Laura Prepon , Mila Kunis , Ashton Kutcher , Wilmer Valderrama , Debra Jo Rupp , Kurtwood Smith , Danny Masterson
- Release Date
- August 23, 1998
- Seasons
- 8
That '70s Show is another TV series that lost audiences after a main character's departure. Although Topher Grace's absence in season 8 was notable, the loss of Ashton Kutcher's Michael Kelso also contributed to this. In season 8, Eric left to go to Africa for a college scholarship, leaving Donna (Laura Prepon) behind with his family and their friends. A few episodes later, Kelso moved to Chicago to be closer to his daughter Betsy, who was born in season 7. In a desperate attempt to fill the gaps, That '70s Show introduced a new character in Randy (Josh Meyers).
Unfortunately, Randy didn't have the same charm as either Eric or Kelso and simply took up space in the show that wasn't needed.
Unfortunately, Randy didn't have the same charm as either Eric or Kelso and simply took up space in the show that wasn't needed. In reality, Grace and Kutcher left the show to pursue movie careers, and the latter starred as Venom in Spider-Man 3 the year after That '70s Show ended. Because of the loss of these huge characters, the final season of That '70s Show was rushed in terms of storylines, and although Josh Meyers gave a fine performance as Randy, the character didn't have enough depth or time for audiences to bond with him to make him enjoyable.