8 Drastic TV Recastings That Worked

A whole new world of options is opened up, and the show is just as good if not better than it was before.

4ffee81403626027 It's a matter of course in the television world that sometimes, even on the best shows, casting changes need to be made. The goal of these recasts are generally to make the transition as painless and smooth for audiences as they can. Depending on the scope of the role and the popularity of the actor, this isn't always possible. When an actor has to leave a production for whatever reason, it's always a major disruption. Usually people have a Very Serious Opinion about which they like better, and often the newcomer is seen as a sort of usurper. Nothing they do will ever live up to the original. Consider Aunt Viv on Fresh Prince, for example. Everyone loved the original Viv, with her spunky sense of humor, in-control personality, and professional life that served as a role model for women everywhere. Fast forward a few seasons, and we get the new Viv, who's pretty much just another sitcom housewife. She's not terrible, she's just not what we're used to. But then sometimes, actors get replaced, and all of a sudden we discover their character's real potential. A whole new world of options is opened up, and the show is just as good if not better than it was before.
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.