Top 10 TV Scandals That Led to Recasts
#10: Becky Conner
“Roseanne” (1988-97; 2018)
For the first five seasons of “Roseanne,” Lecy Goranson portrayed the role of Becky Conner. However, halfway through season 6, viewers were reintroduced to the character through the lens of a different person, Canadian actress Sarah Chalke. The reason for Goranson’s departure wasn’t necessarily scandalous - she wanted to focus on getting her college degree. While not a rare occurrence, in this case, things soon devolved into a game of switcheroo, with both actresses alternating the role. Fans were tuning in every night, unsure if they’ll be dealt Goranson or Chalke. Eventually, Goranson permanently left in the ninth season, although she returned in the role for the 2018 revival. For that installment, Chalke portrayed a similar-looking character named Andrea, playfully referencing the recasting kerfuffle.
#9: Clark Kent a.k.a. Superboy
“Superboy” (1988-92)
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Although largely forgotten today, “Superboy” was one of the first live-action TV shows to bring the comic book character Superman to life. The series, which focused on the character’s formative years as Superboy, initially found its leading man in actor John Newton. For the second season, however, the show underwent a major overhaul with a completely different story direction and multiple actor replacements, including Newton. Turns out the producers regarded Newton’s portrayal as part of the show’s kryptonite. That, coupled with his reported request for a significant salary increase, resulted in the actor being replaced by Gerard Christopher. Christopher played the role for the rest of the show’s duration, eventually becoming a producer and writer himself.
#8: Caleb Applewhite
“Desperate Housewives” (2004-12)
The second season of the hit ABC series “Desperate Housewives” revolved around the mysterious Betty Applewhite and her two sons Caleb and Matthew. Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that the character of Caleb was portrayed by two different people throughout his short run on the show. This happened because the original actor, Page Kennedy, was fired after an investigation by the studio reportedly confirmed that he had engaged in improper conduct. Kennedy denied these claims, stating that his departure was instead due to creative differences with the production company, who eventually bought out his contract. Either way, the role was then given to NaShawn Kearse.
#7: Christine Cagney
“Cagney & Lacey” (1982-88)
“Cagney & Lacey” first began life as a TV movie that aired in October 1981 with Loretta Swit playing Christine Cagney and Tyne Daly as Mary Beth Lacey. When it was eventually picked up as a series, Swit was unable to get out of her contract with the TV show “M*A*S*H,” so she was replaced by Meg Foster. Foster would only last one season on the series, however. The network reportedly felt both women came across as lesbians, for their “too hard and not feminine” portrayal, which contributed to the show getting canceled briefly. After fans protested, “Cagney & Lacey” was renewed, with Sharon Gless taking on the role of Christine Cagney with a supposedly more feminine energy.
#6: Chris Partridge
“The Partridge Family” (1970-74)
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The ABC sitcom “The Partridge Family” was so popular it turned many cast members into household names. But it seems not all of them managed to make a lasting impression. After the first season, it was announced that child actor Jeremy Gelbwaks, who played Chris Partridge, would leave the show as his family was relocating from Los Angeles. The real reason for Gelbwaks’ exit, however, was that he was reportedly difficult to work with and frequently clashed with fellow cast members and producers. Acting, it appears, just wasn’t his thing. No one seemed to notice when Brian Forster replaced him for the second season. Gelbwaks would go on to lead a regular life as a business and technology planner.
#5: Laurie Forman
“That ‘70s Show” (1998-2006)
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The manipulative Laurie Forman was brought to life on “That ‘70s Show” by Lisa Robin Kelly. Kelly portrayed the character for the first three seasons, before seemingly disappearing into thin air. Although Kelly came back for a special appearance in season five, by the time the character returned the next year, viewers were met with a completely different face. That of Christina Moore. Behind the scenes, Kelly’s disappearance was as a result of a miscarriage she suffered, the trauma of which led her to turn to alcohol. These issues affected her performance and resulted in her being replaced by Moore. Kelly continued to deal with substance use disorder and in 2013, she tragically passed away from an accidental drug overdose.
#4: James Kent
“True Blood” (2008-14)
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These days, Luke Grimes is best known for his role on the Paramount Network series “Yellowstone”. But years before that, the Ohio-born actor landed a part on HBO’s “True Blood.” For six episodes, Grimes portrayed James Kent, a decades-old vampire introduced in season six as a love interest for Jessica. However, the seventh season took a different direction, pairing him romantically with the male character Lafayette. This change seemed to have unsettled Grimes. Although he claims he left to pursue other opportunities, reports suggest Grimes actually asked to be released from his contract due to his discomfort in portraying a gay character. Nathan Parsons took over the role in season seven.
#3: Capheus Onyango
“Sense8” (2015-18)
Co-created by the Wachowskis, “Sense8” was a truly ambitious series that featured a multinational cast of characters and was shot on location in more than 15 countries. One of the primary characters was Capheus Onyango, a bus driver struggling to make ends meet in Nairobi, Kenya. In the first season, the role was brought to life by British actor Aml Ameen. But when the show returned for its sophomore installment, Ameen had been replaced by Toby Onwumere. Apparently, during the table reads for the second season, Ameen butted heads with co-creator Lana Wachowski. While the exact details remain secret, the conflict between the two reportedly escalated during filming in India, resulting in Ameen’s abrupt exit.
#2: Kate Kane a.k.a. Batwoman
“Batwoman” (2019-22)
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The CW series “Batwoman” broke ground as the first superhero series with an openly gay lead character, played by Ruby Rose. However, after just one season, Rose announced her departure from the series. Although initially reported as a mutual decision, more controversial details eventually emerged. Rose claimed that she was fired after sustaining back injuries during filming, for which she required surgery. She also spoke about a dangerous work environment on set. Warner Bros. denied these claims, stating that Rose was let go after “multiple complaints about her workplace behavior”. Javicia Leslie then took over as Batwoman, playing a different character named Ryan Wilder. Additionally, actress Wallis Day stepped in as Kate Kane, for a recurring appearance in the second season.
#1: Vivian Banks
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Arguably the most infamous recast in TV sitcom history, this one saw Janet Hubert exit the role of Aunt Viv on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” after three seasons. At the time, Hubert’s departure was reported to be the result of a bitter feud with the series’ star Will Smith. It would take nearly three decades for the record to be set straight. During the “Fresh Prince Reunion” special in 2020, Banks and Smith buried the hatchet, and the former revealed that she was, in fact, not fired. Instead, she had rejected a bad deal by the producers, which would’ve prevented her from working anywhere else for 10 weeks. Rather than renegotiate the contract, Hubert was replaced with Daphne Maxwell Reid.
