Today, I’m asking you what was the most disappointing example of an actor not returning to a TV series for the series finale.
Pop Culture Theme Time is a feature where I put a question to you to see what you think about a particular theme. I might later revisit the theme for a future Drawing Crazy Patterns or Top Five.
Very often, when a character leaves a long-running TV series, they return for the series finale. There are SO many examples of actors returning to series for the finale, but there have also been some notable examples of actors NOT coming back. Just recently, Carlos Valdes did not return as Cisco Ramon for the series finale of The Flash. So what actor not returning for the series finale do you think was the most disappointing?
Note: I’m talking about PLANNED series finales. Obviously, when shows get surprise canceled, they don’t have the time to bring anyone back, so just keep that in mind that we’re not going to judge shows for something like that that is out of their control.
I hate to do it, because it’s not like Two and a Half Men was even a particularly good TV show, but still, it was glaring that Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen couldn’t work something out for Sheen to make an appearance in the finale. Instead, we had the painfully unfunny ending of a character meant to be Charlie Sheen’s character, Charlie Harper, get crushed by a piano, then a cut to Lorre himself mocking Sheen’s “Winning” catch phrase (that Sheen developed during his breakdown that led to his firing from the series) before a piano drops on HIM…
Such a dumb ending to a show that ran twelve freakin’ seasons.
The show did four seasons without Sheen (which is really kind of remarkable, when you think about it), that was more than enough time for Sheen and Loree to hash something out for a Sheen appearance. Angus T. Jones (the “half man” of the series’ title) ALSO left the series in a dispute with Lorre, but he showed up for a cameo in the series finale. It was a ridiculous that Sheen did not (not putting it all on Sheen, as obviously, it takes two to Tango, and it doesn’t sound like Lorre was planning on making a cameo appearance by Sheen easy).
I really wanted to go with Potsie’s absence in the Happy Days finale (after sticking around for MANY seasons more than he should have, he doesn’t come back for the finale?!?!), but I’ll stick with no Sheen in the Two and a Half Men finale.
That’s my pick! What’s yours?
Also, feel free to suggest future Pop Culture Theme Time topics to me at my new, much shorter e-mail, brian@poprefs.com!
The two disappointed me were Three’s Company and Mom, because they involved weddings.
Granted, there was no love lost between Suzanne Sommers and Three Company’s producers, but it seems highly unlikely that both Crissy and Cindy would miss Janet’s wedding. Then again, they hand waved the fact that Janet’s parents weren’t in attendance. It was done very sloppily.
Likewise, it seems odd that Christy would not come back for Jill’s wedding, especially since Anna Farris’ departure from the series was amicable.
To Brian’s point, it would also seem odd that Potsie would not be at Joanie and Chachi’s wedding, especially, since Ron Howard came back for the finale.
Ralph freakin’ Malph even returned for the wedding!!!
Cisco’s absence from the final Flash season and the finalé. I gather he was busy with his current show but still, at least a reference to what he’s up to would have helped.
Brian, Potsie was also excluded from Fonz the Happy Days Gang cartoon. I always thought that was odd as well.
While that was messed up, too, I sort of get it there, as, well, come on, Potsie was pointless. He was only on the show because he was already on the show, ya know? Ralph is the much better character if you’re choosing a third wheel than Potsie, as Ralph had his own thing (hacky humor).
I wish Donald Glover had been in the series finale of Community as Troy. Especially since last we’d heard of his character he’d been lost at sea and presumed dead. At least we’re getting a reunion movie now to potentially resolve this.
Glad I wasn’t the only one missing Carlos Valdes/Cisco Ramon in the Flash finale. Just glaring.