How far from the main idea/cast/plot has a show ever strayed?
#26
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
"The Pretender" was a very formulaic, "pretending" to be someone different every week, but in the last season and a half it was Jarod running around and the Centre trying to catch him. I liked the change, but it wasn't the same show near the end.
"ER" after the seventh or eighth season turned into "Grey's Anatomy".
"ER" after the seventh or eighth season turned into "Grey's Anatomy".
#27
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by fuzzbox
I'd say that Melrose Place when it ended was completely different than when it started.
I'd also nominate Buck Rogers when they stopped being "Earth issue of the week" to a Buck-led Star Trek thing minus Dr. Huer and Dr. Theopolis.
#28
Moderator
When I was a kid, I remember Moonlighting turning from a comedy mystery-solver even I could enjoy to a whiny, listless love story, complete with Bruce Willis pining for Cybil Sheppard at the sliding glass door. Ugh.
#30
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SeaQuest was another one I forgot. After I bought and finished Season 2 I also went and looked up the final season. It was then I recalled never watching the final and now I remember why.
#31
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by nateman
"ER" after the seventh or eighth season turned into "Grey's Anatomy".
#34
Since most of the obvious ones have been mentioned, I throw out Cheers. It started out as an entertaining show exploring the dynamics of romance with basically intelligent but flawed lead characters from different backgrounds and how they came to fall for each other.
After Diane left and Sam lost the bar (and about 40 IQ points) the show devolved in wacky stories revolving around Sam trying to get his bar back.
Still one of the funniest shows ever written, but the Diane years versus the post Diane years are as different as night and day to me.
After Diane left and Sam lost the bar (and about 40 IQ points) the show devolved in wacky stories revolving around Sam trying to get his bar back.
Still one of the funniest shows ever written, but the Diane years versus the post Diane years are as different as night and day to me.
#35
DVD Talk Hero
Alias also radically changed multiple times.
Sydney started as a mole in SD-6 working secretly for the government, and having to keep both "aliases" a secret from her friends.
Eventually they pretty much got rid of the friends and the "normal" life, she was outed as a mole and worked for the CIA directly.
At the end of Season 2, beginning of season 3, she had been abducted and brainwashed by yet another secret organization, and led a wildly divergent life, which she had to find out about as the season progressed. The big bad leader of the first organization had been pardoned in the meantime, and her boyfriend had gotten married as well.
I still haven't watched all of the last season, but they rebooted it again and it became a more straightforward government organization thing with the same cast of characters.
Some would argue that Friday Night Lights strayed away from it's small hometown Texas community feel and away from the football games and more towards standard soap opera territory in it's second season.
Sydney started as a mole in SD-6 working secretly for the government, and having to keep both "aliases" a secret from her friends.
Eventually they pretty much got rid of the friends and the "normal" life, she was outed as a mole and worked for the CIA directly.
At the end of Season 2, beginning of season 3, she had been abducted and brainwashed by yet another secret organization, and led a wildly divergent life, which she had to find out about as the season progressed. The big bad leader of the first organization had been pardoned in the meantime, and her boyfriend had gotten married as well.
I still haven't watched all of the last season, but they rebooted it again and it became a more straightforward government organization thing with the same cast of characters.
Some would argue that Friday Night Lights strayed away from it's small hometown Texas community feel and away from the football games and more towards standard soap opera territory in it's second season.
#37
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Twin Peaks strayed pretty far from the main plotlines midway through Season 2 before getting back on the rails and ending on a fantastic cliffhanger.
Spoiler:
#38
DVD Talk Hero
I'll admit that I stopped watching a season or two before it ended, but The X-Files felt like a completely different show once Scully and Mulder only showed for the occassional guest appearance.
#39
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Doughboy
Angel changed quite a bit after its 1st season. It went from an episodic detective series to a heavily serialized show.
While the first season of Angel had more "monster of the week" episodes than the other seasons, the show was heavily serialized since day one. The same would apply for Buffy's first season and what should've been Firefly's first season (instead of it's first and last).
#41
DVD Talk God
The 4400 changed alot since it was a mini-series.
It went from stand alone "New ability of the week" episodes to a large scale serial drama in it's last 2 seasons.
It went from stand alone "New ability of the week" episodes to a large scale serial drama in it's last 2 seasons.
#42
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Calculon
The Dukes of Hazard went from "Walking Tall" ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrunners
MOONRUNNERS was narrated by Waylon Jennings and about 2 cousins who ran moonshine for their Uncle Jesse. Oh, and the evil county boss is assisted by Sheriff Roscoe Coltrane.
#43
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"The Office"
At first, it was about the awkward, hilarious, and sometimes painful, relationships and situations that arise when you're crammed into an office with a bunch of co-workers. But now it's a cartoon about anything but an office.
At first, it was about the awkward, hilarious, and sometimes painful, relationships and situations that arise when you're crammed into an office with a bunch of co-workers. But now it's a cartoon about anything but an office.
#44
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by JasonF
I disagree with your last two choices. Chuck's only been on for half a season, but it's really stayed true to the "average geek gets hooked up with spies" premise. As for Doug, even when they did the movie, it was still about the same quirky 6th-grader we all know and love.
Of course, if you were just trying to be funny... then ignore this post.
#45
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
You're kidding right?
While the first season of Angel had more "monster of the week" episodes than the other seasons, the show was heavily serialized since day one. The same would apply for Buffy's first season and what should've been Firefly's first season (instead of it's first and last).
While the first season of Angel had more "monster of the week" episodes than the other seasons, the show was heavily serialized since day one. The same would apply for Buffy's first season and what should've been Firefly's first season (instead of it's first and last).
Exactly.
Until the writers have confirmation that the network will stick with the series, they can't make long, sweeping, multi-season arcs.
I wouldn't say Buffy and Angel changed their premise so much as they were able to become more of what Joss intended.
#46
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Originally Posted by JTH182
Exactly.
Until the writers have confirmation that the network will stick with the series, they can't make long, sweeping, multi-season arcs.
I wouldn't say Buffy and Angel changed their premise so much as they were able to become more of what Joss intended.
Until the writers have confirmation that the network will stick with the series, they can't make long, sweeping, multi-season arcs.
I wouldn't say Buffy and Angel changed their premise so much as they were able to become more of what Joss intended.
#47
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
I get what you're saying, but Grey's Anatomy debuted in 2005. That would make it ER's 11th season.
#48
Member
I disagree with your last two choices. Chuck's only been on for half a season, but it's really stayed true to the "average geek gets hooked up with spies" premise. As for Doug, even when they did the movie, it was still about the same quirky 6th-grader we all know and love.
Originally Posted by Rex Fenestrarum
Are you being serious? He's talking about Chuck Cunningham, Ritchie's older brother who was seen walking up the stairs in the first episode and never seen again.
Of course, if you were just trying to be funny... then ignore this post.
Of course, if you were just trying to be funny... then ignore this post.
#49
Banned
Family Matters from a family to the Urkel show
Dawson's Creek went from a show about Dawson coming of age to Joey's relationships with men.
Gargoyles went from a the main characters adapting to the 20th century to the characters traveling through time.
90210 went through to many plots changes to count
Dawson's Creek went from a show about Dawson coming of age to Joey's relationships with men.
Gargoyles went from a the main characters adapting to the 20th century to the characters traveling through time.
90210 went through to many plots changes to count
#50
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Boomtown stopped telling non-linear stories, got rid of a few characters, and made the paramedic a cop.
Then it got cancelled 6 episodes later.
Way to go.
Then it got cancelled 6 episodes later.
Way to go.