Yahoo News 7 of TV's biggest cast culls ever
In a post-Game of Thrones age, we're used to our favourite TV characters dropping like flies. But even GoT and its imitators show some mercy, usually allowing us a few weeks in between cast departures to recover.
Sometimes, though, television can be utterly ruthless, writing out a huge swathe of characters all at once. These are some of the most drastic examples...
Note: The show has to maintain a storyline and setting while discarding half of its cast, so anthology series – True Detective et al – don't count.
1. Once Upon a Time – losing 6 cast members
In a controversial movie, fantasy drama Once Upon a Time will introduce a new main narrative in its seventh year, set many years after the events of the previous season and led by an adult Henry Mills (formerly Jared S Gilmore, now Andrew J West).
Shifting the story away from Storybrooke means we say goodbye to a whole heap of original cast members: Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White / Mary Margaret), Josh Dallas (Prince Charming / David), Jared S Gilmore (young Henry Mills), Emilie de Ravin (Belle / Lacey) and Rebecca Mader (Zelena, Wicked Witch of the West).
Jennifer Morrison will appear in at least one episode as Emma Swan, but will then make her own exit. Which doesn't bode well for Emma's chances of survival. Poor Hook...
2. The Leftovers – lost 6 cast members
Talk about apocalyptic. HBO's cult end-of-days series is known for undergoing a revamp in each of its three seasons, but the changeover from its first to its second saw the most considerable cast overhaul.
When The Leftovers moved from New York to Texas, left behind were Emily Meade as Aimee, Amanda Warren as mayor Lucy Warburton, and twins Max and Charlie Carver, who played happy-go-lucky brothers Adam and Scott Frost.
Likewise absent in season two were Michael Gaston and Annie Q, though Gaston's character Dean did return for two appearances in the third and final year, which also saw Q's Christine make a brief cameo.
3. Taken – lost 6 cast members
NBC's prequel to Liam Neeson's OAP arse-kicker franchise explores just how Bryan Mills (here played by Clive Standen) acquired his very particular set of skills.
Unfortunately, viewers weren't too taken with Taken, so the show's getting an overhaul for season two, with a new showrunner and only two surviving cast members – Standen and Jennifer Beals as Mills' mentor Christina Hart.
Given the boot are Gaius Charles (who played John, a member of Bryan's team), Brooklyn Sudano (as student Asha), Monique Gabriela Curnen (Vlasik), Michael Irby (Scott), James Landry Hébert (Rem) and Jose Pablo Cantillo (Dave).
Good luck...
4. The Practice – lost 6 cast members
Faced with flagging ratings, ABC decided to drastically cut the budget of its legal drama The Practice, dropping six cast members ahead of its eighth season.
Series regulars Dylan McDermott (who played Bobby Donnell), Marla Sokoloff (Lucy Hatcher), Kelli Williams (Lindsay Dole), Lara Flynn Boyle (Helen Gamble), Chyler Leigh (Claire Wyatt) and Lisa Gay Hamilton (Rebecca Washington) all got the chop – though McDermott and Sokoloff did at least return for guest appearances in what proved to be the show's final run.
5. Scrubs – lost 4 cast members
Remember when Scrubs got the perfect end with its season 8 closer - literally titled 'My Finale' - only for the telly gods to decide it was a good idea to eke the laughs out for another year?
Overnight, the show lost Elliot (Sarah Chalke), Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins), Carla (Judy Reyes) and the Janitor (Neil Flynn) as main characters. All but Reyes returned for guest appearances throughout the ninth and final season, but it just wasn't the same.
6. The Exorcist – losing 4 cast members
FOX's new take on the horror classic pulled a clever trick. Initially billed as a remake of the 1973 film, it was later revealed to be a sequel, with Geena Davis playing an adult Regan MacNeil (the demon's victim played, at a much younger age, by Linda Blair in the movie).
But having wrapped up Reagan's second encounter with Pazuzu in its first season, The Exorcist is undergoing a bit of a reboot. Davis is out, along with Alan Ruck (who played her husband Henry), Hannah Kasulka and Brianne Howey (daughters Casey and Katherine).
In their place, John Cho will join returning regulars Alfonso Herrera (Father Tomas), Ben Daniels (Father Marcus) and Kurt Egyiawan (Father Bennett) as a former child psychologist running a foster home for at-risk children.
7. Quantico - losing 4 cast members
In what may be this twisty-turny thriller's biggest shocker yet, four major characters will be absent when Quantico returns to our screens in September.
High-profile season 2 hiring Russell Tovey won't be back as Harry Doyle, ditto Pearl Thusi as driven lawyer Dayana Mampasi. Even more surprising, the show's also losing series original Aunjanue Ellis as Miranda Shaw, plus fellow veran Yasmine Al Massri, who played identical twins Neema and Raina.
Still, this is Quantico, so maybe we shouldn't rule out a surprise reappearance or two.
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