When it comes to creating a successful television series, there are a lot of moving parts that need to come together, but one of the biggest is chemistry in the cast. It is quite common for actors and actresses to be recast after pilot episodes and several series have done last minute actor replacements for specific characters, but others have been bold enough to replace actors or actresses mid-series. An actor/actress switch in an established show is always a shock to fans, and sometimes it ends up working out well, while sometimes there is major backlash from audiences. Check out some of the most memorable recastings:
14. Hit: Friends – Carol
In the first season of Friends, Ross and Carol’s failed relationship was one of the main storylines, and in that time audience saw two Carol Willicks. In the pilot episode “The One With The Sonogram At The End,” Anita Barone starred as Carol who tells Ross she is pregnant after ending the relationship because she is a lesbian. Inexplicably, a whole new Carol appeared in the episodes following, and Jane Sibbett took over the role for the remainder of the series. It was later explained that Barone asked to leave the series after one episode because she didn’t feel like the part was big enough. Odds are Barone regretted the decision and Sibbett made an excellent Carol for the rest of the series.
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