History Main / LongRunnerCastTurnover

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** ''SaturdayNightLive'''s cast and crew turnover is as legendary as its peak-and-valley history. In fact, the near-constant cast and crew changing ''is'' the reason why viewers will either praise the show for being great or bash it for being weak and call for a total overhaul (never "Cancel the show so the new episodes won't corrupt its legacy," like with ''The Simpsons''; it's always, "Fire the current cast and crew and get some talented people on there" when it comes to criticizing the show). According to show creator LorneMichaels on an E!-channel special about the history of the show, the main reason why this show is still on the air).

* The original UK version of [[Shameless]] had this in spades. Originally it centred around the Gallagher family and a few neighbours and friends, but as various cast members left, the show shifted focus towards the Maguire family starting around seasons 4-5. The two shared the central role for a few seasons before focus shifted away from a central family and more towards the ensemble cast that had gathered over time. For the final season, only two Gallaghers remain (one of whom wasn't even born until season five) and only three of the original Maguire family. The US version has almost completely averted this so far, in part because of its much more serialised approach to storytelling.

* The original UK version of Shameless had this in spades. Originally it centred around the Gallagher family and a few neighbours and friends, but as various cast members left, the show shifted focus towards the Maguire family starting around seasons 4-5. The two shared the central role for a few seasons before focus shifted away from a central family and more towards the ensemble cast that had gathered over time. For the final season, only two Gallaghers remain (one of whom wasn't even born until season five) and only three of the original Maguire family. The US version has almost completely averted this so far, in part because of its much more serialised approach to storytelling.

* In ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'', the cast has changed about twice since the show started in 2001 (not including the previous incarnations in the '80s). By around season 9, most of the characters who started in Season 1 had been completely phased out, and by season 11 some of those new characters GraduateFromTheStory as well.

** The longest-lasting regular cast member, Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, lasted seven seasons, but the second, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, only lasted three and a bit.

* Several [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} long]]-[[Anime/SailorMoon Running]] [[Anime/DragonBall Anime]] suffer from a form of this as their dub casts change over the long course of production, usually by way of ChannelHop or sudden [[NoExportForYou export-stoppages]] being [[UnCanceled overturned]]. WesternAnimation usually averts this due to [[SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon usually only lasting 65 Episodes]], but for those series which pass this mark or those that change channels all bets are off. Of course, with animation, TheOtherDarrin is more likely to be used, unless the character is so iconic that changing his or her voice would be unthinkable (see ''nearly everyone ever'' in ''TheSimpsons''.) For example, ''{{Pokemon}}'' had a [[ChannelHop production company hop]] leading to a total overhaul of its entire cast. ''Ben10'' had a TimeSkip aging up the main and recurring kid characters ''and'' it was decided that Creator/DeeBradleyBaker should voice ''all'' of Ben's aliens, and then more recently decided "nah, give the guy a break." The result is many characters (and alternate forms of characters) having ''three'' actors, even when actor availability isn't an issue.

* ''Series/StargateSG1'', almost. Despite three members of the original FourManBand making it to the series cancellation (one of them having spent a year [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence dead]] for [[HitchhikersGuide tax purposes]]), most of the surrounding cast and all of the big bads were gone two seasons earlier. Only Walter remained unchanged.

* The eighth season of TeenageMutanTNinjaTurtles did away with Irma, Casey Jones, Mondo Gecko, the Punk Frogs, the Neutrinos, Leatherhead, Baxter, Groundchuck, and Dirtbag, in favor of new characters like Titanus. The ninth season eliminated the newbies from season 8 as well as the Rat King, replaced Shredder and Krang with Dregg, and Bebop and Rocksteady with Hi-Tech. April was replaced with Carter. IN the tenth season, April came back to replace Carter. Hi-Tech was replaced with Mung.

* Several [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} long]]-[[Anime/SailorMoon Running]] [[Anime/DragonBall Anime]] suffer from a form of this as their dub casts change over the long course of production, usually by way of ChannelHop or sudden [[NoExportForYou export-stoppages]] being [[UnCanceled overturned]]. WesternAnimation usually averts this due to [[SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon usually only lasting 65 Episodes]], but for those series which pass this mark or those that change channels all bets are off. Of course, with animation, TheOtherDarrin is more likely to be used, unless the character is so iconic that changing his or her voice would be unthinkable (see ''nearly everyone ever'' in ''TheSimpsons''.) For example, ''{{Pokemon}}'' had a [[ChannelHop production company hop]] leading to a total overhaul of its entire cast. ''Ben10'' had a TimeSkip aging up the main and recurring kid characters ''and'' it was decided that DeeBradleyBaker should voice ''all'' of Ben's aliens, and then more recently decided "nah, give the guy a break." The result is many characters (and alternate forms of characters) having ''three'' actors, even when actor availability isn't an issue.

* In ''Series/{{Degrassi}}'', the cast has changed about twice since the show started in 2001. By around season 9, most of the characters who started in Season 1 had been completely phased out, and by season 11 some of those new characters GraduateFromTheStory as well.

* Several [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} long]]-[[Anime/SailorMoon Running]] [[Anime/DragonBall Anime]] suffer from a form of this as their dub casts change over the long course of production, usually by way of ChannelHop or sudden [[NoExportForYou export-stoppages]] being [[UnCanceled overturned]]. WesternAnimation usually averts this due to [[SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon usually only lasting 65 Episodes]], but for those series which pass this mark or those that change channels all bets are off.

* ''Series/{{Mash}}'' had a significant cast turnover during its eleven seasons. Alan Alda (Hawkeye), Loretta Swit (Margaret), and William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) were the only main cast present for the entire run. Jamie Farr (Klinger) was also present for the entire run of the show, but he started off as an [[AscendedExtra extra]]. The military hospital setting made it easy to write characters in and out with the excuse of them getting drafted, transferred, and discharged.

To qualify for this, a significant percentage of the work's ''main cast'', including recurring, named supporting cast, has to change. {{Red Shirt}}s, extras and guest stars don't count. A one man show only needs the one person to change, but that won't cut it for an EnsembleCast. Essentially, either SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute or TheOtherDarrin, ''[[TheSameButMore en masse]]''. (Though it ''can'' be spread out over time.)

To qualify for this, a significant percentage of the work's ''main cast'', including recurring, named supporting cast, has to change. {{Red Shirt}}s, extras and guest stars don't count. A one man show only needs the one person to change, but that won't cut it for an EnsembleCast.

Having a lot of turnover is by itself [[TropesAreNotBad a neutral phenomenon]], but for many people, it's a cause to believe a show has JumpedTheShark, is DarthWiki/RuinedForever or is a FranchiseZombie, especially if the departing cast were a main reason for the show's appeal to them.

* ''Roleplay/TheWake'': There's been so much turnover in the cast over three years that there are only a few characters left who remember pivotal characters and events from early in the game.
* ''Roleplay/TheGunganCouncil'': The only consistent character for 12 years is having a fat Gungan spamming the forums.

Having a lot of turnover is by itself [[TropesAreNotBad a neutral phenomenon]], but for many people, it's a cause to believe a show has JumpedTheShark, is RuinedForever or is a FranchiseZombie, especially if the departing cast were a main reason for the show's appeal to them.

* ''Series/{{MASH}}'' had a significant cast turnover during its eleven seasons. Alan Alda (Hawkeye), Loretta Swit (Margaret), and William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) were the only main cast present for the entire run. Jamie Farr (Klinger) was also present for the entire run of the show, but he started off as an [[AscendedExtra extra]]. The military hospital setting made it easy to write characters in and out with the excuse of them getting drafted, transferred, and discharged.

* Since the original ''Series/{{CSI}} CrimeSceneInvestigation'' premiered in 2000, its later seasons have seen the departure of three of its leads (Grissom, retired, and Catherine, new job, and Ray Langston (who replaced Grissom), forcibly resigned), two of its secondary leads (Sara, quit from PTSD but now CommutingOnABus, and Warrick, KilledOffForReal) and a number of its recurring supporting roles (Wendy, Sofia, and the very short tenure of Riley, meant to replace Sara). Most of the departures were of the "actor wanting to move on" variety, but contract disputes and in Warrik's case, personal problems, also factored.

** ''TheTonightShow'' has gone through at least five different hosts, all of whom brought in their own people to run the show in a new direction. The only exception may be when Jay Leno was brought back to the show in 2011.

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