Like the character in Monty Python who keeps getting limbs hacked off but claims to be moving on unaffected, NBC appears to be moving ahead with its revamped edition of the comedy “Up All Night†despite losing not only the original creator of the series, Emily Spivey, and its most recent show-running producer, Tucker Cawley, but as of Friday, also its star, Christina Applegate.
Ms. Applegate announced Friday she has decided to quit the series rather than continue in the new format, which will transform the comedy from a single camera filmed show, to one filmed on tape in front of a studio audience. The news was first reported on the Web site, Deadline Hollywood.
Ms. Applegate’s departure in mid-season as one half of the couple in the middle of a romantic comedy would seem to doom the series. But with the extensive plan already in place to remake the show, NBC may still forge ahead, perhaps recasting the role. As of late Friday, the network was still keeping that option open.
Soap oeras often recast roles and keep going, and new actors often step into existing parts on Broadway. But television shows usually write characters out of shows rather than have new actors play existing characters.
It is not unheard of, however. Perhaps most famously, after Dick York played Darrin Stephens, wife of Elizabeth Montgomery’s Samantha on “Bewitched†for five seasons in the 1960’s, he became unable to continue because of a back condition and was replaced by Dick Sargent for the show’s final three seasons.
Ms. Applegate alluded to the show’s change in creative direction as her reason for leaving. In a statement released Friday, she said: “It’s been a great experience working on ‘Up All Night,’ but the show has taken a different creative direction and I decided it was best for me to move on to other endeavors.â€
