Look For These Changes In Your Favorite Shows
Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, the crankiest doctor on CBS’s “Chicago Hope,” is going to leave the show after the first eight episodes because actor Mandy Patinkin wants to go back home to New York and spend more time with his family.
Most changes in TV shows don’t come about so voluntarily - they’re usually the result of flagging ratings and the network’s desire to “fix” what they figure is wrong with a show.
At any rate, Patinkin’s decision to beg out of his contract turned out to be a boon for Christine Lahti, who will replace him in “Chicago Hope” as new head surgeon Dr. Kathryn Austin. (They won’t have an angry patient kill Geiger or anything that final. Patinkin says he may want to play the part again some day.)
Here are some of the other changes you’ll note in your favorite shows when they return this fall:
Robert Mitchum pops into ABC’s “The Marshal” in the new role of hero Marshal Winston MacBride’s father.
Gloria Reuben, who played married physical therapist Jeanie Boulet in a few episodes of NBC’s “ER” last season, becomes a cast regular - just in time to keep that budding romance with Dr. Benton (Eriq LaSalle) on the front burner. Also joining up: Christine Elise from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” who’ll play medical student Harper Tracy, the new love interest for young Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle).
Becky on ABC’s “Roseanne” will undergo a surprising transformation this fall. Reason: Lecy Goranson, the original Becky, returns to the role, replacing Sarah Chalke.
NBC’s “The John Larroquette Show” gets a make-over with the bus station crew all going on the day shift, Carly (Gigi Rice) selling the bar and Hemingway’s ex-girlfriend, Catherine (Alison La Placa), buying it, so she can launch her career as a torch singer.
Katherine Helmond (“Soap,” “Who’s the Boss?”) becomes Hayden’s new boss on ABC’s “Coach” as he, wife Christine and aides Luther and Dauber all leave Minneapolis for Florida, where Hayden (Craig T. Nelson) becomes coach of the puny Orlando Breakers pro team.
One of the original “Sisters” - Frankie (Julianne Phillips) - has left the NBC series, but five new regulars will sign up: Sheila Kelley, Eric Close, Noelle Parker, Joe Flanigan and Stephen Collins.
Two recurring characters from last season’s “NYPD Blue” become regulars on the ABC hit: Justine Miceli as Det. Adrienne Lesniak, the one with all the domestic problems, and Kim Delaney as Det. Diane Russell, the sneak-drinker who’s smitten with Det. Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits).
ABC’s “Ellen” (Ellen Degeneres) gets a new roommate this fall: Jeremy Piven as her cousin, Spence.
Stand-up comic Taylor Negron becomes a regular on NBC’s “Hope & Gloria,” playing Gwillem Blatt, a high-strung network executive.
Tom Poston joins the cast of ABC’s “Grace Under Fire” as Russell’s dad while Grace (Brett Butler) is demoted because of company cutbacks.
Ross (David Schwimmer) of NBC’s “Friends” turns up with a new girlfriend this fall - Lauren Tom.
Michael Ironside, who had just taken over as chief surgeon on NBC’s “ER” late last season, leaves that show to take over as new captain of the submarine “seaQuest DSV” this fall. Former Capt. Roy Scheider will hang around for part of the new season, but I won’t tell you who else survived that cliffhanger disaster at the end of the past season.
The Andrea Zuckerman character has been written out of Fox’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” because the actress who played her - Gabrielle Carteris - has left to launch her new syndicated talk show “Gabrielle” this fall.
Lauren Velez joins Fox’s “New York Undercover” team as streetsmart Det. Nina Moreno.
CBS’s “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” is now married, so can motherhood be far behind?
The syndicated “Lonesome Dove: The Series” undergoes a complete overhaul this fall, becoming “Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years”; Newt (Scott Bairstow) becomes a bounty hunter after the death of his wife. Joining the cast is Tracy Scoggins as onetime grifter Amanda Carpenter.
Thomas Haden Church has left the role of lunky Lowell, the maintenance man on NBC’s “Wings,” to star in this fall’s new Fox series, “Ned & Stacey.”
Ned Beatty and Daniel Baldwin have expired from the cast of NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street,” but newcomer Reed Diamond signs on as Mike Kellerman, new partner for Det. Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson).
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SCHEDULE SHUFFLE “Murder, She Wrote” moves to Thursdays on (CBS). “Mad About You” goes to Sundays (NBC). “Roseanne” airs Tuesdays (ABC). “Cybill” goes to Sundays at 8 on CBS. “seaQuest DSV” switches to Wednesdays at 8 (NBC). “Hope & Gloria” is now on Sundays at 8:30 (NBC). “Coach” moves to Tuesdays at 9:30 (ABC). “Dave’s World” shifts to Wednesdays at 8:30 (CBS). “Ellen” goes to Wednesdays at 8 (ABC). “Grace Under Fire” is now Wednesdays at 9 (ABC). “Friends” moves to 8 p.m. Thursdays (NBC). “Picket Fences” shifts to 8 p.m. Fridays (CBS). “The John Larroquette Show” moves to Saturdays at 9. “Martin” goes to Saturdays (FOX). -Knight-Ridder