MOMMY ISSUES: “Sopranos” co-star Nancy Marchand (left, with James Gandolfini) died after the second season. (©HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection)
The passing this year of “Dallas” star Larry Hagman is a reminder that TV shows often find it difficult — and, in some cases, downright awkward — to replace beloved stars who pass away during a series run.
Here are a few ways in which shows from years past have handled the death of a cast member.
* “The Sopranos.” Nancy Marchand’s mother-from-hell, Livia, loomed large — both over the plot of the HBO show’s first season and over the tortured soul of her son, mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). Marchand’s death, prior to Season 3, prompted Livia’s death as well — though not before a creepy CGI appearance.
* “Hill Street Blues.” Michael Conrad’s fatherly Sgt. Esterhaus was the soul of the precinct. When Conrad passed away suddenly, Esterhaus was given a typical “Hill Street” sendoff (he died in bed with a high school cheerleader).
* “The West Wing.” John Spencer’s Leo McGarry was making his bid for the Vice Presidency when Spencer died suddenly in 2005 — leading producers to change the outcome of the VP race by letting McGarry’s running mate, Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits), win the election despite Leo’s death.
* “Cheers.” Nick Colasanto’s (Coach) health was declining rapidly by the third season; his death was revealed in the fourth-season premiere when Sam (Ted Danson) broke the news of Coach’s demise.
* “NewsRadio”/“8 Simple Rules.” The shocking deaths of Phil Hartman and John Ritter led to the demise of their sitcoms, too. In Hartman’s case, Jon Lovitz replaced Hartman’s Bill McNeal as the resident blowhard. It didn’t work.
After Ritter’s (and his character’s) death, James Garner joined “Rules” as the family’s grandfather, but the show didn’t last past another season.