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Television

TV’s unexpected exits

'Today'
1/1
Abruptly departed: Ann Curry
Lasted: One year (2011-2012)
Why she left: During Curry’s tenure the morning juggernaut was bested in the weekly ratings by ABC’s “Good Morning America” for the first time in 16 years, ending an unprecedented 852-week winning streak. It was beaten three more times since then. Curry’s perceived lack of chemistry with co-host Matt Lauer, left, was widely believed to be a contributing factor in the show’s decline, though Curry rejected that idea.
How it went down on air: Curry revealed that she would be leaving in a USA Today interview published the morning of her departure, June 28, 2012. Later that morning, the host bid farewell to her viewers dressed in a bold red dress but otherwise appearing downcast. She said that she would be moving into a new position as “Today” anchor at large and a national and international correspondent for NBC News.   (Richard Drew / Associated Press)
By Patrick Day and Deborah Netburn
Times Staff Writers

Recently, we’ve been saying goodbye a lot on TV.

Tony Soprano ate his last onion ring after a protracted six seasons on HBO. Bob Barker watched his last contestant “Come on down,” and many are waiting patiently to say goodbye to Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show” in 2009.

But there have been a few departures that happened so quick that viewers -- not to mention fellow cast members -- didn’t have a chance to fully process them until the whole thing was over.

Isaiah Washington just got dumped from “Grey’s Anatomy” following controversy about his remarks toward gay co-star T.R. Knight; Merrin Dungey, the co-star of “Grey’s” spin-off “Private Practice,” was recently replaced by Audra McDonald before the first episode even aired; and Jack McGee, who played the grizzed fire chief on FX’s “Rescue Me,” was abruptly written off the show this season after McGee claims he had a falling-out with star Denis Leary.

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But these hasty exits are just the latest in that big revolving door we call prime-time TV. Some of the most :

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Television
Deborah Netburn

Deborah Netburn covers faith, spirituality and joy for the Los Angeles Times. She started at The Times in 2006 and has worked across a wide range of sections including entertainment, home and garden, national news, technology and science.

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