It's been reported in Variety that former cast members Rob Lowe, Emily Proctor, Mary Louise Parker and Anna DeVeare Smith will be showing up in the final episodes of "West Wing," along with an assortment of other characters who haven't been seen in a bit.
But who was conspicuous in their absence? I mean, yeah, okay, Aaron Sorkin, who I think should have written the last episode. Whether his absence is the producers' choice, his choice, or a combination of both, I dunno, but I wish he was there. But you know who else should be there? The greatest living mystery in West Wing history?
Mandy.
Moira Kelly's "Mandy" simply evaporated between seasons 1 and 2. No mention was even made of her. The running in-joke behind the scenes was that, if a character disappeared from sight (such as Sam or Ainsley) they'd moved to Mandyville.
I would just love to see Mandy show up in the last episode in which CJ is walking down a corridor and Mandy just falls into step next to her, talking to her about something. And CJ just acts as if she's been there the whole time. Maybe at the end of the scene CJ says in an offhand manner, "Hey...haven't seen a whole lot of you lately. Where you been?" and Mandy just says, "Meetings." And they head off in opposite directions.
That would amuse me greatly.
PAD
Posted by Peter David at March 1, 2006 07:10 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingSoap operas are infamous for that. One character that hs become the stuff of legend went upstairs to take a nap and 2 years later walked back down. I don't know what line the writers gave him but it should have been something like "Man, I'm starving! What's for dinner?"
And whatever did happen to Richie Cunningham's older brother?
Peter David: It's been reported in Variety that former cast members Row Lowe...
Luigi Novi: Wasn't that one of the characters in Chicken Little?
It's got to be for Leo's funeral that all these actors are going to show up. Which means perhaps just these actors standing around in the background not doing much.
My vote for the final scene: the entire West Wing gathers on the portico to sing "Anatevka." The series ends with the President and First Lady walking off into the darkness, pulling behind them a rickety milk cart containing their possessions and precious mementos.
I always thought there was something to the fact that Mandy disappeared right around the time the President got shot. I sense a conspiracy!
West Wing had a large group of female and a few male characters that seemed to have vanished without a trace just when it seemed that they were going to break into the closely knit group of the regular characters. Somebody (no me), should make a list.
This is probably the wrong crowd for this example, but the teen sitcom Boy Meets World has always been my favorite example of long-absences explained. I don't recall the exact words, but it went something like this:
After an absence of a season or two, the youngest daughter of the family comes down the stairs, just in time to make a witty observation.
Brother: Where have you been?
Sister (gets a very confused look on her face): I went up to my room and had a very long time-out.
And the absence is never mentioned again.
And for the final episode, a character that appeared in the first season and disappeared, never to be commented on again, returns. Where was he? He points off camera: "I was in that part of the school over there."
Mandy returning like that would be great. Either that or Donna/Josh wedding sequence (real or imaginary) with Donna saying "You had to invite them?" and we pan over to Mandy, Joey Lucas, and Amy Gardner all waving.
And on the wish list for me on the Sam Seaborn patrol his power 3 as well: Laurie, Mallory, and Ainsley.
This is why this season should have been written as a clean up without knowing if they were going into the sunset or not because if they would have been popped for another season it would have been a new focus with a new president anyway. We could have been filled in on all these characters over the course of the year not just the attempt to thrown them in at the end.
And yeah a 2 hour "movie" ender written by Sorkin would have been appropriate.
Now that Brad has been tapped for Sorkin's new show I'm actually hoping they cast a wife for him on the show (Jane Kazmerek)
Until later
John
I don't think Mandy just dissappeared. I seem to remember an episode where she wanted to work for the re-election of a liberal republican and at the end of the episode she was given a "with us or agianst us" type of ultimatum from the rest of the staff. I don't recall seeing her anymore after that episode, so I assumed she went to work for the republican canidate. Of course I could be remembering the sequence of events wrong.
Still it would be easy to have Sam return as the newly elected senator from California with his political advisor, Mandy, in tow.
And whatever did happen to Richie Cunningham's older brother?
Obviously, after he returned from Korea, he couldn't handle the PTSD, and moved to Mandyville to calm down.
I seem to recall reading that Sorkin at least wanted to bring Mandy back as working for an opposing campaign, but it never happened. What I suspect happened behind the scenes was that Donna's character broke out, particularly in terms of Josh interaction, much more than expected, thus removing the dramatic reason for Mandy to be around.
Like Dr Selar (Mr. David's work with notwithstanding.) I remember thinking, when K'ehleyr was attacked by Duras, "Gee I hope Dr. Selar isn't the Enterprise's physician on call right now." Talk about "Heal thyself"
West Wing had a large group of female and a few male characters that seemed to have vanished without a trace just when it seemed that they were going to break into the closely knit group of the regular characters. Somebody (no me), should make a list.
OK, here's a (probably not comprehensive) list of people MIA in the West Wing Universe (bear in mind we're a few episodes behind here in Mexico. Last one was the nuclear meltdown one):
Mandy Hampton: The big one. She was part of the Communications office and a billed cast member. She simply dissapeared between seasons 1 and 2.
Laurie: Sam's call-girl friend who appeared in the pilot and through the entire season. She was never sen again, although she is mentioned in the second season when Sam sees Mallory again. Lisa Edelstein now bosses Dr. House around, which always seemed funny to me when I thought of her as Laurie.
Justice Roberto Mendoza: The first Supreme Justice appointed by Bartlet. Several season 1 episodes (including the brilliant Celestial Navigation) revolved around him in the first season. Hasn't been heard form again since, including the later episodes dealing with the Supreme Court where he should probably have been mentioned.
Agent Gina Toscano: Agent in Zoe's detail, who was featured in the latter season 1 episodes. She was in the shooting at Roselyn and identified the ground man. Actress Jorja Fox left to do the original CSI (one of two such losses for the series).
Kathy, Ginger and Bonnie: Secretaries in the comunications office who where very present through the first three or four seasons. Seemed to fade off.
Dr. Stanley Keyworth: Psychiatrist brought in to help Josh deal with the aftermath of the shooting in season 2. He later returned to help Jed deal with his own ghosts. Hasn't been heard from in two seasons I think.
Ainsley Hayes: The "leggy blonde republican sex-kitten" that trashed Sam on national TV and was then drafted by the Bartlet administrator to work in the White House Council's office. Her introduction was also my first episode, so her loss was specially hard for me, as I rather enjoyed her character. Played by Emily Procter, she was the second CSI loss (this time to the Miami franchise).
Oliver Babish: Head of the White House Council's Office, he was prominent during the disclosure of the MS. He came back this season to deal with Tobby's treason, but you'd think we'd have seen more of him.
Jordon Kendall: Leo's attorney turned love interest. She defended him during the whole MS scandal and later was involved in the aftermath of the killing of Shareef. Hasn't appeared since season 4.
Sam Seaborn: The oirignal head-liner, who quickly became "just" part of an enssamble, he left to California to try to run for Congress. Has not been heard from again, even though there was a big deal made out of prominent California Democrats during the Santos campaign (same could apply to latin leader Roberto Campos, but he only appeared in a couple of Season 1 episodes). Actor Rob Lowe left the series during a salary dispute.
Elsie Snuffin: Will's half-sister who was part of his staff. She came with him to the White House but then dissapeared mysteriously.
Ryan Pierce: Josh's foistered-upon intern, who then got a job working for some congressman or something. Made it seem like he would be around. He hasn't.
Rina: The "walking law--suit" Toby hired as his new research assitant after she worked through the shutdown of the federal goverment. I truly mourn her loss, as there seemed ot be a lot of potential in her story-line that went nowhere. And she was REALLY nice to look at :P
Joe Quincy: The replacement for AInsley Hayes, another republican working for the WHite House Council's Office. Played by Matthew Perry, so no shock there. Only appeared in a couple of episodes in season's 4 and 5.
Dr. Nancy McNally: National Security Advisor. Since her debut in the season 2 premiere (where she utters the line "we don't know the whereabouts of several terrorist leaders, including Bin-Laden" BEFORE 9-11) she was a constant regular. She dissapears at teh end of season 5 after introducing Kate.
Congresswoman Andie Wyatt: Toby's ex-wife. A regular since the first season, she is with the envoy that gets bombed at the end of Season 5. Although she is unharmed, she hasn't been heard from again.
Amy Gardner: Josh's ex and Abby's former chief of staff, she reappeared once during the Santos campaign, but hasn't been heard form again. Probaly the most hated character in West Wing history, so she wont' be missed.
Clifford Calley: Brought in as Josh's replacement at the end of season 6 after a few previous appearances, he seemed possed to become a regular. Hasn't been heard from this season.
Charlie Young: Brought in during Season 1 as a credited cast member, he was the president's point man and laterworked for CJ. He simpley vanished off the face of the show during season 7 in an unreferenced absence of Mandy-an proportions.
I'm sure I missed someone somewhere, but that's all I could come up with.
Not only did Mandy dissapear between seasons 1 and 2, but she literally dissapered between scenes in a story! I'm going by memory here, but I'm pretty sure that the very last scene she appeared in, she was in the hospital waiting room with most of the rest of the cast just after POTUS and Josh got shot. That was her last scene and it took place in season one ... fast forward to season two, the rest of the cast is still in or around that hospital waiting room, and there is no trace of Mandy ... no trace ... no mention ... no evidence that she ever existed.
I was never crazy about her character to begin with, but the 'mystery' has always bugged me. You would think that a show as well written (back then, anyway) as The West Wing would at least come up with a plausable explanation.
I'm glad I'm not the only one slightly troubled by this conundrum.
-PM
PS
I love PAD's 'Mandy's Return' scene suggestion. Too bad the West Wing writers seem to have lost their sense of humor the last few seasons, they'd obviously never go for it.
"Justice Roberto Mendoza: The first Supreme Justice appointed by Bartlet. Several season 1 episodes (including the brilliant Celestial Navigation) revolved around him in the first season. Hasn't been heard form again since, including the later episodes dealing with the Supreme Court where he should probably have been mentioned."
Am I the only person who considers the title of that episode remarkably prescient considering Roberto Mendoza is currently wandering around on a battlestar trying to find the planet Earth...?
PAD
No, the hospital waiting room scenes didn't occur until season 2, and Mandy was gone by that point. Mandy was last seen in the episode "What Kind of Day Has it Been" (curiously, the same name as an episode of "Sports Night"; go figure). The season ender of the first season, she was in the Roosevelt room prepping Bartlett for the Town Hall meeting. Never showed up after that.
PAD
Justice Roberto Mendoza: The first Supreme Justice appointed by Bartlet. Several season 1 episodes (including the brilliant Celestial Navigation) revolved around him in the first season. Hasn't been heard form again since, including the later episodes dealing with the Supreme Court where he should probably have been mentioned.
To nitpick, Bartlet does mention Mendoza in the second season episode finale "Two Cathedrals." As part of his rant to the Almighty at the end, where he lists his accomplishments, Bartlet notes that he got Mendoza appointed to the court. But, aside from that mention, the character hasn't been heard of or seen since.
To nitpick, Bartlet does mention Mendoza in the second season episode finale "Two Cathedrals." As part of his rant to the Almighty at the end, where he lists his accomplishments, Bartlet notes that he got Mendoza appointed to the court. But, aside from that mention, the character hasn't been heard of or seen since.
You sir, are of course correct. Can't beleive I forgot that. I love that episode (and thanks to it, the song Brothers in Arms. Sends shivers down my spine every time I listen to it, BECAUSE of Two Cathedrals). It has one of the best "cliffhangers" ever, even though it is completely obvious, due to great set-up, that he's decided to run.
And speaking of two cathedrals... does anyone know where I could find a translation of the Latin rant bartlet gives? I know it wasn't translated because it was deemed potentially too inciendary, but I've always wanted to know what he said. I can make out a word or two here, but bowhere near enough to get even close the entire thing.
OK, after posting that, I found an answer myself. In case anyone else has been wondering, it can be found at http://westwing.bewarne.com/discontinuity/languages.html And no wonder it wasn't translated!
"Am I the only person who considers the title of that episode remarkably prescient considering Roberto Mendoza is currently wandering around on a battlestar trying to find the planet Earth...?"
Well, I'd forgotten any titles of his episodes (will probably get at least some seasons of WW on DVD sometime, but haven't yet); but that is funny, at the very least. Could the title have inspired the Battlestar people to consider Olmos? (Joking ... probably ...)
"Probaly the most hated character in West Wing history, so she wont' be missed."
Amy? Really? Is that some trend on West Wing fan sites or something? If it's just "she's not Donna", that's too bad. (I understand that the character of Riley on Buffy the Vampire Slayer has gotten similar backlash, for following the beloved Buffy/Angel realtionship. I was angry at Riley for a while - but not for not being Angel; rather, for the way he left Buffy. But then I watched those early season five episodes again and realized that he was right - Buffy WAS shutting him out. So, now I'm fine with the Finnster. Um ... what was I talking about? Oh yeah ...) Amy was a sweet, funny, interesting character; and, for that matter, since you mentioned Rina the research assistant as "REALLY nice to look at," BigCheese (to be honest, I don't remember what Rina looked like) - what's Mary Louise freakin' Parker? Oh well. This just surprised me. Now I've only caught pieces of the last couple of seasons - maybe Amy did something really loathsome in her last appearance or something - but I certainly would have thought of several West Wing characters - that "Republican revolution"esque House leader who had the showdown with President Bartlett over the budget, among other things, for one - before Amy as "most hated".
Do you remember St. Elsewhere? There was an episode, later in the run of the series, where bizarre things were happening in the hospital... I vividly remember Dr Chandler (Denzel Washington) trying to open a door in the ER no one knew nothing about just to find behind it... the wall. While busy at it, Dr Cathy Martin passes by and says hello... I don't remember the exact words, but there was a brief exchange about where she had been...
Thing is, although she was quite a prominent figure in the first seasons, as a guest star, not in the main credits, she disappeared after being raped & abused by Dr Peter White...
I *so* miss this series... It was called A COR OBERT (OPEN HEART) here in Catalonia... Didn't know nothing about it, but the catchy music in the title credits got me hooked just in time to watch Wendy Armstrong die... What about a release on DVD?!?
One of my favorites that went missing was John Laroquette's Lionel Tribby character. Seemed strange to me that he would be replaced with Oliver Platt playing the exact same character. Yeah, Sorkin changed the name to Babbish, but that was the only difference I could see.
"No, the hospital waiting room scenes didn't occur until season 2, and Mandy was gone by that point. Mandy was last seen in the episode "What Kind of Day Has it Been" (curiously, the same name as an episode of "Sports Night"; go figure). The season ender of the first season, she was in the Roosevelt room prepping Bartlett for the Town Hall meeting. Never showed up after that."
Hmmm, since you probably looked this up on the DVD, I have no choice but to stand (sit, actually) corrected. I would have bet money on that 'hospital waiting room' though ... I wonder what cute brunette I'm actually remembering in that scene.
Alas, it's still a good mystery that they should have addressed in the last few episodes.
Thanx for clearing up my lackluster memory, PAD.
-PM
Luke K. Walsh said:
Amy? Really? Is that some trend on West Wing fan sites or something? If it's just "she's not Donna", that's too bad.
OK, I aid she was hated, not that I hated her (although she WAS pretty annoying). I seem to recall many people not liking her (including in this site). I have to imagine some of that WAS the not-Donna thing, but she also was, I don't know.. annoying.
And she would be more hated than any republican character because she was supposed to be likeable. It's like how you don't hate Dr. Doom, but you hate H.E.R.B.Y.
since you mentioned Rina the research assistant as "REALLY nice to look at," BigCheese (to be honest, I don't remember what Rina looked like) - what's Mary Louise freakin' Parker?
Too skinny for my taste? OK, no, she's good looking, but nothing out of the ordinary either. As for Rina, she's played by Melissa Marsala, if you want to look her up.
PS: I really liked Riley, but that might ahve something to do with me starting watching Buffy in the 4th season.
-Alvaro
As I recall, Laurie the call girl's story was wrapped up. Sam gave her a briefcase when she graduated law school, there was some attempted blackmail by her roommate, it got resolved, and Laurie went off to be a law associate somewhere and out of Sam's life.
every time I watch the west wing, I say prayers of thanks that mandy is long gone. the mealy-mouthed moira kelly was never very good at wrapping her lips around sorkin's beautiful words.
BigCheese/Alvaro -
First off, sorry that I misinterpreted the Amy-most-hated thing as being partially personal and not just your understanding of the state of opinion. And my reaction was meant as a general response to this apparent dislike of the character; I hope you didn't feel attacked or anything.
And I see your point about characters we're supposed to hate. I'd have to think for a while to come up with a regular protagonist I didn't like - Jean-Paul sucked, even before Zoe got kidnapped, but he has to be in that same "Dr.Doom" category ...
Back to Amy for a minute: I can think of occasions where I didn't like her quite as much (an episode as the First Lady's Chief of Staff, post-Sorkin, I believe); but mainly, I remember things like the bets she was running on obscure elections throughout the country one election night ... Well, I liked her, anyway; if some people don't - as some people reportedly disagree with us about Riley - well, if people were all the same, we'd just be one big, collective person, right?
And our respective opinions on Mary-Louise Parker's attractiveness reflect that whole "eye-of-the-beholder" diversity of humanity. Before West Wing, I probably would have agreed with your "nothing out of the ordinary" assessment. But, every time she showed up on West Wing, I began to be struck by just how pretty she was. I now would describe her as pretty remarkably attractive (if not quite in my age group, even if I weren't married) - IMHO. The fact that people have different tastes in appearance would definitely be one of the good things about that endless diversity of humankind thing.
Oh, and I image-searched Melissa Marsala - and yes, she is quite pretty. But what I also found - besides a headshot of Allison Janey - was that she guested on a Joss Whedon show, too. Checked on the DVD - yep. If you've watched Angel as well as Buffy (I don't know how some have only watched Buffy, but it happens) - she's the lead guest star in "Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been?", the woman Angel tries to help in the 1950s. Small world. I'm a little surprised that I didn't recognize her on 'Wing ...
Luke
Maybe the Coke on the Left Wing set isn't up to Sorkin's stabdards?
Mentioning and thinking about "Two Cathedrals" brings to mind the one actor & character we'd really, really like to see again in a final episode: Kathryn Joosten as Dolores Landingham.
Sure, the character's dead, but she's shown up since in as a kinda vision/apparition. And if Homocide: Life on the Street can have deceased characters appear in its finale, why not WW?
On the other hand, having Mrs. Landingham appear might somehow disrespect the all too real tragedy of John Spencer's real passing, but still, Mrs. Landingham was such an important part of Bartlet's life, it seems odd to close out his White House years without her being a part of it somehow...
Give em' Hell Pete!
Check out The MAck Attack: www.gmackster.blogspot.com
I'd love to see Sam and Ainsley and Nancy McNally, PhD. in the final episodes of the series. I can't say that I missed Sam much once he left, but old friends are old friends. I've always wondered what happened to Mr. Seaborn, since the writers never really made it clear.
I hope this isn't just a rumor or hype. Sounds like fun to me.
I think that whole show was like the recent X-Men movies, so full of stories, and yet they did so little or never took advantage of their story ideas to the fullest possible extent.
In the case of the West Wing, people do not watch it anymore, because we have become so jaded with the current west wing residents.
In the case of the X-Men movies, They were never actually made by Marvel, but by another studio.
Perhaps not surpriseingly, the Spider-Man Movies (where Marvel had a lot of creative input in it) have buried the X-Men movies in bigger box office business and super DVD sales, as well as the Cable and Movie releases over seas.
Posted by: Luke K. Walsh at March 1, 2006 08:49 PM
BigCheese/Alvaro -
First off, sorry that I misinterpreted the Amy-most-hated thing as being partially personal and not just your understanding of the state of opinion. And my reaction was meant as a general response to this apparent dislike of the character; I hope you didn't feel attacked or anything.
Not at all! Just clarifying my possition.
And I see your point about characters we're supposed to hate. I'd have to think for a while to come up with a regular protagonist I didn't like - Jean-Paul sucked, even before Zoe got kidnapped, but he has to be in that same "Dr.Doom" category ...
Oh yeah,him we're supposed to hate. From day one he was presented as a jerk who was there for Charlie to overcome.
Back to Amy for a minute: I can think of occasions where I didn't like her quite as much (an episode as the First Lady's Chief of Staff, post-Sorkin, I believe); but mainly, I remember things like the bets she was running on obscure elections throughout the country one election night ... Well, I liked her, anyway; if some people don't - as some people reportedly disagree with us about Riley - well, if people were all the same, we'd just be one big, collective person, right?
That is correct, and where would be the fun in that?. And I remember the side bets episode, specially since, for the longest time, it was the one that was missing from my collection (I used to tape the West Wing religiously. Before I got a DVD player or the seasons had even come out).
And our respective opinions on Mary-Louise Parker's attractiveness reflect that whole "eye-of-the-beholder" diversity of humanity. Before West Wing, I probably would have agreed with your "nothing out of the ordinary" assessment. But, every time she showed up on West Wing, I began to be struck by just how pretty she was. I now would describe her as pretty remarkably attractive (if not quite in my age group, even if I weren't married) - IMHO. The fact that people have different tastes in appearance would definitely be one of the good things about that endless diversity of humankind thing.
Personally I've always liked having a taste a little different form the masses. Less competition ;)
Oh, and I image-searched Melissa Marsala - and yes, she is quite pretty. But what I also found - besides a headshot of Allison Janey - was that she guested on a Joss Whedon show, too. Checked on the DVD - yep. If you've watched Angel as well as Buffy (I don't know how some have only watched Buffy, but it happens) - she's the lead guest star in "Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been?", the woman Angel tries to help in the 1950s. Small world. I'm a little surprised that I didn't recognize her on 'Wing ...
Not only is she quite pretty, but what a body! And I definitely rememebr that Angel episode. Can't beleive I recognized her. That episode, coincidentally, is the first Angel I ever saw. And I wached it not too long ago on DVD (I'm showing my Girlfriend the entire Buffyverse through the collected seasons. We've just finished Buffy Season 5 / Angel Season 2. And yes, this has been a long-time project). And I can't beleive someone would atch Buffy and not Angel either. The other way around I COULD see it, but specially given the fact that Angel was ebtter than Buffy the last few seasons, what you describe is madness. Madness I say.
-Alvaro
The list posted above is very comprehensive .. the only ones I think were missed were Will's interns. :)
Until later
John
Glad I'm not the only one who loved John Laroquette's character. Talk about underated actors. I loved his series on NBC a few years ago (I think it was called Happy Family). Hopefully it'll hit DVD one day.
I could be wrong about this but didn't they mention that Sam was back in Washington and just working in another building after Bailey was given his office?
Jmoney: "I could be wrong about this but didn't they mention that Sam was back in Washington and just working in another building after Bailey was given his office?"
I think that when Will Bailey *first* moved into Sam's office, the idea was that, if Sam lost the race, he'd return to West Wing in a senior counsel position, which would take him out of the Communications office.
Sam's last episode made it pretty clear that he's about to lose, and lose huge...but there's never another mention of him at all, I'm pretty sure. That makes it pretty unlikely that he's been working at the OEOB, especially given how close he was to the other characters. And if he somehow won the race, surely there'd have been some mention of him as an ally in Congress somewhere along the line.
I guess we can all place our bets now on what Sam's job title will be, if in fact he returns at the end of the season. It's slightly more believable if he's been a congressman who just hasn't interacted much with the gang; if he's been working across the street for the past few years, then it'd be harder to write around his notable absence.
Of course, for all we know, Sam went back into private practice after losing the race. He could be married to Laurie and making $400,000 a year again. That'd actually be the most plausible explanation of all...but it still wouldn't explain why he hasn't been there for Toby. (Or maybe he has been, just off-screen?)
And yes, I know that the REAL reason for Sam's total disappearance is simply that Rob Lowe quit. But if he's going to show up again, there needs to be some sort of explanation for where the hell he's been.
Will's interns! Of course. The ones with numbered names. See? I knew I had forgotten someone.
From the MIA list:
"Agent Gina Toscano: Agent in Zoe's detail, who was featured in the latter season 1 episodes. She was in the shooting at Roselyn and identified the ground man. Actress Jorja Fox left to do the original CSI (one of two such losses for the series)."
Accounted for; she was shot in the head during Zoe's kidnapping. Jed specifically bitched out the John Goodman character for it: "If it turns out that the gun that killed Gina Toscano was bought at a gun show ..."
I don't think that's right. Anyone got the DVD to confirm? I think Jed was referring to the agent killed in the alley (who was not Jorja).
"Accounted for; she was shot in the head during Zoe's kidnapping. Jed specifically bitched out the John Goodman character for it"
No, that agent (that got shot in the head) was named Molly. Toby wound up naming his daughter after her. I don't know whatever became of Gina, nor do I even recall her last appearance. But hey, at least she didn't get shot in the head.
-PM
Yeah, that was Molly O'Connor who got capped in "Commencement." According to imdb.com, she was played by Kimberly Bigsby, who has since gone on to play...uhm..."Wannabe Actress #2" in a movie called "Something Sweet." Sheesh. Not even "Wannabe Actress #1." That's gotta hurt.
PAD
To add another show that vanished and later reproduced a character: Roseanne. Remember when the original Becky was replaced by Sarah Chalke (now of Scrubs)? When the first Becky returned, Darlene just looked at her and said, "where have you been?"
And then in the finale, when they're following up with the characters years later, DJ is nearly catatonic. All he can say is, "They say she's the same, but she's not the same," and of course no one else there has any idea what he's talking about. :-)