Ugh what an inexplicable mess. What justifies some shows getting an hour block and others only one? I really liked seeing more shows with a single episode. I agree with y'all, they had it right and messed it up. Wish I could just watch their catalogue on-demand.

I'm sure the paychecks were a very welcome balm, but oof... I thought Betty White had it bad during the later seasons of TGG... those doozies she had to deliver can't touch the material Beth Howland and (decades earlier) Gracie Allen were given to pull off. I cringe at times. I can only imagine what they thought. I know BH said it could be difficult because she was so unlike Vera. And it's been said of Gracie that she was the consummate come in/get it done/go home type of performer. 

I can't tell you how many times my mother would say, "NO one can be THAT dumb" while watching Rose, and again, these actors made bags of money, but it's still gotta be kinda tough to play *that* character.

One of the running series jokes was Murphy Brown's inability to get a good secretary or one that could work with her. During the show's 10-year run, Murphy had a total of 93 secretaries. (They were referred to by number in the closing credits cast list, as "Secretary #1," "Secretary #2," etc.)