Quinn Mercer articles

Discover how classic TV stars left hit shows, forcing writers to explain shocking disappearances, sudden deaths, replacement relatives, surprise recasts, and an entire season erased as a dream on television.

Donna Reed rose to fame as the loving and devoted wife, Mary Hatch Bailey, in 1946’s Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Following that up with The Donna Reed Show, she became film and TV’s favorite housewife. Her real life, however, was anything but homely.

Classic TV Westerns were a goldmine of great supporting characters who could have carried shows of their own.

A musical powerhouse, the Allman Brothers’ greatest triumph came just before their most heartwrenching tragedy: the death of Duane Allman, one of the great guitar players of all time, rupturing one of the greatest bands ever known. The tale starts somewhere special, but it’s a bumpy ride almost from the start.

Every great band has classic songs, but only a handful have managed to make albums where every track earns its place. These are the records that reward listeners from beginning to end, proving that sometimes an album really is greater than the sum of its parts.

Discover the most stylish TV cop shows ever made, from Miami Vice and 21 Jump Street to Luther and The Wire, and see how these iconic crime dramas redefined cool on television.

Long before Matthew and Gunnar Nelson became famous, the Nelson name represented an idealized version of American family life. Their grandparents, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, starred with their sons David and Ricky on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The series became one of television’s most enduring family sitcoms and helped make the Nelsons symbols of wholesome domestic happiness.

Renowned for his role in Psycho, Anthony Perkins is remembered as the iconic Norman Bates. However, this shy, handsome actor also had hidden talents and a controversial personal life.

These artists became icons, inspired countless musicians, and created some of the most beloved music ever recorded—all without scoring a number one hit.