Has Hudson switcheroo wrecked Hudson & Rex?

The other day I got a message from a writer at The Canadian Press asking my thoughts about the re-casting of one of the leads on Hudson & Rex. Seems fans are doggone upset.

This is the Canadian series about a cop and his canine. If you are regular viewer of this Citytv series, you no doubt know by now that the guy playing Det. Charlie Hudson for a little over seven seasons, John Reardon, is no longer on the show. His character was explained away early in Season 7. In real life, Reardon, 50, took time off for treatments after being diagnosed with tonsil cancer. Scary times, therefore, for the Halifax native, a husband and father of two young children.

Then, in the past few weeks, word gets out that despite being successfully treated and cleared to return to the TV beat, the producers, to quote Reardon on social media, “chose to go in a different direction.” This was not, posted Reardon, how he “hoped the 7 year journey would end.”

With the start of the eighth season late last month, Charlie Hudson has been replaced as Rex’s police partner by another guy named Hudson, played by Luke Roberts. I’m old enough to remember The Hudson Brothers, including Goldie Hawn’s ex Bill Hudson, but this is ridiculous.

As I explained to CP’s Alex Nino Gheciu, I have no inside knowledge about the recasting news on Hudson & Rex. Over the years, I have been warmly welcomed to the set in St. John’s and have interviewed all of the producers and the principle cast members, including Reardon and original Rex Diesel vom Burgimwald, as well as the show’s excellent dog master Sherri Davis (still one of the most-listened to episodes of brioux.tv: the podcast). I’ve seen first hand that this is a tentpole series for crews in Newfoundland. Shaftesbury sells it around the world, so there is plenty of motivation to keep this dog in the hunt.

As for TV shows switching lead actors over the years, this I do know. The truth is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Going way back, another two-hander series — Route 66 (1959-63) — hit a bump in the road when original co-star George Maharis was replaced mid-season by Glenn Corbett. Maharis, who died in 2023 age 94, played broooding Buz Murdock in the series opposite Martin Milner. Maharis left the series in Season 3 after reports he had contracted hepatitus. Lawsuits ensued, and the true story never fully emerged. The new guy in the corvette next to Milner, named Linc, never latched. Fans missed Buz, and the series hit a dead end by Season 4.

Other shows survived the departure of one of its main stars due to health problems. The most famous example being the two Darrens on Bewitched (1964-72). Dick York was the mortal married to witch Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) the first five seasons, but a nagging back injury got so painful York had to quit the series. Dick Sargeant stepped in, Sam kept blinking her nose and the series kept casting spells for a few more seasons.

Ensemble shows usually survive cast departures better than two-handers. M*A*S*H and Cheers are great examples. M*A*S*H saw Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson and Larry Linville split mid-way through its 11 season run or earlier. In each instance, the producers wisely replaced them with characters and actors (Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan and David Ogden Stiers) who bore no similarity to the previous players. Same with Cheers, where the departure of Diane (Shelley Long) after five seasons seemed to cut the heart out of the Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane romantic storyline. Kirstie Alley came in as Rebecca and everybody forgot about Diane. The death of Nicholas Colassanto as Coach was a sadder departure, but Woody Harrelson — again a completely different character — invigorated the sitcom.

Some shows simply last so long actors are bound to come and go. This is especially true with procedural dramas such as Law & Order, CSI and NCIS. Twenty seasons in, almost the entire casts of these shows have been replaced.

When the main star dies, however, which is what happened on 8 Simple Rules (2002-2005), forget it. John Ritter died suddenly at the start of the second season and no amount of tinkering with James Garner and David Spade could fill that void.

On the other hand, when Charlie Sheen was overcome by tiger blood and flamed out on Two and a Half Men (2003-2015), the other Man and a Half eaked four more seasons out of the odd couple premise with That 70s Show‘s Ashton Kutcher. Credit creator-producer Chuck Lorre and a pretty good ensemble for writing and acting their way to extra seasons.

Here, as I told CP, is the problem for Hudson & Rex: “When it’s really just two leads — and one’s a dog — the guy better be the same guy.” As talented as Diesel was, when he passed away in February of 2025, most viewers never knew it. There had always been two other stand in canines on the series, for trick shots and promotional work, and trainer Davis was able to groom other pups to fetch future stories. Before Hudson & Rex, shows such as Lassie and The Littlest Hobo went through several litters of dog leads.

On the other hand, this series hasn’t had this much publicity in years. My suggestion: in the eighth season cliffhanger, Rex sniffs his way to a well or a locked storage facility, and there inside one or the other is original Hudson John Reardon. Man and dog are reunited. Season Nine is ordered. Your welcome.

Follow this link to the full story by Alex Nino Gheciu in The Canadian Press.