Yeah, it was such a travesty. Morse had already established himself as a core member of the "big 3" of Koenig, Russell, and Bergman. Cutting Victor out sent shockwaves that still affect any enjoyment I can squeeze out of season 2. I think season 2 could have been a gem....such a shame.

What about claims regarding the Italian-based financing of season 2 which required hiring some Italians actors - which could also explain replacing Barry Morse?

Not that Freddie FREEEE-berger (said derisively) couldn't be counted on to make the wrong decision in any given situation, but the Italian finance mandates had some input.

I never heard about the Italian mandate to have more Italian actors on the show, but that's interesting. I had heard they also wanted to axe Nick Tate, but I think Martin Landau fought hard to have Tate return.I guess Landau had some clout. I think if there had been more protesting from some of the cast, they would have reconsidered and brought back Morse.

The way I've heard/read it was that the overall budget was reduced, and enough of it came from the Italian bank or whatever it was, that they had to go along with hiring Tony Anholt - possibly among others - while losing Barry Morse and possibly Prentiss Hancock too possibly others as well.

@Dark_Sithlord said:

I never heard about the Italian mandate to have more Italian actors on the show, but that's interesting. I had heard they also wanted to axe Nick Tate, but I think Martin Landau fought hard to have Tate return.I guess Landau had some clout. I think if there had been more protesting from some of the cast, they would have reconsidered and brought back Morse.

You're probably right, I wish Landau and especially Gerry Anderson had protested Victor's dismissal. In the podcast, Gerry's son gives an iffy excuse that Gerry was out of town and missed all of Barry's calls. It seems more like Gerry (and possibly Landau) chose not to get involved. I guess nobody wanted to step on the new American producer's toes, maybe fearing they'd get axed or demoted themselves.

I'm glad Nick Tate made it back as Alan Carter. He also gave the show credibility with his cynical Aussie ways. In a different podcast, they mention that the character Alan Carter was only supposed to be a minor bit for the first 2 or 3 shows, but Nick's larger than life presence, as well as him rewriting some of his lines, made him stand out as one of the regulars.

@Dark_Sithlord said:

the Italian mandate to have more Italian actors on the show

That was news to me too. According to the podcast the actress playing "Sandra Benes" (Zienia Merton) was supposed to be Italian?? I always thought she had a vaguely Indian accent, and the actress herself was half Burmese half English. She was raised in Singapore and schooled in Portugal. And the character's surname "Benes" is supposedly Czech. I don't see any hints of Italy there, but maybe she confused them enough to let her fly 😬

@rooprect said:

@Dark_Sithlord said:

the Italian mandate to have more Italian actors on the show

That was news to me too. According to the podcast the actress playing "Sandra Benes" (Zienia Merton) was supposed to be Italian?? I always thought she had a vaguely Indian accent, and the actress herself was half Burmese half English. She was raised in Singapore and schooled in Portugal. And the character's surname "Benes" is supposedly Czech. I don't see any hints of Italy there, but maybe she confused them enough to let her fly 😬

Well, it would have been too obvious if they'd replaced EVERYONE. Martini Landauian and Barbarina Bainili or something?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWxcnl8PL_o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5gvsAB9upc