One show-biz adage says always leave ’em wanting more. A better one says if you land a hit, cling to it like Colonel Tom Parker to Elvis. Paula Abdul’s departure from “American Idol” brings to mind other people who quit TV shows before it was vocationally prudent:
Shelley Long: The grandmommy of this category, she fled the mega-hit sitcom “Cheers” for a movie career. Go ahead, check imdb.com.
Craig Kilborn: Kilborn left “SportsCenter” and wound up with CBS’ “Late Late Show.” Leaving “Late Late,” though, hasn’t worked so well.
Brian Dunkelman: The little-remembered Season 1 “Idol” co-host has said he left because he didn’t like how contestants were treated. Apparently, he didn’t like fame or fortune, either.
David Caruso: Fine, he’s got a second hit show now, but the redhead spent a long time in the wilderness after fleeing “NYPD Blue” early on.
Delta Burke: A contract dispute? A weight dispute? She left “Designing Women” when it was a hit. These days, you can find her line of plus-size underwear at Marshall’s.
McLean Stevenson: Who’d want to stay on “M*A*S*H” when you could star in, um, well … hang on … Googling …
