\n<\/p>\n
The power of three will set us free \u2026 from everything but drama.<\/p>\n
Charmed<\/em>, which premiered on The WB in 1998, made headlines from the start as Aaron Spelling hired Shannen Doherty<\/strong> <\/a>to play one of the three Halliwell sisters, four years after she was infamously let go from Spelling Television\u2019s Beverly Hills, 90210.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n \u201c[Aaron] was extremely supportive of the idea of casting Shannen Doherty as Prue,\u201d creator Constance M. Burge<\/strong> recalled to InTouch<\/a><\/em> in 2018, noting that the actress\u2019 chemistry with Holly Marie Combs<\/strong> <\/a>was one of the reasons the producers wanted her for the role. \u201cHolly at the time had been on Picket Fences,<\/em> and she was also dear friends with Shannen, so they had terrific chemistry with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n With Doherty and Combs taking on the roles of Prue and Piper, respectively, Lori Rom<\/strong> was set to complete the trio as youngest sister Phoebe. After they shot the pilot, Rom was recast with Alyssa Milano.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding is that [Lori\u2019s] desire to leave was for personal reasons. She was accommodated and after that we just got so fortunate with Alyssa,\u201d Burge explained. \u201cIt was horrid and sad for her to go, but we were fortunate that it all worked out with Alyssa. I think that Alyssa definitely brought \u2026 a sexiness to the part. They both did good job, and thank God Alyssa decided to stay. It would have been horrible to have lost her, too. At that point the show would have been about two sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n While the chemistry between the Halliwell sisters worked onscreen, behind-the-scenes tensions were high and history repeated itself when Doherty exited after three seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had a long and prosperous relationship with Shannen and we didn\u2019t want to hold her back from what she wanted to do,\u201d Spelling Television said in a statement in 2001. \u201cWe wish her all the best and much-continued success.\u201d<\/p>\n The Heathers<\/em> star later spoke out amid reports that she and Milano didn\u2019t get along.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work,\u201d Doherty told Entertainment Tonight<\/em> at the time. \u201cYou know, I\u2019m 30 years old and I don\u2019t have time for drama in my life anymore. To me it\u2019s sort of whatever. I\u2019ll miss Holly a lot and that\u2019s really the only thing I want to clear up.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued: \u201cShe is one of my best friends and I love her dearly. And there were never ever ever any problems between the two of us, and we will always be pals.\u201d<\/p>\n While Doherty claimed at the time that Combs wasn\u2019t sure if she wanted to stay on the series without her then-bestie, Charmed<\/em> went on for five more seasons with Combs, Milano and Rose McGowan,<\/strong><\/a> who played their long-lost sister Paige.<\/p>\n