What's the deal with old TV shows using the same actor numerous times in different roles?

When I ready your post title, I pictured Allan Melvin in my head.

Baywatch did it a lot too.

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Didn't people back then think it was stupid that one week he's the butcher, the next month he's an escaped convict etc.?

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No people knew it wasn't real. They even called it the Andy Griffith show even though the character was Andy Taylor. This is a pretend play on television and everyone understands

I read where some supporting actress said that you can work in this town if you can do 3 things, show up on time, know your lines, and don't cause any trouble. I assume an ability to act is taken for granted.

I assume Mr. Melvin was on time, knew his lines, and was easy to work with, which the producers appreciated and remembered.

This happens a lot in the Star Trek franchise. I never minded it. Some of the range of these actors is impressive.

The Fugitive did this some also. I know Richard Anderson appeared in several episodes. He also appeared in numerous Rifleman episodes

It's fascinating how this is such an issue w/the modern generation

Not only did the previous generations not give a frick, but they actually looked forward to seeing Frank Nelson or Mel Blanc w/Jack Benny.

A fave of mine was Richard Stahl, who played 9 different characters on The Odd Couple



IMHO this issue is due to:

1) binge watching, when people see an actor as a different character as soon as a few hours later instead of months having passed

2) serialized storylines, as in soap operas, which increase the audience thinking the actor is the character

Gunsmoke did this all of the time. One episode jack elam is a deadly gun fighter. Next episode he is a dirt poor nobody

I came here to say Gunsmoke. They are who I thought of when I read the thread title.

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Isnt that the bad guy from Roadhouse?

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And the pilot of one of the shuttles in Armageddon.