There are a few exceptions to this pattern, however. It is incorrect to substitute a semicolon in any of these cases. Any time the phrases which make up a series contain commas, for whatever reason, they need to be separated by semicolons. Many people are so terrified of making the wrong choice that they try to avoid colons and semicolons altogether, but I'm afraid this just can't be done.
Formal writing requires their use, and it's necessary to learn the correct patterns.