# ABC Takes the Low Road On John Ritter's Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049 "2003-09-17T00:03:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/1 "2003-09-17T00:03:11Z")
LOS ANGELES (AP) – ABC’s “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter” will continue despite star John Ritter’s death and will show the TV family coping with his character’s loss, the network said Tuesday. ABC Entertainment President Susan Lyne said the sitcom will debut next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death last week. After that, the series co-starring Katey Sagal will go into repeats while writers retool it and production starts. No date was given for when the show will return to the air. It hasn’t been decided if the death of Ritter’s character, Paul Hennessy, will mirror what happened to the actor, ABC executives said. –Well, _that_ should last, what, three epiodes? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/2 "2003-09-17T00:18:55Z")
_Gimme a Break_ lasted for several seasons after the death of the actor who played the father. _Cheers_ ran for several years after the death of Coach. _Good Times_ ran for a number of years after the death of the father (although John Amos is still alive and well). None of these were the lead character of the shows in question but all were important elements, which were removed, and the shows continued. I don’t see that this is automatically “the low road” for the show. I don’t watch the show but it’s apparently fairly successful and entertaining. If it can continue in the face of tragedy, is there some reason why it shouldn’t? Not really understanding the criticism here **Eve**. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/3 "2003-09-17T00:19:03Z")
Isn’t it based on a real man, a humor columnist, who’s still very much alive? Must be kreepy to see a character based on yourself killed off. Why didn’t they just do it digitally, like The Sopranos second season? Or bring Sandy Duncan in to replace him? ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/4 "2003-09-17T00:27:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > \*\*Isn’t it based on a real man, a humor columnist, who’s still very much alive? Must be kreepy to see a character based on yourself killed off. \*\* I thought that was Harry Anderson’s post-Night Court sitcom, IIRC, based loosely on Dave Barry. Not sure if Ritter’s show is based on anyone, only seen it 2 or 3 times myself. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/5 "2003-09-17T00:29:35Z")
Those shows were ensemble shows, **Otto** ; Ritter was the absolute star of this show. Compare it instead with a show like **The Bob Newhart Show.** and what would have happened if Bob Newhart had died while making the show and the producers decided to continue with the show anyway (without his character). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/6 "2003-09-17T00:30:49Z")
If they replace Ritter’s character with Ted McGinley… They might as well retitle the show “Jumping The Shark!” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/7 "2003-09-17T00:34:35Z")
[8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenaged Daughter: And Other Tips from a Beleaguered Father, (Not That Any of Them Work)](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761123148/qid=1063759311/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-9479360-1079121?v=glance&s=books) is a book by W. Bruce Cameron. The show is based on this book. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/8 "2003-09-17T00:37:00Z")
I just read he was gonna be replaced by Jim J. Bullock. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/9 "2003-09-17T00:46:29Z")
I think they should replace him with Don Knotts. Just to maintain the cosmic balance. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/10 "2003-09-17T01:18:27Z")
From what I read Ritter’s widow supports the decision to continue the show. It has been well received and Katy Sagal is good, so, it could work out. Remember **Valerie**? After Valerie Harper left (was removed?) the show it continued for several years, albeit with title changes. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/11 "2003-09-17T01:52:19Z")
I had also read/heard that Henry Winkler (who was close friends with Ritter and was rehearsing for a guest spot on the show the night he died) would be cast in the show as an uncle/family friend and that Ritter’s death would be written into the show. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/12 "2003-09-17T02:10:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Why didn’t they just do it digitally, like The Sopranos second season? Wouldn’t work. The Sopranos only brought Livia in for a single scene (and then had her die offscreen later in the episode). The effects were difficult and expensive to do, and in my opinion, it STILL looked like shit. Totally killed the momentum of the episode, too, since it was so well-publicized. They just cut and pasted old dialogue from previous scenes of hers and built a conversation around it (basically, she spouted a few catch-phrases). Also, though Livia was an important presence in the show, she was only part of the ensemble. No way would this work for an entire show, let alone an extended period of time. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/13 "2003-09-17T02:46:08Z")
There is a close parallel to this: _Chico and the Man_. Freddie Prinze was the star and in the title of the show. After he committed suicide the show went on and he was replaced by a 12-year-old to play off of Jack Albertson. I never watched the show, so I don’t know how offensive this was. But it kept all the other actors (and crew) employed and that’s a serious thing even in Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/14 "2003-09-17T02:52:26Z")
This reminds me of “News Radio”, though that show was funnier, less known and lost a (imho) bigger talent. They tried it for a short while with Luvitz replacing Hartman. I remember Dave Foley on a talk show seeming rather surprised that the network wanted to go ahead. I don’t think a sitcom can weather this kind of news. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/15 "2003-09-17T03:00:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Wouldn’t work. The Sopranos only brought Livia in for a single scene (and then had her die offscreen later in the episode). The effects were difficult and expensive to do, and in my opinion, it STILL looked like shit. Totally killed the momentum of the episode, too, since it was so well-publicized. They just cut and pasted old dialogue from previous scenes of hers and built a conversation around it (basically, she spouted a few catch-phrases). Also, though Livia was an important presence in the show, she was only part of the ensemble. No way would this work for an entire show, let alone an extended period of time. \*\* Um, yeah; that was my joke. My other joke was a reference to Valerie: Valeri Harper was replaced by Sandy Duncan. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/16 "2003-09-17T03:28:22Z")
Knowing the general sense of taste of TV producers, we’ll be lucky if they don’t come up with the idea of “Let’s cast a bunch of 70’s TV personalities! Tee-hee!”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/17 "2003-09-17T03:37:09Z")
**lissener** , I am just in awe. Who else would know that, about Sandy Duncan? I watched the original MTM and all the spinoffs, including Valerie, and I don’t even remember that. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/18 "2003-09-17T03:40:02Z")
I immediately quipped to my wife: “Next season, the mom has her women’s support group move in: Suzanne Sommers and Joyce DeWitt.” It’s okay … my wife didn’t laugh either. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/19 "2003-09-17T03:41:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > \*\*I just read he was gonna be replaced by Jim J. Bullock. \*\* Thought he died…(Googling)…Nope, still alive. It was all the shows he was on that died. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/20 "2003-09-17T03:45:11Z")
Sandy Duncan’s first TV show “Funny Face” flopped in 1971. Then in 1972, she came back with the same character, but in something called “The Sandy Duncan Show.” The second one was doing well in the ratings, but I believe production was halted after Duncan was diagnosed with a tumor near her eye. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049.md?page=2)