# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/41 "2003-09-17T11:50:04Z")
I believe what **Anniee** was referring to regarding _Sanford and Son_ were the failed spinoff series _Sanford Arms_ and _Sanford_. The first was born out of the end of the contracts of the two Sanford leads, IIRC. It was set at the apartment house next door and featured some of the supporting players from S&S. _Sanford_ was a later attempt to bring back Redd Foxx and some of the supporting characters from S&S without Demond Wilson. Both series were miserable failures. I saw the Chico-less _Chico and the Man_, it was even worse than the regular show, which doesn’t hold up in reruns. What made it worse was that the new kid was supposedly waiting for Chico to return or was looking for him, considering that even a little kid like me at the time knew Freddie Prinze was dead, dangling the hope that Chico would somehow return was cruel. The show was so obviously missing something after Prinze died, and not just funny jokes. But if they want to replace Ritter, why not bring in Jennilee Harrison for a season as an aunt, then replace her with Priscilla Barnes. Either that or follow the _Newsradio_ path, hire Jon Lovitz. Then when the show tanks because of the void left by Ritter, they can blame it on Lovitz. ---
**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, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/42 "2003-09-17T11:52:35Z")
Didn’t Jon Lovitz already have his own sitcom in which he played a harried dad? And boy, I don’t remember those Sanford spinoffs at all! They must have tanked pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/43 "2003-09-17T12:34:54Z")
Eh, the show is dead meat. Unlike “Cheers,” the show was structured - even titled - around John Ritter’s character. And let’s be honest; Ritter was one of the greatest sitcom actors ever, a master of the medium. Katey Segal is really good, but she’s Al Kaline to Ritter’s Babe Ruth. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/44 "2003-09-17T12:38:51Z")
Actually _The Royal Family_ had several months of completed shows in the can when Redd Foxx died. ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/45 "2003-09-17T13:30:12Z")
Last night there was a tribute show on and it was good to see. They actaully gave you a timeline of the day of his death. I was hopeful to hear that his wife made it to the hospital before he died and he was conscience before going in for surgery. Henry Winkler was on the set that day and was making a guest appearance. It would not be a half baked idea to write him into the script. He comes with a lot of weight and could add to the show. I think Katy is going to need help. I don’t think she can carry the show alone and face it the parents of the show is the anchor. I think it would be tacky to replace John with someone else. There is no other John Ritter and who would they be trying to fool? Let his character rest in peace. ---
**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, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/46 "2003-09-17T13:40:25Z")
All actors going into a show are heavily insured, and _8 Simple Rules_ wasn’t on long enough to qualify for syndication—I wonder how much ABC would lose by letting the show die? It _would_ be a shame to put all those people out of work; but no one wants to watch a light sitcom for “coping and dealing with death.” [I never watched \*Married . . . with Children\*, but I thought Divine never actually appeared on the show, that he died on the eve of his first taping?] ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/47 "2003-09-17T13:46:51Z")
> [@](#): > > It would be a shame to put all those people out of work; but no one wants to watch a light sitcom for “coping and dealing with death.” I agree with you **Eve** It won’t be any fun watching characters grieve. It is going to take some great talent to pull this show through. I don’t think Katy has what it takes to carry the show alone. They are going to need some heavy hitters to help. It would be in the best interest to let the show air its 3 episodes and then end gracefully. John Ritter was THE SHOW. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/48 "2003-09-17T17:36:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > [I never watched \*Married . . . with Children\*, but I thought Divine never actually appeared on the show, that he died on the eve of his first taping?] **Eve** , [that’s correct](http://www.hollywood.com/celebs/bio/celeb/1678623). He was supposed to guest star as Uncle Otto, and it was supposed to be a recurring role. I’ve seen it written that he was supposed to play Peg’s (Katey Segal’s) mother - but AFAIK that is simply not true. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/49 "2003-09-17T21:08:34Z")
I’m actually very surprised Ritter didn’t commit career suicide after his spot on “TV Funhouse”. How he got a network show is beyond me, but I know nothing of network TV. The only thing I watch on the networks are college football games. Both the wife and I saw him on “Funhouse” and said, “He’s done!”. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/50 "2003-09-17T21:24:55Z")
In an earlier tribute post about John Ritter, I jokingly said that Tony Danza was already lurking on the set. Thus, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when I read in the Hollywood Reporter that the smarmy Danza is in the running for the replacement for Ritter…perhaps as Uncle. I hear what you are saying, **Eve** , but on the other hand, I sort of understand ABC. It takes a lot of money and a lot of luck to get a sitcom that is even marginally successful. Once they get that far, they are loathe to give it up - no matter who dies or what scandal happens. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/51 "2003-09-17T21:59:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anniee \* > **Networks are made up of morons.** Clearly, you should utilize your superior intellect to take over the industry. ---
**Author:** ![Alzarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@Alzarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alzarian)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/52 "2003-09-17T22:19:15Z")
While it’s going to be a fine balancing act to try to keep the show going, I’m sure the last thing John would have wanted was for his co-stars to be out of work. Personally, I think adding Henry Winkler as an uncle would make perfect sense to keep the show going. Then again, is the actor who played “Larry” in Three’s Company available? That’d be neat… ---
**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, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/53 "2003-09-17T22:45:45Z")
Actually, I think the last thing he would have wanted was to be dead. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/54 "2003-09-17T23:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alzarian \* > **I’m sure the last thing John would have wanted was for his co-stars to be out of work.** Actually, I suspect the last thing John would have wanted was for his co-stars to be kidnapped by Kim Jong-Il and forced to appear in “Eight Simple Rules for Loving and Obeying our Beautiful God-King.” Being out of work would be like eleventh or twelfth on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/55 "2003-09-17T23:39:39Z")
**Cervaise** , don’t _do_ that! The BBC detective show [Taggart](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-1407/) lasted another eight years after the death of Mark MacManus, who played the title character. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/56 "2003-09-18T01:09:36Z")
Y’r all overlookin’ somethin’. Yes, John Ritter is dead. Yes, the entire show was largely built around him. Yes, most people would agree that the freakin’ show is pretty much doomed, unless they pull off a miracle. …but now, the people on the show have time to brace themselves, to look for new work, to arrange for the thing to come apart and fade away… as opposed to collapsing, and leaving a buncha people out of work, overnight. If the show somehow succeeds, everyone connected with it comes out looking golden. If the show fails, well, everyone can say, “Well, we tried, but when John Ritter died… well, nobody could have saved it.” Either way, they have nothing to lose and much to gain by trying to keep the ship afloat. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/57 "2003-09-18T19:39:27Z")
Another series that had a long run after the death of a principal was EIGHT IS ENOUGH. Based on the book by real-life father of 8 (and later CROSSFIRE co-host) Tom Braden and his wife and their 8 children (though it left out the real life couple’s open marriage), the “mother” of the series, Diana Hyland (sic?) died after only a few episodes. Rather than replace her they revolved around a widowed father of 8, then married him off a season or so later. Had it not been for this decision, Adam Rich would have had to turn to crime even sooner and the world wouldn’t have known the talents of international megastar Grant Goodeve. That said, I think ABC should pay out the contracts of the regulars for a year and pull the plug. Without the lead it will be a freak show. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/58 "2003-09-18T23:39:41Z")
I think what ABC should have done is just come out and say "Do to the untimely passing of John Ritter, Eight Simple Rules - is going to say goodbye. We had plans for this show, but because John Ritter was such an intergral part of the show, there is no replacing him, and the show would be lacking with out him. Then go to a tribute to John Ritter. Instead of try and pull out a show with out him. I’m sure ABC - could find other programming to put in its spot. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/59 "2003-09-19T17:36:16Z")
World Entertainment News Network, via the Internet Movie Database: > [@](#): > > John Ritter’s widow Amy Yasbeck has applauded ABC TV chiefs for choosing to continue filming _8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter_, because it’s what her late husband would have wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049/60 "2003-09-19T19:40:01Z")
I suppose just making new episodes without Ritter’s character, and not mentioning where he had gone would be out of the question. I mean, it was done with the youngest girl in _Family Matters_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-takes-the-low-road-on-john-ritters-show/202049.md?page=4)