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What will become of 8 Simple Rules?

Tough choices loom for Ritter show

"8 Simple Rules" lost its star
one week before new TV season

Beyond the personal tragedy, John Ritter's death left ABC executives with an unprecedented nightmare: the loss of one of their biggest stars a week before a new TV season is to begin. No decision had been made Friday about the future of Ritter's comedy, "8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter," a network spokesman said.

https://www.msnbc.com/news/965892.asp?0dm=T19VL

It is just terrible that John Ritter died so suddenly and so young.   :'(  I really enjoyed watching the show too.  The article talks about what the ABC executives were thinking about doing.  Below is from this article also:

ABC could cancel the series outright, continue without him or, considered less likely, cast another actor in Ritter's place.
      "He was the lead in the show and you can't just suddenly drop in another person, nor could you write a death like that into that type of show," said Shari Brill, a television analyst for the ad buying firm Carat USA. "ABC is really in a tough situation."
      ABC also could play reruns starting next week, save Ritter's three completed episodes for the November ratings 'sweeps" and end with a special tribute to the actor, Brill said.

Do you think that they should continue with the show by recasting John Ritter's part?  Or should they just end it with like a tribute to him and cancel the show?  What are your thoughts?

I think that they should just air re-runs and then the three episodes he did complete and then finish the show off with a tribute to John Ritter.  I don't think that they could find an actor that would play the part better than he did.

Rules Simple of will What

QUOTE

John Ritter's death

Wait! He died? I don't remember hearing about that. I remember him most for 'Three's a Company'. He used to make me laugh so much. It is so sad.

Here is to you John:

What will become of 8 Simple Rules? Sports & Fashion Music Movies

Ohhhh he's dead! I cannot believe it!!! He was such a great actor!!!!!!!!!, he was so charismatic!!! he will be missed.

Rules Simple of will What

Oops, going through my notes of stuff to post, I completely missed posting this one.  He died the same day that Johnny Cash passed away.  :'(

Actor John Ritter dead at 54

Actor and comedian John Ritter, who gained stardom in the sitcom "Three's Company," died Thursday night after collapsing on the set of his current TV series. He was 54.

Ritter was rushed from the set of the ABC series "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, after suffering from aortic dissection, an unrecognized and undetected flaw in his heart, according to a statement from his publicist Lisa Kasteler.

"Surgeons at the hospital tried to save the Emmy Award-winning actor but, sadly, were unable to do so," the statement said.

WebMD.com describes an aortic dissection as "an abnormal separation of tissues within the walls of the aorta" caused by high blood pressure, family history of the condition, disease of connective tissue, or severe trauma to the chest.

https://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/...obit/index.html

Rules Simple of will What

ABC to write
John Ritter's death into future episodes
 
"8 Simple Rules" family to deal with loss

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.

"EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES that John loved that show. ... He"d have wanted the show to continue," Lloyd Braun, chairman of ABC Entertainment Television Group, told a telephone news conference.

https://www.msnbc.com/news/967649.asp

I just don't really see how they are going to turn this comedy into a drama (to deal with his passing) and then what?  Turn back into comedy again?  I don't know if that will work or not.  I just don't know if the show can make it without John Ritter.  I am not saying that the other actors and actresses aren't good, but to me, John Ritter really made the show.  

What will become of 8 Simple Rules?

When dealing with the subject of death, sitcoms can become very touching . . . provided that it's done properly.  One which clearly stands out within my mind was Full House, which touched upon the death of Jesse's grandfather (even though the actor did not die during the filming of the episode).  There was a little bit of comedy in there, but it was still extremely moving.

I think the cast of 8 Simple Rules will find a way to make the show survive, at least through the rest of this year, even without Mr. Ritter.  Whether the network decides to keep the show on the schedule for next season is still too early to tell.

What will of 8 Simple Rules

We Love you John..and we will miss you so much....You were a great man ,,,and your LAughter will be heard forever and you comady styles will never be matched....God bless him and his family...

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I really love this show.  It is one of the few first run shows I watch.  I will miss John Ritter's role, but I also love Katey Sagal.  I think she is an incredibly funny actress.  I loved the interaction between her and John.  

They were definately a better couple than Peg and Ed Bundy.  :-)  

Time will tell if she can carry the show on her own.  I hope she can because I really enjoy her charachter as much as I did John's.  Odds are stacked against her though.