8 Simple Rules...For Dating My Teenage Daughter

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-09-14 06:34pm

Should ABC continue the serie without John Ritter cancel it or replace him?

I too say cancel,but i`m sure the Hollywoods ghouls may continue it with someone else.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-09-14 06:36pm

Cancel.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2003-09-14 06:37pm

Cancel

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-14 06:37pm

I think it would be more respectful to cancel it. Plus it'd be hard to find a sitcom actor to measure up to Ritter.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-09-14 06:38pm

I personally think the idea of reruns capped by the three filmed episodes and a tribute is the best idea they have running.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-14 06:41pm

I've never seen the series, but I think they ought to cancel it out of respect for John Ritter.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-09-14 06:42pm

Holy Shit, he died?!?

Cancel. He was a kickass actor, I don't think many could match him.

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2003-09-14 06:49pm

Cancel.

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2003-09-14 08:47pm

Rerun it until mid-season, when they could play the tribute and then put a mid-season replacement show in its place.

Macross · Post by **Macross** » 2003-09-14 08:57pm

They should show the three episodes, then do a tribute, then "retire" the series.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2003-09-15 03:44am

I say cancel.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-09-15 06:54am

cancel it. or maybe kill him in the show, but thats too morbid. so just cancel it. And cancel Rob's commie avatar too.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-09-15 03:06pm

Aw shit. I love that show. Cancel it. It's all you can do to show some kind of respect.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2003-09-15 03:17pm

The show really is lost without Ritter. If they were to continue, they would have to use a whole knew group because you couldn't get away with a new actor. It would be best to cancel the show out of respect AFTER having aired the three episode that Ritter finished then air a 4th "episode" that is a tribute to Ritter along with some clips from the completed portions of the 4th episode.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2003-09-15 03:26pm

Finish out the season (so it has some closure) and then end it. Cancelling it outright, in my opinion, isn't the answer. Take "The District" for instance. When the actor that played "Ella" died, they didn't cancel the series. They put it on hold until the cast could grieve and then came up with an explination as to why she's no longer in the series. (sudden stroke) I don't think they should replace the character or put another actor in John's place though. Just have a hiatus for the cast & crew to grieve, then finish out the season and call it a wrap. Possibly even have the last few episodes as a tribute of some kind.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-09-15 03:42pm

Is the show an ensemble, or was it John Ritter's vehicle? In an ensemble, you can get away with a character dying if the actor quits or dies, but if this was John Ritter's show, then not only would it be somewhat ghoulish to continue it, but it would probably fail.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-09-15 05:51pm

RedImperator wrote:Is the show an ensemble, or was it John Ritter's vehicle? In an ensemble, you can get away with a character dying if the actor quits or dies, but if this was John Ritter's show, then not only would it be somewhat ghoulish to continue it, but it would probably fail.

It has some good support characters (so SOMEONE out there will claim its an ensemble cast). Nonethless it was a Ritter vehicle and there's no way around it. I mean you could refocus on his wife but you'd have to do it so abruptly and even then explaining his abscence just doesn't work for the tone of the show. Nonethless I'd like to see the 3 finished episodes before it disappears.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2003-09-16 09:32pm

They should do what John Ritter would have wanted them to do, him being an actor it's likely he would have agreed with "The show must go on."

Jim Raynor · Post by **Jim Raynor** » 2003-09-16 09:35pm

Looks like they'll continue the show:

ABC to Continue Ritter's Sitcom
Sep 16, 4:09 PM EST

Associated Press

ABC Television said Tuesday it will continue the sitcom that showcased the late John Ritter, showing his television family coping with the death of Ritter's character on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter."

ABC executives said the show will premiere next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death.

After that, the show will go into repeats while writers retool the sitcom and production starts. No date was given for when the show will return to the air.

Ritter died last Thursday of an undetected heart problem. He was 54.

"We are going to stick with it," Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a conference call with reporters.

Each of the first three episodes already shot will start with a special introduction, featuring the cast members. The next new show will deal with the death of Ritter's character, Paul Hennessy.

"Future episodes will take viewers into the Hennessy household as they experience the loss of a father and construct a new life together," said Lloyd Braun, chairman of the ABC Entertainment Television Group. "We will play out the situation as real life."

Executives said they considered a number of options, including canceling the show, but decided to continue the series.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-09-16 10:02pm

I can understand why ABC decided not to cancel (they're struggling and 8 Simple Rules was a hit), but I doubt it will last beyond the end of this season. I've never heard of a show that was a vehicle for one actor surviving when that actor leaves.

Crazy Goji · Post by **Crazy Goji** » 2003-09-16 10:20pm

RedImperator wrote:I can understand why ABC decided not to cancel (they're struggling and 8 Simple Rules was a hit), but I doubt it will last beyond the end of this season. I've never heard of a show that was a vehicle for one actor surviving when that actor leaves.

Spin City comes to mind. Yeah, I know what you mean. When you replace a main character, you pretty much change to show.

I would have played the final episodes then "retired" the show, like someone suggested. I never watched the show, but a girl that I know suggested basically the family coping with the loss then the wife started dating again. The kids don't like they guy but eventually do. Personally I thought this idea was pretty cliche and predictable. Might be what's in store for the series, though.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-09-16 10:50pm

I say do the three episodes, and the tribute. Then, retire the show, perhaps after some reruns. John Ritter played too important of a role to simply say that something happened to him and continue the show, and no actor would be fit to play the role.

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2003-09-16 11:07pm

Cancel it. The character was clearly too important to the show to be killed off. Replacing him would not work either, because Ritter was the reason for the show's success.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-09-16 11:11pm

Well all our wishes were not granted (though we will get the three episodes many of us wished for). I just hope they can find a good way to write him out. That said the show stands at least an outside chance of living for another season if only because Kathy Segal is a great actress.

jezrianna · Post by **jezrianna** » 2003-09-16 11:18pm

Give it a shot, until they prove they can't carry it without him.