Name some shows which began because of someone's (a character's) death.

1. "Monk" - The show takes place after Monk's beloved wife Trudy was killed. Monk's behavior is because of her death and her murder is still a case he's trying to solve.

2. "Family Affair" - If Cissy, Jody and Buffy's parent's hadn't died in the car crash a year before the first episode, they wouldn't live with Uncle Bill and Mr. French and there would be no show.

3. "Full House" - It was the death of Danny's wife (Jesse's sister) that has Uncle Jesse and Joey move in with Danny to help raise DJ, Stephanie and Michelle.

4. "My Three Sons" - The death of Steve's wife (six years before the first episode) was the reason Bub moved in to help raise Mike, Robbie and Chip.

5. "Route 66" - Tod Stiles' father had passed away, which Tod then inherited the car to drive around with his friend Buz (and later Linc).

This may seem a little morbid, but I was thinking about that phrase "Life Goes On." The idea for this thread came to be as a result of it.

"Diff'rent Strokes" - Mr Drummound wouldn't of been Arnold's & Willis dad if their mum hadn't died.

On Desperate Housewives Mary Alice committed suicide in the first episode.

Adam!!! I'm surprised you didn't mention Wings!!! Or maybe you were just saving it for somebody else!

For those not familiar with the show, Joe & Brian's father died, and one of his wishes was to see Joe & Brian reconcile. Brian came back to Nantucket in the 1st episode, and for 8 years, hilarity ensued!!:lol:

Adam!!! I'm surprised you didn't mention Wings!!! Or maybe you were just saving it for somebody else!

Nope, I just forgot, lol. I'm surprised as well! I knew there was one I was missing, but I just couldn't think of it.

Just think of all that would NOT have happened if Mr. Hackett had lived. I assume Joe and Helen would still have gotten together, but it would have been differently. After all, it was Joe's high blood pressure (that he blames Brian for) that grounded him, enabling Helen to date him (since she has a "No Dating Pilots rule). When that didn't work out, it was Brian sneaking Helen up in the plane where Joe had to talk her through the landing, due to Brian getting knocked out. That was the moment where Joe and Helen decided to date. Of course if Brian hadn't come, then maybe Joe would have had a serious relationship with Alex and Antonio with Casey. Helen's house would not have been burned down.

Step by Step -- Frank Lambert was widowed.

The Fugitive: Dr. Richard Kimball's wife is murdered in the first episode and he's accused of the crime but escapes and stays on the run eluding Lt. Gerard.

Webster: His parents died and he was adopted by George & Katherine Papadapolis

The Lone Ranger: John Reid and a group of other Texas Rangers are ambushed by the Cavendish gang and all are killed except for Reid who is badly wounded but is nursed back to health by Tonto. Reid decides to let the world believe that he is dead and even has a grave dug for himself alongside the other Rangers. He then dedicates himself to establishing law and order in the new frontier and decides to wear a mask to conceal his true identity and his named The Lone Ranger by Tonto.

On 227, the pilot episode had the owner of the building die, which Rose inherited.

Blanche, Rose and Sophia were all widows (Dorothy was divorced) when The Golden Girls started. Therefore if their husbands were still living, they probably never would've become housemates

Before The Brady Bunch Mike's first wife died. It is unclear what happened to Carol's first husband--the "D" word has been brought up in some discussion.

Before The Brady Bunch Mike's first wife died. It is unclear what happened to Carol's first husband--the "D" word has been brought up in some discussion.
do you count the movies as "canon"? In A Very Brady Sequel, Carol's husband was alive and well

Of course it isn't the same, but in a sense.... Angel technically died as a mortal in the 1700's when bitten by Darla, if he hadn't died and been reborn as a vampire, Buffy The Vampire Slayer wouldn't have quite been the same and the spinoff Angel never would've existed :lol:

do you count the movies as "canon"? In A Very Brady Sequel, Carol's husband was alive and well

Sorry, I never saw the movies, with the exception of "The Brady Girls Get Married", which spawned The Brady Brides in 1981.

Nope, I just forgot, lol. I'm surprised as well! I knew there was one I was missing, but I just couldn't think of it.

Just think of all that would NOT have happened if Mr. Hackett had lived. I assume Joe and Helen would still have gotten together, but it would have been differently. After all, it was Joe's high blood pressure (that he blames Brian for) that grounded him, enabling Helen to date him (since she has a "No Dating Pilots rule). When that didn't work out, it was Brian sneaking Helen up in the plane where Joe had to talk her through the landing, due to Brian getting knocked out. That was the moment where Joe and Helen decided to date. Of course if Brian hadn't come, then maybe Joe would have had a serious relationship with Alex and Antonio with Casey. Helen's house would not have been burned down.

Just like I said, for 8 years, hilarity ensued!!:lol:

On Dr. Quinn, Michaela inherited Charlotte Cooper's three kids, Matthew, Colleen, and Brian after she died in the pilot. The show wouldn't have been the same if Charlotte hadn't died. Most of the storylines and plots revolved around the kids or the kids were involved in some way. There would have been no Michaela and Sully if Sully wouldn't have been widowed when the show premiered. The show was what it was because of those deaths.

Step by Step -- Frank Lambert was widowed.
Actually it was established that his wife had left him.

Of course, I knew about Monk and Full House, but the others were interesting to read about.

Andrea

do you count the movies as "canon"? In A Very Brady Sequel, Carol's husband was alive and well


No, Carol's husband was not alive and well--that was an impostor! Her husband, Roy Martin, was a castaway on Gilligan's Island--the professor!
:lol:

no, the movies are not "canon", just as much as the Variety Hour or The Brady Kids cartoon are not "canon" :D

Actually it was established that his wife had left him.


And on Step by Step, Carol was the one whose spouse had passed away.

They actually showed an episode where Frank meets his ex-wife again and shows her that he and the kids have made it without her.

And on Step by Step, Carol was the one whose spouse had passed away.

They actually showed an episode where Frank meets his ex-wife again and shows her that he and the kids have made it without her.

Thank you, Jude and Rebafan. I stand corrected. I knew one of them was widowed, but I haven't seen everything, and the way Carol talks about her husband I assumed she was the divorced one.

They actually showed an episode where Frank meets his ex-wife again and shows her that he and the kids have made it without her.
Wow I didnt know that. Which ep was that?

^ oh gee, maybe you should ask that on the Step by Step board. I originally saw the episode in primetime, but have never been a big follower of the show in reruns, but I do know the episode exists--I think the ex-wife was trying to seduce Frank into getting back together--I recall a scene in which she was in a bubblebath?

Hmmm..... I think that was an ex GIRLFRIEND. But I could be thinking of a different ep.

I could be too--regarding the bubblebath, but there was an episode where the ex-wife (and the kids' mother) made an appearance.