Why is that? Every list I read about doesn't have him listed anywhere. I mean this was a sitcom that killed off one of its leading actors and nothing...

I don't know - but from what I've read, the CAST was sure shocked!!

I can't speak for anyone else, but I watched the episode when it premiered, and my family and I were very shocked.

Probably because it was already published before the season started in 1976 that he was no longer on the show so I guess they found no reason to be shocked.

Basically that was the only way to write him off because which probably may it less shocking

Probably because it was already published before the season started in 1976 that he was no longer on the show so I guess they found no reason to be shocked.

Basically that was the only way to write him off because which probably may it less shocking

I think the feeling was that James was going to get a new job out of town, which would keep him away for long periods of time. The thought that he actually might be killed off was kind of not in many people's radar at the time, though.

I think the feeling was that James was going to get a new job out of town, which would keep him away for long periods of time. The thought that he actually might be killed off was kind of not in many people's radar at the time, though.


Crtiics knew because saying that he took another job out of town would have been inconsistent with the storyline of the episode-"A Real Cool Job".

They should have recast the role of James with Dick Sargent.

Probably because it was already published before the season started in 1976 that he was no longer on the show so I guess they found no reason to be shocked.

Basically that was the only way to write him off because which probably may it less shocking


I don't know Solomon, I mean things were different back then. While it might have been published in a magazine, if you didn't read about it, you were pretty much in the dark. Now a days, we have the internet, cable, entertainment shows, gossip rags etc. There are more ways now to find out about scoops, then say back in 1976.

They should have recast the role of James with Dick Sargent.
:rofl: No one would've even noticed - except the audience, of course!!!

:rofl: No one would've even noticed - except the audience, of course!!!

Did you ever see the movie Wayne's World, Monika? In it, Wayne (Mike Myers) goes "I mean, there were two Darren Stevens, right? Dick York and Dick Sargeant. Yeah, right! As if we wouldn't notice! Oh, hold on.. Dick York, Dick Sargeant... Sargeant York. Hey, that's weird!"

I don't know Solomon, I mean things were different back then. While it might have been published in a magazine, if you didn't read about it, you were pretty much in the dark. Now a days, we have the internet, cable, entertainment shows, gossip rags etc. There are more ways now to find out about scoops, then say back in 1976.
I didn't know he was getting killed off. I didn't watch GT all that much back then. It was always on opposite other shows I liked so I didn't become a fan until it went into syndication in the 1980's. I do remember seeing that episode though and just being stunned. I didn't follow TV like I do now so it might have been published how they were going to get rid of him.

I didn't know he was getting killed off. I didn't watch GT all that much back then. It was always on opposite other shows I liked so I didn't become a fan until it went into syndication in the 1980's. I do remember seeing that episode though and just being stunned. I didn't follow TV like I do now so it might have been published how they were going to get rid of him.


That's true, although the gasps from the studio audience really made me think that nobody expected it.

I don't know Solomon, I mean things were different back then. While it might have been published in a magazine, if you didn't read about it, you were pretty much in the dark. Now a days, we have the internet, cable, entertainment shows, gossip rags etc. There are more ways now to find out about scoops, then say back in 1976.


In the Fall 1976 TV Guide preview, they let viewers know to expect a shocking ending

In the Fall 1976 TV Guide preview, they let viewers know to expect a shocking ending


But I doubt people were still expecting death as an option.

But I doubt people were still expecting death as an option.
:yeahthat

I'm guessing that maybe people thought that James would stay down in Alaska alone because Florida didn't want to uproot the kids or something. Okay, maybe that's not plausible because they lived in the ghetto, but this is TV and it didn't have to make sense.

And maybe people would figure that if James was alive off-camera, perhaps John Amos would have reconsidered "leaving" (the official story at the time was that he quit) and return to the show at some point.

But it would have been cheesy for the producers to do so...or to have James and Florida divorce and have James move away. That would not have been believable.

Of course, they could have had Amos come back and say that he hadn't really died -- it was a case of mistaken idenity and-- oh wait, that's what soap operas do....;)