I think the following shows could of lasted longer if a character didn’t leave the series.

Barney Fife and Gomer Pyle if they would of stayed with The Andy Griffith Show.

The original Mr. Wilson didn’t pass away. Plus kept the original Mrs. Wilson for Dennis the Menace.

If Larry and Mrs.Mondello would of stayed with Leave It To Beaver.

If the original Mrs.Kravetez didn’t pass away.Or the original Darrin left Bewitched.

If The Ropers and Chrissy Snow didn’t get fired-quit.

8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter could have lasted at least 7 seasons if John Ritter had not died. Welcome Back, Kotter would have lasted longer if John Travolta and Gabe Kaplan had not left.

I think the following shows could of lasted longer if a character didn’t leave the series.

Barney Fife and Gomer Pyle if they would of stayed with The Andy Griffith Show.

The original Mr. Wilson didn’t pass away. Plus kept the original Mrs. Wilson for Dennis the Menace.

If Larry and Mrs.Mondello would of stayed with Leave It To Beaver.

If the original Mrs.Kravetez didn’t pass away.Or the original Darrin left Bewitched.

If The Ropers and Chrissy Snow didn’t get fired-quit.

As much as I like Larry Mondelo, I doubt his staying would have changed how long the show lasted. He wasn't a pivotal character.

227: If Jackée Harry stayed on full-time and didn't try a spin-off, the show probably would've lasted at least 2 more seasons.

Happy Days: Richie would've kept on the show after Season 7

The Love Boat: Julie would've still be a regular after Season 7 if not for her replacement & her drug/alcoholic problems.

Gunsmoke: Miss Kitty should've stayed for Season 20(which was Gunsmoke's final season on the air)

Happy Days: Richie would've kept on the show after Season 7
Ron Howard was only a regular the first 6 seasons. Him leaving did not hurt the show's popularity, it lasted 5 more seasons without him for a total of 11 seasons.

If Dolph Sweet survived cancer after Season 4 of GAB...the series would've been different.

Many say GAB Season 6 was dismal...but I blame it on Season 5. Without Dolph Sweet's Chef Carl Kaniski...Nell Harper didn't have a polar opposite...Telma Hopkins was in a way...but there was a formula with Nell and Dolph.

I'm sure that when Dolph Sweet died...Nell Carter was crushed!

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Valerie Harper leaving Valerie/Hogan’s Family.

8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter could have lasted at least 7 seasons if John Ritter had not died.


His death had nothing to do with the cancellation of the series though. It was still pulling in good ratings even after ABC moved it to Fridays hoping that could be a reason to cancel the show. I think it could have lasted quite a few seasons if ABC had left the series alone and allowed it to still find its place after John's death. Katey Sagal really shined in the series as the main lead. I was one of the many millions of fans still enjoying the show when ABC cancelled it for no reason.

I'm gonna say Melrose Place for this topic. When almost half the cast left in season 5, it really proved the Heather Locklear haters right that she wasn't the reason the show was a success. Nothing against Heather's acting abilities, but Marcia Cross and Laura Leighton really owned this show during their run in the series. They were more fun to watch with their craziness than Heather's bed hoping skills. If Marcia and Laura had stayed on, I doubt Melrose Place would have been pulled in the middle of season 6 and then canceled to finish off the remaining episodes in the season 7 run.

Ron Howard was only a regular the first 6 seasons. Him leaving did not hurt the show's popularity, it lasted 5 more seasons without him for a total of 11 seasons.

I agree with you on that, catsrule. Happy Days did survived sucessfully after Ron Howard left the show in 1980.

His death had nothing to do with the cancellation of the series though. It was still pulling in good ratings even after ABC moved it to Fridays hoping that could be a reason to cancel the show. I think it could have lasted quite a few seasons if ABC had left the series alone and allowed it to still find its place after John's death. Katey Sagal really shined in the series as the main lead. I was one of the many millions of fans still enjoying the show when ABC cancelled it for no reason.
The first 2 seasons of 8 Simple Rules aired on Tuesdays, it was cancelled after just one season on Fridays. Katey Sagal was fine as the sole lead but David Spade was a terrible addition to the cast. one of the worst actors ever

The first 2 seasons of 8 Simple Rules aired on Tuesdays, it was cancelled after just one season on Fridays. Katey Sagal was fine as the sole lead but David Spade was a terrible addition to the cast. one of the worst actors ever


Still though 8 Simple Rules was doing just fine after John's death with viewers. Look at the ratings 8 Simple Rules was pulling in their last year on a Friday compared to other shows. It was still worth renewal. Regardless how you felt about the addition of David Spade, there were still millions of fans enjoying the show. ABC screwed up canceling this show because other comedies like According To Jim which aired on Tuesdays were pulling in ratings 8 Simple Rules was on a Friday their last year, yet According To Jim gets renewed for multiple years to come? Less Than Perfect pulled in lower ratings than 8 Simple Rules the same year the series was canceled yet ABC felt Less Than Perfect deserved a final season renewal than 8 Simple Rules? ABC did the show and its fans dirty. John Ritter's death had nothing to do with the shows dismal and that's what I'm trying to prove to you with your statement that his death caused the show to be canceled. It was ABC's idiotic decision to cancel a show that was still bringing them viewers every week compared to others that weren't.

What was its 18-49 demo? That is what counts to advertisers, total viewers don't matter as much.

His death had nothing to do with the cancellation of the series though. It was still pulling in good ratings even after ABC moved it to Fridays hoping that could be a reason to cancel the show. I think it could have lasted quite a few seasons if ABC had left the series alone and allowed it to still find its place after John's death. Katey Sagal really shined in the series as the main lead. I was one of the many millions of fans still enjoying the show when ABC cancelled it for no reason.

I'm gonna say Melrose Place for this topic. When almost half the cast left in season 5, it really proved the Heather Locklear haters right that she wasn't the reason the show was a success. Nothing against Heather's acting abilities, but Marcia Cross and Laura Leighton really owned this show during their run in the series. They were more fun to watch with their craziness than Heather's bed hoping skills. If Marcia and Laura had stayed on, I doubt Melrose Place would have been pulled in the middle of season 6 and then canceled to finish off the remaining episodes in the season 7 run.

In the case of 8 Simple Rules..., I'm guessing that ABC allowed it to say on the air because it wouldn't have been fair to the rest of the cast and crew when John Ritter suddenly died. It isn't like say with Too Close for Comfort, which had to end after six seasons (which is a pretty healthy run on its own for a sitcom) due to the sudden passing of Ted Knight. Also, ABC during the post-Roseanne/Home Improvement/TGIF era pre-Modern Family/The Middle/The Goldbergs era was pretty lacking in good, quality sitcoms. Lets put it this way, during the early 2000s, According to Jim was more or less, considered their flagship sitcom.

But it's clear that when Ritter died, that was pretty much the beginning of the end of the show. John Ritter was unquestionably the star and main hub of what was known at the time as 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. When he suddenly passed away early in the second season, the whole heart and premise (an over-protective dad trying to relate and understand his young daughters) of the show went with it.

Plus, it was bound to be one of those shows that was going to be difficult to market the longer it went. It had a drastic narrative change, which was bound to be very difficult to adjust to. Plus, having to relive John Ritter/Paul Hennesey's (inevitable) death would've been very upsetting and traumatic for viewers. Not to sound insensitive, but the show could've been otherwise called If Only Dad Hadn't Died.