The two shows I am referring to: Eight is Enough and 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter. Both are shows starting with E that feature the number 8, based on a book by the same title. And both are shows that had to drastically change what the producers had in mind for their shows because of a leading parent's death in real life. John Ritter died a few episodes into season 2 of 8 Simple Rules, and Cate was made a widow. Diana Hyland, the original mother on Eight is Enough, died and had only completed four episodes of the show before her death. Dick Van Patten's character was also made a widow and remarried the next season, with Betty Buckley cast as his new wife.