It's official, 8SR will indeed go on:

ABC Television said Tuesday it will continue its 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 premier next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death last week.

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 without recasting Ritter.
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My take on the situation..

I think the show should go on while adding another male lead. I am in favor of Henry Winkler like others but in a supporting role . When Kate decides to date (if she decides) the kids could become jealous(especially the girls) and they could remember back to Paul lecturing them and being protective of them all the while realizing that he was just looking out for them. The kids would start to be cautious of guys that Kate is dating just the way Paul was with them. The producers could include flashbacks to old episodes where Paul was getting on the girls especially Bridget.That would be a way to keep Ritter's memory alive.

PRODUCTION WILL CONTINUE ON THE ABC COMEDY SERIES
"8 SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER"

Second Season Premiere to Air as Scheduled, Tuesday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m., ET


ABC has decided to continue production of its popular comedy series, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," Lloyd Braun, chairman, ABC Entertainment Television Group, Susan Lyne, president, ABC entertainment, and Stephen McPherson, president, Touchstone Television announced today.

"8 Simple Rules..." will continue to lead off ABC's Tuesday lineup. The final three episodes completed by Mr. Ritter will air sequentially beginning with the season premiere on Tuesday, September 23 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET). Each of these episodes will open with a special introduction by members of the cast. Future episodes will then take viewers into the Hennessy household as they experience the loss of a beloved father and construct a new life.

Amy Yasbeck, John Ritter's wife, stated, "John always dealt with anything that life threw at him with humor. He believed in this show and its message that a strong family can get through anything. He felt so lucky to be working with such wonderful people every day. They all had such a warm friendship, and I know John would want his friends to be able to continue doing what they love."

In discussing the announcement, Ms. Lyne said, "John Ritter's death was such a huge personal loss for all of us who worked with him that addressing its impact on our schedule was all the more difficult."

Ms. Lyne continued, "Ever since we re-set our course to embrace the audience and sensibility that built this network, John Ritter and '8 Simple Rules...' have been at the heart of our effort: a family sitcom that celebrated the complicated, sometimes misguided heroics of parenting today. The millions of Americans who invited the Hennessys into their homes each week watched to laugh, but we suspect they also watched because the show celebrated the struggles that go into making any family work. We have an opportunity now to get to know the Hennessys in a way that is very rare on television, to see how a strong family deals with unexpected tragedy. We don't pretend to have a road map here; as in life, we will take it an episode at a time, and find laughs where they feel natural and right. We suspect that John was a big enough force that his presence and spirit will be felt on '8 Simple Rules...' for a long time to come. His television family, played by four wonderful actors -- Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, and Martin Spanjers - will make sure of it."

"There is no question that John Ritter is irreplaceable," said Mr. McPherson. "But after in-depth discussions with the cast, the executive producers and John's wife, Amy, we all decided that John would have wanted us to go on with the show that he loved so much."

"8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" stars John Ritter as Paul Hennessy, Katey Sagal as Cate Hennessy, Kaley Cuoco as Bridget Hennessy, Amy Davidson as Kerry Hennessy and Martin Spanjers as Rory Hennessy.



Tracy Gamble, who created the series, also serves as executive producer along with Flody Suarez, Tom Shadyac and Michael Bostick. "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," which premiered on September 17, 2002, is from Touchstone Television.

I'm glad they're going to incorporate John's death into the show and are not replacing him. As long as his spirit remains in the show, it has a chance. I'm also glad that Amy and the cast had a say in whether the show continued.

I don't know how on earth this is going to work. I wish the cast and crew and everyone involved all the best of luck, but man, this is going to be tough to pull off.

For starters, I guess the number one queston relating to the show's ability to survive with Ritter is ratings. Will people still tune in without John? I'm sure they will watch the first few episodes, just out of curiosity and all the hype that will be surronding them, but will they continue to tune in after that?

Secondly, how is this show going to work as a sitcom? How do you get laughs out of a situation as tragic as a family with 3 teenagers losing their father? And how are they going to write his death into the show, while making it plausable and still being respectful to Ritter at the same time.

And don't forget that everyone involved in this show, most significantly the cast, must perform under these conditions, all while dealing with the pressure and their grief.

I wish them all the best, but this is a monumental task.

Well as far as everyone in the cast having to work under those conditions it was a decision that they all had input in making in going on with the show, also many feel that is how John Ritter would have wanted it.
As far as the comedy goes, while the show needs to be restructured to fit situations htat have arose, they will have to make the show less comical for the time being, but just as life outside TV LAND, it goes on and you learn to laugh again and find humor. If you have ever lost anyone in your life you know that your ability to live and laugh return with time, and time heals all wounds. I think the same is true for the show. It will not be a comedy for awhile but it will be able to have comic relief in due time.
YOu could never replace John Ritter the same way you cannot replace anyone in your life, but just like people come into your life people also leave your life and you try to honor what they lived for. Bringing a new person to the lives of these characters would not be replacing Paul but rather adding and extending to the cast.

Shows have been known to change their premise of how it first started to more serious.
Example Friends started out a 100% comedy but lately we have seen more serious issues and tears not just laughs and it worked
90210 did not start out as a night soap it always had an ending when it started that did not leave you hanging, then it got more dramatic and worked

This could work cause just like life it can be happy and full of laughter one day and then all of a sudden full of tragedy. Then you learn to deal and find laughter again, and things end up okay then they bust again thats the way oflife and give the show a chance to put the comedy into life and also the tragedy.

Originally posted by pavanbadal
It's official, 8SR will indeed go on:

ABC Television said Tuesday it will continue its 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 premier next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death last week.

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 without recasting Ritter.
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Pavan,

Do you have any idea what eps will be repeated?

also..do you have any idea as to whether ABCFamily is going to air the show as well?

Originally posted by TJHooker
Pavan,

Do you have any idea what eps will be repeated?

also..do you have any idea as to whether ABCFamily is going to air the show as well?

The reruns start Oct. 14, no episode info yet. I don't think ABC Family will air it, unless the show gets canceled. Because by airing it on ABC Family, it lowers the syndication value. That's why none of the current sitcoms are reairing anymore. Only for one time specials would be sufficient.