wow.. get ready for 8 simple rules to BOMB!

James Garner is taking over.. yes only 4 episodes.. but wow why him??? he isn't slightly funny

http://www.salon.com/ent/wire/2003/10/17/ritter/

James Garner to guide post-John Ritter 'Rules'


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ASSOCIATED PRESS



Oct. 17, 2003 |

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- James Garner is taking on what is likely one of the television season's most challenging roles: steering ABC's "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" through the transition of John Ritter's death.

The 75-year-old Garner, who starred in the '50s "Maverick" TV series, will guest star in four episodes, his publicist, Jennifer Allen, said Thursday.

Ritter, who died of a heart ailment last month, played a harried dad and newspaper columnist on the show. Garner will help the transition to a new focus _ a family coping with the sudden loss of its patriarch.

He'll play the father of Katey Sagal's widowed Cate Hennessy, who comes to support his daughter and three teenage grandchildren as they face the realities of becoming a single-parent family.

Production on the first post-Ritter episode will begin Monday, and the first Garner episode will air during the November ratings sweep period.

Garner won an Emmy for the '70s drama series "The Rockford Files."

His films include "Space Cowboys" and "Murphy's Romance".

Originally posted by Austin Tripper
wow.. get ready for 8 simple rules to BOMB!

James Garner is taking over.. yes only 4 episodes.. but wow why him??? he isn't slightly funny.

It's not suppose to be funny. The first 4 episodes or so will be very sad. James Garner is an accomplished dramatic actor. I think this was a great choice by ABC. And 8 Simple Rules will not bomb, people will tune in because of John's legacy, as long as the show is still on, he will be around.

Originally posted by pavanbadal
It's not suppose to be funny. The first 4 episodes or so will be very sad. James Garner is an accomplished dramatic actor. I think this was a great choice by ABC. And 8 Simple Rules will not bomb, people will tune in because of John's legacy, as long as the show is still on, he will be around.

Not the board to ask this, I know, but is James Garner going to be around for ONLY the first 4 episodes? Or is he going to be a regular, or is he just around for the transition period? I like James Garner, and I think he was a good choice, but I just don't want a full replacement, you know...

EDIT: Well, I read the articles again, looks like he won't be a full replacement, just there for the transitional period.

I do believe the show will not bomb, but continue to do well. Yes, it will be missing a key piece, but the other cast members can carry the show, IMHO. It sure as heck won't be the same without John Ritter, but I'm thrilled the show is going on.

James Garner can be funny, although not in a fall over and laugh kind of way. He is a very good actor.

Originally posted by pavanbadal
It's not suppose to be funny. The first 4 episodes or so will be very sad. James Garner is an accomplished dramatic actor. I think this was a great choice by ABC. And 8 Simple Rules will not bomb, people will tune in because of John's legacy, as long as the show is still on, he will be around.
i like James Garner too. And I will be surely tuning in to 8SR :)

Personally, I think that this is a very wise move....Having Mr. Garner appear, rather than an actor in John Ritter's age range (like Henry Winkler, Tony Danza, etc.) will avoid that whole "replacement" stigma, but they'll still have an adult male figure in the house for a while.

James Garner is a great dramatic actor, but he also has a light comedic touch when needed...and remember, these episodes dealing with Paul's death aren't going to be "fall down, laugh-out-loud" funny anyway!