J.D. Shackelford - Where did he go? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jayman75 · 11-12-2012, 04:19 PM

Ted, who was Mary Jo's long-time boyfriend, disappeared from the series.

What happened with him and Mary Jo that ended the relationship? Was it the baby?

I just can't remember...

Jude The Obscure · 11-13-2012, 08:38 PM

You mean J.D. Shackleford. Ted was her ex-husband.

factsoflife · 12-30-2012, 06:07 PM

I believe that J.D. got a new job and moved away. I feel like he moved to Philadelphia or something.

I don't think it had anything to do with the baby, because he came back for an episode when Mary-Jo decided to have another baby, and eventually she decided it wasn't right to use him for the purpose of making a baby, and JD felt he wouldn't be able to have a child and not raise it.

Penny Lane · 02-04-2013, 03:24 PM

Ted Shackelford played Gary Ewing on Knots Landing. Honest mistake!

People used to confuse Tom Bosley(Happy Days) with David Doyle(Charlie's Angels) because Doyle's name on Charlie's Angels was Bosley.

hch · 01-14-2026, 06:51 PM

The end of the relationship between Mary Jo Shively and J.D. Shackelford (Richard Gilliland) was a gradual process marked by a formal breakup in Season 3 and a final departure in Season 5.

The Initial Breakup: Their primary relationship ended in the Season 3 episode "Mr. Meal Ticket." After J.D. lost his job as a talent scout for the Atlanta Braves, he moved in with Mary Jo. Mary Jo became concerned that he was becoming too comfortable being unemployed and feared he would become permanently dependent on her. This led to a major fight, and Mary Jo asked him to leave.

The Casual Dating Phase: In the subsequent episode, "The Engagement," Mary Jo officially announces to the group that they have broken up and that she is looking forward to entering the casual dating world again.

The Cincinnati Move: Though they remained on friendly terms and J.D. appeared occasionally afterward, the final nail in the coffin was his career. He was eventually forced to take a job in Cincinnati, which effectively ended any chance of a full reconciliation.

The Baby Issue: While you remembered a baby being involved, it wasn't the cause of the breakup, but rather a final attempt to reconnect. In Season 5, when Mary Jo decided she wanted another child through artificial insemination, she approached J.D. to be the donor. He eventually declined, as he felt he couldn't be a "father at a distance".

Following J.D.'s departure, Mary Jo's love life remained famously "unlucky," as she navigated several short-lived and often disastrous dates for the remainder of the series.

11-12-2012, 04:19 PM	#1
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	J.D. Shackelford - Where did he go? Ted, who was Mary Jo's long-time boyfriend, disappeared from the series. What happened with him and Mary Jo that ended the relationship? Was it the baby? I just can't remember...
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12-30-2012, 06:07 PM	#3
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	I believe that J.D. got a new job and moved away. I feel like he moved to Philadelphia or something. I don't think it had anything to do with the baby, because he came back for an episode when Mary-Jo decided to have another baby, and eventually she decided it wasn't right to use him for the purpose of making a baby, and JD felt he wouldn't be able to have a child and not raise it.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

02-04-2013, 03:24 PM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 50,940	Ted Shackelford played Gary Ewing on Knots Landing. Honest mistake! People used to confuse Tom Bosley(Happy Days) with David Doyle(Charlie's Angels) because Doyle's name on Charlie's Angels was Bosley.
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

01-14-2026, 06:51 PM	#5
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	The end of the relationship between Mary Jo Shively and J.D. Shackelford (Richard Gilliland) was a gradual process marked by a formal breakup in Season 3 and a final departure in Season 5. The Initial Breakup: Their primary relationship ended in the Season 3 episode "Mr. Meal Ticket." After J.D. lost his job as a talent scout for the Atlanta Braves, he moved in with Mary Jo. Mary Jo became concerned that he was becoming too comfortable being unemployed and feared he would become permanently dependent on her. This led to a major fight, and Mary Jo asked him to leave. The Casual Dating Phase: In the subsequent episode, "The Engagement," Mary Jo officially announces to the group that they have broken up and that she is looking forward to entering the casual dating world again. The Cincinnati Move: Though they remained on friendly terms and J.D. appeared occasionally afterward, the final nail in the coffin was his career. He was eventually forced to take a job in Cincinnati, which effectively ended any chance of a full reconciliation. The Baby Issue: While you remembered a baby being involved, it wasn't the cause of the breakup, but rather a final attempt to reconnect. In Season 5, when Mary Jo decided she wanted another child through artificial insemination, she approached J.D. to be the donor. He eventually declined, as he felt he couldn't be a "father at a distance". Following J.D.'s departure, Mary Jo's love life remained famously "unlucky," as she navigated several short-lived and often disastrous dates for the remainder of the series.
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

11-13-2012, 08:38 PM	#2
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	You mean J.D. Shackleford. Ted was her ex-husband.