W. Bruce Cameron's View on the Cancellation - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ImpossiblePrincess · 05-25-2005, 05:13 AM

Found this article online today and thought it was pretty interesting. I didn't realise that he was brought back to write for Season Three. Shame they didn't ask him to do more.

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Saunders: Cameron in rewrite mode
May 25, 2005

W. Bruce Cameron has one simple rule regarding television.

Never underestimate the popularity of the traditional situation comedy.

The Rocky Mountain News columnist firmly believes this rule will always be in play, even though ABC last week canceled 8 Simple Rules, the series based loosely on his book, 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter.

Cameron's rule defies the often dire predictions of many media crystal ball gazers about the genre's future on the networks.

"The experts said the sitcom was dead before Bill Cosby 'reinvented' family comedy in 1984," Cameron said from his Los Angeles area home.

"And the same dire predictions were made in the late '80s until Seinfeld came along in 1990 with a different look."

So Cameron, instead of wallowing in disappointment about the demise of 8 Simple Rules after three seasons, has written a script for 20th Century Fox based on his second book, How To Remodel a Man, published last September.

The pilot is scheduled to be shot this summer.

Like 8 Simple Rules, Cameron's second project deals with the everyday struggles of a family man in his 40s.

The late John Ritter was cast as the Cameron-type father in 8 Simple Rules.

So who does Cameron feel would be ideal in this new TV role?

"How about Brad Pitt?" Cameron said with a chuckle.

Cameron admits "deep disappointment" regarding the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules, which has had a rough journey since Ritter died in September 2003, shortly after the start of the second season.

After working closely with series creators during the initial season, Cameron was "out of the loop" during much of season two when new producers attempted, often in vain, to inject humor into a situation, which, on the surface, wasn't very funny.

Added to the cast were veteran James Garner as the father of widow Katey Sagal and David Spade as her wayward, wisecracking nephew.

When producers John Peaslee and Judd Pillot, took over for the third season, they asked Cameron to become more closely involved in production and story telling.

He wrote one script, Freaky Friday, in which Sagal had wild dreams when falling asleep while watching the cult film. The half-hour was one of the season's most popular episodes.

"It took a while for the series to find new footing," Cameron said. "But I think the third season was excellent."

He pointed to Garner as one of the major success ingredients

"He's simply amazing both on the set and on film."

Cameron refutes criticism that the series, following Ritter's unexpected death, lost its plot direction.

"Sure there were episodes when the characters looked and acted lost," Cameron said.

"But that was very real. To a degree that reflected life. A family wouldn't lose a father character like the one Ritter played, and not have a disconnected look.

"I believe 8 Simple Rules had found new comedic legs. And I think it would have performed better in audience ratings on a night other than Friday."

Cameron, in Denver last weekend as a speaker for the Colorado Authors League, spends most of his time in Southern California.

Now divorced, he returns here regularly to visit his two children. His ex-wife lives in the Evergreen home they once shared.

Cameron keeps busy with his weekly column (now in a dozen newspapers), writing screenplays and speaking at seminars.

When 8 Simple Rules premiered, ABC initially used the complete title of Cameron's book. For all the logical reasons, it soon became known simply as 8 Simple Rules.

If his next project becomes a TV series, Cameron is aware an abbreviated titled will be used.

The book's complete title: How To Remodel a Man: Tips On Techniques In Accomplishing Something You Know Is Impossible But Want To Try Anyway.

Not exactly a brief, catchy title for a TV comedy series.

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This is the link: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...802899,00.html

05-25-2005, 05:13 AM	#1
ImpossiblePrincess Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 17	W. Bruce Cameron's View on the Cancellation Found this article online today and thought it was pretty interesting. I didn't realise that he was brought back to write for Season Three. Shame they didn't ask him to do more. ---------------------------------------------------- Saunders: Cameron in rewrite mode May 25, 2005 W. Bruce Cameron has one simple rule regarding television. Never underestimate the popularity of the traditional situation comedy. The Rocky Mountain News columnist firmly believes this rule will always be in play, even though ABC last week canceled 8 Simple Rules, the series based loosely on his book, 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter. Cameron's rule defies the often dire predictions of many media crystal ball gazers about the genre's future on the networks. "The experts said the sitcom was dead before Bill Cosby 'reinvented' family comedy in 1984," Cameron said from his Los Angeles area home. "And the same dire predictions were made in the late '80s until Seinfeld came along in 1990 with a different look." So Cameron, instead of wallowing in disappointment about the demise of 8 Simple Rules after three seasons, has written a script for 20th Century Fox based on his second book, How To Remodel a Man, published last September. The pilot is scheduled to be shot this summer. Like 8 Simple Rules, Cameron's second project deals with the everyday struggles of a family man in his 40s. The late John Ritter was cast as the Cameron-type father in 8 Simple Rules. So who does Cameron feel would be ideal in this new TV role? "How about Brad Pitt?" Cameron said with a chuckle. Cameron admits "deep disappointment" regarding the cancellation of 8 Simple Rules, which has had a rough journey since Ritter died in September 2003, shortly after the start of the second season. After working closely with series creators during the initial season, Cameron was "out of the loop" during much of season two when new producers attempted, often in vain, to inject humor into a situation, which, on the surface, wasn't very funny. Added to the cast were veteran James Garner as the father of widow Katey Sagal and David Spade as her wayward, wisecracking nephew. When producers John Peaslee and Judd Pillot, took over for the third season, they asked Cameron to become more closely involved in production and story telling. He wrote one script, Freaky Friday, in which Sagal had wild dreams when falling asleep while watching the cult film. The half-hour was one of the season's most popular episodes. "It took a while for the series to find new footing," Cameron said. "But I think the third season was excellent." He pointed to Garner as one of the major success ingredients "He's simply amazing both on the set and on film." Cameron refutes criticism that the series, following Ritter's unexpected death, lost its plot direction. "Sure there were episodes when the characters looked and acted lost," Cameron said. "But that was very real. To a degree that reflected life. A family wouldn't lose a father character like the one Ritter played, and not have a disconnected look. "I believe 8 Simple Rules had found new comedic legs. And I think it would have performed better in audience ratings on a night other than Friday." Cameron, in Denver last weekend as a speaker for the Colorado Authors League, spends most of his time in Southern California. Now divorced, he returns here regularly to visit his two children. His ex-wife lives in the Evergreen home they once shared. Cameron keeps busy with his weekly column (now in a dozen newspapers), writing screenplays and speaking at seminars. When 8 Simple Rules premiered, ABC initially used the complete title of Cameron's book. For all the logical reasons, it soon became known simply as 8 Simple Rules. If his next project becomes a TV series, Cameron is aware an abbreviated titled will be used. The book's complete title: How To Remodel a Man: Tips On Techniques In Accomplishing Something You Know Is Impossible But Want To Try Anyway. Not exactly a brief, catchy title for a TV comedy series. ----------------------------------------------------- This is the link: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...802899,00.html