Did the Show Lose a Step When Jack Soo Died? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-20-2008, 08:33 PM

Just curious what fans of this show thought about Nick Yemana no longer in the precinct.

Ireneparalegal · 03-20-2008, 08:43 PM

I was devastated. And heartbroken. He was so damn funny. Although the show moved on without him, still, I was missing those funny lines of his and the faces he made.

It was just like in the real world, you miss someone when they are no longer there, but still you move on.

Brian Damage · 03-20-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I was devastated. And heartbroken. He was so damn funny. Although the show moved on without him, still, I was missing those funny lines of his and the faces he made.

It was just like in the real world, you miss someone when they are no longer there, but still you move on.

Did you think the show suffered because of his death?

Ireneparalegal · 03-20-2008, 09:03 PM

My opinion, no. The diversity of the other characters and the great writing, not to mention the farewell episode, helped to make the show move on. I was able to get back into the show. Just like CHEERS did when Nicholas passed away.

Brian Damage · 03-20-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

My opinion, no. The diversity of the other characters and the great writing, not to mention the farewell episode, helped to make the show move on. I was able to get back into the show. Just like CHEERS did when Nicholas passed away.

That's exactly the example that I was thinking about!!! Coach was a GREAT character, but Woody was so good, you were able to get past his absence.

Ireneparalegal · 03-20-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

That's exactly the example that I was thinking about!!! Coach was a GREAT character, but Woody was so good, you were able to get past his absence.

Exactly. We get so accustomed to tv characters, that the thought of them no longer being there is almost unbearable.

However, here were two great tv characters who left us too soon and the way the shows were written after that is what made them exceptional. I think Barney Miller and Cheers are the epitomy of how a show can move on after the loss of a character. Eight is Enough, another show who lost its leading character when she passed away, slowly brought in another actress to be the step-mother. It was tastefully done. There were references made abt the mother and her passing in later episodes, which made it almost realistic, something that would occur in real life.

LeeBlue · 03-20-2008, 10:39 PM

Det. Yemana was my favorite character and was really missed after Jack Soo passed away.. However Barney Miller had a wonderful cast and guest stars.. I continued to watch and never missed an episode.. It wasn't the same show but still a terrific show!!

Brian Damage · 03-20-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeBlue

Det. Yemana was my favorite character and was really missed after Jack Soo passed away.. However Barney Miller had a wonderful cast and guest stars.. I continued to watch and never missed an episode.. It wasn't the same show but still a terrific show!!

Thank you for posting! I am curious to get a feel what die hard fans think of this subject.

energy · 03-21-2008, 09:24 AM

For me, the show took a hit when Fish left. And when Yemana passed, the show simply was not as good. Sitcom chemistry is one of most delicat things in art.

A couple of shows quickly come to mind that were devestated by cast changes/losses: Good Times: John Amos (the father), Designing Women: Delta Burke and Jean Smart. Those shows continued after the changes but were never nearly as good. I can see why many liked Cheers after Coach and Diane left, but for me the show was much better with Coach and Diane.

It's amazing that producers would dare tamper with a key cast member of a hit sitcom. That balance is so delicate that one hurtfull change can take a show from being a classic to just another nameless sitcom.

Sometimes changes can't be helped. But particularly in the case of Good Times and Designing Women one truly wishes some way could have been found to keep the original cast intact.

In the 70's and 80's sitcoms had a habit of spinning off any character who did well into his own sitcom. But that's a risky thing to do. Barney Miller definetly lost something when Fish left to do his own sitcom. But it was still an excellent show.

Scoobiedoo30 · 03-21-2008, 01:13 PM

I do not think that The Show Suffered after Jack Passed Away

catlover79 · 03-26-2008, 01:36 PM

I don't think the quality of the show suffered, but Jack Soo/Nick Yemana were definitely missed. At least the core cast of Linden, Gail, Glass and Landesburg was still around.

catlover79 · 09-05-2008, 04:58 PM

I love this drawing I found on Deb Wong's site:

http://www.debwong.com/fanart.html

LeeBlue · 09-05-2008, 10:28 PM

It's been awhile since I stopped by Deb Wong's site -- thanks for the reminder -- terrific pix!

catlover79 · 09-05-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeBlue

It's been awhile since I stopped by Deb Wong's site -- thanks for the reminder -- terrific pix!

My pleasure!

Dr. Thong · 01-10-2009, 01:06 PM

Barney Miller was similar to M*A*S*H in that when they replaced a character, they replaced them with a character who was different and not just a pale imitation of the one they were replacing.

That's why I think shows like those survived and had long runs: New characters with new personalities gave the writers new angles to explore creatively and gave the shows a shot in the arm.

I think I missed Jack Soo after his death, but the show was so good and had such interesting characters and storylines that I was able to move on from it and still enjoy the show.

I did notice, though, that in his later episodes, Jack Soo indeed looked sick. He looked as though he'd lost some weight and as I recall, he didn't have as many lines. Hard to watch those episodes now in retrospect.

03-20-2008, 08:33 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Did the Show Lose a Step When Jack Soo Died? Just curious what fans of this show thought about Nick Yemana no longer in the precinct.
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03-20-2008, 08:43 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	I was devastated. And heartbroken. He was so damn funny. Although the show moved on without him, still, I was missing those funny lines of his and the faces he made. It was just like in the real world, you miss someone when they are no longer there, but still you move on.
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03-20-2008, 10:39 PM	#7
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Did the Show Lose a Step When Jack Soo Died? Det. Yemana was my favorite character and was really missed after Jack Soo passed away.. However Barney Miller had a wonderful cast and guest stars.. I continued to watch and never missed an episode.. It wasn't the same show but still a terrific show!!

03-21-2008, 01:13 PM	#10
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I do not think that The Show Suffered after Jack Passed Away
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03-26-2008, 01:36 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I don't think the quality of the show suffered, but Jack Soo/Nick Yemana were definitely missed. At least the core cast of Linden, Gail, Glass and Landesburg was still around.
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03-20-2008, 09:03 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	My opinion, no. The diversity of the other characters and the great writing, not to mention the farewell episode, helped to make the show move on. I was able to get back into the show. Just like CHEERS did when Nicholas passed away.

03-21-2008, 09:24 AM	#9
energy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2006 Location: florida Posts: 101	For me, the show took a hit when Fish left. And when Yemana passed, the show simply was not as good. Sitcom chemistry is one of most delicat things in art. A couple of shows quickly come to mind that were devestated by cast changes/losses: Good Times: John Amos (the father), Designing Women: Delta Burke and Jean Smart. Those shows continued after the changes but were never nearly as good. I can see why many liked Cheers after Coach and Diane left, but for me the show was much better with Coach and Diane. It's amazing that producers would dare tamper with a key cast member of a hit sitcom. That balance is so delicate that one hurtfull change can take a show from being a classic to just another nameless sitcom. Sometimes changes can't be helped. But particularly in the case of Good Times and Designing Women one truly wishes some way could have been found to keep the original cast intact. In the 70's and 80's sitcoms had a habit of spinning off any character who did well into his own sitcom. But that's a risky thing to do. Barney Miller definetly lost something when Fish left to do his own sitcom. But it was still an excellent show.

09-05-2008, 04:58 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I love this drawing I found on Deb Wong's site: http://www.debwong.com/fanart.html Attached Images

09-05-2008, 10:28 PM	#13
LeeBlue Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 16, 2006 Location: NYS Posts: 871	Did the Show Lose a Step When Jack Soo Died? It's been awhile since I stopped by Deb Wong's site -- thanks for the reminder -- terrific pix!

01-10-2009, 01:06 PM	#15
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Barney Miller was similar to MASH* in that when they replaced a character, they replaced them with a character who was different and not just a pale imitation of the one they were replacing. That's why I think shows like those survived and had long runs: New characters with new personalities gave the writers new angles to explore creatively and gave the shows a shot in the arm. I think I missed Jack Soo after his death, but the show was so good and had such interesting characters and storylines that I was able to move on from it and still enjoy the show. I did notice, though, that in his later episodes, Jack Soo indeed looked sick. He looked as though he'd lost some weight and as I recall, he didn't have as many lines. Hard to watch those episodes now in retrospect.
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