Fuller--> Katowinski? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Anthony · 12-14-2001, 05:39 PM

Was there ever any sort of "transition" episode or at least a scene when Coach Fuller (Reggie Theus) left and Coach Katowinski (Dick Butkus) came in? The way I remember it, in Fuller's last episode the team won a title and he had gotten an offer to coach college ball. This would have been the perfect opportunity to write Theus/Fuller out of the series...but iirc they went for the cliched "happy ending" with Fuller turning down the college job to stay...This made no sense cause in the "next" episode, the opener to the following season, Theus is gone and Dick Butkus is the new coach! What?! Was there an attempt to explain why Fuller left so suddenly? I mean the Engel shows were never noted for continuity but *sheesh* this was ridiculous by any standard. If Theus was leaving the show, he should've been written out by taking that college offer in his last ep..!

Anthony

TV Guy · 12-30-2001, 05:15 PM

They said in the first Butkus episode that Coach Fuller had taken a college job at the same school as one of the players who had graduated that past year (I think Vince or Teddy, but I'm guessing). The production cycle for this series is very quick, and up to 9 months can go between taping seasons. I'm guessing that Reggie Theus quit between seasons, which is why he didn't have a farewell episode.

irehtman · 03-19-2013, 01:35 PM

Reggie Theus is more a experience basketball coach than Dick Butkus. Unfortunately, Reggie is not a great actor, so he quitted immediately. I like Dick Butkus better if he is like a Dolph Sweet or Vic Tayback type of actors. He make more jokes recently. Dick retired from acting after the Hang Time series finished as a rich person, and he is still alive right now.

12-14-2001, 05:39 PM	#1
Anthony Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Dec 14, 2001 Location: NY, USA Posts: 3	Fuller--> Katowinski? Was there ever any sort of "transition" episode or at least a scene when Coach Fuller (Reggie Theus) left and Coach Katowinski (Dick Butkus) came in? The way I remember it, in Fuller's last episode the team won a title and he had gotten an offer to coach college ball. This would have been the perfect opportunity to write Theus/Fuller out of the series...but iirc they went for the cliched "happy ending" with Fuller turning down the college job to stay...This made no sense cause in the "next" episode, the opener to the following season, Theus is gone and Dick Butkus is the new coach! What?! Was there an attempt to explain why Fuller left so suddenly? I mean the Engel shows were never noted for continuity but sheesh this was ridiculous by any standard. If Theus was leaving the show, he should've been written out by taking that college offer in his last ep..! Anthony

12-30-2001, 05:15 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	They said in the first Butkus episode that Coach Fuller had taken a college job at the same school as one of the players who had graduated that past year (I think Vince or Teddy, but I'm guessing). The production cycle for this series is very quick, and up to 9 months can go between taping seasons. I'm guessing that Reggie Theus quit between seasons, which is why he didn't have a farewell episode.

03-19-2013, 01:35 PM	#3
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,824	Reggie Theus is more a experience basketball coach than Dick Butkus. Unfortunately, Reggie is not a great actor, so he quitted immediately. I like Dick Butkus better if he is like a Dolph Sweet or Vic Tayback type of actors. He make more jokes recently. Dick retired from acting after the Hang Time series finished as a rich person, and he is still alive right now.