Was 8 Simple Rules... not that good of a show to begin with

[TMC]

I think that because this was John Ritter's last major project, it's a somewhat sensitive subject to criticize the show for what it really was:

Oftentimes thirsty execs will assemble a new sitcom with a cast comprised of stars of hit series past and assume that will, above all else, solidify it as a winner. It's obvious that the suits at ABC thought they'd struck gold with the pairing of sitcom legends Jack Tripper and Peg Bundy as the parents of a contemporary suburban family.

Sadly, they wasted the talent because the Hennessy family lacks the hilarious self-possessed cynicism of the Bundy's, and aren't nearly as interesting a foil for Ritter as Joyce DeWitt and Insert Hot Blonde were. Instead, viewers were treated to typical, boring, Modern Day Dad Doesn't Get His Hot Hormonal Teenage Daughters fare. After Ritter's tragic, untimely passing the series only sank lower, with the addition of that show-killing midget David Spade and James Garner, who stumbles through every bland scene and microwaved joke as if he's making up a huge debt he owed to Ritter or someone else on the series.

[JSP]

I liked the show. Ritter’s comedy was unique and has not since been duplicated.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

I saw a couple episodes during the first season when we had NO idea John would die soon.

Frankly I didn't like it at all. But looking back it's better than I thought. Plus some guest star episodes were much better like when Terry Bradshaw was on.

Season 2 planned to have John's wife Any on as a teacher for one of the kids & they were going to get in a HUGE argument. That would've been HILARIOUS!!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by JSP

I liked the show. Ritter’s comedy was unique and has not since been duplicated.

I think that because John Ritter came from Three's Company, which was a very silly, farcical (and surprisingly risque for its time) show (that was heavily reliant on John's physicality and gift for slapstick) and Katey Sagal came from Married...with Children, which was a very cynical and subversive show for its time (the Ropers on Three's Company could be considered the prototypes for Al and Peggy Bundy), one would think a show co-starring them wouldn't be as decidedly middle of the road and generic. 8 Simple Rules was the type of show that Married...with Children would've satirized had it been on in the '80s-'90s (like The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, and Family Ties).

[TMC]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

I saw a couple episodes during the first season when we had NO idea John would die soon.

Frankly I didn't like it at all. But looking back it's better than I thought. Plus some guest star episodes were much better like when Terry Bradshaw was on.

Season 2 planned to have John's wife Any on as a teacher for one of the kids & they were going to get in a HUGE argument. That would've been HILARIOUS!!

After viewing the Autopsy episode about John Ritter's untimely death on Reelz, I do wonder if in hindsight, the signs were visibly there that he was unwell. John at that point in time, obviously had a gut and he didn't look as "fit" as he was in his Three's Company or even Hooperman days. The episode did say that John was a yo-yo dieter and tended to eat unhealthy foods. They also said that John was a smoker, but by the looks of it, he quit around 1979.

One story that I wasn't aware about was that about two weeks prior to his death, John was running up a flight of stairs while on the 8 Simple Rules set. Robby Benson, who was directing, noticed that John was out of breath. He always regretted not telling John about his concerns. But at the time, Benson didn't want to embarrassing him. John also innocently ignored the lingering discomfort in his chest by treating himself with TUMS.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by TMC

After viewing the Autopsy episode about John Ritter's untimely death on Reelz, I do wonder if in hindsight, the signs were visibly there that he was unwell. John at that point in time, obviously had a gut and he didn't look as "fit" as he was in his Three's Company or even Hooperman days. The episode did say that John was a yo-yo dieter and tended to eat unhealthy foods. They also said that John was a smoker, but by the looks of it, he quit around 1979.

One story that I wasn't aware about was that about two weeks prior to his death, John was running up a flight of stairs while on the 8 Simple Rules set. Robby Benson, who was directing, noticed that John was out of breath. He always regretted not telling John about his concerns. But at the time, Benson didn't want to embarrassing him. John also innocently ignored the lingering discomfort in his chest by treating himself with TUM.

Yeah, I saw that REELZ show on Ritter too & started 2 threads on it but I'm surprised hardly anyone has responded!

The biggest shock from that show was he had a full body scan 2 years before his death but LIED to his wife by saying it was clear when it showed CALCIFICATION of the arteries leading to the heart! So John KNEW he had serious heart trouble but REFUSED to get treated!

I don't know if it would've changed anything if Robby Benson told John on that day. John would've likely just blown him off & said it's nothing. It took a brush with DEATH for John to take this seriously but by then it was too late!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Yeah, I saw that REELZ show on Ritter too & started 2 threads on it but I'm surprised hardly anyone has responded!

The biggest shock from that show was he had a full body scan 2 years before his death but LIED to his wife by saying it was clear when it showed CALCIFICATION of the arteries leading to the heart! So John KNEW he had serious heart trouble but REFUSED to get treated!

I don't know if it would've changed anything if Robby Benson told John on that day. John would've likely just blown him off & said it's nothing. It took a brush with DEATH for John to take this seriously but by then it was too late!

We'll never know for sure why John didn't treat his heart problems with more immediacy in the time prior to his death. I suppose that John was one of those people who was concerned that if word got out that he was sick, producers would be reluctant to cast him anymore. I recall that his brother, Tom said that on the Autopsy show. Or maybe, John was one of those, "I'll worry about it when it finally comes" type of people. What I mean is that, he seems perfectly fine at the time, so it's not something that he needed to take care of right away.

[icecream]

The John Ritter episodes of 8 Simple Rules are easily better than John Ritter's more famous sitcom Three's Company. If he hadn't died 8 Simple Rules could have lasted 7 or 8 seasons.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by catsrule

The John Ritter episodes of 8 Simple Rules are easily better than John Ritter's more famous sitcom Three's Company. If he hadn't died 8 Simple Rules could have lasted 7 or 8 seasons.

LMAO!! You on drugs or something??

You realize only an extremely TINY minority of people who've seen both shows actually prefer 8 Simple Rules? There's Company BLOWS away 8 Simple Rules by such a HUGE margin it's inconceivable!

Plus don't forget Three's Company was Lucille Ball's favorite show! I think the Queen of Comedy knows better than you!

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by TMC

We'll never know for sure why John didn't treat his heart problems with more immediacy the time prior to his death. I suppose that John was one of those people who was concerned that if word got out that he was sick, producers would be reluctant to cast him anymore. I recall that his brother, Tom said that on the Autopsy show. Or maybe, John was one of those, "I'll worry about it when it finally comes" type of people. What I mean is that, he seems perfectly fine at the time, so it's not something that need to take care of right away.

But look at Kelly Preston who just died. She was able to hide 2 YEARS of cancer treatment from the public & we only found out she was sick AFTER she died! John could've done the same.

If John simply saw a cardiologist he could've had the same cardiac procedure his brother Tom did & lived DECADES longer!!

[icecream]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

LMAO!! You on drugs or something??

You realize only an extremely TINY minority of people who've seen both shows actually prefer 8 Simple Rules? There's Company BLOWS away 8 Simple Rules by such a HUGE margin it's inconceivable!

Plus don't forget Three's Company was Lucille Ball's favorite show! I think the Queen of Comedy knows better than you!

Three's Company is the most overrated 70s sitcom that didn't come from Norman Lear. really sleazy writing

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by catsrule

Three's Company is the most overrated 70s sitcom that didn't come from Norman Lear. really sleazy writing

Then how do you explain that it was the Queen of comedy's favorite show??

She would NOT choose some awful show as her favorite!

[icecream]

I like Lucille Ball in her shows, doesn't mean I have to agree with her being a Three's Company fan. It is nowhere near I Love Lucy's quality.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Then how do you explain that it was the Queen of comedy's favorite show??

She would NOT choose some awful show as her favorite!

She hated "All in the Family", so I guess we all can't like that show.

It's an opinion.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by JamesG

She hated "All in the Family", so I guess we all can't like that show.

It's an opinion.

Yeah , to each their own ! There is no right or wrong just a matter of opinion !

Personally , my favorite role of John Ritter was neither in 3's company nor 8 Simple rules! I loved him as Reverend Matthew Fordwick in The Waltons ! Yes, John Ritter played a recurring role in The Waltons as a Baptist preacher in the 1930's !! One of his earliest roles ! He is a wonderful dramatic actor along with being a great comedic actor ! He was also really good in a made for TV movie " Heartbeat" ( 1992 -93 ? ) , another dramatic role !