Favorite John Ritter Roles??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Toukee · 09-13-2003, 03:28 AM

Everybody is mentioning "Three's Company" and of course "8 Simple Rules" - but John Ritter had an extremely impressive list of credits.

As a memorial to him, how about if people mention some of their favorite (but lessor known) performances by this star who was extinguished much too soon?

In 1979, John Ritter did a low budget movie called "Americathon" where he plays the President of the United States of America (in the near future), which is on the verge of bankruptcy...Ritter (as President Chet Roosevelt) decides to stage a massive telethon to save America. It's a pretty corny movie, but John Ritter plays his role brilliantly as a fantastically smarmy, sleazy, womanizing, playboy president who has moved the seat of U.S. Government from the White House in Washington D.C. to a singles condo in L.A. (the similarities to Bill Clinton are just amazing, especially when you realize that this movie was made before Clinton ever even entered politics)

Penny Lane · 09-13-2003, 09:31 AM

I liked his role on The Waltons as Reverend Fordwyck. He was a very good dramatic actor as well. But even in that serious role his charm and wit radiated! What a loss of a great talent!

BLT · 09-13-2003, 09:41 AM

"Hearts Afire" wasn't a bad show.

kalojado · 09-13-2003, 12:00 PM

I liked John in Three's Company probably the most, but also loved the movie "Stay Tuned". He even did a funny scene in that movie where he lands on the Threes Company set and he screams. Makes me smile just thinking about it

hawaii five-o · 09-13-2003, 12:04 PM

I liked his performance in "Sling Blade". What was that character's name?

Mr. Television · 09-13-2003, 12:08 PM

Hooperman and the Waltons showed that John could do drama as well as comedy. I also liked his guest appearance on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. A classic.

peter may · 09-13-2003, 01:19 PM

i liked his guest roles in Ally McBeal and Wings

Adamantium · 09-13-2003, 02:33 PM

Well of course,
Three's Company & 8 Simple Rules ... (TC is number 13 on my list)

But for guest roles:
as Dr. Frank on NewsRadio in the episode "The Shrink"

I never saw his guest appearance on "Wings", but he played Amy Yasbeck's ex-husband, Stewart. So, it was probably funny to see them together on screen again.

For Movies:
Problem Child 1 & 2

Brian Damage · 09-13-2003, 02:52 PM

Skin Deep was a good movie.

LucyFan · 09-13-2003, 03:02 PM

My favorite roles of John Ritter are Jack Tripper in Three's Company and the father in Problem Child 1 & 2.
I will always remember him best in those two roles.

My favorite guest appearances that he made on a sitcom are: Life With Lucy and Mary Tyler Moore.

*PinkLady* · 09-13-2003, 10:11 PM

Three's Company
Problem Child
Hearts Afire

musicradio77 · 09-13-2003, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kalojado
I liked John in Three's Company probably the most, but also loved the movie "Stay Tuned". He even did a funny scene in that movie where he lands on the Threes Company set and he screams. Makes me smile just thinking about it

I have the movie "Stay Tuned" on video where he did a "Three's Company" spoof.

James · 09-13-2003, 10:18 PM

My favorite John Ritter role was the Rev. Matthew Fordwyck during the early years of The Waltons.

Sitcomwriter · 09-13-2003, 10:20 PM

I loved him in that movie with Katey Segal and Lynn Thigpen.He and Katey had great chemistry together.They were also on Tucker together and, of course, 8 Simple Rules.He was also good in the movie Tadpole and on Veronica's Closet.He was also good on "The Larry Sanders Show".Did he beat up Siskel or was it the other way around? I can't wait to see TAC and Hooperman tomorrow!

Crimson and Clover · 09-13-2003, 11:05 PM

I loved John on Threes Company ofcourse. Also 8 Simple Rules...,Problem Child, IT, The Waltons, basically everything he did was great.

09-13-2003, 03:28 AM	#1
Toukee Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 10, 2003 Posts: 16	Favorite John Ritter Roles??? Everybody is mentioning "Three's Company" and of course "8 Simple Rules" - but John Ritter had an extremely impressive list of credits. As a memorial to him, how about if people mention some of their favorite (but lessor known) performances by this star who was extinguished much too soon? In 1979, John Ritter did a low budget movie called "Americathon" where he plays the President of the United States of America (in the near future), which is on the verge of bankruptcy...Ritter (as President Chet Roosevelt) decides to stage a massive telethon to save America. It's a pretty corny movie, but John Ritter plays his role brilliantly as a fantastically smarmy, sleazy, womanizing, playboy president who has moved the seat of U.S. Government from the White House in Washington D.C. to a singles condo in L.A. (the similarities to Bill Clinton are just amazing, especially when you realize that this movie was made before Clinton ever even entered politics)

09-13-2003, 09:31 AM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 50,970	I liked his role on The Waltons as Reverend Fordwyck. He was a very good dramatic actor as well. But even in that serious role his charm and wit radiated! What a loss of a great talent! Attached Images
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

09-13-2003, 09:41 AM	#3
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	"Hearts Afire" wasn't a bad show.
	__________________ I have nothing else to say.

09-13-2003, 12:08 PM	#6
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	Hooperman and the Waltons showed that John could do drama as well as comedy. I also liked his guest appearance on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. A classic.
	__________________ Sonny Last edited by Mr. Television; 09-13-2003 at 01:22 PM.

09-13-2003, 11:05 PM	#15
Crimson and Clover Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 09, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 17,345	I loved John on Threes Company ofcourse. Also 8 Simple Rules...,Problem Child, IT, The Waltons, basically everything he did was great.
	__________________ Friend me: http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnCall My Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotherMary You'll never find a sweeter combination As peace and love - Mishka

09-13-2003, 12:00 PM	#4
kalojado Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 20	I liked John in Three's Company probably the most, but also loved the movie "Stay Tuned". He even did a funny scene in that movie where he lands on the Threes Company set and he screams. Makes me smile just thinking about it

09-13-2003, 12:04 PM	#5
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	I liked his performance in "Sling Blade". What was that character's name?

09-13-2003, 01:19 PM	#7
peter may The SO Limey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Location: LONDON Posts: 1,883	i liked his guest roles in Ally McBeal and Wings

09-13-2003, 02:33 PM	#8
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,820	Well of course, Three's Company & 8 Simple Rules ... (TC is number 13 on my list) But for guest roles: as Dr. Frank on NewsRadio in the episode "The Shrink" I never saw his guest appearance on "Wings", but he played Amy Yasbeck's ex-husband, Stewart. So, it was probably funny to see them together on screen again. For Movies: Problem Child 1 & 2

09-13-2003, 02:52 PM	#9
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: 63,108	Skin Deep was a good movie.

09-13-2003, 03:02 PM	#10
LucyFan Still Loving Lucy! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 23, 2001 Location: In the Wonderful World of Lucy! Posts: 8,198	My favorite roles of John Ritter are Jack Tripper in Three's Company and the father in Problem Child 1 & 2. I will always remember him best in those two roles. My favorite guest appearances that he made on a sitcom are: Life With Lucy and Mary Tyler Moore.

09-13-2003, 10:11 PM	#11
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	Three's Company Problem Child Hearts Afire

09-13-2003, 10:18 PM	#13
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	My favorite John Ritter role was the Rev. Matthew Fordwyck during the early years of The Waltons.

09-13-2003, 10:20 PM	#14
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,354	I loved him in that movie with Katey Segal and Lynn Thigpen.He and Katey had great chemistry together.They were also on Tucker together and, of course, 8 Simple Rules.He was also good in the movie Tadpole and on Veronica's Closet.He was also good on "The Larry Sanders Show".Did he beat up Siskel or was it the other way around? I can't wait to see TAC and Hooperman tomorrow!