ABC's "8 Simple Rules" In Doubt

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ABC's "8 Simple Rules" In Doubt

By Josh Grossberg
E! Online

Following the sudden death last Thursday of star John Ritter, ABC is finding that it's not so simple to determine the fate of its hit show, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.

Facing a dilemma the likes of which broadcasters haven't seen in years--the loss of a leading actor in a vehicle built around him--shocked network executives are being forced to ponder the future of a young sitcom that was one of the bright spots on ABC's otherwise abysmal primetime lineup, let alone whether to even continue airing the show.

8 Simple Rules' second season, which was scheduled to begin on September 23, was postponed and filming was stopped as the show's cast and crew, as well as Ritter's friends and Hollywood colleagues, gathered at their normal call time on Friday to remember the former Three's Company star.

Meanwhile, the tributes continued to pour in from other industry veterans who knew him.

"I can truly say that his loss will be felt very personally across the industry as John had the wonderfully ability to make everyone he worked with feel like not just a colleague but also a friend," ABC entertainment president Susan Lyne said in a statement.

"John Ritter was a force of nature. He'd sweep onto a quiet set and it would instantly turn into a laugh-filled room," said Flody Suarez and Tracy Gamble, Rules' executive producers. "For everyone here, coming to work each day was a joy. You always knew, at some point, there would be a patented John Ritter pratfall or spit take. He had no shame when it came to making us laugh. We will miss his smile, we will miss his laugh and, mostly, we will miss his incredible kindness."

"To all who knew him, he was an inspiration. His endless talents and unparalleled human spirit were a gift to us all that we will cherish. . .Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," said Touchstone president Stephen McPherson.

While both executives at ABC and Disney, which produces the show, were reportedly too shaken up to comment on Rules' future last week, some Hollywood observers speculated that the Alphabet net is more likely to revamp the show rather than scrap it.

"It's really in the tradition of Hollywood that the show must go on," one high-level TV exec told Daily Variety. "Shut down production for awhile to pay respect and mourn and figure the whole thing out. But I don't think there's anything disrespectful [about going forward]. There are a lot of people whose livelihoods depend on the show."

Some of the suggestions already raised include restructuring Rules around co-star Katey Sagal, who plays Ritter's wife in the show, or find a new male actor to try and fill the father figure role left void by the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor's passing.

A spokeswoman with ABC had no comment regarding such talk.

But according to the New York Daily News one possibility being bandied about would be to bring in another popular '70s-era icon who might play a brother to Ritter's bumbling dad, Paul Hennessy.

Already talk has centered on Henry Winkler for the job. The former Fonz from TV's Happy Days is an old pal of Ritter's and was scheduled to guest on the episode which the actor never completed due to an undetected heart condition.

Other potential candidates could include sitcom vets Tony Danza, Howie Mandel, and even Richard Kline, Ritter's Three's Company cohort.

Regardless, should producers forge ahead, they'll still have the delicate matter of what to do with his character. Having the bumbling dad of two teenage daughters and a preteen son die on the show is a hard sell comedy-wise.

"The show's so irreverent, it's hard to imagine the [daughters] on the show being as shallow as they seem and people finding that appropriate," another insider told Variety. "Audiences have to feel these characters are real. They can't pretend dad is off on a business trip."

Perhaps the biggest question mark is the fate of the three episodes already filmed for the second season. Should ABC decide not to go forward with the September 23 premiere, another option would be to possibly delay the Rules' return until November or January out of respect for Ritter and give producers, cast, and fans time to mourn.

In the meantime, the network might give producers some breathing space by substituting 8 Simple Rules in its current Tuesday time slot with According to Jim or George Lopez.

Either way, history hasn't been kind to sitcoms which have suffered the permanent loss of key cast members.

NewsRadio never really got over the death of star Phil Hartman in 1998, and despite filling the void with Jon Lovitz, was canceled a year later.

CBS' 1991 series The Royal Family lost its sense of humor less than a month after it premiered with the death of star Redd Foxx. Producers wrote his demise into the storyline, and moved forward with co-star Della Reese's character and added actress Jackee to the cast as her half-sister helping her cope. Ultimately, audiences couldn't however and the Eye was forced to axe it.

Before his untimely death, Ritter was looking forward to a good week both personally and professionally.

Not only was he happy to have friends like Winkler and director Peter Bogdonavich guest starring on the fourth episode, but the thespian was also celebrating his daughter, Stella's fifth birthday on Thursday, when he became ill.

He was also looking forward to actress-wife Amy Yasbeck's birthday on Friday--not to mention his own 55th birthday this Wednesday and his wedding anniversary on Thursday.

In remembrance of Ritter, ABC plans to air a special one-hour tribute to him during 8 Simple Rules 8 p.m. timeslot (which would've been a repeat of the show's first season finale) hosted by Diane Sawyer.

Also, Nick at Nite is planning to air a Jack Tripper marathon with nine hours of Three's Company episodes scheduled to run tonight through tomorrow morning.