ABC Will Continue John Ritter Sitcom 8SR - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

aterzino · 09-16-2003, 06:35 PM

LOS ANGELES - ABC Television said Tuesday it will continue the sitcom that showcased the late John Ritter (news), showing his television family coping with the death of Ritter's character on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter."

ABC executives said the show will premier next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death.

After that, the show will go into repeats while writers retool the sitcom and production starts. No date was given for when the show will return to the air.

Ritter died last Thursday of an undetected heart problem. He was 54.

"We are going to stick with it," Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a conference call with reporters.

Each of the first three episodes already shot will start with a special introduction, featuring the cast members. The next new show will deal with the death of Ritter's character, Paul Hennessy.

"Future episodes will take viewers into the Hennessy household as they experience the loss of a father and construct a new life together," said Lloyd Braun, chairman of the ABC Entertainment Television Group. "We will play out the situation as real life."

Executives said they considered a number of options, including canceling the show, but decided to continue the series.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...tv/ritter_show

Good idea or bad idea? post it....

hawaii five-o · 09-16-2003, 06:46 PM

I for one am glad that they are continuing the show. This is probably what John Ritter would have wanted. It will be interesting to see how the family copes with his death.

Fan of old shows · 09-17-2003, 05:19 PM

I am glad they have decided to continue and not try to replace John, yet, do what is only possible in a case like this, write off the character of Paul to die. I regret not watching a lot of the first season, but I found it to be the greatest current sitcom out there. I am looking forward to see how they will direct the series into a show without John. I hope viewers will give it the opportunity it deserves.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 09-23-2003, 07:38 PM

It's going to be really weird watching it tonight. Harder than anything else he's in, because this was the last thing John worked on before he died. That's all I'll be thinking about through the whole episode.

userjanet · 09-23-2003, 09:16 PM

at so funny at me cry

09-16-2003, 06:35 PM	#1
aterzino Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 21, 2003 Posts: 52	ABC Will Continue John Ritter Sitcom 8SR LOS ANGELES - ABC Television said Tuesday it will continue the sitcom that showcased the late John Ritter (news), showing his television family coping with the death of Ritter's character on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." ABC executives said the show will premier next Tuesday as planned and that the network will air the three episodes Ritter filmed before his death. After that, the show will go into repeats while writers retool the sitcom and production starts. No date was given for when the show will return to the air. Ritter died last Thursday of an undetected heart problem. He was 54. "We are going to stick with it," Susan Lyne, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a conference call with reporters. Each of the first three episodes already shot will start with a special introduction, featuring the cast members. The next new show will deal with the death of Ritter's character, Paul Hennessy. "Future episodes will take viewers into the Hennessy household as they experience the loss of a father and construct a new life together," said Lloyd Braun, chairman of the ABC Entertainment Television Group. "We will play out the situation as real life." Executives said they considered a number of options, including canceling the show, but decided to continue the series. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...tv/ritter_show Good idea or bad idea? post it....

09-23-2003, 07:38 PM	#4
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	It's going to be really weird watching it tonight. Harder than anything else he's in, because this was the last thing John worked on before he died. That's all I'll be thinking about through the whole episode.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

09-23-2003, 09:16 PM	#5
userjanet Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Sep 23, 2003 Location: ocala fla Posts: 3	at funny show of john at so funny at me cry
	__________________ im big fan of john ritter

09-16-2003, 06:46 PM	#2
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 for one am glad that they are continuing the show. This is probably what John Ritter would have wanted. It will be interesting to see how the family copes with his death.

09-17-2003, 05:19 PM	#3
Fan of old shows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 417	I am glad they have decided to continue and not try to replace John, yet, do what is only possible in a case like this, write off the character of Paul to die. I regret not watching a lot of the first season, but I found it to be the greatest current sitcom out there. I am looking forward to see how they will direct the series into a show without John. I hope viewers will give it the opportunity it deserves.