James Garner/Suzanne Pleshette as Cate's Parents (Garner for 4 eps & Pleshette for 1)

[Pavan]

James Garner has taken on what is likely to be one of the toughest roles in primetime this season.

The veteran actor has been tapped to guest star in four episodes of ABC/Touchstone TV's "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," taking the sitcom through the tricky transition from a show that revolved around the travails of a harried dad and newspaper columnist played by John Ritter, who died of a heart ailment last month, to a new focus on a family coping with the sudden loss of its patriarch.

Garner will play the father of Katey Sagal's character, the widowed Cate Hennessy, who comes to support his daughter and three teenage grandchildren as they grapple with grief and the harsh realities of becoming a single-parent family. Garner's character will be recently separated from his wife, who has not yet been cast. The grandmother character will appear in at least one or two episodes but is not likely to appear in all four with Garner.

Production on the first post-Ritter episode, which will run an hour, is set to begin Monday. A Touchstone spokeswoman stressed Wednesday that many details of the story line are still being hammered out, as is the final version of the script. Garner's four episodes are expected to run consecutively.

After notching huge ratings for the airing of the final three episodes completed by Ritter for the show's sophomore season, "8 Simple Rules" went into reruns this week. The first Garner episode is expected to air in the first or second week of November, during the sweep.

ABC and Touchstone brass declined to elaborate on plans for the post-Ritter transition. It's understood that producers are trying to secure return appearances by some of the guest stars who appeared on the show last season, a list that includes Larry Miller, Cindy Williams and John Ratzenberger.

Garner, who most recently appeared last year in the short-lived CBS Supreme Court drama "First Monday," launched his career as the star of ABC's irreverent 1957-62 Western "Maverick." In the 1970s, Garner earned five consecutive lead drama actor Emmy nominations (and one win) for his role as offbeat Detective Jim Rockford in NBC's "The Rockford Files."

Garner is repped by Writers & Artists Agency and longtime manager Bill Robinson.

[glenny]

Interesting choice. I would never in a million years thought of him for that role. He has basically played dramatic role for most of his career. I find it also interesting that they have the new character play a relative of Kate's and not of Paul's. In one episode did'nt Paul say that his in-laws did not like him very much?

[benjamoon]

^^^ It would make sense for it to be Cate's relative, because he'd want to be there for his daughter. I think James Garner will do a good job and I hope John Ratzenbeger/Cindy Williams are on or maybe become regulars. I think many stars are or will volunteer their services as a tribute to John and to help the show

[D-Dey]

Sounds like an interesting role, but the show's still going to go down the tubes.

[Sean12]

If you're a true fan, you'll stick with it. Don't bash it before you see it.

[PZelda]

Originally posted by Sean12
If you're a true fan, you'll stick with it. Don't bash it before you see it.

Amen to that, Sean!

[HDfanLiz]

Yeah, I agree, I think John would want us to stick with the show. Obviously I wish the show could stay the way it was, but since it can't, I think this is a good move for the show to make. I really like James Garner and I'm excited to see what his character will be like.

[Pavan]

Cate's mom will be played by Suzanne Pleshette for at least the one hour episode:

The kids on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter" have met their grandmother, and it's Suzanne Pleshette.
Pleshette will guest star in at least the first episode of "8 Simple Rules" -- and possibly more -- when the show returns in November following its hiatus.

The actress joins James Garner, who was also tapped this week to join the show following series star John Ritter's death. Garner and Pleshette will play the recently separated parents of Katey Sagal's character, family matriarch Cate Hennessy.

Garner, whose character moves in with the family, has signed up to appear in at least the first four segs of the revamped "8 Simple Rules" (Daily Variety, Oct. 16). It's still uncertain whether Pleshette will be featured in all four as well.

Pleshette most recently starred last season on the NBC comedy "Good Morning Miami." She also lent her voice to the animated feature "Spirited Away" and the video "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride."

The actress is best known for her lengthy stint as Emily Hartley on "The Bob Newhart Show." Pleshette and Garner also starred opposite each other in the 1966 feature "Mister Buddwing" and 1971's "Support Your Local Gunfighter."

[Will and Grace Fanatic]

I like the fact that we have Suzanne Pleshette as the grandmother and James Garner as the grandfather but I just hope they are guest appearances and that is all. I'd like to have the shows as Cate being a single mother.

[Freakzilla]

I think this is a good move. Having one or two big guest stars for a month's worth of episodes could keep viewers tuned in long enough to see how the revamped show will work. If the viewers like what they see, they'll keep tuning in.

[Mr. Television]

Originally posted by Freakzilla
I think this is a good move. Having one or two big guest stars for a month's worth of episodes could keep viewers tuned in long enough to see how the revamped show will work. If the viewers like what they see, they'll keep tuning in.

I agree

[David]

Originally posted by Sean12
If you're a true fan, you'll stick with it. Don't bash it before you see it.

Exactly!!!!

[Agent 99]

I love James Garner and Suzanne Pleshette. Personally, I hope they do more than just a few episodes.