"8 Simple Rules returns-deals with John Ritter's death

[Mitchell]

I dont know if anyone happened to catch tonight's one hour episode of "8 Simple Rules", where the onscreen family dealt with John Ritter's character's death. I watched the show, and after seeing it, I would say that the show dealt with John Ritter's passing by writing his character out of the show in a very moving, somber, appropriate way that was a fitting tribute to John, his work, his character, and the legacy he left for his onscreen family both on and off the air.
While the episode didnt say the exact cause of John's character's death, it discusses how the character, Paul Hennessy, is felled by what turns out to be a fatal attack while shopping at a supermarket, and the shock and auguish that the family has to deal with afterwards.
Due to the fact that it was a real life situation where John actually died, and the further scenario that John's real life fatal attack happened on the set in front of his co stars while working on the show, I would say that the show succeeded in showing the emotions of the onscreen family, and from what I've seen in interviews, the actors themselves, in a very appropriate way. I believe it was proper that they had John's character die, and not have his character continue with another actor playing the role. The real life implications of the situation were too tragic for that. If John could see the reaction of the cast, and the reaction of the millions of fans who thought so highly of him, he would have been proud that he and his work touched and affected so many lives. John's body is gone from this world, but his work and the legacy he left will live on, and the show paid tribute to him, his character, and his legacy tonight in a very fitting way.

Mitch

 

[Neutron]

AND...

They made a lot of advertising dollars in the process. Which do you think was more important to the studio?
In my opinion it was totally classless to make that episode, and I am very sad they're milking the death of a good man.

Tron

 

[Dave2112]

Personally, I don't think money had all that much to do with it. Advertising dollars have already been paid for the season, it's not on a show-by-show basis. That being said, I thought the production of the episode itself was handled very well. I doubt the actors had to reach very deeply for motivation.

The tributes to John's character on the show were also tributes to the man who played him. The addition of veteran actors James Garner and Susanne Plechette added a strange but realistic depth to the reality of death. As I was watching, I was reminded of my entire family gathering for the death of my grandmother, where petty bickering came out. It would have been very easy to write a script where everything went perfectly, and the cast spent an hour crying over memories of John/Paul.

Instead, as in life, emotions with nowhere to go manifested in outbursts that challenged each character. We've all been touched this way to some extent by death in our own lives. The eldest daughter's guilt over "I hate you" being the last thing she said to her father...the son's physical outburts...the wife's inability to keep up with neccesary arrangements or to sleep in her bed again...neighbors awkwardly not knowing what to say. Add to that a set of divorced older parents approaching thier daughter in diametrically opposed ways and where God fits into the picture, you have a glimpse of what a family death is really like, not the watered-down version Hollywood usually presents.

I thought it was a fitting tribute to John Ritter, one that this man who touched so many lives with his humor would have been proud of.

 

[Mitchell]

Excellent post Dave. I agree with what you said. You touched on the character's body language, and that is an excellent point. One of the reactions that most struck me personally is when Bridget, the oldest daughter, is lying in bed, staring into space, not talking, and it was almost like her family couldnt reach her. I personally have dealt with death in my own life in the exact same way. My maternal grandfather, who I was very close to, died suddenly, and I remember after we learned of his death, for days, even after the funeral, I would just lie in bed, and stare into space, and my family couldnt reach me. It was a feeling of "I cant believe he's gone. How could this happen to him, to our family, and to me?" I could just so relate to the emotion she felt over the sudden loss of someone who is near and dear to you. I thought it was well handled by the show's writers, and ABC.

Mitch

 

[Neutron]

Hour Long Special...

With special advertising rates... Enough said.

Tron

 

[Limeoutsider]

As I was watching, I was reminded of my entire family gathering for the death of my grandmother, where petty bickering came out.

Sheesh Dave, that sounds like every family holiday at my house! Anyway, I liked John Ritters work from 3's co to 8 simple rules