R.I.P. Chico Rodriguez, Susan Ross and Dan Conner: A Brief History of 13 Shocking Sitcom Deaths
Edith Bunker on Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place was a quasi-spin-off, quasi-continuation of All in the Family, only the focus of the show shifted from the home to Archie's new bar. Jean Stapleton -- who played Archie's quite popular wife, Edith -- was not pleased about her diminished role and left the show after the first season. So, naturally, the writers killed her off (off-screen) with a stroke to open the second season.
Bill McNeal on NewsRadio
Phil Hartman was killed by his wife in a murder-suicide in 1998. After an episode where the characters on NewsRadio grieve the loss of Bill, who died from a heart attack (except Mathew who refuses to believe that Bill is dead), Jon Lovitz replaced Hartman on the show. (Lovitz discussed the subject of taking over for Hartman, a subject he usually avoids, with Movieline in a recent interview.)
Chico Rodriguez in Chico and the Man
In 1977, as the hottest comic on the planet, and with his own sitcom, Freddie Prinze shot himself in the head. It's been debated it if was an actual suicide or a threat of suicide gone wrong, but regardless, he did take his own life. Unfortunately, his show, Chico and the Man, pretty inexplicably tried to continue on without him. While Chico "was visiting his father in Mexico," Ed Brown (a.k.a. The Man) befriends a 12-year old boy and his mom, played by Charo (yes, seriously). Eventually it is revealed that Chico had died when Ed smashed Chico's old guitar against a van.
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Correct, but it wasn't inexplicable -- they both died. Night Court had TWO actresses playing bailffs die between back-to-back seasons. Selma Diamond died after Season 2 and Florence Halop died after Season 3. Both died of cancer.
Nurse Laverne Roberts on Scrubs played by Aloma Wright. Not only was it unexpected when she got in the accident and died but she came back as another nurse who just happened to look like Nurse Roberts. The death itself was not shocking but the incident happened at the end of one of Scrubs funnier episodes.
"orientated"?????!!!!
I instantly thought of Brendan Fraser's death on Scrubs. To this day, even though I know what's coming, I still tear up. It was one of the most heartbreaking and beautifully written episodes.
What about Shawn Hunters father on Boy Meets World? Died in season 4.
Anyone else remember David Strickland from Suddenly Susan?
I never got to see the Edith scene. Heartbreaking.
Where is Chef on South Park?
@MAGICJILL
Ever look a word up?
Orientated:
Adjusted or located in relation to surroundings or circumstances; sometimes used in combination.
It's a synonym for oriented.
It means:
Adjusted or located in relation to surroundings or circumstances; sometimes used in combination.
It's a synonym for oriented.
We should also remember that John Ritter's death was also acknowledge in Scrubs. He appeared twice in the show once in a full episode and also in a flashback daydream that JD, is famous for. Scrubs honoured him by centering a full episode on his characters death but also mentioning it in the following episodes.
You forgot Maude Flanders on the Simpsons!!!!
"The Hogan Family" and "Perfect Strangers" are not connected in any way.
HF was on NBC and PS was on ABC. I don't know what show you were thinking of, or if you just wanted to take a shot at Balki (for irrational reasons) but you need to edit your article.
THAT'S a good one - especially since I kept thinking they would inexplicably bring her back in the way they handle most big plot twists. Lisa going vegetarian and Maude's death are two very rare, consistent plot changes.
It would've been difficult to pair "Valerie" with "Perfect Strangers" since the former was on NBC and the latter was on ABC. Also, there is no such word as "orientated."
Plus, Valerie and Perfect Strangers were on two different nights (Sunday and Wednesday, respectively). So they couldn't possibly be "paired up".
I didn't mean paired up on the network. The producers of Valerie also produced Perfect Strangers. Perfect Strangers was making more money for them, so, they wanted to pair them up in style. Sorry for any confusion.
What about Jack Arnold from The Wonder Years?
Speaking of discipline, don't take on too much when it comes to social networking.
Networks have had shows made by the same people that are connected. Bionic Woman and Million Dollar Man did a crossover yet were on different networks. And more recently, even though they started on the same network, Buffy moved networks but they still ended up doing a bit of crossing over with Angel
I'll admit though, sitcoms would have next to no reason to do this.
Don't forget James from GoodTimes. That episode still makes me cry.
The British use "orientated".
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