Martin Spanjers, Katey Sagal and Amy Davidson — with baby Lennox — reunited with Cuoco more than a decade after the light-hearted-turned-heartbreaking comedy left the air.
And now, one suspects, the show will pretty quickly fade.
There was nothing surprising about this genial series in happier days, and there was nothing surprising about what one of the ratings hotlines labeled “the death episode.” The hour delivered lots of group hugs, tears and platitudes about the unfairness of such a loss, best delivered by an avuncular James Garner.
Though the sitcom revolved around Ritter’s character, it was ultimately decided to keep the show going and Ritter’s character dies off-camera. When he calls, Ed’s ready to get sexy with her over the phone but she has to hang up.
The next few episodes deal with his loss and how the Hennessy family moves on. Bridget was supposed to be in charge of the Ditch Day prank, in which she was to steal a rival school’s goat mascot.
“A little #8simplerules reunion party today with a tiny addition,” Cuoco captioned the black-and-white Instagram photo.
Kaley Cuoco apologizes for photo of dogs sitting on American flag “Someone is smiling down on us.” John Ritter, the Hennessy patriarch, died in 2003 and was written out of the show with an off-screen collapse at the grocery store.
Cate’s father, Jim Egan (James Garner), moves in to help and Cate’s very immature nephew, C. (David Spade), moves in for additional comedy relief. There was initially a great deal of curiosity about how the death of Ritter would impact the show. She asks Rory to do it instead and Kerry, tired of being a “goodie two-shoes,” wants to be part of it. Cate comes home soonafter and she’s not happy about the four-legged houseguest either.
After a while though, the additional viewership subsided and the sitcom averaged 9.98 million and ranked 50th for the season. can’t control himself and immediately tells Bridget. Over the phone, Cate and Ed agree that they are actually dating and she decides to take the big step of telling the kids. While they’re all arguing, it comes out that Cate’s begun dating Ed. She’s surprised that he cares so much and is touched.
But Hunter and I were have cheeseburgers and he was there too. I almost called him one time when I was running the Tilt-A-Whirl but all the parents freaked out because I was dialing instead of "paying attention" to their kids. So on the way to the towels I saw these leather pants that were on sale and I remembered C. saying you're so wannabe without the leathers and my judgement said you don't want to be a wannabe and I thought judgement you are so right! J.: I remember in high school, I needed a duffle bag to carry all the cards I got. I may not be much now as a result of some hard and yes questionable living, but back in high school, I was buff, young, and tan. (Bridget kisses him again) Okay, you're being initiated into some club, aren't you?
He wants to take a more active role in the lives of his children so, when his wife Cate (Katey Sagal) returns to work full-time, he decides to stay home to take care of the kids.