A powerful, behind-the-scenes look at some of America's all-time favorite television programs during their darkest hours, this study examines how various hit series have absorbed the death of a lead actor during production. Although each television program eventually resumed production, the lead actor's death in each case had a profound impact on the surviving cast and crew and the future of the show itself.
Individual chapters explore the events surrounding the deaths of Freddie Prinze (
Chico and the Man
), John Ritter (
8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter
), Redd Foxx (
The Royal Family
), Nicholas Colasanto (
Cheers
), Phil Hartman (
NewsRadio
), and many others. Their stories are told through first-hand accounts by those who knew them best, including many of the most talented actors, producers, writers, and directors in television over the past forty years.