Amy Yasbeck Reflects on 7 Years Without John Ritter

Amy Yasbeck Reflects on 7 Years Without John Ritter

By Nicki Gostin
Posted Sep 15th 2010 08:00AM





Seven years ago, John Ritter collapsed unexpectedly on the set of his sitcom, '8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter,' and died later that day of an undiagnosed aortic dissection. His widow, actress Amy Yasbeck, has penned 'With Love and Laughter,' a beautiful and heartfelt memoir of her life with John that gives us a glimpse of what type of guy he really was. Turns out, he was as terrific as you thought. Ritter left behind three children from his first marriage and a daughter -- Stella, who turned five the day her dad died -- with Yasbeck.

Why did you decide to write this book?
I've been writing it in my head certainly since I've known John. I didn't know if I had it in me to get it all out and put it onto the page. When I met John, everything was a story, his childhood stories were fascinating [his father was country and western singer Tex Ritter], his showbiz stories were fascinating to me and he would share them very freely to anyone who would ask him questions. He was such an entertaining storyteller and I hoped to get some of that across. I wanted to share that part of John that was shareable and keep that going, the part that the kids and I got to see.

Was it cathartic?
Cathartic to me means some sort of purging, but for me it was about focusing. It was kind of nice to be able to organize my thoughts and be able to visit things in chapters and chunks, and I know I digress in every story I'm talking, but that's how John was and that's how I am. I was writing if for my daughter Stella and the rest of the world.

Read more: http://www.popeater.com/2010/09/15/amy-yasbeck-john-ritter-with-love-and-laughter/

I liked John Ritter in 8 Simple Rules & in Three's Company. I remember when he died, it was so unexpected, and it was worse that it was on his daughter's 5th birthday.

Three's Company was one of my favorites. It was sad that John died so young. I'm probably going to read Amy's book when I get a chance.

Three's Company came out in 1977, and I remember not being allowed to watch it because I was only turning 10, LOL. I had to wait til the 80's, and I remember watching reruns of it in '83, during the summer, in the morning before I went to driver's ed.

Justice4all wrote:Three's Company was one of my favorites. It was sad that John died so young. I'm probably going to read Amy's book when I get a chance.

J4a, you know how long it took you to read the book about KC, and you had to get sick in order to finish it!

We don't want you getting sick and having to spend a lot of time in doctor's offices in order to read this book. Maybe you could get the concise version.

Hi Julie. I was allowed to watch as a kid, but didn't start watching until Terri was the third roommate. Even though many of the jokes went over my head as an 8 or 9 year old, I still found the show very funny because of John's facial expressions and how good he was with the physical comedy.

Hi mama. I'll probably rent the book from the library and put pressure on myself to finish it in a reasonable amount of time lol. Speaking of the book about KC, I have to figure out whose copy I have and return it.

Well, I'm old enough to remember watching the first season! I already had my driver's license.....

Absolutely loved the show, hated to see Suzanne Somers leave. John was a natural, he had such a unique talent. Everything they did was just hilarous. My mom loved watching it as well, we would laugh so hard at his antics. From seeing Amy talk in an interview yesterday it seems they had a beautiful, loving relationship.

Hey J4A, you're right, John's facial expressions and physical comedy is what made it a great show. When it first came out, I remember there was a big flap in the news media about this new show, about a single guy living with 2 girls, , LOL, so I guess that's why I couldn't watch it when it was brand new, nobody knew what it's good points were.

Ask eva what happens when you don't return a book.

Hi Piper, did you ever watch the Suzanne Somers movie? That was pretty interesting about how fame went to her bleached-blonde head & she blew a great thing she had going. I think her hubby (bf?) pushed her into demanding more $$$$$.

Yep, I sure did. Suzanne got too big for her tight little britches. I was glad the show continued with replacements though. But Chrissy Snow was always part of the original show for me and I hated to see her go. Fame $$$ was calling......kinda like Shelley Long and Cheers. Shelley went on to do what...play Carol Brady in the Brady Bunch movie? She was funny on Cheers, and did a great job as Mrs. Brady, and her quirky personality helped carry the show.

Suzanne went on to sell thigh masters.

Shelley was hilarious as Carol Brady.