Writer’s Workshop: RIP Bob Saget

Writer's Workshop 1 Minute
From his Instagram, shortly before he died

I’m sure everyone’s heard by now that actor and comedian Bob Saget was found dead in his hotel room this past Sunday in Jacksonville, Florida. They found him in his room, lying on the bed, apparently dead for some time, when he failed to check out on time. News reports say that there was no evidence of foul play or drug use, but that a coroner’s report probably won’t be available for up to 12 weeks. Not that it’s anybody’s business besides his wife’s and daughters’…

I admit, Mary and I used to watch Full House on a fairly regular basis even though we’re not preteen girls nor were we ever parents of preteen girls. We watched America’s Funniest Home Videos nearly every Sunday when he was the host, at least until it became apparent that many of the entries were staged. After that, he dropped off the radar, as far as we were concerned. I know he was in a documentary called The Aristocrats (which no, I haven’t seen) and he had an off-camera role on the series How I Met Your Mother (which we never watched), but that was about it. He was making his way back into stand-up comedy after a hiatus, and was in the middle of a tour that he was really enjoying. He posted to Instagram early this past Sunday, hours before he died, saying "I had no idea I did a two hour set tonight. I’m back in comedy like I was when I was 26."

In terms of recent celebrity deaths, Betty White’s recent passing is more significant to me, because I had seen her on TV since I was a youngster (I remember when she and Allen Ludden got married when he was hosting Password in the early ’60’s) and The Golden Girls helped me through my stroke recovery, but she was almost 100 and, at that age, you almost expect it. Bob was 65, like I am (our birthdays are less than two months apart), and unlike me, he’s taken care of himself.

So, that’s the news story I’ve been thinking about.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

21 thoughts on “Writer’s Workshop: RIP Bob Saget”

  1. Oh man, both of these deaths are huge losses for Hollywood. Betty White is an absolute icon. It is so rare to find an actor or actress that appeals to so many age groups. Betty was popular even with Millenials and teens today! Bob Saget is entirely too young. I think I read that his father and uncle both had heart issues, but even still he was too young. I didn’t watch any of his more current roles either, but it sounds like he was still really quite busy with his career!

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    1. Betty White is one of those people who, even though she was practically 100, you think “she died too young.” She stayed active and was still on TV until about five years ago, and even then you’d hear from her. She kept herself current and wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade. That’s what people loved about her, I think, and why she had such a broad appeal.

      I think Bob Saget was too closely identified with Danny Tanner, and it typecast him. He was the narrator on “How I Met Your Mother,” and showed up in the movie “The Aristocrats,” and I think he just realized that he wanted to get back into standup comedy. And he had apparently had a good deal of success with it. Then this…

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  4. I remember watching Saget on Full House…what a difference his stand up was! I really liked the guy and he was really funny. It was a shock to me.

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  5. I’ve known more than a few people who have said, “I’m not feeling well, I think I’ll just lay down for a bit” and they didn’t get back up. I think now you should at the very least call your doctor or maybe even go to the ER…Mom’s a retired infection control nurse, sister is a nurse and daughter is a nurse. I think before I lay down I’ll at least give one of them a call.

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    1. Of course, he might not have been feeling sick and just stretched out on the bed to take a nap before he had to go. Guess we’ll never know. But I’m with you: if I have any question in my mind, I call someone.

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  8. OMG! I heard about Bob, I had NOT heard about Betty. sigh Well she was very old, and I kept waiting. Next one in the queue (unless he’s already gone) is Sean Connery. Very sad on all fronts. Thanks for the update John. Now the Golden Girls are all together again. :)

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    1. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Sean died in Otober 2020. Joyce Randolph, who played Trixie on “The Honeymooners” is well up in her 90’s, and she’s still with us, and Barbara Eden is 90, going on 91 and still lovely as ever.

      Dwayne Hickman died over the weekend at 87. Man, these people last forever…

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  9. There have been several passings recently. Dobie Gillis (Dwayne Hickman) went also. At least it seems he went peacefully in his sleep which is what we all hope for.

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