Gone from our television sets, but not our hearts- here are 7 long gone characters we really hope are doing well today.
Seth Cohen – The OC
Making it to San Diego Comic Con has always been a long term goal of mine. If I ever make the trip, I’ll keep an eye out for Seth Cohen. Besides video streaming, this seems like the most likely place to spot the iconic Fox nerd. Being the “President and only member” of his high school’s Comic Book Club, Cohen must be absolutely loving the ongoing nerd renaissance. Blockbuster comic book-based movies, Star Wars sequels; it’s a great time to be a geek, and Cohen must be reveling in it all. Unless… no. Don’t even think it.
OK, unless Summer dumped him. DAMMIT I don’t want to think it either, but let’s be pragmatic. The divorce rate is damn near one million percent nowadays, and Summer was good looking so she always had OPTIONS. “Options” are the arch enemy of nerdy boyfriends and husbands. Actually, options are everyone’s enemy. DAMN YOU OPTIONS. At least he’ll always have Captain Oats.
Matt Saracen – Friday Night Lights
Oh Matt Saracen, I really hope you’re doing well these days. It hasn’t been that long since we last saw you, but life can change so quickly. Of course, you know this better than anyone- the day you came home to find out that your father had been killed in combat in Iraq, everything changed. I know that lots of people’s parents have passed away (that’s what humans do), but I feel a specific connection with any young male who loses their father. It’s not fair, Matt, and it doesn’t get easier.
I really hope you and Julie worked out for the long term. Not only because she was the love of your life, but because Coach Taylor is one hell of a male role model to have around. He’s the kind of man that will always look out for his former players (of which, honestly, this whole list could have been comprised), but when you marry a Taylor, you marry the whole family, ya’ll.
Chandler and Monica – Friends
They’re fine, right? I kinda freaked myself out with all that Cohen/Summer divorce talk. They’re fine.
UPDATE: They’re definitely fine.
Bill Haverchuck – Freaks and Geeks
We know the Huxtable kids are doing well, because Cliff and Clair raised the shit out of them. Some (most) of the characters on Freaks and Geeks, however, did not have that traditional warm and fuzzy upbringing. I worry most about Nick Andopolis (he was just so damn sensitive, and his dad was a puh-rick!) and Bill Haverchuck. Bill seemed to have it the worst, although outside of one episode he seemed largely unaffected by everything.
Maybe he went on to brilliance in the business world, or perhaps he tours the nation’s comic conventions and wins cosplay contests in his Bionic Woman costume. Whatever the case, we really hope Haverchuck is doing well. And that gym teacher had better be treating Bill’s mother right.
Walter Bishop – Fringe
We hope he’s doing well, wherever and whenever he is. The show kinda lost me toward the end there. Something about a tulip.
Rose Nylund – The Golden Girls
Poor Rose. She had already outlived her late husband Charlie for many years by the time Golden Girls (and Golden Palace) went off the air. We don’t need to speculate as to which STD ultimately claimed Blanche’s life, but we know in our hearts that that hardy Scandinavian constitution allowed Rose to outlast all of the others.
Surely Rose relocated into a smaller condo, or maybe even moved into Shady Pines (hopefully it’s under new management). Regardless, she’s undoubtedly often visited by Dr. Harry Weston’s daughters, and maybe she even has a dog for a companion- say, one of Dreyfuss’ grandpuppies?
Jack Tripper – Three’s Company
When we last saw Jack Tripper he had moved in with the “love of his life” Vicky Bradford in Three’s a Crowd. We only got a 22 episode peek into their relationship, but let’s be honest- Vicky clearly wasn’t as fun as his roommates, and I hope to Hell she hasn’t spent all these years dimming his shine. Jack is as bouyant a personality as there’s ever been, but it seemed like all he got from his girlfriend and her father was grief.
It helps that Vicky’s mother was played by Jessica Walter, but even a vodka rocks and a piece of toast every morning with Lucille Bluth couldn’t save a doomed relationship. Sorry, I’m very passionate about the health and happiness of Jack Tripper. We all should be.
I wonder if Coach Taylor has won a Pennsylvania state championship yet. I probably would have heard about it, living here right?
I loved the fact that my alma mater, Temple University had a cameo for Mrs. Coach Taylor’s interview at the end of the series. Friday Night Lights was a show that did a remarkable job recovering from a weak season two to become one of the all time best dramas.
For all the great shows that we lost before their time, this is one that we got just enough of, and by all rights could have justifiably been cancelled after one or two seasons. I agree though, top 5 all time in my book.
oh that’d be all over the news
There’s NO way Jack and Vicky made it into the 90s. It’s best to just think of 8 Simple Rules as the direct sequel, and know that he died after having a family with Peg Bundy.
ooh but then we have to know that Peg ended up wrapped up in some violent biker gang, and that Jack’s daughter ended up dating Rusty Griswold (which is fine), and that Al Bundy is now happily married to a hot younger woman.. actually this all works out perfectly!
#MindBlown
Damn, I miss Walter.