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John Belushi filmed one of the opening credits scenes for Police Squad!, however there is a tragic reason it was never used on the show. Several celebrities have left projects unfinished for different reasons. Some celebrities have had to retire for different reasons, including illness. Some celebrities sadly pass away before they have the chance to complete their work.
John Belushi was a comedian, writer, actor and musician who was one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live. After leaving SNL, he went on to continue rising to stardom with his incredible talents. Unfortunately fans will never be able to see all of the great things Belushi could have accomplished. After John Belushi filmed an opening credits scene for Police Squad!, there is a tragic reason his scene was never aired.
Which Scene Did John Belushi Film For ‘Police Squad!’?
John Belushi was a comedic powerhouse, and there is no telling how far his career could have skyrocketed had he not passed away so soon. Before he died, Belushi had filmed a scene for the opening credits of the cop comedy show Police Squad!. It was the last thing he filmed before his death in 1982.
Police Squad! only aired six episodes before it was canceled. One reason it was canceled after such a short run is because the viewer had to pay close attention to every episode in order to catch certain things.
However, Police Squad! gained enough popularity after ABC canceled it for The Naked Gun movie series based off of the show, starting with 1988’s The Naked Gun: From The Files of Police Squad!. Leslie Nielson returned from the show to star in the films.
Some celebrities who have sadly lost their lives have left unfinished work. John Belushi was working on several other projects when he tragically passed away from an overdose.
The Animal House actor left multiple projects unfinished, some which ended up being canceled. And there is one scene he filmed that might not ever be seen by an audience.
According to Eighties Kids, “Each episode (of Police Squad!) featured a special guest star, who would then be killed off in the opening credits.” One example includes William Shatner. “He appears to survive a burst of machine gun fire only to drink poisoned wine”.
“John Belushi filmed a cameo for one episode of Police Squad!, in which he was seen underwater wearing ‘cement shoes’.” An article in Vulture described the scene in more detail. “Belushi’s scene involved his legs being tied to blocks of concrete while he was floating underwater, dead.”
Considering the legendary comedian died only months after he filmed this scene, it was decided that Belushi’s scene should be replaced.
Why Was The Scene Featuring John Belushi Never Aired?
Some celebrities need to retire from their careers due to illness or injury, but might still try to work if they can. Other celebrities might have been working on a project, or had plans in the works for future projects when they passed away.
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The scene that Belushi filmed featured his character being killed off in the opening credits. He had filmed the scene a few months before his death. Police Squad! first aired on March 4th, 1982.
Belushi died the next day, March 5th, and the creators brought in another actor, William Conrad, to re-shoot Belushi’s scene. According to Eighties Kids, “Belushi sadly died before the episode aired and so the part was changed and his character re-cast out of respect for the actor.”
Reportedly, the producers tried to find the footage to use it on another project. But it seems the footage of Belushi’s scene hasn’t been found. It was somehow lost or destroyed after The Blues Brothers actor’s death in 1982.
“Following the success of The Naked Gun and The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, the series of Police Squad! was re-shown on TV, and the producers wanted to include and re-cut John Belushi’s cameo in to the show. However, they were unable to locate the footage and it is now presumed lost forever.”
What Other Projects Was John Belushi Working On?
Celebrities often work on more than one project at the same time. Along with several other projects he was working on, John Belushi had considered taking a role in the film Night Shift shortly before he passed away.
According to Vulture, he was offered the role but turned it down. It went to Michael Keaton instead. Some have wondered if the role could have had a positive effect on Belushi’s life at the time. Belushi passed away while Night Shift was filming in 1982.
“…the decision (to turn down the film) was John’s alone. Before casting Michael Keaton…we’d offered the wacky, manic role of Bill Blazejowski to John Belushi…But the movie was to be shot in Los Angeles, and John didn’t want to leave New York.”
“Then while we were shooting the movie, John died of an overdose – in Los Angeles. I’ve often wondered whether he might somehow have muddled through if he’d had Night Shift to absorb him during those troubled times. Or maybe he knew better than we did that he was too far gone.”
A film that would have shown Belushi’s dramatic acting skills, 1983’s Once Upon a Time in America, is a supporting role that went to James Woods after Belushi’s death. Belushi had “committed to losing 40 pounds so he could play the part.”
There are numerous projects Belushi had plans for when he passed away, including an Animal House sequel which “was shelved when Belushi died.” He was also supposed to star in Ghostbusters, and Spies Like Us “was originally conceived as a vehicle for Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.”
Belushi sadly never had the chance to complete these projects, and numerous others, before he passed away. John Belushi was incredibly talented and there’s no telling what all the star could have done.
