Reba McEntire and Rex Linn's Happy's Place breakup left studio audience in tears

On Season 2 of Happy's Place, Bobbie (Reba McEntire) and Emmett (Rex Linn) appeared to be headed for a happy ending until long-hidden secrets came to light in the episode 'Silence Was Golden,' and their relationship collapsed. Emmett had been told by Bobbie's late father, Happy, about an affair and a secret daughter, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo).

After promising to keep the secret, Emmett worried about starting a relationship while hiding it and ultimately failed to tell Bobbie until the Season 2 episode, leaving her heartbroken; she ended the romance and said they could only be friends for now. Cast, crew and the live studio audience were deeply affected by the breakup.

Director Pamela Fryman said during rehearsals, "Please, can we not do this? This is not OK!" and that tears kept coming during rehearsals and the actual taping because everyone was so invested in Reba and Rex's characters. Co-creator Kevin Abbott said the writers intentionally wanted a romance with realistic "bumps and bruises," explaining Emmett's choice to keep Isabella a secret was bound to "blow up" and that mixing drama with comedy helps underline the show's message of hope: characters will face heartache but ultimately get through it with the right people around them.

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