I think it went deeper than wanting to do a spinoff because the British version was such a hit. The reason I feel that way is because they added someone to replace the Ropers characters so that they could not return to Three's Company. Couldn't they just have't given the trio a new OFF SCREEN Landlord if they really wanted the Ropers characters to return?

I think they thought The Ropers would be a hit and therefore wouldn't have to return to the show. In Fact the show was a hit during the first season. Then ABC made the mistake of moving it to Saturdays and that really destroyed the showe. They should have aired it after TC until it really took off. They also made a big gamble getting rid of them before they cast the new landlord. I think The Ropers would have came back if the new landord wasn't excepted by the fans. The producers were very lucky they got Don Knotts.

I think they thought The Ropers would be a hit and therefore wouldn't have to return to the show. In Fact the show was a hit during the first season. Then ABC made the mistake of moving it to Saturdays and that really destroyed the showe. They should have aired it after TC until it really took off. They also made a big gamble getting rid of them before they cast the new landlord. I think The Ropers would have came back if the new landord wasn't excepted by the fans. The producers were very lucky they got Don Knotts.



But can we really look at a show as a REAL HIT if they only had 6 eps that season?-lol That's why I think season 1 was good because number 1 it was only 6 eps and that three' company had ended it's season so all TC Fans could watch the Ropers

But can we really look at a show as a REAL HIT if they only had 6 eps that season?-lol That's why I think season 1 was good because number 1 it was only 6 eps and that three' company had ended it's season so all TC Fans could watch the Ropers
Thats true and that's why they should have left it on Tuesdays. I never watched it much when it was on Saturdays. I just forgot it was there. I think I watched Chips during that timeslot.

Thats true and that's why they should have left it on Tuesdays. I never watched it much when it was on Saturdays. I just forgot it was there. I think I watched Chips during that timeslot.



Yup if they had aired it after TC it would have probably had the show run into the 83-84 season because you would have been getting a hour of TC

but still...there was a clause in their contracts (the actors) that if their show was cancelled within a year, they were going back to TC. Regardless if the new landlord was well received or not. The Ropers was cancelled after a season and a half, therefore, the option to return was no longer in effect.

but still...there was a clause in their contracts (the actors) that if their show was cancelled within a year, they were going back to TC. Regardless if the new landlord was well received or not. The Ropers was cancelled after a season and a half, therefore, the option to return was no longer in effect.


Which is why Norman Fell should have said well since that's the case I don;t want the Ropers to start until the Fall of 1979. If had did that he would cover himself real good

Which is why Norman Fell should have said well since that's the case I don;t want the Ropers to start until the Fall of 1979. If had did that he would cover himself real good
That would have been the smart thing to do. He never wanted to leave the show. It was the Producers and Audrey Lindley who wanted them to leave.

Which is why Norman Fell should have said well since that's the case I don;t want the Ropers to start until the Fall of 1979. If had did that he would cover himself real good
LOL - yeah, like Norman had pull like that. actors don't dictate what goes on, the producers do. "The Ropers" may have been awesome and great to the fans, but the producers had the final say so.

LOL - yeah, like Norman had pull like that. actors don't dictate what goes on, the producers do. "The Ropers" may have been awesome and great to the fans, but the producers had the final say so.



I think he had PULL because Fred Silverman went to the TC producers and said-"How can we get Norman to change his mind?"

Audrey Lindley wanted to leave?

Audrey Lindley wanted to leave?


Yeah she was for it, Norman was the one who didn't want leave that hit show called Three's Company

Yeah she was for it, Norman was the one who didn't want leave that hit show called Three's Company

Well, I can understand wanting her own show, but I wouldn't be so fast to leave a bonafide hit.

Well, I can understand wanting her own show, but I wouldn't be so fast to leave a bonafide hit.


Exactly, and it wasn't like she was a ENTERTAINING supporter character-lol

I think he had PULL because Fred Silverman went to the TC producers and said-"How can we get Norman to change his mind?"
changing his mind regarding one issue doesn't mean the man has pull.

changing his mind regarding one issue doesn't mean the man has pull.


Well from Fred asking that Question, it sounds like Norman could said-"As long as the show starts in the Fall"

Well from Fred asking that Question, it sounds like Norman could said-"As long as the show starts in the Fall"


sounds like???? :rofl:

Oh my...:crazy: Norman COULD HAVE SAID IT...doesn't mean he was going to get it.

sounds like???? :rofl:

Oh my...:crazy: Norman COULD HAVE SAID IT...doesn't mean he was going to get it.


He could have convinced Audry to say the Fall of 79 as a premeied and that would have had both of them saying the same thing

He could have convinced Audry to say the Fall of 79 as a premeied and that would have had both of them saying the same thing
Could've, should've, would've...doesn't mean squat.:crazy:

They gave him the option of coming back after a year so he probably could have said make that a year and a half. It doesn't mean he would have gotten it because the producers didn't hesitate getting rid of Suzanne Somers and she was more popular than The Ropers.

They gave him the option of coming back after a year so he probably could have said make that a year and a half. It doesn't mean he would have gotten it because the producers didn't hesitate getting rid of Suzanne Somers and she was more popular than The Ropers.


I think the Ropers may have been the only spinoff when the characters were FORCED to do it-lol

poor norman. he knew he didn't want to leave but left for audra and got screwed out of his role.

poor norman. he knew he didn't want to leave but left for audra and got screwed out of his role.


I wonder what would have happenes if they both had said they were not interested in doing the spinoff

It reminds me of the stories I heard about Isabel Sanford not wanting to leave All In The Family. However, the Jeffersons was on for a long time. Although I think it was terrible that they didn't even tell the actors the show was cancelled before they announced it. The Jeffersons was a terrific show, but the cast was treated with as little respect as the Ropers.