Just read an article online dated June 5th 1974, from the Ledger-Post that stated that MTM wanted to spin-off Ted Knight's character (Ted Baxter) but CBS wanted Rhoda instead because Lucille Ball was retiring and the network wanted another strong female led sitcom for Monday Nights. Not sure if this was 100% accurate, but it was interesting.

http://cdn.static.ovimg.com/episode/226006.jpg

Interesting...

That is interesting.

It's funny, I'm sitting here thinking you COULD argue that even when Knight got his sitcom, "Too Close for Comfort", it was a show that showcased females, as my guess is the majority of people who tuned in to it were there to see the 'sexy symbol" daughters, rather than Knight.

It's just a theory, and looking back, I think it may have been a mistake to play up the "3's company" parallels with the girls looking a bit like Chrissy and Janet and Knight being a sort of stuffy Mr. Roper/Mr. Furley analog. Knight was a very strong comedic actor and I think he could have held his own without the 'sexy" angle.

Then again, I DO think that both of the girls were good actresses so I'm not suggesting they shouldn't have been part of the show, just less emphasis on the "wink and a nudge" stuff.

I don't think a Ted Baxter spinoff would've worked. His vanity would've been too much to take as a lead character - otherwise you'd have to water the character down like they did with Phyllis when she got her own show.

I don't think a Ted Baxter spinoff would've worked. His vanity would've been too much to take as a lead character - otherwise you'd have to water the character down like they did with Phyllis when she got her own show.

Agreed. Some characters were meant to be supporting, not leads, and Baxter was definitely one of them.

Also, it took Ted Knight all his time on TMTMS to stay on as Ted as he was

so worried,people would think he was as stupid as Ted Baxter,that he'd

never would have agreed to a Ted Baxter spinoff show.

Exactly, and that's a big reason why Ted was given a girlfriend (and later wife) in Georgette. He wanted Ted to be more human.