Apparently, a third Three's Company spin-off (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ropers#Proposed_spin-off) was actually briefly in the works, post-Three's a Crowd (https://jacksonupperco.com/2015/07/29/when-three-became-a-crowd-a-look-at-the-last-threes-company-spin-off/). Not much is known (https://groups.google.com/g/alt.culture.us.1970s/c/H6ximArSnVU) about it nor how far along it got in the development process, but the concept (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-10-20-OCR-Page-0046.pdf) is interesting: Three Apartments (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-358809.html), where the main characters were the Ropers (https://thekidsin201.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/found-the-missing-ropers-spin-off/), and because they were from the same production company, it was going to be an odd shared universe sitcom with Monroe from Too Close for Comfort (this would be also after (http://shalongguojiwangshangyuleqipai.br3h.com/uploads/1/3/0/2/130289021/9295575.pdf) that show's revamp, The Ted Knight Show, ended after Knight passed away) and Jack, Janet, Furley, Larry, and possibly a recast Chrissy dropping in as well.

Not disputing the report, but it's hard to fathom how the Ropers could be popular enough in syndication to have stations wanting more. :confused: :eek:

This half-baked concept of a bunch of out-of-work former Taffner show actors living in an apartment complex (the same location used in Three's Company?) sounds like a disaster. I can't believe anyone would be looking forward to Mr. Bradford meeting Monroe and Muriel meeting Jack, Janet, Larry, RF, and the Ropers.

Does the absence of Mary Cadorette mean she got blamed for the failure of Three's a Crowd? And recasting Chrissy just sounds petty and stupid.

I guess Taffner should get credit for at least trying something original in this spinoff, as opposed to exactly copying the two British spinoffs with The Ropers and Three's a Crowd.

As I mentioned in another thread, if John Ritter was going to be this desperate for work, he should've swallowed his pride and tried to make the 13-episode renewal of Three's a Crowd successful. I didn't like TAC, but 3A sounds a lot worse.

I think they should've done this instead of 3's a Crowd!

This definitely sounds better than 3's a Crowd although maybe have Furley instead of the Ropers.

Apparently, a third Three's Company spin-off (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ropers#Proposed_spin-off) was actually briefly in the works, post-Three's a Crowd (https://jacksonupperco.com/2015/07/29/when-three-became-a-crowd-a-look-at-the-last-threes-company-spin-off/). Not much is known (https://groups.google.com/g/alt.culture.us.1970s/c/H6ximArSnVU) about it nor how far along it got in the development process, but the concept (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-10-20-OCR-Page-0046.pdf) is interesting: Three Apartments (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-358809.html), where the main characters were the Ropers (https://thekidsin201.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/found-the-missing-ropers-spin-off/), and because they were from the same production company, it was going to be an odd shared universe sitcom with Monroe from Too Close for Comfort (this would be also after (http://shalongguojiwangshangyuleqipai.br3h.com/uploads/1/3/0/2/130289021/9295575.pdf) that show's revamp, The Ted Knight Show, ended after Knight passed away) and Jack, Janet, Furley, Larry, and possibly a recast Chrissy dropping in as well.

WOW! It actually says it will debut in April 1987 with 44 episodes so what the hell happened??

None of those actors were doing anything major at the time so they could've done this!

yes this sounded better than TAC

Not disputing the report, but it's hard to fathom how the Ropers could be popular enough in syndication to have stations wanting more. :confused: :eek:

This half-baked concept of a bunch of out-of-work former Taffner show actors living in an apartment complex (the same location used in Three's Company?) sounds like a disaster. I can't believe anyone would be looking forward to Mr. Bradford meeting Monroe and Muriel meeting Jack, Janet, Larry, RF, and the Ropers.

Does the absence of Mary Cadorette mean she got blamed for the failure of Three's a Crowd? And recasting Chrissy just sounds petty and stupid.

I guess Taffner should get credit for at least trying something original in this spinoff, as opposed to exactly copying the two British spinoffs with The Ropers and Three's a Crowd.

As I mentioned in another thread, if John Ritter was going to be this desperate for work, he should've swallowed his pride and tried to make the 13-episode renewal of Three's a Crowd successful. I didn't like TAC, but 3A sounds a lot worse.

Wouldn't it made more sense to just use the Cindy Snow character? I'm assuming that Jenilee Harrison would've been unavailable since she was booked (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Ewing) on Dallas around this same time. But Jenilee departed Dallas in 1986, so she would've in theory, been available for Three Apartments.

Wouldn't it made more sense to just use the Cindy Snow character? I'm assuming that Jenilee Harrison would've been unavailable sense she was booked (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Ewing) on Dallas around this same time. But Jenilee departed Dallas in 1986, so she would've in theory, been available for Three Apartments.

No because the character was a failure so she would be ineligible

This story has an actual idea wrapped in about 50 pounds of balderdash. The idea of the Ropers owning and operating an apartment building was a good one, but it was about 7 years too late. The biggest problem with "The Ropers" was the fact that they had nothing to do. Now they had something to do, but no show to do it in. Taffner's statements about who would occupy the apartments was ludicrous, for the series like this they might cast one additional familiar face (not a star or a regular in any of the series mentioned), but the rest of the cast would be newcomers. Economically it wouldn't work any other way. Fell was in his early 60's and Lindley was almost 70, you can be sure much younger actors would fill out the rest of the cast. This guy was trying to sell a product with some real over the top statements. He should have mentioned Mary Richards and Laverne and Shirley as potential residents.

^^^Okay, that makes more sense. The way the idea sounded to me was that all the old Three's Company castmates would get back together, with Jack and Janet (without husband Phillip) living again in their old apartment, Larry (back from Bakersfield) above them, and the Ropers buying out Bart Furley to return to their basement. And then somehow they keep Mr. Bradford (without Vicki?) and Ralph Furley in the picture, while Monroe and Muriel (are they supposed to be lovers now?) come down from the Bay Area? It all sounded like bad fan fiction, or like a baseball old-timers game where all the beloved players from the past come back and return to their old positions performing at half-speed.

Plus it would've cost a hell of a lot to pay such a large cast. Remember part of the motivation of replacing the Ropers with Furley was to SAVE money by paying 1 actor instead of 2.

^^^Okay, that makes more sense. The way the idea sounded to me was that all the old Three's Company castmates would get back together, with Jack and Janet (without husband Phillip) living again in their old apartment, Larry (back from Bakersfield) above them, and the Ropers buying out Bart Furley to return to their basement. And then somehow they keep Mr. Bradford (without Vicki?) and Ralph Furley in the picture, while Monroe and Muriel (are they supposed to be lovers now?) come down from the Bay Area? It all sounded like bad fan fiction, or like a baseball old-timers game where all the beloved players from the past come back and return to their old positions performing at half-speed.

After hearing about this, I wonder why there was never an attempt at doing crossovers with Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort? I mean, both were on ABC at the same time besides being produced by the same company. The only roadblock I suppose was that, TC took place in Santa Monica while TCFC took place in San Francisco.

This story has an actual idea wrapped in about 50 pounds of balderdash. The idea of the Ropers owning and operating an apartment building was a good one, but it was about 7 years too late. The biggest problem with "The Ropers" was the fact that they had nothing to do. Now they had something to do, but no show to do it in. Taffner's statements about who would occupy the apartments was ludicrous, for the series like this they might cast one additional familiar face (not a star or a regular in any of the series mentioned), but the rest of the cast would be newcomers. Economically it wouldn't work any other way. Fell was in his early 60's and Lindley was almost 70, you can be sure much younger actors would fill out the rest of the cast. This guy was trying to sell a product with some real over the top statements. He should have mentioned Mary Richards and Laverne and Shirley as potential residents.

LOL. So true. I had read in the past a different story where it mentioned some of the other “Taffner” actors as guest stars, not regulars, but it still seemed like a lot of wishful thinking. Joyce DeWitt wanted nothing to do with Taffner and his partners after TC. Ritter had better things to do. Why recast Chrissy? That seems silly.

Even his logic behind doing the show was odd. If local stations wanted more episodes of “The Ropers” (um, did they really?), then why not revive that show? How are you going to combine the episodes of “Three Apartments” with “The Ropers” to strip them? They are very different formats.

After hearing about this, I wonder why there was never an attempt at doing crossovers with Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort? I mean, both were on ABC at the same time besides being produced by the same company. The only roadblock I suppose was that, TC took place in Santa Monica while TCFC took place in San Francisco.

They were different types of sitcoms. Too Close was a hilarious family sitcom while Three's Company was an even more hilarious sitcom about co-ed singles living in an apartment. I don't see much crossover here to combine the sitcoms in some way.

The only exception would be the Monroe character. You could bring him to TC or you could bring Jack Tripper to Too Close. Jack could've dated gorgeous Sarah Rush!

From the Feb. 4, 1987 Ithaca Journal, page 9B (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/255802055/):

With the recent dumping of a show called "Three Apartments," the overheated race for syndicated sitcoms seems to be slowing. Producers had been churning out new comedies to sell directly to stations, while some experts warned of overkill. Ratings have been so-so; one company said shows like "Mama's Family" and "One Big Family" are each losing $3 million per year, with hopes of making it up in reruns. "Certainly,' there are too many comedies right now," said Henry Siegel, whose LBS Communications helped launch the trend. "There's always too much of something for a while. But it works itself out." Now the working-out is beginning. "Three Apartments" had seemed like one of the year's easier sells, because of its links to "Three's Company." The new show would have had the same producer (Don Taffner), the same landlords (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley) and the same building, with a new set of nubile young tenants. There were even reports that John Ritter would make some guest spots. Still, the show has been withdrawn.

And from Taffner After 'Company' Clone And O&O Deal With 'Apartments' (Variety, Oct. 15, 1986, page 149):

Taffner hasn't decided whether one of the three apartments of the title will duplicate the "Three's Company" situation of a young man, pretending to be gay, living with two nubile young women.

But Taffner says the character of Chrissy Snow, to which he owns the rights (Suzanne Somers played it from 1977-1981), may be resuscitated with a newcomer, who's main qualifications will be that she's blonde and well-endowned.

Thanks for that SledgeBarone!

Now we got an explanation as to why TA never happened. Looks to be due to a glut of comedies.

This sounded like a trainwreck. As mentioned, the Ropers hadn’t been in new episodes in many years. The only show from that era with close to that kind of a gap in production was What’s Happening!! (Now).

Monroe was the reason Too Close for Comfort became unwatchable to me. I couldn’t stomach seeing him again, even in small doses. The character was so obnoxious, and not in a funny way. I know I’m in the minority there.

Recasting Chrissy would also fail, as fans of TAC would only accept Suzanne Somers in that role.

This sounded like a trainwreck. As mentioned, the Ropers hadn’t been in new episodes in many years. The only show from that era with close to that kind of a gap in production was What’s Happening!! (Now).

Monroe was the reason Too Close for Comfort became unwatchable to me. I couldn’t stomach seeing him again, even in small doses. The character was so obnoxious, and not in a funny way. I know I’m in the minority there.

Recasting Chrissy would also fail, as fans of TAC would only accept Suzanne Somers in that role.

Monroe was considered the biggest star of Too Close only next to Ted Knight.

After hearing about this, I wonder why there was never an attempt at doing crossovers with Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort? I mean, both were on ABC at the same time besides being produced by the same company. The only roadblock I suppose was that, TC took place in Santa Monica while TCFC took place in San Francisco.

Maybe Ted Knight didn't want to do it?

His legacy of being on one of the smartest sitcoms on tv (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) to doing a crossover with one of the stupidest sitcoms on TV was a bridge too far?

Monroe was the reason Too Close for Comfort became unwatchable to me. I couldn’t stomach seeing him again, even in small doses. The character was so obnoxious, and not in a funny way. I know I’m in the minority there.


Well, lets be candid here; TCFC was a boring show, with a boring premise, boring supporting cast and they somehow did the unthinkable, of making Ted Knight boring.

Monroe was at least, lively and seemed to bring out life in the rest of the cast.

Ted Knight needed a better premise for a show; one where he can do what he does best, act like a blowhard, but is still likeable.

Maybe a show where Knight plays a police chief or maybe the President of the U.S.?

EDIT: I GOT IT!!! Knight should have played an arrogant & brilliant surgeon, but who has a deep concern and care for the welfare of his patients!

Too Close for Comfort was never very good, even in the early days. Monroe made it worse. I agree, Knight needed a better show.

Come to think of it, I wonder if a workplace spin-off about the Regal Beagle (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/The_Regal_Beagle) could've worked, especially given the success of Cheers around this time period. Maybe, they could've also done a spin-off on Larry (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/Larry_Dallas) and his used car business. But I don't know for sure if Richard Kline would've immediately been down with that since he was supposedly, offered a spot on Three's a Crowd but turned it down for a pilot which never made it to series.

Maybe Ted Knight didn't want to do it?

His legacy of being on one of the smartest sitcoms on tv (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) to doing a crossover with one of the stupidest sitcoms on TV was a bridge too far?

https://thewritelife61.com/2021/02/15/this-show-was-too-close-for-comfort/

When you invest in a show, you feel like these characters are part of your life. Ted Knight’s role of Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a flawed human being for sure, but I felt like we had spent a lot of time together, and I was able to see beyond the brash, obnoxious exterior to the vulnerable and kind being inside. It was if we had spent lots of hours over the kitchen table having coffee. Characters like Baxter teach us about the world and about ourselves. Ted Knight as Henry Rush was more like the neighbor whom I caught glimpses of out the kitchen window but there was no way to learn more about the character other than the surface appearances. The show (http://www.popentertainment.com/toocloseforcomfort.htm) was based more on plots than characters.

Come to think of it, I wonder if a workplace spin-off about the Regal Beagle (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/The_Regal_Beagle) could've worked, especially given the success of Cheers around this time period. Maybe, they could've also done a spin-off on Larry (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/Larry_Dallas) and his used car business. But I don't know for sure if Richard Kline would've immediately been down with that since he was supposedly, offered a spot on Three's a Crowd but turned it down for a pilot which never made it to series.

I would have watched a "Larry" sitcom. With the right casting, it could have worked.

Richard Kline wanted to star in his own sitcom, so I'm sure he would have accepted the offer.

No because the character was a failure so she would be ineligible

Cindy still, would've made much more sense or would've been less of a headache than having Chrissy but played by somebody other than Suzanne Somers. I mean, what would've been the point in having Chrissy around again? I thought that Chrissy as a character, was "un-personed" (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Unperson) after all of the shenanigans that Suzanne Somers and her husband pulled in Season 5 of Three's Company. And as others have said (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=5797624&postcount=16), I don't think that fans of Three's Company would've accepted anybody other than Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow.

Not disputing the report, but it's hard to fathom how the Ropers could be popular enough in syndication to have stations wanting more. :confused: :eek:

This half-baked concept of a bunch of out-of-work former Taffner show actors living in an apartment complex (the same location used in Three's Company?) sounds like a disaster. I can't believe anyone would be looking forward to Mr. Bradford meeting Monroe and Muriel meeting Jack, Janet, Larry, RF, and the Ropers.

Does the absence of Mary Cadorette mean she got blamed for the failure of Three's a Crowd? And recasting Chrissy just sounds petty and stupid.

I guess Taffner should get credit for at least trying something original in this spinoff, as opposed to exactly copying the two British spinoffs with The Ropers and Three's a Crowd.

As I mentioned in another thread, if John Ritter was going to be this desperate for work, he should've swallowed his pride and tried to make the 13-episode renewal of Three's a Crowd successful. I didn't like TAC, but 3A sounds a lot worse.

Interestingly, Too Close for Comfort's Sara Rush (played by Lydia Cornell) wasn't mentioned among possible characters for this proposed, Three's Company-Too Close for Comfort shared universe sitcom. Sara had been absent from the final season of Too Close for Comfort, when it was rebranded as The Ted Knight Show.

Well, lets be candid here; TCFC was a boring show, with a boring premise, boring supporting cast and they somehow did the unthinkable, of making Ted Knight boring.

Monroe was at least, lively and seemed to bring out life in the rest of the cast.

Ted Knight needed a better premise for a show; one where he can do what he does best, act like a blowhard, but is still likeable.

Maybe a show where Knight plays a police chief or maybe the President of the U.S.?

EDIT: I GOT IT!!! Knight should have played an arrogant & brilliant surgeon, but who has a deep concern and care for the welfare of his patients!

Without knowing that Too Close for Comfort in itself, was based on a British sitcom called Keep it in the Family, I guess that it could be within reason to look at Ted Knight's character as sort of a more affluent version of Stanley Roper. Both Henry and Stanley are these curmudgeonly, old fashioned men with a redheaded wife. Jackie and Sara could be what Janet and Chrissy would be if they were actually Mr. and Mrs. Roper's daughters instead of their tenants. Monroe strikes me as a dumber, more sexually ambiguous (https://www.towleroad.com/2009/07/the-monroe-doctrine/) version of Jack.

I didn't watch TCFC for Ted Knight. I liked Deborah and Lydia and when the show got rid of them , that was it for me. I saw a reunion on Youtube with Deborah, Lydia and JM and they all said they were afraid of Ted. And told some stories about his massive ego.

Only two seasons of the show were ever released. The first season was a mess with Rhino getting the cut versions of the episodes without the tag scenes. The second season of TCFC was the uncut version but sadly it was the last of them. It's a very expensive dvd set now , so if you have a copy you better hold on to it.

I guess TCFC and Who's The Boss weren't big sellers. WTB only had season one released then it stopped.