Anyone Remember "It Takes Two" ??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TripperFan · 03-11-2005, 12:36 PM

I must be the only person who ever saw this short-lived sitcom that aired in the early 80s starring Patty Duke, Richard Crenna and a teenaged Helen Hunt as their daughter.

It was great and had good ratings, but was yanked just before the end of the season. I finally found out that it was because Patty Duke's manic depression had gotten the better of her and she just couldn't continue working at that point in time. Too bad because I'm sure it would have run for several seasons.

pscisme · 03-11-2005, 02:17 PM

yes, i remember this one, too. shades of richard crenna's last sitcom before this ("All's Fair," which ran the entire 1976-77 season on CBS and introduced the world to Michael Keaton) in reverse: in this one he was a liberal with a conservative wife, whereas in "Fair," the politcal roles were reversed (Bernadette Peters played opposite him and they were both single).

too bad about Patty Duke, eh? she's had a rough life and she's given so much value as an entertainer. another notable feature of this show: early co-starring roles for HELEN HUNT and ANTHONY EDWARDS.

TripperFan · 03-11-2005, 02:37 PM

Anthony Edwards was on it too? He must have played Helen's boyfriend or something then eh?
I loved the lady (can't remember her real name) who played Patty's mother on the show (she lived with them). She was a little addled but they gave her the funniest lines!!!! She was also on Dear John with Judd Hearsh.

Yeah, its rough what Patty's gone through but looks like she's finally settled in and is much better. I was always hoping they would try to bring the show back once she was better, but I guess the other characters had to move on to other things.

Sometime TVLand or Nick At Nick should try to run "marathons" of these short-lived shows again. It would be fun to view them again.

TripperFan · 03-11-2005, 02:40 PM

Yeah, Too Close For Comfort was another really good show that got cut way too early. I'm sure I saw an "E - True Hollywood Story" about it and the network yanked it because Jim J Bullock was making them VERY nervous. It was becoming more and more obvious that he was gay and back then, that was a huge no-no. Also Ted Knight didn't like it and tried to deny Jim's "gayness".
Too bad because I felt Jim was one of the things that made that show so funny.

TripperFan · 03-11-2005, 02:42 PM

Thanks Riff - yeah, now I remember him as the brother.

And yeah - Billie Bird! She was priceless!

Thx! (and I thought I had a good memory - wow)!

snl75 · 03-13-2005, 09:39 PM

patty said in her book that it wasant so much her illness that put an end to this show as it was an underhanded deal that abc made with witt/tohmas/harris they gave them a choice they could ether keep it takes two going for another season or they could have another year of benson wich would then give them enough eps to put into off network reruns but they said they were not renewing both so they went with benson its a shame too because this was a funny show and patty could have had another hit instead she wound up working for susan harris and abc on the awful hail to the cheif in the spring of 85

TripperFan · 03-14-2005, 09:49 AM

Oh really - interesting.

That explains it then because I always wondered if it had been that bad, then why was Patty back only a couple of years later with a lousy show. Yeah, a real shame It Takes Two had real promise with a great cast.

Thanx for clarifying...

snl75 · 03-14-2005, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Oh really - interesting.

That explains it then because I always wondered if it had been that bad, then why was Patty back only a couple of years later with a lousy show. Yeah, a real shame It Takes Two had real promise with a great cast.

Thanx for clarifying...

your welcome tripperfan

Mr. Television · 04-17-2005, 02:30 AM

I liked Hail To The Chief.

I saw a couple episodes of It takes Two and it wasn't to bad. Billie Bird stole the show.

03-11-2005, 12:36 PM	#1
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Anyone Remember "It Takes Two" ??? I must be the only person who ever saw this short-lived sitcom that aired in the early 80s starring Patty Duke, Richard Crenna and a teenaged Helen Hunt as their daughter. It was great and had good ratings, but was yanked just before the end of the season. I finally found out that it was because Patty Duke's manic depression had gotten the better of her and she just couldn't continue working at that point in time. Too bad because I'm sure it would have run for several seasons.

04-17-2005, 02:30 AM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I liked Hail To The Chief. I saw a couple episodes of It takes Two and it wasn't to bad. Billie Bird stole the show.
	__________________ Sonny

03-11-2005, 02:17 PM	#2
pscisme Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Posts: 230	yes, i remember this one, too. shades of richard crenna's last sitcom before this ("All's Fair," which ran the entire 1976-77 season on CBS and introduced the world to Michael Keaton) in reverse: in this one he was a liberal with a conservative wife, whereas in "Fair," the politcal roles were reversed (Bernadette Peters played opposite him and they were both single). too bad about Patty Duke, eh? she's had a rough life and she's given so much value as an entertainer. another notable feature of this show: early co-starring roles for HELEN HUNT and ANTHONY EDWARDS.

03-11-2005, 02:37 PM	#3
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Anthony Edwards was on it too? He must have played Helen's boyfriend or something then eh? I loved the lady (can't remember her real name) who played Patty's mother on the show (she lived with them). She was a little addled but they gave her the funniest lines!!!! She was also on Dear John with Judd Hearsh. Yeah, its rough what Patty's gone through but looks like she's finally settled in and is much better. I was always hoping they would try to bring the show back once she was better, but I guess the other characters had to move on to other things. Sometime TVLand or Nick At Nick should try to run "marathons" of these short-lived shows again. It would be fun to view them again.

03-11-2005, 02:40 PM	#4
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Yeah, Too Close For Comfort was another really good show that got cut way too early. I'm sure I saw an "E - True Hollywood Story" about it and the network yanked it because Jim J Bullock was making them VERY nervous. It was becoming more and more obvious that he was gay and back then, that was a huge no-no. Also Ted Knight didn't like it and tried to deny Jim's "gayness". Too bad because I felt Jim was one of the things that made that show so funny.

03-11-2005, 02:42 PM	#5
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Thanks Riff - yeah, now I remember him as the brother. And yeah - Billie Bird! She was priceless! Thx! (and I thought I had a good memory - wow)!

03-13-2005, 09:39 PM	#6
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	patty said in her book that it wasant so much her illness that put an end to this show as it was an underhanded deal that abc made with witt/tohmas/harris they gave them a choice they could ether keep it takes two going for another season or they could have another year of benson wich would then give them enough eps to put into off network reruns but they said they were not renewing both so they went with benson its a shame too because this was a funny show and patty could have had another hit instead she wound up working for susan harris and abc on the awful hail to the cheif in the spring of 85

03-14-2005, 09:49 AM	#7
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Oh really - interesting. That explains it then because I always wondered if it had been that bad, then why was Patty back only a couple of years later with a lousy show. Yeah, a real shame It Takes Two had real promise with a great cast. Thanx for clarifying...