What killed the show.

[wickedmountain]

I Had heard before that they wanted to come back permanently to Three's Company but the people in charge said no

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by wickedmountain

I Had heard before that they wanted to come back permanently to Three's Company but the people in charge said no

It was no way for them to come back since it was already someone living in their own apartment.

[OOliver]

What killed the show was that some characters belong as supporting characters, not stars of their own show - and The Ropers were those characters who were best in supporting others. Another example is "Phyllis" from MTM.

[TVFactFan]

What killed the show was the setting of the show, having a older couple in the quiet suburbs

[rusty spike]

Originally Posted by OOliver

What killed the show was that some characters belong as supporting characters, not stars of their own show - and The Ropers were those characters who were best in supporting others. Another example is "Phyllis" from MTM.

Spot on!

Airing against CHiPs didn't help either.

[billybatts]

Originally Posted by wickedmountain

I Had heard before that they wanted to come back permanently to Three's Company but the people in charge said no

I recall on some retrospective show Norman Fell said that they "promised" the if the Ropers failed in the first year they would write them back into Threes Company.

Just found this online.

With Three as Company continued success in its second season, the Three’s Company’s own producers pitched the spin off. Fell, however, was extremely reluctant (and rightfully so) as he was satisfied with his role on a show that was already a proven hit. Fell feared (correctly) that a spin-off would be unsuccessful and thus put him out of a good role and job. To alleviate his fears, Three’s Company producers contractually promised Fell that they would give the new series a year to prove itself. If unsuccessful, then he and Lindley would return to Three’s Company. A reluctant Fell agreed to the new terms.

What Happened? I’ll tell you, they went up against CHIPS—Now who could compete with that? Eric Estrata, Larry Wilcox—not a chance and it showed in an audience drop that put it an immediate fall into the bottom ten. The drop in ratings and the fact that the show wasn’t appealing to the young demographic audience to the show’s cancellation in May 1980. After viewing several of the episodes, I don’t care where they placed it, it stunk on ice.

When the series was canceled, Fell approached Three’s Company producers about returning to the show. The Ropers had been replaced on Three’s Company by legendary Don Knotts, playing the swinging Ralph Furley who had worked well with the theme of Three’s Company that had retained its popularity. Apparently Fell would later state that he always believed the decision to pull the plug on the show had been made early on, but that the network deliberately postponed making the cancellation official until after the one-year mark specifically to be relieved of the obligation to allow Fell and Lindley to return to Three’s Company.

Thats pretty bad. The Ropes were really good on TC.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by billybatts

I recall on some retrospective show Norman Fell said that they "promised" the if the Ropers failed in the first year they would write them back into Threes Company.

Just found this online.



Thats pretty bad. The Ropes were really good on TC.

It was the first season not year

[Sunshine Cab]

They should have brought them back more than once out of loyalty.

[TerriFan]

The character of Mr. Brooks was completely out of place. Jeffrey Tambor played the role great; without it, he may never have had a career. But it made no sense that such a stuffed shirt and a miser like Stanley didn't get along. The character should have been an overcharitable, softhearted do-gooder who always tried to get Stanley to give his money away. And think of how Helen would have reacted!

[Edward216]

The show was no good to begin with. I was about 10 years old then and even I couldn't stand Stanley or Helen Roper, they were just two terrible and unlikable people. Whoever thought it was a good idea to spin those two characters off into their own sitcom should've been shot LOL. I've even tried watching a couple episodes on YouTube and I still hate them!

Ed.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Cab

They should have brought them back more than once out of loyalty.

Hollywood and loyalty do not go together.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Edward216

The show was no good to begin with. I was about 10 years old then and even I couldn't stand Stanley or Helen Roper, they were just two terrible and unlikable people. Whoever thought it was a good idea to spin those two characters off into their own sitcom should've been shot LOL. I've even tried watching a couple episodes on YouTube and I still hate them!

Ed.

The producers of TC knew the show would fail which their way of getting them off TC and adding Don Knotts