Did you know Don Knotts was offered a regular role on Three's a Crowd?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SitcomsHeydayfan · 10-29-2019, 12:55 AM

I wonder why he turned it down??

Around that time he did a show called "What a Country" which totally BOMBED. Jack Tripper is one of the most legendary characters in TV history so he should've stayed!

What role do you think he would've played? Maybe Furley would've been a competing landlord to Bradford? Or maybe he would've bought the building housing Jack's Bistro and the upstairs apartments from Bradford?

thejasoomian · 10-29-2019, 11:36 AM

No, I never heard about Don being offered a role on the show. I know Richard Kline (LARRY) had been offered a part. But he turned it down because he shot a pilot for a new show with Shelly Fabares. And he thought that was going to be a sure thing. Richard would have been second banana so I'm sure that was more appealing to him. I never heard that Don had been offered a role but I imagine he was ready to try a different role as well. And probably hoping for a starring role, top banana. I never heard of that show "What A Country" , I'll have to check that one out. I did read in a article that Stuart Pankin was suppose to join the show in the 2nd season as a neighbor. I don't know if I would have liked that though. They tried a episode of Three's A Crowd with a neighbor and it just didn't work for me. It's the one where Vicky's friend stays the night and Jack thinks she's got the hots for him. The neighbor wasn't necessary. One good thing that I liked about Three's A Crowd vs Three's Company was that they got to get away from their apartment/bistro a lot and do scenes and storylines.

DJM77 · 10-29-2019, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejasoomian

I never heard of that show "What A Country" , I'll have to check that one out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hph-_beirmM

SitcomsHeydayfan · 10-29-2019, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejasoomian

No, I never heard about Don being offered a role on the show. I know Richard Kline (LARRY) had been offered a part. But he turned it down because he shot a pilot for a new show with Shelly Fabares. And he thought that was going to be a sure thing. Richard would have been second banana so I'm sure that was more appealing to him. I never heard that Don had been offered a role but I imagine he was ready to try a different role as well. And probably hoping for a starring role, top banana. I never heard of that show "What A Country" , I'll have to check that one out. I did read in a article that Stuart Pankin was suppose to join the show in the 2nd season as a neighbor. I don't know if I would have liked that though. They tried a episode of Three's A Crowd with a neighbor and it just didn't work for me. It's the one where Vicky's friend stays the night and Jack thinks she's got the hots for him. The neighbor wasn't necessary. One good thing that I liked about Three's A Crowd vs Three's Company was that they got to get away from their apartment/bistro a lot and do scenes and storylines.

Right. Larry was offered a part too which he should've taken because the Jack Tripper character is so iconic. He had plenty of time to pursue other opportunities after TAC was over.

I read this about Don Knotts on the IMDB Trivia section for TAC. I suppose it would've been harder to find a role for him unless he helped out at the Bistro like he did during Three's Company!

Duster76 · 11-01-2019, 12:31 PM

SitcomsHeydayfan said:

"Around that time he did a show called "What a Country" which totally BOMBED".

Well, about that, the two shows didn't overlap or come close to overlapping. Further, Knotts was not in the original cast of What a Country. Three's a Crowd was on during the 1984-85 television season, What a Country was a syndicated show that ran during the 86-87 season. It didn't exactly bomb, it ran one year and was not renewed. Knotts replaced Gail Strickland (Miss Landis in two Seinfeld episodes), for the second half of the series run.

Duster76 · 11-01-2019, 12:46 PM

If Knotts was offered a role, it may have been less than it seems. He might have been offered less money than he was making on Three's Company, and it may have been recurring not a regular part.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 11-01-2019, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

SitcomsHeydayfan said:

"Around that time he did a show called "What a Country" which totally BOMBED".

Well, about that, the two shows didn't overlap or come close to overlapping. Further, Knotts was not in the original cast of What a Country. Three's a Crowd was on during the 1984-85 television season, What a Country was a syndicated show that ran during the 86-87 season. It didn't exactly bomb, it ran one year and was not renewed. Knotts replaced Gail Strickland (Miss Landis in two Seinfeld episodes), for the second half of the series run.

Ok, I stand corrected. I meant the same general time. But you're helping prove my point. Don Knotts wasn't doing anything in 84-85 unless he did some plays or something. But I'm sure TAC paid better than that considering his years in the business so there was no reason for him to turn it down!

I bet if Knotts was in TAC it would've most likely been renewed or at least John would've been more likely to accept those 13 extra episodes he was offered!

Can you imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper? Imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper AND Don Knotts!

Duster76 · 11-02-2019, 11:05 PM

[QUOTE=SitcomsHeydayfan;5628837]Ok, I stand corrected. I meant the same general time. But you're helping prove my point. Don Knotts wasn't doing anything in 84-85 unless he did some plays or something. But I'm sure TAC paid better than that considering his years in the business so there was no reason for him to turn it down!

I bet if Knotts was in TAC it would've most likely been renewed or at least John would've been more likely to accept those 13 extra episodes he was offered!

Can you imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper? Imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper AND Don Knotts!

Well after seeing your response I went to the source material you cited, both Kline and Knotts were offered recurring roles not regular roles. Big difference, that might have translated into just a couple of appearances a year. Knotts already plowed that field reprising the Barney Fife character on The Andy Griffith Show by making 5 additional appearances on the series over the final three seasons (he also appeared in the first Mayberry RFD if memory serves me correctly), my point, he may have felt he would be just repeating himself. Also at that stage of his life the limited exposure wasn't going to do much for his career or bank account. In the end there may also have been some lingering resentment towards the way the Three's Company cast was kept in the dark about the exit strategy for the original series.

thejasoomian · 11-03-2019, 12:06 PM

Does anybody know the original source for the "13 more episodes " ? Wiki doesn't have a link to that statement. And I've searched for this but haven't been able to find anything.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 11-04-2019, 12:51 AM

Duster76, I just read it quickly as both words start with "re". But he still should've taken the role in TAC because he wasn't doing anything then.

As far as any lingering bitterness goes Knotts has been in the business for decades so I'm sure he knew "that's show business". Plus Joyce had no reason to be bitter about a show that made her a MULTI -millionaire and gave her an opportunity 99.999% of people don't get!

Duster76 · 11-04-2019, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Duster76, I just read it quickly as both words start with "re". But he still should've taken the role in TAC because he wasn't doing anything then.

As far as any lingering bitterness goes Knotts has been in the business for decades so I'm sure he knew "that's show business". Plus Joyce had no reason to be bitter about a show that made her a MULTI -millionaire and gave her an opportunity 99.999% of people don't get!

A couple of points, a recurring role might have been a handful of appearances a year, the money may not have been right, the number of appearances may not have worked for Knotts, or Don and his manager may not have felt clinging to a part which was shrinking was not a good career move. I think he did the right thing, the oldtimers in showbiz have an piece of advice they give the newcomers, make you have some F U money set aside.

Schmoopie · 11-07-2019, 02:17 AM

That doesn't surprise me but it was a smart move on his part not to take it.

SitcomsHeydayfan · 11-08-2019, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

That doesn't surprise me but it was a smart move on his part not to take it.

I don't think so because he wasn't doing anything else then plus he knew Jack Tripped is one of the most iconic characters in sitcom/TV history!

Also they were pretty good friends from what I've read.

AMackII · 11-08-2019, 05:28 AM

Never heard of it but he was never casted in this TC Spinoff. on the hand, Knotts guest appeared as Les on Matlock during the late 1980s & early 1990s.

TV Guy · 11-08-2019, 07:32 AM

If imdb is the source for this, then I have my doubts. IMDb relies on reader contributions and there are lots of errors. Chris Mann’s book doesn’t mention it, and it’s pretty thorough.

There wouldn’t have been a place for Don on TAC beyond a guest appearance, and that’s my guess for what he was offered, if anything at all. It made sense for Jack’s best friend Larry to recur on that show. Jack’s old landlord, not so much.

10-29-2019, 12:55 AM	#1
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	Did you know Don Knotts was offered a regular role on Three's a Crowd?? I wonder why he turned it down?? Around that time he did a show called "What a Country" which totally BOMBED. Jack Tripper is one of the most legendary characters in TV history so he should've stayed! What role do you think he would've played? Maybe Furley would've been a competing landlord to Bradford? Or maybe he would've bought the building housing Jack's Bistro and the upstairs apartments from Bradford?

11-07-2019, 02:17 AM	#12
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That doesn't surprise me but it was a smart move on his part not to take it.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

10-29-2019, 11:36 AM	#2
thejasoomian Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 15, 2019 Posts: 325	No, I never heard about Don being offered a role on the show. I know Richard Kline (LARRY) had been offered a part. But he turned it down because he shot a pilot for a new show with Shelly Fabares. And he thought that was going to be a sure thing. Richard would have been second banana so I'm sure that was more appealing to him. I never heard that Don had been offered a role but I imagine he was ready to try a different role as well. And probably hoping for a starring role, top banana. I never heard of that show "What A Country" , I'll have to check that one out. I did read in a article that Stuart Pankin was suppose to join the show in the 2nd season as a neighbor. I don't know if I would have liked that though. They tried a episode of Three's A Crowd with a neighbor and it just didn't work for me. It's the one where Vicky's friend stays the night and Jack thinks she's got the hots for him. The neighbor wasn't necessary. One good thing that I liked about Three's A Crowd vs Three's Company was that they got to get away from their apartment/bistro a lot and do scenes and storylines.

11-01-2019, 12:31 PM	#5
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	SitcomsHeydayfan said: "Around that time he did a show called "What a Country" which totally BOMBED". Well, about that, the two shows didn't overlap or come close to overlapping. Further, Knotts was not in the original cast of What a Country. Three's a Crowd was on during the 1984-85 television season, What a Country was a syndicated show that ran during the 86-87 season. It didn't exactly bomb, it ran one year and was not renewed. Knotts replaced Gail Strickland (Miss Landis in two Seinfeld episodes), for the second half of the series run.

11-01-2019, 12:46 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	If Knotts was offered a role, it may have been less than it seems. He might have been offered less money than he was making on Three's Company, and it may have been recurring not a regular part.

11-02-2019, 11:05 PM	#8
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	[QUOTE=SitcomsHeydayfan;5628837]Ok, I stand corrected. I meant the same general time. But you're helping prove my point. Don Knotts wasn't doing anything in 84-85 unless he did some plays or something. But I'm sure TAC paid better than that considering his years in the business so there was no reason for him to turn it down! I bet if Knotts was in TAC it would've most likely been renewed or at least John would've been more likely to accept those 13 extra episodes he was offered! Can you imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper? Imagine 13 more episodes of Jack Tripper AND Don Knotts! Well after seeing your response I went to the source material you cited, both Kline and Knotts were offered recurring roles not regular roles. Big difference, that might have translated into just a couple of appearances a year. Knotts already plowed that field reprising the Barney Fife character on The Andy Griffith Show by making 5 additional appearances on the series over the final three seasons (he also appeared in the first Mayberry RFD if memory serves me correctly), my point, he may have felt he would be just repeating himself. Also at that stage of his life the limited exposure wasn't going to do much for his career or bank account. In the end there may also have been some lingering resentment towards the way the Three's Company cast was kept in the dark about the exit strategy for the original series.

11-03-2019, 12:06 PM	#9
thejasoomian Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 15, 2019 Posts: 325	Does anybody know the original source for the "13 more episodes " ? Wiki doesn't have a link to that statement. And I've searched for this but haven't been able to find anything.

11-04-2019, 12:51 AM	#10
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	Duster76, I just read it quickly as both words start with "re". But he still should've taken the role in TAC because he wasn't doing anything then. As far as any lingering bitterness goes Knotts has been in the business for decades so I'm sure he knew "that's show business". Plus Joyce had no reason to be bitter about a show that made her a MULTI -millionaire and gave her an opportunity 99.999% of people don't get!

11-08-2019, 05:28 AM	#14
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,198	Never heard of it but he was never casted in this TC Spinoff. on the hand, Knotts guest appeared as Les on Matlock during the late 1980s & early 1990s.

11-08-2019, 07:32 AM	#15
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	If imdb is the source for this, then I have my doubts. IMDb relies on reader contributions and there are lots of errors. Chris Mann’s book doesn’t mention it, and it’s pretty thorough. There wouldn’t have been a place for Don on TAC beyond a guest appearance, and that’s my guess for what he was offered, if anything at all. It made sense for Jack’s best friend Larry to recur on that show. Jack’s old landlord, not so much.