How Long Has Ted Knight Been Dead - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-28-2002, 05:46 PM

How Long Has Ted Knight Been Dead He Was A Very Good Actor And I Enjoyed Watching Him On To Close For Comfort And
The Maty Tyler Moore Show.

Thanks
Aaron

Impressions · 08-28-2002, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gmfox8@msn.com
How Long Has Ted Knight Been Dead He Was A Very Good Actor And I Enjoyed Watching Him On To Close For Comfort And
The Maty Tyler Moore Show.

Thanks
Aaron

Let me point out it is The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Anyways, he passed away on August 26th, 1986. That's 16 years.

Brett Ferino · 01-13-2003, 09:04 PM

He died of cancer...

Scoobiedoo30 · 01-15-2003, 02:24 PM

Ted Knight was a Good Actor on Too Close For Comfort And
The Ted Knight Show He Will Be Missed

Eddie Haskell · 10-26-2003, 08:03 AM

He had a bit part in the movie Psycho.

EricIdlefan · 11-19-2003, 08:52 PM

And, of course, don't forget he is best remebered for Ted Baxter in "The Mary Tyler Moore" show for seven seasons!!

Mr. Television · 11-20-2003, 01:50 AM

He was also in one of my favorite movies Caddyshack.

Eddie Haskell · 11-20-2003, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EricIdlefan
And, of course, don't forget he is best remebered for Ted Baxter in "The Mary Tyler Moore" show for seven seasons!!

Who forgot it? It was already mentioned. Looks like someone has too much time on their hands.

EricIdlefan · 11-24-2003, 05:27 PM

Sorry, I just didn't want to leave that out!!

EricIdlefan · 01-05-2004, 09:53 PM

If you go to the FindAGrave website and look for his grave, it should be on there!!

TMC · 04-08-2018, 03:02 AM

Does anybody recall the special intro before the final episode ("Lisa Goes Lottery Loco") aired? Bare in mind that although Ted Knight passed away in August 1986, first run episodes of Season 6 of Too Close for Comfort (or Season 1 of The Ted Knight Show in actuality) aired through February 1987. There was apparently, a short speech about Ted's remembrance by Nancy Dussault speaking directly into the camera. Unfortunately, I don't think that Nancy's speech is included in the reruns and it's naturally hard to find elsewhere online.

TMC · 05-23-2023, 09:48 PM

News of Ted's passing is also discussed at the 5:08 mark and 27:21 mark in this video.

TMC · 05-24-2023, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

News of Ted's passing is also discussed at the 5:08 mark and 27:21 mark in this video.

Watching these clips, I've immediately noticed that Too Close for Comfort is barely mentioned except in passing in only one of the videos. I get why his role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was predominately talked about since it's by far, a much more iconic show than Too Close for Comfort besides coming first.

But it isn't like Too Close for Comfort was a fleeting footnote on his resume since it lasted five years (six if you count the retooling as The Ted Knight Show). And Ted was still actively portraying Henry Rush leading up to his death.

They also don't mention Caddyshack in any one of the clips. I suppose that his role as Judge Smails in that is what I associate him the most with after The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Too Close for Comfort.

michelala · 06-02-2023, 05:26 PM

^Back in the 80's Caddyshack was basically considered a comedy that was panned by the critics and only did so-so at the box office. When Ted Knight passed nobody could've guessed Caddyshack would snowball into such a beloved movie. Many now consider it the funniest sports themed comedy movie of all time but it wasn't considered to be so beloved back in 1986.

I personally always enjoyed watching TCFC and think it rates as one of the better 80's sitcoms. The fact ABC stupidly moved the time slot after the 2nd season when it had been a top 10 show, and ultimately cancelled it after season 3 likely hurt it's reputation. During the 1981-82 TV season TCFC was the #6 rated show on the air. The Mary Tyler Moore show ofc got much more critical acclaim but it's highest rank in Nielsen ratings was only #7 in 1972-73.

TMC · 06-30-2023, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelala

^Back in the 80's Caddyshack was basically considered a comedy that was panned by the critics and only did so-so at the box office. When Ted Knight passed nobody could've guessed Caddyshack would snowball into such a beloved movie. Many now consider it the funniest sports themed comedy movie of all time but it wasn't considered to be so beloved back in 1986.

I personally always enjoyed watching TCFC and think it rates as one of the better 80's sitcoms. The fact ABC stupidly moved the time slot after the 2nd season when it had been a top 10 show, and ultimately cancelled it after season 3 likely hurt it's reputation. During the 1981-82 TV season TCFC was the #6 rated show on the air. The Mary Tyler Moore show ofc got much more critical acclaim but it's highest rank in Nielsen ratings was only #7 in 1972-73.

I'm guessing that what also hurt TCFC's reputation is that it spent the latter portion of its run in first-run syndication. If you were a syndicated show, then you simply weren't considered as "prestigious" as if you were a network show, which TCFC was in its first three seasons on ABC. So that may have made TCFC look like an also-ran to a lot people, especially since you now had to look much harder to find it.

Also, unlike Ted Knight's previous show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, TCFC never really got a chance to go out on its own terms. It was canceled by ABC after only three seasons, then picked up for the first-run syndication market, where it ran for two more seasons. And then instead of a traditional sixth season, it was retooled and renamed as The Ted Knight Show. Of course, Ted Knight himself, dies before he had a chance to do more seasons. This caused episodes that aired under the Ted Knight Show banner to retroactively air under the Too Close for Comfort title.

08-28-2002, 05:46 PM	#1
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	How Long Has Ted Knight Been Dead How Long Has Ted Knight Been Dead He Was A Very Good Actor And I Enjoyed Watching Him On To Close For Comfort And The Maty Tyler Moore Show. Thanks Aaron
	__________________ Who Dat

01-15-2003, 02:24 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Re How Long Has Ted Knight Beed Dead Ted Knight was a Good Actor on Too Close For Comfort And The Ted Knight Show He Will Be Missed

10-26-2003, 08:03 AM	#5
Eddie Haskell Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 11, 2002 Location: Mayfield Posts: 645	He had a bit part in the movie Psycho.
	__________________ "That's a lovely sweater, Mrs. Cleaver"

04-08-2018, 03:02 AM	#11
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	Does anybody recall the special intro before the final episode ("Lisa Goes Lottery Loco") aired? Bare in mind that although Ted Knight passed away in August 1986, first run episodes of Season 6 of Too Close for Comfort (or Season 1 of The Ted Knight Show in actuality) aired through February 1987. There was apparently, a short speech about Ted's remembrance by Nancy Dussault speaking directly into the camera. Unfortunately, I don't think that Nancy's speech is included in the reruns and it's naturally hard to find elsewhere online.
	Last edited by TMC; 05-24-2023 at 04:41 AM.

01-13-2003, 09:04 PM	#3
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	He died of cancer...

11-19-2003, 08:52 PM	#6
EricIdlefan June Bug & School's Out Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,234	And, of course, don't forget he is best remebered for Ted Baxter in "The Mary Tyler Moore" show for seven seasons!!
	__________________ June Bug & Summer is Here 2026!

11-20-2003, 01:50 AM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	He was also in one of my favorite movies Caddyshack.
	__________________ Sonny

11-24-2003, 05:27 PM	#9
EricIdlefan June Bug & School's Out Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,234	Sorry, I just didn't want to leave that out!!

01-05-2004, 09:53 PM	#10
EricIdlefan June Bug & School's Out Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,234	If you go to the FindAGrave website and look for his grave, it should be on there!!

05-23-2023, 09:48 PM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,453	News of Ted's passing is also discussed at the 5:08 mark and 27:21 mark in this video.

06-02-2023, 05:26 PM	#14
michelala Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2023 Posts: 68	^Back in the 80's Caddyshack was basically considered a comedy that was panned by the critics and only did so-so at the box office. When Ted Knight passed nobody could've guessed Caddyshack would snowball into such a beloved movie. Many now consider it the funniest sports themed comedy movie of all time but it wasn't considered to be so beloved back in 1986. I personally always enjoyed watching TCFC and think it rates as one of the better 80's sitcoms. The fact ABC stupidly moved the time slot after the 2nd season when it had been a top 10 show, and ultimately cancelled it after season 3 likely hurt it's reputation. During the 1981-82 TV season TCFC was the #6 rated show on the air. The Mary Tyler Moore show ofc got much more critical acclaim but it's highest rank in Nielsen ratings was only #7 in 1972-73.