What was Audra Lindley’s take on….. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CJMD03 · 02-03-2024, 09:06 PM

……..how she and Fell were tricked into the Roper’s and the show being treated like garbage? Fell was pretty vocal for years, but I don’t think I ever heard Lindley say one thing about it. Did I miss anything?

Lyverbe · 02-05-2024, 09:03 AM

True. Perhaps it meant more to Fell than Lindley.

rusty spike · 02-05-2024, 02:50 PM

Wasn't she first diagnosed with leukemia in the 1980s?

If she wasn't feeling well then she probably had more personal battles than not being allowed to return to TC. I think Fell's TV career had peaked so he could be more open even bitter about it.

I think Audra was wiser and she was able to land a recurring on Cybill before she tragically succumbed to another bout of leukemia.

I think TV is a very tough industry to work because there are no guarantees that you can successfully work in it year after year. One year you can be in demand and the next year you're a has been.

CJMD03 · 02-05-2024, 08:41 PM

Well, she was supposed to do “Three Apartments” if it went through and that was in the later 1980’s.

BestTVever · 02-07-2024, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJMD03

……..how she and Fell were tricked into the Roper’s and the show being treated like garbage? Fell was pretty vocal for years, but I don’t think I ever heard Lindley say one thing about it. Did I miss anything?

They were not tricked. No one forced them to do it. Audra was the one that convinced Fell to do it. A spin off was talked about during season 2 but the Ropers turned it down. When the show was still at the top ABC came again and made a sweet deal for them. In the early days John was making $50k per episode and the girls $30k per episode. By season 4 John was making 150K per episode. The Ropers on TC were making $20k per episode. For their own show they made much more. Fell was never thrilled about the spin off because he knew it was a risk. However at the end of the day he signed the contract and was paid for the work he did. If they stayed on TC for the duration they would have made more money in the long run. But being the stars of their own show had them making big bucks.

Willbo · 02-07-2024, 11:19 AM

Audra Lindley also played Phoebe's grandmother in "Friends". She appeared in one episode in 1995.

stevea · 02-07-2024, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbo

Audra Lindley also played Phoebe's grandmother in "Friends". I think she did at least 2 episodes in the mid 90's.

She also played the sort-of villainous role of Liz Matthews on Another World for most of the 1960s.

BestTVever · 02-07-2024, 01:02 PM

She was in a Barnaby Jones episode right before Threes Company.
She was in 5 Love Boat episodes (including the 2 part Love Boat movie pilot premiere in 1977).
She was also in the 1989 movie Troop Beverly Hills.

TVFactFan · 02-11-2024, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

They were not tricked. No one forced them to do it. Audra was the one that convinced Fell to do it. A spin off was talked about during season 2 but the Ropers turned it down. When the show was still at the top ABC came again and made a sweet deal for them. In the early days John was making $50k per episode and the girls $30k per episode. By season 4 John was making 150K per episode. The Ropers on TC were making $20k per episode. For their own show they made much more. Fell was never thrilled about the spin off because he knew it was a risk. However at the end of the day he signed the contract and was paid for the work he did. If they stayed on TC for the duration they would have made more money in the long run. But being the stars of their own show had them making big bucks.

They were tricked because 1 season to most people means 6 or 7 months and that's what they thought the producers meant when they said it. So it was a tricky way of getting them off the show

BestTVever · 02-11-2024, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

They were tricked because 1 season to most people means 6 or 7 months and that's what they thought the producers meant when they said it. So it was a tricky way of getting them off the show

We will have to agree to disagree. I dont see how there was any trickery involved. It was 2 seasons. Threes Company started the same way as the Ropers. It started in the spring/summer for 8 or so episodes. If its copying or duplicating the original show with its debut then how could that be a trick. Norman had a right to refuse to do the Ropers. He could have put it in the contract if the Roper's fail at any point he could come back. He thought a 2 season run would be good. He made some great money but saying they were tricked is pure rubbish.

TVFactFan · 02-11-2024, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

We will have to agree to disagree. I dont see how there was any trickery involved. It was 2 seasons. Threes Company started the same way as the Ropers. It started in the spring/summer for 8 or so episodes. If its copying or duplicating the original show with its debut then how could that be a trick. Norman had a right to refuse to do the Ropers. He could have put it in the contract if the Roper's fail at any point he could come back. He thought a 2 season run would be good. He made some great money but saying they were tricked is pure rubbish.

It was their fault for not getting clarification lol Also they should have known since it was a new landlord it was no point in asking to come back because it was someone living in their own apt

BestTVever · 02-11-2024, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was their fault for not getting clarification lol Also they should have known since it was a new landlord it was no point in asking to come back because it was someone living in their own apt

The supposed story was Fell wanted to come back to Threes Company if The Ropers failed. The network offered a deal that if the show was not picked up after the first season that Fell could come back. But Fell thought he was being extra clever and said not 1 season but 2 seasons. His allegation was that ABC purposely did a second season so he would not have to go back. I don't find that credible because The Ropers had very good and strong ratings the first season. There would be no reason that ABC would not renew a hit show. When the ratings tanked and the show was cancelled he was upset. I think ABC moving the show around to Saturday nights was the issue. If they aired it right after Threes Company I think The Ropers could have lasted 3 seasons. Fell's contract and conditions were met. I wonder if Don Knots had something in his contract that discussed the Ropers.

TVFactFan · 02-11-2024, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

The supposed story was Fell wanted to come back to Threes Company if The Ropers failed. The network offered a deal that if the show was not picked up after the first season that Fell could come back. But Fell thought he was being extra clever and said not 1 season but 2 seasons. His allegation was that ABC purposely did a second season so he would not have to go back. I don't find that credible because The Ropers had very good and strong ratings the first season. There would be no reason that ABC would not renew a hit show. When the ratings tanked and the show was cancelled he was upset. I think ABC moving the show around to Saturday nights was the issue. If they aired it right after Threes Company I think The Ropers could have lasted 3 seasons. Fell's contract and conditions were met. I wonder if Don Knots had something in his contract that discussed the Ropers.

But what was they going to come back to? Mr. Furley was already established once Ropers 2nd season ended

CJMD03 · 02-11-2024, 10:33 PM

Though I think they were kinda tricked, both of them should have known that coming back would be impossible. Where would they have fit in? Dell said they were offered a spinoff during the second season and he said know. I think Lindley pushed him. Let’s face it, though, the writing on the proverbial wall and show was really bad.

BestTVever · 02-12-2024, 08:08 AM

I am confused by the word "tricked." How is a TV network offering you your own show for big bucks being tricked? Threes Company was the top show of the network. It was a huge risk to let them go. Why mess with the chemistry of the show? But the show was SO popular that its limelight made The Ropers a big success for the first season. It was not until the second season and the constant changing of time slots that killed the show. But I think Fell had enough common sense that the appeal of the Ropers on Threes Company probably could not support its own show. I wish they would have never left. I prefer the Ropers mostly for the banter between the two of them. While Don Knots was a fantastic addition he was the landlord to laugh at. The Ropers gave more depth to the scripts because The Ropers were the good/bad guy with the kids.

02-03-2024, 09:06 PM	#1
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 457	What was Audra Lindley’s take on….. ……..how she and Fell were tricked into the Roper’s and the show being treated like garbage? Fell was pretty vocal for years, but I don’t think I ever heard Lindley say one thing about it. Did I miss anything?

02-07-2024, 11:19 AM	#6
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 864	Audra Lindley also played Phoebe's grandmother in "Friends". She appeared in one episode in 1995.
	Last edited by Willbo; 02-07-2024 at 04:00 PM.

02-05-2024, 09:03 AM	#2
Lyverbe Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 284	True. Perhaps it meant more to Fell than Lindley.

02-05-2024, 02:50 PM	#3
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Wasn't she first diagnosed with leukemia in the 1980s? If she wasn't feeling well then she probably had more personal battles than not being allowed to return to TC. I think Fell's TV career had peaked so he could be more open even bitter about it. I think Audra was wiser and she was able to land a recurring on Cybill before she tragically succumbed to another bout of leukemia. I think TV is a very tough industry to work because there are no guarantees that you can successfully work in it year after year. One year you can be in demand and the next year you're a has been.

02-05-2024, 08:41 PM	#4
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 457	Well, she was supposed to do “Three Apartments” if it went through and that was in the later 1980’s.

02-07-2024, 01:02 PM	#8
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,942	She was in a Barnaby Jones episode right before Threes Company. She was in 5 Love Boat episodes (including the 2 part Love Boat movie pilot premiere in 1977). She was also in the 1989 movie Troop Beverly Hills.

02-11-2024, 10:33 PM	#14
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 457	Though I think they were kinda tricked, both of them should have known that coming back would be impossible. Where would they have fit in? Dell said they were offered a spinoff during the second season and he said know. I think Lindley pushed him. Let’s face it, though, the writing on the proverbial wall and show was really bad.

02-12-2024, 08:08 AM	#15
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,942	I am confused by the word "tricked." How is a TV network offering you your own show for big bucks being tricked? Threes Company was the top show of the network. It was a huge risk to let them go. Why mess with the chemistry of the show? But the show was SO popular that its limelight made The Ropers a big success for the first season. It was not until the second season and the constant changing of time slots that killed the show. But I think Fell had enough common sense that the appeal of the Ropers on Threes Company probably could not support its own show. I wish they would have never left. I prefer the Ropers mostly for the banter between the two of them. While Don Knots was a fantastic addition he was the landlord to laugh at. The Ropers gave more depth to the scripts because The Ropers were the good/bad guy with the kids.