The 1979 TV Guide Review of the "Ropers" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 06-13-2006, 10:13 AM

Three's Company acquired the reputation for being about sex, even though no one in that ABC Comedy ever has any. We might assume that other TV characters-Archie and Edith, for instance -have a therapeutic nocturnal moment now and then, but nobody in Three's Company ever progresses beyond wiggles, jiggles, and giggles. It's a kind of sexual purgatory. But viewers seem to love it, for whatever that means about the national psyche.

The most inert relationship seemed to be between the landlord, Mr. Roper(Norman Fell) and his itchy, blowzy wife(Audra Lindley), so this pair has been spun off into THE ROPERS, another series monastic in practice but libidinous in suggestion-with enough references to bras, hot tubs, jockey shorts and other marginally naughty items to provide a lubricious atmophere. As before, the main joke is that Mrs. Roper can't get any action.

If you drained the energy out of Joey Bishop you would be left with someone like Fell, who plays Roper with a glum wariness that can be funny , as he avoids the moist embraces of his spouse. Lindley, the pinkest person in television, is a good comedienne who puts a curl in every line disparaging Roper's manhood. "Bedrooms don't interest Stanley,"she growled in the pilot, as Jeffery Tambor showed them through their new house.

Tambor plays the next-door neighbor, a sputtery blowfish who quite resaonably despises Roper. He has a sexy-perky wife (Patricia McCormick) and a carrot headed son, David(Evan Cohen) who is there to ask precocious questions. "David's got to keep his hands out of my drawers." puffed Tambor to wife. "You're his mother. That's your department." It must tax the writers terribly, slipping a mention of underwear or anatomical parts into every three lines of dialogue.

Lindley makes doomed efforts to arouse Fell's animal instincts, from hot tubs (two nubile teenagers hopped in with them) to marriage counselors. "You mustn't think of it as a duty, Mr. Roper," said the counselor. "Don't tell him that, " shrieked Audra. "That's the only edge I've got." Lindley and Fell are an artful mismatch and can be funny together. But sometimes there is a twist of cruelty in their exchanges that sets me to wincing when I'm supposed to be chuckling. When Helen discovered that Stanley had been keeping up a lovelorn one-way correspondence with Doris Day, she phoned him, pretending to be Doris, bellowed "Que Sera, Sera" in his ear and went off in cackles.

The Ropers is one of numerous comedies now exploring the rather bleak frontiers of innuendo. Small kids who watch these shows may be getting their first impression of sex: as something that makes adult nervous and giggly, that involves underwear in some way, is seldom done and never talked about seriously, but the figures somehowin the reproduction of jokes. My attitude toward the Ropers is something like Mr. Roper's attitude toward his wife. I know it's cute, but don't ask me to get excited about it.

1979 Sept 23, TV guide, Robert Mackenzie

Brian Damage · 06-13-2006, 11:09 AM

I like the review. I can't get too excited about this show, because Fell and Lindley aren't star material. Jeffrey was the best part of this show bar none.

TVFactFan · 06-17-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I like the review. I can't get too excited about this show, because Fell and Lindley aren't star material. Jeffrey was the best part of this show bar none.

No Ann was the Best Part and the Worst Part was the son David

comedyfreak · 06-20-2006, 10:09 AM

I think Ann and Jefferey and son David were the worst thing about the show, they needed a better supporting cast.

TVFactFan · 06-20-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I think Ann and Jefferey and son David were the worst thing about the show, they needed a better supporting cast.

What was wrong with Ann? She was young, hot, and sexy

Dr. Thong · 06-20-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

What was wrong with Ann? She was young, hot, and sexy

She made the show worth watching. They should have kept the Ropers on Three's Company. I know Norman Fell had an agreement that if the show got cancelled the first year, the Ropers would go back, but because it was technically just outside of a year, the producers wouldn't do it.

TVFactFan · 06-20-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

She made the show worth watching. They should have kept the Ropers on Three's Company. I know Norman Fell had an agreement that if the show got cancelled the first year, the Ropers would go back, but because it was technically just outside of a year, the producers wouldn't do it.

Norman Fell should have asked for the spinoff to start in the fall instead of the spring.

comedyfreak · 06-21-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

What was wrong with Ann? She was young, hot, and sexy

Nothing, she was nice to see, but she didn't mesh well. It wasn't believeable that she would be with someone as pompus as Jefferey. I still say they needed a better supporting cast and had an older son that would try and get one over on Stanley.

Dr. Thong · 06-21-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Norman Fell should have asked for the spinoff to start in the fall instead of the spring.

He probably had no say in the matter. In fact, he may have had to do the spinoff under duress. I believe he actually didn't want to do the spinoff - I think he wanted to stay put, but he was forced into it.

I don't know how contracts work, but I imagine they can do whatever they want with you unless the contract specifies you work on only one show.

TVFactFan · 06-21-2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

He probably had no say in the matter. In fact, he may have had to do the spinoff under duress. I believe he actually didn't want to do the spinoff - I think he wanted to stay put, but he was forced into it.

I don't know how contracts work, but I imagine they can do whatever they want with you unless the contract specifies you work on only one show.

I think he did have say because the President of the Network was wondering what could he do to change Norman's mind

Ireneparalegal · 06-21-2006, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I think he did have say because the President of the Network was wondering what could he do to change Norman's mind

oh God, not this shyt again...

TVFactFan · 06-21-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

oh God, not this shyt again...

well dr.thong responded and i replied-lol

06-13-2006, 10:13 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,055	The 1979 TV Guide Review of the "Ropers" Three's Company acquired the reputation for being about sex, even though no one in that ABC Comedy ever has any. We might assume that other TV characters-Archie and Edith, for instance -have a therapeutic nocturnal moment now and then, but nobody in Three's Company ever progresses beyond wiggles, jiggles, and giggles. It's a kind of sexual purgatory. But viewers seem to love it, for whatever that means about the national psyche. The most inert relationship seemed to be between the landlord, Mr. Roper(Norman Fell) and his itchy, blowzy wife(Audra Lindley), so this pair has been spun off into THE ROPERS, another series monastic in practice but libidinous in suggestion-with enough references to bras, hot tubs, jockey shorts and other marginally naughty items to provide a lubricious atmophere. As before, the main joke is that Mrs. Roper can't get any action. If you drained the energy out of Joey Bishop you would be left with someone like Fell, who plays Roper with a glum wariness that can be funny , as he avoids the moist embraces of his spouse. Lindley, the pinkest person in television, is a good comedienne who puts a curl in every line disparaging Roper's manhood. "Bedrooms don't interest Stanley,"she growled in the pilot, as Jeffery Tambor showed them through their new house. Tambor plays the next-door neighbor, a sputtery blowfish who quite resaonably despises Roper. He has a sexy-perky wife (Patricia McCormick) and a carrot headed son, David(Evan Cohen) who is there to ask precocious questions. "David's got to keep his hands out of my drawers." puffed Tambor to wife. "You're his mother. That's your department." It must tax the writers terribly, slipping a mention of underwear or anatomical parts into every three lines of dialogue. Lindley makes doomed efforts to arouse Fell's animal instincts, from hot tubs (two nubile teenagers hopped in with them) to marriage counselors. "You mustn't think of it as a duty, Mr. Roper," said the counselor. "Don't tell him that, " shrieked Audra. "That's the only edge I've got." Lindley and Fell are an artful mismatch and can be funny together. But sometimes there is a twist of cruelty in their exchanges that sets me to wincing when I'm supposed to be chuckling. When Helen discovered that Stanley had been keeping up a lovelorn one-way correspondence with Doris Day, she phoned him, pretending to be Doris, bellowed "Que Sera, Sera" in his ear and went off in cackles. The Ropers is one of numerous comedies now exploring the rather bleak frontiers of innuendo. Small kids who watch these shows may be getting their first impression of sex: as something that makes adult nervous and giggly, that involves underwear in some way, is seldom done and never talked about seriously, but the figures somehowin the reproduction of jokes. My attitude toward the Ropers is something like Mr. Roper's attitude toward his wife. I know it's cute, but don't ask me to get excited about it. 1979 Sept 23, TV guide, Robert Mackenzie

06-13-2006, 11:09 AM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I like the review. I can't get too excited about this show, because Fell and Lindley aren't star material. Jeffrey was the best part of this show bar none.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-20-2006, 10:09 AM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	I think Ann and Jefferey and son David were the worst thing about the show, they needed a better supporting cast.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak