Georgia Engel or Nancy Dussault: Which Ted Knight TV wife you like? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mstewart · 03-25-2010, 01:12 AM

Ted Knight had two TV wives: Georgia Engel on the Mary Tyler Moore Show who played his wife Georgette and Nancy Dussault played his wife on Too Close for Comfort, Muriel.

I preferred Nancy Dussault because Muriel did at times had some backbone towards Henry but the downside of her role that it was underutilized. Nancy Dussault is an excellent sitcom actress and funny but the way Muriel was written she was held back at times. Glad they allowed her to sing because Nancy got a powerful voice.

Georgette was funnier than Muriel but she was too mousy towards Ted and at times he walked all over her. They wrote Georgette very well. Georgia Engel is an excellent comedienne.

catlover79 · 03-25-2010, 01:18 AM

Since I've seen much more of TMTMS - my vote goes to Georgia/Georgette.

TripperFan · 03-25-2010, 01:27 AM

I liked both for different reasons. Nancy was perfect for Ted's type of character on Too Close, yet Georgette was the perfect ditz to Ted's ego on MTM. And of course, uttered that infamous line in that high-pitched, little girl's voice: "Well, one of the little buggars did the job!" Which at the time was about as risque as t.v. could get.

catlover79 · 03-25-2010, 01:32 AM

I love Georgia Engel's baby voice. I loved the scene in Coach where Howard and Shirley Burleigh drop in unannounced at Hayden and Christine's cabin. Georgia/Shirley says in that baby voice, "Pardon me for yelling!"

Marvo301 · 03-25-2010, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I love Georgia Engel's baby voice. I loved the scene in Coach where Howard and Shirley Burleigh drop in unannounced at Hayden and Christine's cabin. Georgia/Shirley says in that baby voice, "Pardon me for yelling!"

I loved Georgia as Shirley Burleigh and also as Pat MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond. But I will always remember her best as Georgette Franklin Baxter. Her innocence was the perfect antidote to Ted's ego.

catlover79 · 03-25-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I loved Georgia as Shirley Burleigh and also as Pat MacDougall on Everybody Loves Raymond. But I will always remember her best as Georgette Franklin Baxter. Her innocence was the perfect antidote to Ted's ego.

There was almost a 25-year age gap between Ted Knight and Georgia Engel, but they made it work!! I teared up the first time Ted Baxter and Georgette said "I love you". Ted said that he never said it because he was afraid no one would say it back to him. That's when Georgette said, "I love you, Ted." Too sweet for words!!

Marvo301 · 03-25-2010, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

There was almost a 25-year age gap between Ted Knight and Georgia Engel, but they made it work!! I teared up the first time Ted Baxter and Georgette said "I love you". Ted said that he never said it because he was afraid no one would say it back to him. That's when Georgette said, "I love you, Ted." Too sweet for words!!

That was a very touching moment and it I think it was the first time Ted truly opened up emotionally to anyone. That's when I knew He and Georgette were meant fot each other.

catlover79 · 03-25-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

That was a very touching moment and it I think it was the first time Ted truly opened up emotionally to anyone. That's when I knew He and Georgette were meant fot each other.

Same here! Georgette may have been a ditz, but she had a pure and loving heart. She was exactly what Ted needed.

Besides, I don't think any other woman would've been patient enough to put up with him.

McGillicuddy · 03-26-2010, 02:41 PM

There was a couple of times, in the last two seasons, where Georgette showed her assertiveness, like when Ted kept wanting to put off marriage, or when Sue Ann was flirting with Ted. Reminds me of when Edith told Archie to stifle, and the audience cheered!

catlover79 · 03-26-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

There was a couple of times, in the last two seasons, where Georgette showed her assertiveness, like when Ted kept wanting to put off marriage, or when Sue Ann was flirting with Ted. Reminds me of when Edith told Archie to stifle, and the audience cheered!

Exactly. In the episode I mentioned, Ted was treating Georgette like a slave - making her do his laundry, iron his shirts and do other errands for him. She finally stood up to him...and that's when the beautiful "I love you" scene began.

OH Nuts! · 03-27-2010, 04:29 PM

I like them both but I thought Georgette was a more fun character. And imo I thoughtTed Knight was superb in both shows. May he rest in peace.

mstewart · 03-27-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

There was almost a 25-year age gap between Ted Knight and Georgia Engel, but they made it work!! I teared up the first time Ted Baxter and Georgette said "I love you". Ted said that he never said it because he was afraid no one would say it back to him. That's when Georgette said, "I love you, Ted." Too sweet for words!!

There was a 13 year age difference between Ted and Nancy and it showed. I heard reports that Ted and Nancy did not get along too well on Too Close when she voiced her views about how her character was underwritten. She voiced her views on TV Guide. It was said Ted was quite difficult on the show.

PGood97041 · 03-27-2010, 09:45 PM

I liked the character played by Nancy Dussault, but one never knew what wacky line Georgette was going to come out with, so I have to go with Georgia Engel.

Georgette was, with her innocence but strength, indeed the perfect match for Ted's pomposity.

catlover79 · 03-28-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

I like them both but I thought Georgette was a more fun character. And imo I thoughtTed Knight was superb in both shows. May he rest in peace.

03-25-2010, 01:12 AM	#1
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Georgia Engel or Nancy Dussault: Which Ted Knight TV wife you like? Ted Knight had two TV wives: Georgia Engel on the Mary Tyler Moore Show who played his wife Georgette and Nancy Dussault played his wife on Too Close for Comfort, Muriel. I preferred Nancy Dussault because Muriel did at times had some backbone towards Henry but the downside of her role that it was underutilized. Nancy Dussault is an excellent sitcom actress and funny but the way Muriel was written she was held back at times. Glad they allowed her to sing because Nancy got a powerful voice. Georgette was funnier than Muriel but she was too mousy towards Ted and at times he walked all over her. They wrote Georgette very well. Georgia Engel is an excellent comedienne.

03-25-2010, 01:18 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Since I've seen much more of TMTMS - my vote goes to Georgia/Georgette.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-25-2010, 01:27 AM	#3
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I liked both for different reasons. Nancy was perfect for Ted's type of character on Too Close, yet Georgette was the perfect ditz to Ted's ego on MTM. And of course, uttered that infamous line in that high-pitched, little girl's voice: "Well, one of the little buggars did the job!" Which at the time was about as risque as t.v. could get.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

03-25-2010, 01:32 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I love Georgia Engel's baby voice. I loved the scene in Coach where Howard and Shirley Burleigh drop in unannounced at Hayden and Christine's cabin. Georgia/Shirley says in that baby voice, "Pardon me for yelling!"

03-26-2010, 02:41 PM	#9
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	There was a couple of times, in the last two seasons, where Georgette showed her assertiveness, like when Ted kept wanting to put off marriage, or when Sue Ann was flirting with Ted. Reminds me of when Edith told Archie to stifle, and the audience cheered!

03-27-2010, 04:29 PM	#11
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I like them both but I thought Georgette was a more fun character. And imo I thoughtTed Knight was superb in both shows. May he rest in peace.

03-27-2010, 09:45 PM	#13
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	I liked the character played by Nancy Dussault, but one never knew what wacky line Georgette was going to come out with, so I have to go with Georgia Engel. Georgette was, with her innocence but strength, indeed the perfect match for Ted's pomposity.