Did you like Ted Knight better in.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OH Nuts! · 10-18-2011, 06:33 PM

The Mary Tyler Moore Show or his later show Too Close For Comfort.

For me its a standoff, I loved him in both. I liked the change of character as the kind of stuffy, but funny and steadfast cartoonist.

How do you all feel?

scotsguy · 10-18-2011, 06:54 PM

I've never seen Ted in that show but "Too Close For Comfort" is the US

version of a UK sitcom called "Keep It In The Family".

Comparing the UK show to the MTMS show,"The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

and Ted Baxter were way ahead of the other show.

Be interesting to see how Ted played the lead part in the US version.

shotzette · 10-18-2011, 07:12 PM

I liked him better on tMTM Show. I thought the Ted Baxter character was more amusing--although over the top. IMO, MTM was the better show because it had a better cast and writing. TCfC always seemed uneven to me.

Brian Damage · 10-18-2011, 10:32 PM

Both shows are good for different reasons, but for me Ted Knight will always be Ted Baxter.

OH Nuts! · 10-19-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Both shows are good for different reasons, but for me Ted Knight will always be Ted Baxter.

I totally get that. But he was so great in Too Close For Comfort that for me it's a dead heat...what evens it for me is that Henry Rush is a more likeable character. (But Ted Baxter was definitely funnier)

Mr. Television · 10-19-2011, 06:24 PM

I liked him on both but I don't think TMTMS ever JTS. TCFC wasn't the same after Sarah and Jackie left the show.

LittleRickyII · 10-19-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shotzette

I liked him better on tMTM Show. I thought the Ted Baxter character was more amusing--although over the top. IMO, MTM was the better show because it had a better cast and writing. TCfC always seemed uneven to me.

I totally agree with you. TMTMS is a timeless classic, superbly written and acted, while Too Close for Comfort was a silly old mostly forgotten show that mainly survived on the air because if its lead in, Three's Company. It did well its first two seasons simply because TC preceded it (though there was still a drop in ratings compared to TC). It was moved to a different night for its third season and ratings plummeted and ABC yanked it off the air at the end of that season. It then went into first-run syndication for a couple years after that, never to return again to network TV.

I never thought the show was funny, except for one scene in one episode when Ted's character, Henry, had jury duty and fell asleep. (Most of the episodes were rather silly and uninspired, and the "comedy" dialogue was lame.) I remember an article in TV Guide where Nancy Dussault was interviewed and she was being very vocal about her displeasure with the show and its scripts, which obviously embarrassed her. But she had a contract so I guess she had to continue.

LittleRickyII · 10-20-2011, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I've never seen Ted in that show but "Too Close For Comfort" is the US

version of a UK sitcom called "Keep It In The Family".

Comparing the UK show to the MTMS show,"The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

and Ted Baxter were way ahead of the other show.

Be interesting to see how Ted played the lead part in the US version.

Here you go, you can see it for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO0XR...eature=related

gopyle · 10-22-2011, 07:03 PM

I would have to go with MTM. Mr. Knight was very good in both, but the Ted Baxter character is on of the all time classics.

10-18-2011, 06:33 PM	#1
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Did you like Ted Knight better in.... The Mary Tyler Moore Show or his later show Too Close For Comfort. For me its a standoff, I loved him in both. I liked the change of character as the kind of stuffy, but funny and steadfast cartoonist. How do you all feel?

10-18-2011, 10:32 PM	#4
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	Both shows are good for different reasons, but for me Ted Knight will always be Ted Baxter.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

10-19-2011, 06:24 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I liked him on both but I don't think TMTMS ever JTS. TCFC wasn't the same after Sarah and Jackie left the show.
	__________________ Sonny

10-18-2011, 06:54 PM	#2
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I've never seen Ted in that show but "Too Close For Comfort" is the US version of a UK sitcom called "Keep It In The Family". Comparing the UK show to the MTMS show,"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Ted Baxter were way ahead of the other show. Be interesting to see how Ted played the lead part in the US version.

10-18-2011, 07:12 PM	#3
shotzette Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 1,782	I liked him better on tMTM Show. I thought the Ted Baxter character was more amusing--although over the top. IMO, MTM was the better show because it had a better cast and writing. TCfC always seemed uneven to me.

10-22-2011, 07:03 PM	#9
gopyle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2011 Posts: 235	I would have to go with MTM. Mr. Knight was very good in both, but the Ted Baxter character is on of the all time classics.