Ted Baxter, Cradle Robber? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LittleRickyII · 02-02-2012, 08:35 PM

Ted Knight was born in 1923, Georgia Engel was born in 1948. If the characters they played were the same ages, then that's a 25-year age gap and Ted was old enough to be Georgette's father. Georgette always acted like she was lucky to be with him, but perhaps the reverse was true?

Cloud9 Lorraine · 02-02-2012, 08:51 PM

Definitely, Ted was very lucky to have a woman that cared for him the way Georgette did!

Anyone know what the ages for the characters were supposed to be? We know Mary was 30, even though she was really 34. How about the others?

mstewart · 02-02-2012, 09:36 PM

On Too Close For Comfort there was a significant age difference between his character, Henry Rush, and his TV wife, Muriel. On the show Ted's character was 54 and Muriel was 42.

Retro4Life · 02-02-2012, 11:28 PM

I always thought that the character Ted Baxter was supposed to be a bit younger than Ted Knight, the actor.

It's hard for me to think that when the show started in 1970, the character of Ted was supposed to be 47. Maybe 40ish. He did have a young face, despite the silver hair.

And Georgette, the character, was in my mind a bit older than the actress that played her. I'd guess that by the time the show ended in 1977, the character was supposed to have been around 30. That meant an age difference of about 17 years, as opposed to the actual 25.

Either way, I have no issue with it. They were a good couple, loved each other and made each other better people. That's all that really matters.

catlover79 · 02-03-2012, 01:38 AM

It's funny to think how large the age gap was between Ted K. and Georgia. Still, they had very believable chemistry - and the love of a good woman is what helped Ted Baxter grow as a character.

old grouch · 02-03-2012, 12:03 PM

They were both over 18 and were perfect for each other, so what difference does age make???

LittleRickyII · 02-03-2012, 01:19 PM

I pretty much agree with all the comments here. I've always felt like Ted and Georgette were very well cast as a couple, and it never really crossed my mind about the actual age difference between the actors until a couple days ago. I guess that's a great testament to the actors themselves and how convincing they were in their portrayals that we don't even realize Mr. Knight and Ms. Engel were that far apart in age. It's sort of like Vivian Vance and William Frawley, who were 22 years apart in age, but Fred and Ethel, nevertheless, seem perfect for one another.

Dianne3 · 02-03-2012, 04:05 PM

I posted a thread on this a while back that Ted's age was never mentioned, but a lot of the other character's age's were.
Lou was 45 at the end of year 1. In year 4 he was celebrating his 48th (?) birthday.
Murray was 45 in year 6.
Mary's age was mentioned almost every season. In the final season, she was 37.
Phyllis was 43 in year 5.
I don't know if Rhoda's age was mentioned in year 1, but in year 4 I believe she was 33.

LittleRickyII · 02-03-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianne3

I posted a thread on this a while back that Ted's age was never mentioned, but a lot of the other character's age's were.
Lou was 45 at the end of year 1. In year 4 he was celebrating his 48th (?) birthday.
Murray was 45 in year 6.
Mary's age was mentioned almost every season. In the final season, she was 37.
Phyllis was 43 in year 5.
I don't know if Rhoda's age was mentioned in year 1, but in year 4 I believe she was 33.

I like how well this show kept track, and maintained consistency, about the characters' ages. They paid great attention to details, not only about ages, but everything about those characters, their families, friends, etc. The only big error that comes to mind is Rhoda's sister, Debbie, who vanished after that single wedding episode and was never once mentioned on the series, Rhoda. In fact, it was mentioned in at least one episode of Rhoda that Rhoda and Brenda were the only Morgenstern children.

OH Nuts! · 02-03-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

They were both over 18 and were perfect for each other, so what difference does age make???

Yup. When something works why question it? I guess if it was something ultra-unusual like 40 yr difference but even then. If they're both of age and love each other...

but the $64,000 Q for me is why Georgette liked him. Ted=Ugh! IMO she could have done better. Beauty is definely in the eye of the beholder and Georgette proves it.

PGood97041 · 02-03-2012, 06:42 PM

I never really gave it too much thought other than that there was SOME age difference, because Ted and Georgette were perfect for each other. Ted, even with the silver hair, looked younger, and Georgette was flighty but had an overall maturity about her that could have been taken as her being older.

In addition to the Fred and Ethel example, don't forget that our gal Mary, when she was Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, was considerably younger than Rob Petrie (DVD). Some people noted it, and even Dick wondered if it would work. Of course, Mary and Dick's great chemistry overrode everything! And that's still fun to watch!

LittleRickyII · 02-03-2012, 08:41 PM

One thing that does make me wonder about the Ted-Georgette relationship is that Georgette comes across to me as a person who grew up being really sheltered, with very protective parents. I don't know if her upbringing was ever described that way on the show, but she at least she reminds me of people I have known who have come from that sort of background. So if that is the case, that she had highly protective parents, how could they have ever accepted her being with someone like Ted???

OH Nuts! · 02-04-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

One thing that does make me wonder about the Ted-Georgette relationship is that Georgette comes across to me as a person who grew up being really sheltered, with very protective parents. I don't know if her upbringing was ever described that way on the show, but she at least she reminds me of people I have known who have come from that sort of background. So if that is the case, that she had highly protective parents, how could they have ever accepted her being with someone like Ted???

Another $64K question! One back-handed compliment I have about Ted- he was consistent - consistent about annoying practically EVERYONE

LittleRickyII · 02-04-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Another $64K question! One back-handed compliment I have about Ted- he was consistent - consistent about annoying practically EVERYONE

PracTz · 02-04-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

Ted Knight was born in 1923, Georgia Engel was born in 1948. If the characters they played were the same ages, then that's a 25-year age gap and Ted was old enough to be Georgette's father. Georgette always acted like she was lucky to be with him, but perhaps the reverse was true?

In chronological years, yeah Ted was a LOT older but in mental years Georgette had the clear advantage!

02-02-2012, 08:35 PM	#1
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Ted Baxter, Cradle Robber? Ted Knight was born in 1923, Georgia Engel was born in 1948. If the characters they played were the same ages, then that's a 25-year age gap and Ted was old enough to be Georgette's father. Georgette always acted like she was lucky to be with him, but perhaps the reverse was true?

02-02-2012, 11:28 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I always thought that the character Ted Baxter was supposed to be a bit younger than Ted Knight, the actor. It's hard for me to think that when the show started in 1970, the character of Ted was supposed to be 47. Maybe 40ish. He did have a young face, despite the silver hair. And Georgette, the character, was in my mind a bit older than the actress that played her. I'd guess that by the time the show ended in 1977, the character was supposed to have been around 30. That meant an age difference of about 17 years, as opposed to the actual 25. Either way, I have no issue with it. They were a good couple, loved each other and made each other better people. That's all that really matters.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

02-03-2012, 01:38 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	It's funny to think how large the age gap was between Ted K. and Georgia. Still, they had very believable chemistry - and the love of a good woman is what helped Ted Baxter grow as a character.
	__________________ "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

02-02-2012, 08:51 PM	#2
Cloud9 Lorraine Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 10, 2007 Location: NY Posts: 342	Definitely, Ted was very lucky to have a woman that cared for him the way Georgette did! Anyone know what the ages for the characters were supposed to be? We know Mary was 30, even though she was really 34. How about the others?

02-02-2012, 09:36 PM	#3
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	On Too Close For Comfort there was a significant age difference between his character, Henry Rush, and his TV wife, Muriel. On the show Ted's character was 54 and Muriel was 42.

02-03-2012, 12:03 PM	#6
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	They were both over 18 and were perfect for each other, so what difference does age make???

02-03-2012, 01:19 PM	#7
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	I pretty much agree with all the comments here. I've always felt like Ted and Georgette were very well cast as a couple, and it never really crossed my mind about the actual age difference between the actors until a couple days ago. I guess that's a great testament to the actors themselves and how convincing they were in their portrayals that we don't even realize Mr. Knight and Ms. Engel were that far apart in age. It's sort of like Vivian Vance and William Frawley, who were 22 years apart in age, but Fred and Ethel, nevertheless, seem perfect for one another.

02-03-2012, 04:05 PM	#8
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	I posted a thread on this a while back that Ted's age was never mentioned, but a lot of the other character's age's were. Lou was 45 at the end of year 1. In year 4 he was celebrating his 48th (?) birthday. Murray was 45 in year 6. Mary's age was mentioned almost every season. In the final season, she was 37. Phyllis was 43 in year 5. I don't know if Rhoda's age was mentioned in year 1, but in year 4 I believe she was 33.

02-03-2012, 06:42 PM	#11
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	I never really gave it too much thought other than that there was SOME age difference, because Ted and Georgette were perfect for each other. Ted, even with the silver hair, looked younger, and Georgette was flighty but had an overall maturity about her that could have been taken as her being older. In addition to the Fred and Ethel example, don't forget that our gal Mary, when she was Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, was considerably younger than Rob Petrie (DVD). Some people noted it, and even Dick wondered if it would work. Of course, Mary and Dick's great chemistry overrode everything! And that's still fun to watch!

02-03-2012, 08:41 PM	#12
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	One thing that does make me wonder about the Ted-Georgette relationship is that Georgette comes across to me as a person who grew up being really sheltered, with very protective parents. I don't know if her upbringing was ever described that way on the show, but she at least she reminds me of people I have known who have come from that sort of background. So if that is the case, that she had highly protective parents, how could they have ever accepted her being with someone like Ted???