Jeffrey Tambor Looks Back Fondly At His 1st TV Starring Gig...'The Ropers' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-21-2012, 02:03 PM

AVC: When it comes to doing sitcoms, you’ve been around the block a few times. In fact, you’ve been doing them since your very first full-time TV gig, when you played Jeffrey P. Brookes III on The Ropers.

JT: That’s true. It was my first time as a part of a series, and I didn’t know what being part of a series was all about. That was the same year I did … And Justice For All, so… It was just an odd, odd thing, really. I made $6,000 per week, which I thought was a million dollars. I learned a lot. I loved Norman [Fell] and Audra [Lindley], and Patty [McCormack], and I had a great time. It was wonderful. It’s interesting, but… the great thing about acting is that you kind of do what’s there and do it the best you can. But I loved it. It was a great experience.

AVC: Presumably there was a bit of a learning curve for you, given that you were just getting your feet wet on television.

JT: A huge learning curve. Huge.

AVC: Were Norman Fell and Audra Lindley helpful in steering you in the right direction?

JT: Oh, well, I loved Norman. Norman was an intellectual, and he had this sad-sack dog face—and I mean that in a totally honorific way—and yet when he would come to my house, I would always find him in my library, reading a book. Audra was great. Patty and I clicked. And I loved [executive producers Don] Nicholl, [Michael] Ross, and [Bernard] West. They were so kind to me. They were paternal, in a way. I felt sorry for them, because here was this actor who’d come from Broadway, and I just… I didn’t know how you made a show. When they gave you a note, you had to stand up and do it, and I thought that was just ridiculous. [Laughs.] But I remember the first time I had to do that. Audra just kind of looked at me, winked, and was, like, “Come on, let’s go.” It was good for me. Taught me a lot.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/jeffrey-tambor,71134/

TV_on_the_Porch · 03-21-2012, 05:01 PM

There's long been evidence of the affection Jeffrey speaks of, such as his guest stint on Threes Company as Cindy's would-be suitor and Patricia McCormick's appearance on Mr. Sunshine--in the role of Jeffrey's character's ex-wife!

Brian Damage · 03-21-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV_on_the_Porch

There's long been evidence of the affection Jeffrey speaks of, such as his guest stint on Threes Company as Cindy's would-be suitor and Patricia McCormick's appearance on Mr. Sunshine--in the role of Jeffrey's character's ex-wife!

"STARRING" not guesting

TV_on_the_Porch · 03-21-2012, 06:07 PM

What the eff kind of post is that?

TVFactFan · 03-22-2012, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"STARRING" not guesting

LOL, exactly, And on top of that when he guest starred as Cindy's husband that was in 1981, 2 years AFTER the Ropers.

The stuff people post I swear is mind boggling-lol

TV_on_the_Porch · 03-22-2012, 10:30 PM

Maybe you'd like to explain exactly what your buddy the moderator meant by what he posted? Oh that's right, you don't know either. You just piled on to stir up ****.

******* ******.

TVFactFan · 03-22-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV_on_the_Porch

Maybe you'd like to explain exactly what your buddy the moderator meant by what he posted? Oh that's right, you don't know either. You just piled on to stir up ****.

******* ******.

It was simple, the Ropers was Jeffrey Tambor's first starring role in 1979, everything you mentioned was a guest spot

the end

Pavan · 03-22-2012, 10:42 PM

Jeffrey was the star of Mr. Sunshine (1986 sitcom) and Patty McCormack guest starred on it, Solomon. Not sure what Brian means because what TV_on_the_Porch posted was ALL true, he "guested" on Three's Company (three times AFTER The Ropers), so NRW loved him and Jeffrey shows his affection of his past with NRW shows and stars.

TV_on_the_Porch · 03-22-2012, 10:51 PM

Oh that's terrific--if all you care about was the title of the post and not text of the article, in which Jeffrey Tambor spoke of the mutual affection for his producers as well as his costars.

EDIT: Thank you Pavan, you said all I was going to...and a lot more nicely.

Brian Damage · 03-22-2012, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

It was simple, the Ropers was Jeffrey Tambor's first starring role in 1979, everything you mentioned was a guest spot

the end

Exactly Thank you Sol, TV porch has a thing for me I think. LOL

Pavan · 03-22-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Exactly Thank you Sol, TV porch has a thing for me I think. LOL

What did he exactly do that was wrong? I'm not seeing anything wrong in what he posted. He made good points of Jeffrey's affection for The Ropers and its stars/producers even after the show ended. Jeffrey doesn't talk ill-will about that series at all to this day.

You posted something about STARRING and not guesting, which I didn't understand at all because what he posted about those shows were true and I explained it in post #8: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...54&postcount=8

TVFactFan · 03-22-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavan

Jeffrey was the star of Mr. Sunshine (1986 sitcom) and Patty McCormack guest starred on it, Solomon. Not sure what Brian means because what TV_on_the_Porch posted was ALL true, he "guested" on Three's Company (three times AFTER The Ropers), so NRW loved him and Jeffrey shows his affection of his past with NRW shows and stars.

I was clearing up Brian's statement which was connected to the title

Brian Damage · 03-22-2012, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavan

What did he exactly do that was wrong? I'm not seeing anything wrong in what he posted. He made good points of Jeffrey's affection for The Ropers and its stars/producers even after the show ended. Jeffrey doesn't talk ill-will about that series at all to this day.

You posted something about STARRING and not guesting, which I didn't understand at all because what he posted about those shows were true and I explained it in post #8: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...54&postcount=8

Pav, this dude Porch has been on my jock for a while now. I don't know why nor do I care.

Pavan · 03-22-2012, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Pav, this dude Porch has been on my jock for a while now. I don't know why nor do I care.

That I don't know anything about. I'm just saying what he posted in the second post here is true about Jeffrey's tie-ins with the Ropers stars/producers even after the show ended. I think you misunderstood what he posted on that post.

TVFactFan · 03-22-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavan

That I don't know anything about. I'm just saying what he posted in the second post here is true about Jeffrey's tie-ins with the Ropers stars/producers even after the show ended.

I wish I can see the episode of Sushine when Patricia McCormick made an appearance.

03-21-2012, 02:03 PM	#1
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: 63,108	Jeffrey Tambor Looks Back Fondly At His 1st TV Starring Gig...'The Ropers' AVC: When it comes to doing sitcoms, you’ve been around the block a few times. In fact, you’ve been doing them since your very first full-time TV gig, when you played Jeffrey P. Brookes III on The Ropers. JT: That’s true. It was my first time as a part of a series, and I didn’t know what being part of a series was all about. That was the same year I did … And Justice For All, so… It was just an odd, odd thing, really. I made $6,000 per week, which I thought was a million dollars. I learned a lot. I loved Norman [Fell] and Audra [Lindley], and Patty [McCormack], and I had a great time. It was wonderful. It’s interesting, but… the great thing about acting is that you kind of do what’s there and do it the best you can. But I loved it. It was a great experience. AVC: Presumably there was a bit of a learning curve for you, given that you were just getting your feet wet on television. JT: A huge learning curve. Huge. AVC: Were Norman Fell and Audra Lindley helpful in steering you in the right direction? JT: Oh, well, I loved Norman. Norman was an intellectual, and he had this sad-sack dog face—and I mean that in a totally honorific way—and yet when he would come to my house, I would always find him in my library, reading a book. Audra was great. Patty and I clicked. And I loved [executive producers Don] Nicholl, [Michael] Ross, and [Bernard] West. They were so kind to me. They were paternal, in a way. I felt sorry for them, because here was this actor who’d come from Broadway, and I just… I didn’t know how you made a show. When they gave you a note, you had to stand up and do it, and I thought that was just ridiculous. [Laughs.] But I remember the first time I had to do that. Audra just kind of looked at me, winked, and was, like, “Come on, let’s go.” It was good for me. Taught me a lot. http://www.avclub.com/articles/jeffrey-tambor,71134/
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03-21-2012, 05:01 PM	#2
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	There's long been evidence of the affection Jeffrey speaks of, such as his guest stint on Threes Company as Cindy's would-be suitor and Patricia McCormick's appearance on Mr. Sunshine--in the role of Jeffrey's character's ex-wife!

03-21-2012, 06:07 PM	#4
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	What the eff kind of post is that?

03-22-2012, 10:30 PM	#6
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	Maybe you'd like to explain exactly what your buddy the moderator meant by what he posted? Oh that's right, you don't know either. You just piled on to stir up **. *** ****.

03-22-2012, 10:42 PM	#8
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,814	Jeffrey was the star of Mr. Sunshine (1986 sitcom) and Patty McCormack guest starred on it, Solomon. Not sure what Brian means because what TV_on_the_Porch posted was ALL true, he "guested" on Three's Company (three times AFTER The Ropers), so NRW loved him and Jeffrey shows his affection of his past with NRW shows and stars.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

03-22-2012, 10:51 PM	#9
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	Oh that's terrific--if all you care about was the title of the post and not text of the article, in which Jeffrey Tambor spoke of the mutual affection for his producers as well as his costars. EDIT: Thank you Pavan, you said all I was going to...and a lot more nicely.