Don Knotts: A little overrated? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JSP · 11-29-2014, 09:08 AM

I don't mean to cause controversy or anything, but even though Don was very famous for playing Barney Fife when he entered the cast of Three's and had five emmys under his belt, there's no way he was the most talented person in the cast. If anything, John, Joyce, Suzanne, and Richard were better actors.

Don Knotts was never going to be able to be anything but goofy. His height and voice limited his ability to break out into dramatic roles. I know someone will probably give some example of some small part he did on some TV show somewhere that was dramatic and well-done, but that's just a fluke. To me he could only do comedy. I could picture John, Joyce, Suzanne and Richard doing serious roles easily. Not Don.

Heck, Norman Fell was a better actor than Don Knotts. I'm sure Audra Lindley had some interesting roles, but I kind of thought she was the weakest of the original cast. There were times I thought she overacted playing Mrs. Roper. In fact, I have a relative that kind of reminds me of Mrs. Roper, in that she can be a little over-the-top in her expressiveness at situations where it doesn't call for it. Even my brother said our relative is just like Mrs. Roper.

Lyverbe · 11-29-2014, 10:25 AM

I don't agree. Knotts was a great actor and it would be hard for me to sort them all from best to worst actor in Three's Company. In an episode, one was best and, in another episode, someone else was best.

OK, Jenilee would perhaps be at the bottom of the list at all times, but I think it would be hard for the others.

Dr. Thong · 11-29-2014, 10:36 AM

I always thought Don Knotts was very overrated. He was one of those comedic actors who tried to hard to be funny, IMO.

And I thought he tried way too hard as Furley, who I found very annoying.

I wish The Ropers had never been spun off or at the very least, had been allowed to come back.

Yong Fang · 11-29-2014, 11:40 AM

Not a big Three's Company fan, but Mr. Roper ruled. He was absolutely hilarious, especially when he was mugging at the camera. The actor, Norman Fell was a veteran actor in lots of TV shows and films, which included crime and drama.

Don Knotts more or less had different variations of one character, a nervous, bug eyed, hyper, dumb guy. And we loved that character. It served him well in films (watch No Time for Sargeants, one of the most HILARIOUS 1950's movie ever), Barney Fife, those Mr. Limpett and Apple Dumpling Gang films and then Ralph Furley on Three's Company.

Sure, Knotts could have done drama. Even on TAGS, there were elements of drama when Barney had his feelings hurt, or when he was angry, or something did not go his way. But Knotts was not a dramatic actor, his specialty was scripted comedy and his character.

Mr. Television · 11-29-2014, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Not a big Three's Company fan, but Mr. Roper ruled. He was absolutely hilarious, especially when he was mugging at the camera. The actor, Norman Fell was a veteran actor in lots of TV shows and films, which included crime and drama.

Don Knotts more or less had different variations of one character, a nervous, bug eyed, hyper, dumb guy. And we loved that character. It served him well in films (watch No Time for Sargeants, one of the most HILARIOUS 1950's movie ever), Barney Fife, those Mr. Limpett and Apple Dumpling Gang films and then Ralph Furley on Three's Company.

Sure, Knotts could have done drama. Even on TAGS, there were elements of drama when Barney had his feelings hurt, or when he was angry, or something did not go his way. But Knotts was not a dramatic actor, his specialty was scripted comedy and his character.

Totally agree. Don Knotts was one of the great comedy legends. He wasn't comfortable doing drama and there's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't take away from what he did.

LittleRickyII · 12-02-2014, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Totally agree. Don Knotts was one of the great comedy legends. He wasn't comfortable doing drama and there's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't take away from what he did.

I completely agree with you and completely disagree with the OP. I don't much enjoy the latter seasons of Three's Company. It's really Don Knott's who keeps me interested and consistently makes me laugh. It's John Ritter I think who sometimes seems to be trying too hard. And Priscilla Barnes, whose portrayal seems over the top and cartoonish to me.

As for the Ropers, they were basically a one-joke comedy bit and the characters got tiring after awhile. I never found them particularly funny. Don Knott's, on the other hand, was always hilarious to me. As for doing drama, if someone chooses a career in comedy as he did, why do people place an expectation on them to do drama as well, even when they aren't interested? That's like saying that a great pro football player like Peyton Manning should play for the Lakers every once in awhile. Don Knotts knew what he enjoyed doing and where he excelled, so he stuck with it. Good for him!

OH Nuts! · 12-02-2014, 12:14 AM

Don was a hoot. He wasn't overacting IMO- the character was supposed to be over the top. That being said though I liked Norman Fell and Audra Lindley more - esp. Audra. So in the final analysis, I say the Ropers ruled as well.

Flying Dutchman · 12-04-2014, 10:06 AM

You can't make out like Don Knotts was some nobody who did a few small parts and that was it. Let's see. There was The incredible Mr Limpet. The shakiest gun in the west. The Apple dumpling gang, a Disney movie. And Disney doesn't put nobodies in their movies. There was The Reluctant Astronaut. The Ghost and Mr Chicken. And the list goes on. Not to mention the many voice overs he did. Don Knotts did more than most of the cast members of Threes Company with the exception of John Ritter. He was quite the star in the 60s and 70s. He may have not been super funny on 3s, but he was pretty funny in his movies. Don had to work with what the writers gave him in 3s company so it wasn't all his fault.

JackJanetChrissy · 12-04-2014, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I don't mean to cause controversy or anything, but even though Don was very famous for playing Barney Fife when he entered the cast of Three's and had five emmys under his belt, there's no way he was the most talented person in the cast.

I kind of agree with you. I know Don Knotts was respected in the industry and had a lot of success, but on TC he was always kind of a one-note wonder. I also thought his body movements made him seem TOO old at times (the shakiness just made him look feeble). He was also too likeable for him to become a real butt of the joke like Roper was so often, and when the kids did poke fun at Mr. Furley it seemed cruel. I recall on a few occasions they told him to go away or get lost and it just sounded mean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

Even my brother said our relative is just like Mrs. Roper.

EVERYBODY has a relative just like Mrs. Roper, lol.

Mr. Television · 12-04-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman

You can't make out like Don Knotts was some nobody who did a few small parts and that was it. Let's see. There was The incredible Mr Limpet. The shakiest gun in the west. The Apple dumpling gang, a Disney movie. And Disney doesn't put nobodies in their movies. There was The Reluctant Astronaut. The Ghost and Mr Chicken. And the list goes on. Not to mention the many voice overs he did. Don Knotts did more than most of the cast members of Threes Company with the exception of John Ritter. He was quite the star in the 60s and 70s. He may have not been super funny on 3s, but he was pretty funny in his movies. Don had to work with what the writers gave him in 3s company so it wasn't all his fault.

I liked Don in everything he ever did. I loved him in TC too. I think if he wasn't welcomed by the fans, the Ropers would have returned. Even though I liked the Ropers too I'm sort of glad things worked the way they did. BTW I loved Don in those Apple Dumpling movies. One of my greatest childhood memories.

Flying Dutchman · 12-04-2014, 11:52 AM

And one more thing Don got to do that not just anyone did. He played Julie Newmars love interest in The Love Boat. How many actors would have loved to make that claim?

JSP · 12-14-2014, 09:19 PM

I saw "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" yesterday on AMC. Don Knotts was his doing his schtick where he was striking a karate pose, just like he did as Furley. Don Knotts definitely just kind of did only one character.

11-29-2014, 09:08 AM	#1
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	Don Knotts: A little overrated? I don't mean to cause controversy or anything, but even though Don was very famous for playing Barney Fife when he entered the cast of Three's and had five emmys under his belt, there's no way he was the most talented person in the cast. If anything, John, Joyce, Suzanne, and Richard were better actors. Don Knotts was never going to be able to be anything but goofy. His height and voice limited his ability to break out into dramatic roles. I know someone will probably give some example of some small part he did on some TV show somewhere that was dramatic and well-done, but that's just a fluke. To me he could only do comedy. I could picture John, Joyce, Suzanne and Richard doing serious roles easily. Not Don. Heck, Norman Fell was a better actor than Don Knotts. I'm sure Audra Lindley had some interesting roles, but I kind of thought she was the weakest of the original cast. There were times I thought she overacted playing Mrs. Roper. In fact, I have a relative that kind of reminds me of Mrs. Roper, in that she can be a little over-the-top in her expressiveness at situations where it doesn't call for it. Even my brother said our relative is just like Mrs. Roper.

11-29-2014, 10:36 AM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I always thought Don Knotts was very overrated. He was one of those comedic actors who tried to hard to be funny, IMO. And I thought he tried way too hard as Furley, who I found very annoying. I wish The Ropers had never been spun off or at the very least, had been allowed to come back.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

11-29-2014, 10:25 AM	#2
Lyverbe Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 284	I don't agree. Knotts was a great actor and it would be hard for me to sort them all from best to worst actor in Three's Company. In an episode, one was best and, in another episode, someone else was best. OK, Jenilee would perhaps be at the bottom of the list at all times, but I think it would be hard for the others.

11-29-2014, 11:40 AM	#4
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Not a big Three's Company fan, but Mr. Roper ruled. He was absolutely hilarious, especially when he was mugging at the camera. The actor, Norman Fell was a veteran actor in lots of TV shows and films, which included crime and drama. Don Knotts more or less had different variations of one character, a nervous, bug eyed, hyper, dumb guy. And we loved that character. It served him well in films (watch No Time for Sargeants, one of the most HILARIOUS 1950's movie ever), Barney Fife, those Mr. Limpett and Apple Dumpling Gang films and then Ralph Furley on Three's Company. Sure, Knotts could have done drama. Even on TAGS, there were elements of drama when Barney had his feelings hurt, or when he was angry, or something did not go his way. But Knotts was not a dramatic actor, his specialty was scripted comedy and his character.

12-02-2014, 12:14 AM	#7
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Don was a hoot. He wasn't overacting IMO- the character was supposed to be over the top. That being said though I liked Norman Fell and Audra Lindley more - esp. Audra. So in the final analysis, I say the Ropers ruled as well.

12-04-2014, 10:06 AM	#8
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	You can't make out like Don Knotts was some nobody who did a few small parts and that was it. Let's see. There was The incredible Mr Limpet. The shakiest gun in the west. The Apple dumpling gang, a Disney movie. And Disney doesn't put nobodies in their movies. There was The Reluctant Astronaut. The Ghost and Mr Chicken. And the list goes on. Not to mention the many voice overs he did. Don Knotts did more than most of the cast members of Threes Company with the exception of John Ritter. He was quite the star in the 60s and 70s. He may have not been super funny on 3s, but he was pretty funny in his movies. Don had to work with what the writers gave him in 3s company so it wasn't all his fault.

12-04-2014, 11:52 AM	#11
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	And one more thing Don got to do that not just anyone did. He played Julie Newmars love interest in The Love Boat. How many actors would have loved to make that claim?

12-14-2014, 09:19 PM	#12
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	I saw "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" yesterday on AMC. Don Knotts was his doing his schtick where he was striking a karate pose, just like he did as Furley. Don Knotts definitely just kind of did only one character.