Another spinoff called "Three Apartments"?

[JackJanetChrissy]

Does anyone know about another Ropers' spinoff ABC was considering back in the 1980's called "Three's Apartments" where the Ropers became landlords in a different apartment building? I saw a mention of it in a comment thread on another website but I can't find any definitive proof that this idea existed.

[BigManMike]

I've never heard of this in my life and I know lots about Three's Company and it's spinoffs.

[opus]

Nothing in the Chris Mann book? (which I have, but don't really have the time to go looking through it again).

[JackJanetChrissy]

Okay, I found something!!!!!! Check it out. This is a copy of the October 1986 Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook. (Here is a link to the PDF, which is 100 pages long.) On page 46 is an article on "Three Apartments." I've attached a screenshot of the article. This was not mentioned in the Chris Mann book. Crazy!

[Mace Dolex]

Wow that's quite a finding there, so by reading that it looks more like a continuation of The Roper's just with a new name though I'm confused there where it says to feature guest stars from Too Close For Comfort, although it doesn't explain whether as new characters or already existing to TCFC.

I find it funny where it mentions that the success of The Roper's is what made this Taffner guy go ahead with the project, I believe The Roper's were sinking in the ratings by it's 2nd season.

[JackJanetChrissy]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Wow that's quite a finding there, so by reading that it looks more like a continuation of The Roper's just with a new name though I'm confused there where it says to feature guest stars from Too Close For Comfort, although it doesn't explain whether as new characters or already existing to TCFC.

I find it funny where it mentions that the success of The Roper's is what made this Taffner guy go ahead with the project, I believe The Roper's were sinking in the ratings by it's 2nd season.

I guess the TCFC people would be pulled in as guest stars since Three Apartments would have been a mid-season replacement for TCFC? I thought that was odd, too, but maybe since TCFC was cancelled due to Ted Knight's death they wanted to give the actors some work...not sure, though.

The Ropers did sink in ratings in Season 2, after it was moved to a Saturday night 8 p.m. time. Before that it was #8 in the ratings, even when the first season ran re-runs. After the move to Saturday night, when it was up against CHiPs, it failed quickly and was cancelled.

Another thing I thought was interesting...Taffner was dealing with NBC, not ABC.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

Another thing I thought was interesting...Taffner was dealing with NBC, not ABC.

It was the 5 NBC owned stations - the O&Os, ("owned and operated") not the network Taffner was dealing with.

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

I guess the TCFC people would be pulled in as guest stars since Three Apartments would have been a mid-season replacement for TCFC? I thought that was odd, too, but maybe since TCFC was cancelled due to Ted Knight's death they wanted to give the actors some work...not sure, though.

The Ropers did sink in ratings in Season 2, after it was moved to a Saturday night 8 p.m. time. Before that it was #8 in the ratings, even when the first season ran re-runs. After the move to Saturday night, when it was up against CHiPs, it failed quickly and was cancelled.

Another thing I thought was interesting...Taffner was dealing with NBC, not ABC.

I was never a regular viewer of "CHiPs", but I always associated it with being on Sunday Nights. At what point was it on Saturday Nights?

[BigManMike]

I never knew this. This sounds interesting.

[JackJanetChrissy]

Originally Posted by RetroTVNitekatt

It was the 5 NBC owned stations - the O&Os, ("owned and operated") not the network Taffner was dealing with.

Thanks for clarifying that! I had no idea.


Smartboy---CHiPS aired on Sunday nights from March 1980 on. From 1978-early 1980 it was on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

The Ropers was on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in 1979-80, so there's overlap there.

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

Thanks for clarifying that! I had no idea.


Smartboy---CHiPS aired on Sunday nights from March 1980 on. From 1978-early 1980 it was on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

The Ropers was on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in 1979-80, so there's overlap there.

Thank you very much for the information.

[Johnny be good!]

Would have been awesome!

[rcbrad]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Wow that's quite a finding there, so by reading that it looks more like a continuation of The Roper's just with a new name though I'm confused there where it says to feature guest stars from Too Close For Comfort, although it doesn't explain whether as new characters or already existing to TCFC.

I find it funny where it mentions that the success of The Roper's is what made this Taffner guy go ahead with the project, I believe The Roper's were sinking in the ratings by it's 2nd season.

The article was referring to the syndication ratings success, since the stations airing the reruns were asking for more episodes.

I wonder why the project was scrapped?

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by rcbrad

The article was referring to the syndication ratings success, since the stations airing the reruns were asking for more episodes.

I wonder why the project was scrapped?

"The Ropers" only had 28 episodes, and were easy to sell to stations needing once-a-week programming for Saturday or Sunday early fringe or late night - you got a little under two runs in a 52 week year. Easy to sell, and to get decent numbers, for syndication.

I'd guess to say they couldn't come to contract terms with the main talent which is why the concept died. You needed BOTH of them to make it work.

[JackJanetChrissy]

Originally Posted by RetroTVNitekatt

I'd guess to say they couldn't come to contract terms with the main talent which is why the concept died. You needed BOTH of them to make it work.

I wonder if Fell and Lindley (especially Fell) had a bad taste in their mouth from how they were pushed out of Three's Company. I've heard that John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt were game to come back and guest star, but you're right, without both the Ropers it would have never worked.