Why did both Three's Company spin-offs fail?

[TMC]

I know that what became Three's Company was the result of combining two British sitcoms of the 1970s - Man About the House and George and Mildred. When the Ropers spun-off into their own show, it became more like George and Mildred, with the Jeffrey Tambor and wife couple next door being similar to the next door couple in the original series.

Wasn't The Ropers actually very successful until ABC killed it by moving it to Saturdays at 8 p.m.? Meanwhile, I'm assuming that Three's a Crowd failed because people were tired of the original show (the super obvious/broad, '70s bred, cheesy/farcical humor that Three's Company thrived upon had likely become a relic by 1984) by then and Mary Cadorette was rather bland as John Ritter's love interest. Maybe Three's a Crowd simply didn't have as good of a supporting cast for John Ritter as on Three's Company.

[Chocolate Moose]

I remember them as being terrible.

[JackJanetChrissy]

There are a lot of theories. Yes the time-slot for The Ropers changed and that's what Norman Fell always said killed it. But the Ropers were best used as B-plot characters. It was tough to see them alone so much, because after a while an unhappy marriage is just an unhappy marriage and not funny anymore. Also the neighbors (and the kid) were not that interesting, in my opinion. Jeffrey Tambor's character was too snotty and his wife was nice but bland, and the kid could be annoying.

Three's A Crowd was a rush-job. Some people say that Vicki was bland, but I did not like the Mr. Bradford character and his dynamic with Jack...he belittled Jack constantly and neither Jack nor Vicki ever stood up to him or made fun of him in return. With the TC landlords Jack always had the upper hand and the audience knew it, but it wasn't fun watching Jack repeatedly taking Bradford's abuse. (Bradford was similar to Mr. Angelino in Three's Company, but we got Mr. A in small doses, and Jack usually had it coming...but there was no reason for Bradford to dislike Jack.)

I think Three's Company was a farce that worked best as an ensemble. Yes John Ritter was the main guy, but the format of TC was its key to success, not its character development. Both spin-offs tried to switch from farce to character-focused shows, which never fit audience expectations.

tldr - lots of reasons both spinoffs failed

[rusty spike]

I couldn't stand the Mr. Bradford character and the interactions with Jack. The Ropers had the same formula every show, those darn neighbors. It got old after a couple of episodes.

Back to threes a crowd, I'm thinking that John Ritter himself may have contributed to the show's failure, indirectly. I think that John asked for a bigger salary, along with the other two stars. They probably didn't have much left over to vary the scenes and locations. I still believe that Jack was at his best as a chef and not a restaurant owner.

[Superswiper]

I've never actually seen Three's a Crowd, but The Ropers was mediocre, at best. It doesn't help that they were already like my least favorite characters on Three's Company.

But yeah, wasn't Three's a Crowd more or less The Jack Tripper Show? That's what I heard.

[TMC]

In hindsight, I suspect that Stanley Roper wasn't the right character to build a show around. Mr. Roper when you get right down to it, was pretty unlikable and had virtually no redeeming qualities. And unfortunately, in order to make him more palpable to work as a lead character, you would have to water down anything that made the character interesting in the first place.

And while Mr. Furley could also be pretty homophobic, you at the very least, felt that he genuinely liked Jack and the girls. Meanwhile, Mr. Roper really seemed to look at Jack with disdain.

[Superswiper]

Yeah, the Ropers worked best as supporting characters. And even then, they are the worst characters in the show. When Mr. Furley came along, he was a much-needed replacement.

I think the only reason they even gave the Ropers their own show is because Three's Company is based on the Britcom Man About the House, which had a spin-off called George and Mildred, which I guess were that show's version of the Ropers.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

The Ropers was hilarious but the time change to Saturday night must have helped kill it off.

[Latka Gravas]

Here's my .02:

The Ropers (1979-1980): This show focused on the Ropers, after they sold their apartment building & moved to another community in CA. I found the show below average, and IIRC only saw one episode back in the day (probably a re-run). Though these two were amusing as supporting characters in TC, giving them their own show was a stretch. They were at their best when interacting with the other characters in TC - and, IMHO couldn't really carry their own series.

Three's a Crowd (1984-1985): This took place after the events seen in TC, and depicted Jack Tripper living with his new gf - while managing/cooking in a popular restaurant. However, they were being constantly bothered by the gf's father - hence the "Three's a Crowd" title. I thought the show was just OK - and only caught a handful of episodes when it originally aired. I honestly didn't find it that funny, and so never kept up with this.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

I still say the Ropers was funny enough to last 4 to 5 seasons if given a consistent time slot.

Remember, it was NOT the Ropers alone! Jeffrey Tambor was just as much a star on the show as the Ropers were & the interaction between them was GREAT!

Tambor was a guest star in some of the FUNNIEST episodes of TC like when he played a psychiatrist!

[Mace Dolex]

Originally Posted by Latka Gravas

Here's my .02:

The Ropers (1979-1980): This show focused on the Ropers, after they sold their apartment building & moved to another community in CA. I found the show below average, and IIRC only saw one episode back in the day (probably a re-run). Though these two were amusing as supporting characters in TC, giving them their own show was a stretch. They were at their best when interacting with the other characters in TC - and, IMHO couldn't really carry their own series.

Yep, the Roper's work best in small quick bits and Jeffrey Tambor was a blessing to the show, I haven't seen all episodes but I remember the Roper's taking in some runaway girl later on I think.

Three's a Crowd (1984-1985): This took place after the events seen in TC, and depicted Jack Tripper living with his new gf - while managing/cooking in a popular restaurant. However, they were being constantly bothered by the gf's father - hence the "Three's a Crowd" title. I thought the show was just OK - and only caught a handful of episodes when it originally aired. I honestly didn't find it that funny, and so never kept up with this.

I actually enjoyed TAC and still have original broadcast episodes on VHS, had the show continued I think Mr. Bradford would have eventually accepted Jack. Supposedly Stuart Pankin, the character who played the kooky director in the series' last episode would have joined the cast I'm guessing as Jack and Vicki's neighbor?

[Flying Dutchman]

As I recall, Three's A Crowd, although not a big hit, was holding its own, but ABC couldn't guarantee a complete 2nd season and John Ritter wouldn't return if ABC couldn't guarantee a full 2nd season. Besides, Ritter was being called to the big screen and probably wouldn't have returned for a 3rd season, had a 3rd season been possible.

[TVLegend]

The Ropers had the right idea but the supporting characters were weak and the show needed balance

Three’s A Crowd was a fail from the start

[PracTz]

It didn't help that (for whatever reasons) Mary Cadorette had like zilch chemistry with the late Mr. Ritter. Yes, she was pretty but rather blah and not even that good for a straight woman foil (and I know she's worked steadily since).

Of course, I think after eight years, the audience was simply getting tired of the whole 'Three's Company' concept and it would take quite a bit of effort (including being willing to do dramatic roles,etc.) and not a few misteps on Mr. Ritter's part before his own career got back on a smooth track after this was over.

[TVFactFan]

So would ABC have Laverne and Shirley next to Happy Days for 3 seasons and not the Ropers next to Three's Company on ABC? It would lasted a longer if it aired after TC