Norman Fell's clause - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FOL-FAN-ITA · 09-30-2025, 06:22 AM

Hi guys. I recently found a very interesting detail about the Ropers spinoff.

As you know, ABC contractually promised Fell that, if the spinoff flopped in a year, he would have come back to TC. I've always believed that both Fell and Lindley, as a couple, had this clause on their contracts. But I was wrong.

Here's a pic of an article available on Google News that addressed the cancellation of the Ropers at the beginning of the 80s. Only Fell had that clause, Audra did not make request. So, after the spinoff went off the air, only Roper would have come back on the original set, Mrs. Roper would have been written out I believe, given the different kind of contract they had.

As much as i miss the Ropers during the later years, I think they made the right decision. The Ropers worked well because they were a bickering pair, remove one of them and things would have turned out differently.

What do you think?

By the way, I'm Italian, sorry for my not so perfect English

BestTVever · 10-02-2025, 04:05 PM

If they brought back Mr Roper, I am sure they would have asked Audra to join them. So it may not have mattered. But they were not going to bring Norman back.
Don Knotts was cheaper too. He did that show for minimum money.

TVFactFan · 10-03-2025, 10:37 PM

It was no way for them to come back once the show was renewed for the fall season. See if it had flopped in season 1, they could have easily come back because

1. No one was living in the apt yet
2. it was still the same season

Once the show was a hit and added to the ABC schedule the new landlord moved and was already established. So how would come back? lol Thats why the producer said if it failed the initial run. Because it aired during the TC Hiatus. Once the Ropers finished the initial run, TC came back and aired it season finale.

Mace Dolex · 10-04-2025, 09:46 PM

Norman Fell on the E! THS even mentions that he could return back to TC within a year if The Roper's was a failure but the show was renewed for a second season and went over the year contract.

While Norman Fell didn't outright say it but he surmises the producers deliberately extended the show and put it on Saturday's which was a graveyard as the ratings were dropping rapidly.

TVFactFan · 10-04-2025, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Norman Fell on the E! THS even mentions that he could return back to TC within a year if The Roper's was a failure but the show was renewed for a second season and went over the year contract.

While Norman Fell didn't outright say it but he surmises the producers deliberately extended the show and put it on Saturday's which was a graveyard as the ratings were dropping rapidly.

The show could have been in between happy days and TC and would have still failed lol It was just awful show and the only watchable eps is the one with Larry, the trio and when they in the hot tub

09-30-2025, 06:22 AM	#1
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	Norman Fell's clause Hi guys. I recently found a very interesting detail about the Ropers spinoff. As you know, ABC contractually promised Fell that, if the spinoff flopped in a year, he would have come back to TC. I've always believed that both Fell and Lindley, as a couple, had this clause on their contracts. But I was wrong. Here's a pic of an article available on Google News that addressed the cancellation of the Ropers at the beginning of the 80s. Only Fell had that clause, Audra did not make request. So, after the spinoff went off the air, only Roper would have come back on the original set, Mrs. Roper would have been written out I believe, given the different kind of contract they had. As much as i miss the Ropers during the later years, I think they made the right decision. The Ropers worked well because they were a bickering pair, remove one of them and things would have turned out differently. What do you think? By the way, I'm Italian, sorry for my not so perfect English Attached Images
	__________________ The Facts Of Life Italian Fan

10-02-2025, 04:05 PM	#2
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,898	If they brought back Mr Roper, I am sure they would have asked Audra to join them. So it may not have mattered. But they were not going to bring Norman back. Don Knotts was cheaper too. He did that show for minimum money.

10-03-2025, 10:37 PM	#3
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,008	It was no way for them to come back once the show was renewed for the fall season. See if it had flopped in season 1, they could have easily come back because 1. No one was living in the apt yet 2. it was still the same season Once the show was a hit and added to the ABC schedule the new landlord moved and was already established. So how would come back? lol Thats why the producer said if it failed the initial run. Because it aired during the TC Hiatus. Once the Ropers finished the initial run, TC came back and aired it season finale.

10-04-2025, 09:46 PM	#4
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,666	Norman Fell on the E! THS even mentions that he could return back to TC within a year if The Roper's was a failure but the show was renewed for a second season and went over the year contract. While Norman Fell didn't outright say it but he surmises the producers deliberately extended the show and put it on Saturday's which was a graveyard as the ratings were dropping rapidly.