Ted Baxter - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kristen · 01-19-2003, 03:11 PM

I've been watching a lot of first-season episodes lately, since I have the DVD. There's something I've never really noticed before about the writing. Does it seem to anyone else that Ted Baxter is dumber in the first season the he is later on? Or is it just me?

Kristen

Brian Damage · 01-20-2003, 04:06 PM

I think you're accurate in noticing that. I believe the writers first vision of Ted Baxter was a complete moron. However, as his role expanded, I think the writers had to give his character more depth.

Leigh Ann · 01-21-2003, 10:32 PM

Kristen--
Let's see if I can come up with something to add to this, as I promised you.
I think that you are right. Hey, just thought of something. Maybe in the episodes before "Ted's Change of Heart," the writers wanted it to appear that Ted was dumb. But, after "Ted's Change of Heart," maybe it was like he made a come-around and wasn't as dumb? Who knows? That's just my theory that I just now came up with!

~Leigh Ann~

TVgen62 · 01-22-2003, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MamaFan
Hey, just thought of something. Maybe in the episodes before "Ted's Change of Heart," the writers wanted it to appear that Ted was dumb. But, after "Ted's Change of Heart," maybe it was like he made a come-around and wasn't as dumb? Who knows? That's just my theory that I just now came up with!
~Leigh Ann~

Nice try, Leigh Ann! "Ted's Change of Heart" was rather late in the series (its last season!), so I'm trying for something a little earlier.

Personally, I think the show really hit its stride in the 3rd season. You could tell that everone (writers, actors, etc.) had the characters nailed and Ted Knight/Ted Baxter was the ultimate expression of that, IMO. Although Ted [Baxter] was still, obviously, not the sharpest crayon in the box, we saw that he DID have thoughts and feelings - however superficial most of them were. This, I think, was the beginning of some of the REALLY great "Ted Baxter moments" and showed us a hint of his capacity to understand more than we originally would've predicted.

mstewart · 02-20-2003, 10:46 PM

At one point Ted Knight threatened to quit because he did not want to be known as an idiot because the first two seasons of TMTMS he was a complete idiot. When he was given a relationship with Georgette along with that came marriage and fatherhood (in the last season) Ted Baxter was given much more depth and was more enjoyable to watch. I enjoyed the relationship between him and Georgette. Georgette truly loved him. He loved her as well.

ClesStahn · 05-22-2003, 02:04 PM

I think Ted was my favorite character. Anyways, how did Ted Knight die, and when?

TVgen62 · 05-24-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClesStahn
I think Ted was my favorite character. Anyways, how did Ted Knight die, and when?

I don't recall the cause of death, however, a reference book I have indicates that he died in the summer of '86, after being ill for several months.

mstewart · 05-24-2003, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVgen62

I don't recall the cause of death, however, a reference book I have indicates that he died in the summer of '86, after being ill for several months.

He had cancer. He was doing Too Close for Comfort at the time. The show was about to enter into their 7th season when he passed away.

ClesStahn · 05-30-2003, 11:06 AM

Cancer sucks.

01-19-2003, 03:11 PM	#1
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	Ted Baxter I've been watching a lot of first-season episodes lately, since I have the DVD. There's something I've never really noticed before about the writing. Does it seem to anyone else that Ted Baxter is dumber in the first season the he is later on? Or is it just me? Kristen
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01-20-2003, 04:06 PM	#2
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: 63,107	I think you're accurate in noticing that. I believe the writers first vision of Ted Baxter was a complete moron. However, as his role expanded, I think the writers had to give his character more depth.
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01-21-2003, 10:32 PM	#3
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	Kristen-- Let's see if I can come up with something to add to this, as I promised you. I think that you are right. Hey, just thought of something. Maybe in the episodes before "Ted's Change of Heart," the writers wanted it to appear that Ted was dumb. But, after "Ted's Change of Heart," maybe it was like he made a come-around and wasn't as dumb? Who knows? That's just my theory that I just now came up with! ~Leigh Ann~

02-20-2003, 10:46 PM	#5
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	At one point Ted Knight threatened to quit because he did not want to be known as an idiot because the first two seasons of TMTMS he was a complete idiot. When he was given a relationship with Georgette along with that came marriage and fatherhood (in the last season) Ted Baxter was given much more depth and was more enjoyable to watch. I enjoyed the relationship between him and Georgette. Georgette truly loved him. He loved her as well.

05-22-2003, 02:04 PM	#6
ClesStahn Senior Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2001 Posts: 500	I think Ted was my favorite character. Anyways, how did Ted Knight die, and when?

05-30-2003, 11:06 AM	#9
ClesStahn Senior Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2001 Posts: 500	Cancer sucks.