Series Description

The Ropers TV show was a 30 minute comedy series on ABC about the lives of Stanley and Helen Roper after they sold their apartment building (on the series, "Three's Company (1977)" and bought a condominium.

The Ropers Cast

Norman Fell .... Stanley Roper
Audra Lindley .... Helen Roper
Jeffrey Tambor .... Jeffrey P. Brookes
Rod Colbin .... Hubert
Patricia McCormack .... Anne Brookes
Dena Dietrich .... Ethel
Evan Cohen .... David Brookes
Louise Vallance .... Jenny Ballinger

Trivia

The Ropers TV show was a "spin-off" of the series, "Three's Company (1977)" which was itself based on a hit British TV show titled, "Man About The House". That series had two "spin-offs" in the U.K.; "George and Mildred" which became "The Ropers" in the U.S. and "Robin's Nest" which became "Three's A Crowd (1984)" in the U.S.!

The name of Helen Roper's dog was "Muffin".

Norman Fell and Audra Lindley weren't crazy about the idea of leaving a hit show like "Three's Company" to star in a comedy series whose main plotline was about a wife who was not getting enough sexual attention from her husband. ABC producers assured them that there would be other interesting plotlines added to their roles. They also promised that Norman and Audra could return to "Three's Company" if The Ropers TV show didn't last for a full season. Then, when The Ropers" only made it 1 1/2 seasons, the two actors were out of work and "Three's Company" lasted for nearly 4 more years! Norman and Audra did get the opportunity to appear as guest stars as the Ropers a few times though.

Norman Fell had a bachelor's degree in drama from Temple University. He served as a tail-gunner during World War II. He actively worked in bit parts on TV shows and on the stage until receiving his first regular cast member role on the 1956 series, "Joe & Mabel". Norman died at age 74 at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's retirement home.

Audra Lindley's parents were in show business. She started her career in Hollywood as a "stand-in". After a while, she started doing stunt work. Audra progressed from there to doing many roles in hit Broadway plays and eventually to acting in movies and on TV shows. When she died of leukemia in 1977, she was still actively working in recurring roles on the series, "Cybill" and "Nothing Sacred". At the time of her death, a script for her next appearance on "Cybill" was found at her bedside.

While Helen Roper's hair was Auburn, Audra Lindley's was not. She wore a wig for her role.

Episodes List With Original Air Dates

Season 1

1. Moving On - Part 2 (3/13/1979) (Part 1 Aired On Three's Company)
2. Friends And Neighbors (3/20/1979)
3. Your Money Or Your Life (3/27/1979)
4. The Doris Letters (4/3/1979)
5. Family Planning (4/10/1979)
6. Opportunity Knocks aka We Shall Return (4/17/1979)

7. Stanley, The Ladies Man (9/15/1979)
8. Days Of Beer And Rosie (9/22/1979)
9. Power Play (9/29/1979)
10. Baby Talk (10/6/1979)
11. Two For The Road (10/13/1979)
12. Puppy Love (10/20/1979)
13. All Around The Clock (10/271979)
14. Odd Couples (11/3/1979)
15. Pal Joey (11/17/1979)
16. Helen Makes Music (11/24/1979)
17. The Skeleton (12/1/1979)
18. The Other Man (12/15/1979)
19. And Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed? (1/26/1980)
20. Jenny's Date (2/2/1980)
21. Of Mice And Horses (2/9/1980)
22. Family Feud (2/16/1980)
23. The Other Woman (3/1/1980)
24. Man About The House (3/8/1980)
25. Old Flames (3/15/1980)
26. The Rummage Sale (5/1/1980)
27. Four Letter Word (5/8/1980)
28. Mother's Wake (5/15/1980)