Too Close for Comfort

Too Close for Comfort: Summary

Originally on:ABC
Status:Ended
Premiered:November 11, 1980
Last Aired:March 1, 1987
Show Categories:Comedy

Too Close for Comfort first aired in November of 1980 on ABC at a time when sitcoms were not popular. The series was based on the British sitcom, Keep it In the Family which had premiered in January 1980.

Too Close for Comfort starred television veteran, Ted Knight as Henry Rush, a middle-aged professional illustrator who's claim to fame was penning "Cosmic Cow" a kiddie cartoon. Muriel was Henry's wife and successful free-lance photographer. The series began when their two daughters, Jackie and Sara moved into the downstairs apartment of the San Francisco town house.

Jackie was the brunette who worked at a bank and the somewhat more sensible one while Sara was the sexy blond who was a freshman at San Francisco State College. Also in the cast, included Monroe Ficus, Sara's friend who was constantly a source of annoyance for Henry and seemed to always get under his feet.

As the years went by, April, Henry's hippie niece dropped in and out, Muriel became pregnant at 42 and gave birth to a son, Andrew, and Muriel's nagging, mother, Iris was seen adding more grief to Henry's life.

ABC canceled the series in 1983 but it soon was picked up for first-run syndication (a trend that sitcoms began to follow in the mid-80s).

In 1986, the series changed names and went by The Ted Knight Show and ran for one additional season with minor changes. Henry, Muriel, and Andrew moved north of San Francisco to Mill Valley where Henry now owned 49% of a weekly newspaper, The Marin Bugler. Monroe was still seen working at the newspaper, but Sara and Jackie had been dropped from the cast. Hope Stinson owned the other 51% of the newspaper and soon became Henry's new thorn in the side.

The series was schedule to go on for another season when Ted Knight suddenly passed away during the summer of 1986 (August 26, 1986). The series continued airing in syndication until the final week of March 1987.

First Telecast: November 11, 1980
Last Telecast: March 1987

Episodes: 129 Color Episodes

Theme Song:

"Too Close for Comfort"

Written by: Johnny Mandel

Performed by: Johnny Mandel
(Instrumental)

ABC Broadcast History

November 1980-September 1982----Tuesdays----9:30 p.m.
September 1982-June 1983----Thursdays----9:00 p.m.
August-September 1983----Thursdays----8:30 p.m.
September 1983----Thursdays----8:00pm.

Syndication Broadcast History

April 1984-December 1985
April 1986-March 1987 (as The Ted Knight Show)

Nielsen Ratings:
(Top 30 or Better)

#16 in the 1980-1981 Season
#7 in the 1981-1982 Season
Too Close for Comfort first aired in November of 1980 on ABC at a time when sitcoms were not popular. The series was based on the British sitcom, Keep it In the Family which had premiered in January 1980.

Too Close for Comfort starred television veteran, Ted Knight as Henry Rush, a middle-aged professional illustrator who's claim to fame was...

Lisa Goes Lottery Loco

Aired: Saturday February 7, 1987

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Ted KnightHenry Rush
Nancy DussaultMuriel Rush
Deborah Van ValkenburghJackie Rush (1980-1985)
Lydia CornellSara Rush (1980-1985)
JM J. BullockMonroe Ficus (1981-1987)

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