Gaining widespread popularity from the hit sitcom "Three's Company", producers looked to give the Ropers (Norman Fell and Audra Lindley, respectively) their own series. The result is this short-lived spin-off (itself based on "George and Mildred", the British spin-off of "Man About the House", on which "Three's Company" was based). True to their characters, Lindley was excited for the opportunity while Fell was reluctant to leave a good role on a proven hit show. He was finally won over by a promise from the producers to give the show a year, and if canceled before that, they would return to their roles on "Three's Company". However, the legendary Don Knotts had come on board to replace the Ropers, and became a highly popular character in his own right. "The Ropers" ran for 28 episodes over two short seasons in 1979-80.
The sitcom finds Stanley and Helen having sold their apartment building to move into a more luxurious locale in the affluent neighborhood of Cheviot Hills. Unlike her husband, Helen tries hard to fit in. Stanley is often at odds with their realtor, next-door neighbor Jeffrey P. Brooks III (Jeffrey Tambor), while Helen befriends his wife Anne (Patty McCormack) and their seven-year-old son David (Evan Cohen).
As the series opens, we find the Ropers bickering as usual. They've sold their apartment building (as shown in "Three's Company" episode "An Anniversary Surprise", Season Three, Episode 20). Helen pressures Stanley "to move up in the world...in a nice neighborhood", while he would rather buy a mobile home. Stanley gives in to view the luxurious townhouse that Helen dreams of in the affluent neighborhood of Cheviot Hills. Realtor and prospective next-door neighbor Jeffrey P. Brooks III is mortified to see the Ropers pull up in a junk car that backfires. Helen instantly falls in love with the place, while Mr. Brooks detests Stanley's boorish behavior. The relator puts up a "sold" sign on the townhouse to deter them. While Mr. Brooks thinks his troubles are over, they're just beginning.
While the theme song is a bit catchy, the opening intro visuals are among the worst I've seen. Each character emotes awkwardly in front of a different colored, plain photography backdrop, the border of which can actually be seen to the far right in some shots. The Ropers are true-to-form as established in "Three's Company". The trademark comedic interplay, frequently over sexual frustrations, is there between Fell and Lindley, but not quite as strong. There are hilarious remarks and misunderstanding dialogue, but as Fell predicted, expanding their roles to cover the entire episode could feel strained if the writing wasn't crisp enough. Their characters are truly at their best in short bursts and reacting off the leads, as in "Three's Company".
