Because of how successful Three's Company was, Norman Fell did not want to be spun off because if The Ropers tanked he would be out of a job. It was put into his contract that the Ropers would return to Three's Company as regulars if the spinoff was canceled within a year, but it was canceled one month after that part of the contract had lapsed.
What must've been the most frustrating for him is that The Ropers actually was a big hit, but then ABC moved it to Saturday and it immediately died. He believes ABC had already decided to cancel the show much sooner, but waited until after the contractual deadline so they wouldn't have to bring them back.
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