Episode 13-12: Too Close For Comfort

Episode 13-12: Too Close For Comfort

From Battle of the Network Shows by Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill

January 29, 2026 · 1h 5m · Season 13 · Episode 12

About this episode

The episode discusses the sitcom 'Too Close For Comfort' and its characters, focusing on the comedic elements of family life in the 1980s.

In Too Close For Comfort, the great Ted Knight played cartoonist Henry Rush. He and his wife Muriel (and eventually baby Andrew) lived upstairs, and their two adult daughters Jackie and Sara lived in an apartment downstairs. After a few seasons, Sara's friend and Henry's nemesis Monroe moved into the attic. They all lived on ABC for three seasons, then moved into first-run syndication. All along, fans watched for a deep but humorous study of family dynamics in eighties America. Nahhh! They watched to see Ted Knight lose his cool at Monroe's bumbling and some attractive women...but mostly the former. In season 4 episode "Goodbye, Mr. Chip," Monroe borrows a computer. Henry wants nothing to do with it...until he finds out he could win some money on horse racing. Guess what happens next! Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/ Join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/371670863237699 Support the show by buying merch at http://tee.pub/lic/FM0uOqq3xzE #podcast #tv #retrotv #eighties #sitcoms #toocloseforcomfort #tedknight

People in this episode

Hosts: Rick Brooks, Mike Cowgill

Topics covered

  • family dynamics
  • 1980s sitcoms
  • comedy
  • television history
  • character relationships

Keywords

  • Too Close For Comfort
  • Ted Knight
  • sitcom
  • family dynamics
  • 1980s
  • television
  • comedy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: ABC

Books & works: Goodbye, Mr. Chip

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