There are well-known TV classics like Cheers, The Golden Girls, Family Ties. Then there are those beloved underdogs that flew just under the radar, delivering loyal laughs for years to loyal audiences. Too Close for Comfort is one of those shows. Often overshadowed by louder hits of the 1980s, the series became a syndicated success story. Today, it’s easier than ever to watch, streaming on Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Apple TV.
Starring Emmy-winning actor Ted Knight, the sitcom aired from 1980 to 1983 on ABC before thriving in syndication through 1987. Knight plays Henry Rush, a curmudgeonly cartoonist who authors the comic strip Cosmic Cow while juggling the absurdities of family life in San Francisco. He and his wife Muriel share a two-flat with their two adult daughters, who, in natural ’80s TV fashion, live right below them. Tensions rise, hijinks ensue, and Henry’s attempts to keep order in the house almost always backfire.
What could have been just another family sitcom found its identity in its eccentric characters and surprisingly sharp writing. Much of that charm stemmed from Knight himself. Coming off his iconic role as Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Knight brought a more grounded, but equally hilarious, energy to Henry Rush. Known for his signature delivery and expressive face, Knight leaned into the absurd with an everyman’s exasperation.
From Ratings Rollercoaster to Cult Classic
Too Close for Comfort launched strong, tying with Happy Days in the ratings its first season and climbing to #6 the next year. But when ABC moved the show to Thursday nights in 1982, the numbers plummeted and the network canceled it. That might have been the end if not for Metromedia, which picked up the show for first-run syndication in 1984. The format was nearly unchanged. It had the same cast, same setup, same chaotic comedy…but its audience found it again, and the show ran for three more seasons.
During this run, the show embraced changes that were unusual for a sitcom of its era. Henry and Muriel had a baby, characters came and went, and eventually the whole family relocated to Marin County where Henry became part-owner of a local newspaper. The show was even rebranded The Ted Knight Show for its sixth season, but the title change didn’t catch on. Sadly, that final year was also cut short by Knight’s death in 1986, which brought the series to a close.
Supporting cast members made the show unforgettable. Nancy Dussault (Muriel Rush) brought warmth and comic timing as Henry’s far more reasonable wife. Lydia Cornell and Deborah Van Valkenburgh played daughters Sara and Jackie with charm and chaos in equal measure. And then there’s Monroe Ficus, played by Jim J. Bullock, a side character turned series staple. With his high-pitched delivery and lovably weird energy, Monroe became one of the show’s most iconic elements, even appearing in every episode of later seasons.
Fans might also remember the odd but endearing detail of Henry’s wardrobe – sweatshirts from real American colleges sent in by fans. Over the years, that low-key running gag became a beloved Easter egg of the show, making Knight even more relatable as a working-class dad trying to stay sane.
Too Close for Comfort is far from a one-joke sitcom. It’s about the shifting dynamics of adulthood, parenting grown kids, holding on to your identity as the world changes around you, and finding family in the chaos. While it never became a household name, it’s exactly the kind of show that built its legacy in syndication, word-of-mouth, and nostalgic rediscovery.
Now that it’s streaming in full, it’s time for that rediscovery. Whether you’re revisiting it or watching for the first time, Too Close for Comfort offers a dose of classic sitcom warmth with just enough edge to keep things interesting.
Stream Too Close for Comfort on Peacock here
Stream Too Close for Comfort on Tubi here
Stream Too Close for Comfort on Pluto TV here
Stream Too Close for Comfort on Apple TV here
