Series regulars or semi-regulars in 'Too Close For Comfort' from 1970-1982:
- Jim Bullock as Monroe Ficus (1980-1987)
- Nancy Dussault as Muriel Rush (1980-1987)
- Ted Knight as Henry Rush (1980-1987)
- Deborah Van Valkenburgh as Jackie Rush (1980-1985)
- Lydia Cornell as Sara Rush (1980-1985)
- Deena Freeman as April Rush (1981-1982)
1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Too Close For Comfort':
(Episodes with dates prior to 1970 aired as reruns.)
Season 1, episode 1
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret, Brian Cooke D: Will Mackenzie
With Fern Fitzgerald (Masseuse), Jeff Maxwell (Artist). Debut of a series starring Ted Knight as Henry Rush, a middle-aged cartoonist and overprotective father. In the series opener, Henry rents the downstairs apartment to his two daughters.
Season 1, episode 2
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Will Mackenzie
With Dawson Mays (Greg Amherst). Sara goes on a trip to Lake Tahoe with her friends, and Henry panics after he inadvertently finds birth control pills in her room.
Season 1, episode 3
W: Tony Garofalo D: Will Mackenzie
With Jack DeLeon (Whitey Cahill), Ernie Hudson (Sam Morton). Henry and Muriel hire two ex-convicts to repair a damaged wall in their kitchen; Jackie is tasked with depositing a large sum of money for her work at the bank, but ends up bringing $100,000 in cash home with her.
Season 1, episode 4
W: Mort Scharfman, Harvey Weitzman D: Will Mackenzie On the Rushes' 24th anniversary, Sara's classmate Monroe Ficus follows her home -- then refuses to leave, and he and Sara later end up being arrested.
Season 1, episode 5
W: Mitch Markowitz D: Will Mackenzie Muriel moves in with Jackie and Sara after a fight with Henry over Sara's new waitress job, where her skimpy uniform draws considerable applause from the restaurant's male clientele -- but not from her father.
Season 1, episode 6
W: Mitch Markowitz D: Howard Storm
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin), Jed Mills (Dealer). Jackie and Sara's apartment is stripped of its furniture by the late tenant's sister.
Season 1, episode 7
W: Richard Reinhart D: Howard Storm
With Jim Weston (Barry Wolfe), Jack Riley (Hold-Up Man). Jackie is fearful for Sara's reputation when her boss, a notorious womanizer, promotes Sara to a managerial position at the bank after only a week on the job.
Season 1, episode 8
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Herbert Kenwith
With Hamilton Camp (Arthur Wainwright), Cliff Carnell (Loomis), Ken Wright (Police Officer), Dick Patterson (Man), Barbara Barnett (Woman), Jonathan Terry (Manager), Newell Alexander (Husband). Henry's comic book company is being acquired by Wainwright Publishing, and he thinks his job is in jeopardy when he discovers that his new boss prefers to hire more youthful people.
Season 1, episode 9
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Hamilton Camp (Arthur Wainwright), Randy Stumpf (Nino Antonelli). Sara rents her apartment to a film crew for a movie which involves live animals. Unfortunately one of the animals, a male lion, escapes and ventures into Henry and Muriel's apartment during their dinner engagement with Arthur Wainwright.
Season 1, episode 10
W: Richard Reinhart D: John Bowab
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin), Eileen Barnett (Surrogate). Monroe feels it's time to finally lose his virginity. Henry hopes talking will help, while Sara thinks a sex surrogate is a better idea. Oddly enough, Mrs. Rafkin may be the answer.
Season 1, episode 11
W: Gail Honigberg D: Russ Petranto
With Julie Adams (Sylvia Walker). Muriel's friend from college, Sylvia Walker, pays her a visit after undergoing a divorce. While left alone with Henry, Sylvia makes advances towards him.
Season 1, episode 12
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Dick Gautier (Rich Holland). Rich Holland, Muriel's old drummer, is in town. Rich takes a liking to Jackie, which does not exactly thrill Muriel.
Season 1, episode 13
W: Sam Greenbaum D: Linda Day
With Hamilton Camp (Arthur Wainwright), Inga Nielsen (Regis), Ceil Cabot (Eulema Preston), Jill Jaress (Woman), Jay Gerber (Prosecutor), Claude Stroud (Judge). Henry gets an assignment that requires him to work overnight, which is a burden for Henry as he also has jury duty, so Muriel, Jackie and Monroe take turns keeping Henry from falling asleep.
Season 1, episode 14
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Russ Petranto
With Ray Middleton (Huey Rush), Paula Victor (Nadine), Viola Kates Stimpson (Cassie). Henry's father gets kicked out of his retirement home and is thinking of venturing out on his own; Jackie is considering moving to New York for a new job opportunity.
Season 1, episode 15
W: Bryan Joseph D: Russ Petranto
With John McCook (Buck Krulik), Tom Williams (Frank Harris). An "oversexed quarterback" chooses Muriel to photograph him in the nude for a magazine centerfold.
Season 1, episode 16
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Kate Zentall (Veronica Stewart), Shawn Stevens (Wayne Hartfield). Jackie begins dating a man she believes to be "Mr. Right" -- until the man's wife pays an unexpected visit.
Season 1, episode 17
W: Burt Styler, Adele Styler D: Russ Petranto Henry and Muriel go on a skiing trip, which gives Sara the opportunity to offer her parents' apartment to Monroe to stay during spring break, as Monroe's parents do not want him to visit.
Season 1, episode 18
W: Paul Hunter D: Lee Lochhead
With Sarina Grant (Mrs. Sexauer), Inga Nielsen (Regis), M.G. Kelly (Man). Henry loses his job for being unpatriotic when he writes some sharp political satire into his comic strip. To combat the salary loss, Muriel takes a job.
Season 1, episode 19
W: Burt Styler, Adele Styler D: John Bowab
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin), Peggy Mondo (Miss Obler), Patrick Cronin (Clifford), Victoria Carroll (Ingrid). The Rushes hire a medium to conduct a seance for Miss Rafkin, as she thinks her late brother is trying to communicate with her from the other side.
October 13, 1981: Guess Who's Coming To Burp?
Season 2, episode 1
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Russ Petranto
With Roger Rose (Magician), Stuart Nisbet (Doctor). At her birthday bash, Muriel announces that she's pregnant.
Season 2, episode 2
W: Jeff Reno, Ron Osborn D: Russ Petranto Henry's free-spirited niece, an aspiring songwriter, moves in with the girls.
Season 2, episode 3
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Russ Petranto
With Sandy Freeman (Myra Kadinsky), Alexa Kenin (Ethel Kadinsky), Norman Bartold (Phillip Kadinsky). News of a baby switch at the time of Sara's birth sends the Rushes to meet a prisoner born on the same day.
Season 2, episode 4
W: Lesa Kite, Cindy Begel D: Lee Lochhead
With Randall Carver (Leonard Hummel). The guy Jackie's been avoiding turns out to be a charmer -- and he's charming Sara.
Season 2, episode 5
W: Irma Kalish, Jerry Winnick, Earl Barret, Arne Sultan, Austin Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Ray Middleton (Huey Rush). Henry and Muriel decide not to find out what the gender of their baby is; however, Henry's father wants to know. He drags Monroe with him to help break into the doctor's office to find out.
Season 2, episode 6
W: Earl Barret, Arne Sultan D: Russ Petranto
With Bill Dana (Wendell Balaban), Claude Stroud (Butler). A derelict shows up for his annual Thanksgiving feast with the Rushes' transvestite tenant.
Season 2, episode 7
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Lee Lochhead
With Don Bovingloh (Doctor), Paul Willson (Groom), Rose Michtom (Mrs. Webster), Beatrice Colen (Bride), Chris Lemmon (David). After a nightmare, Henry videotapes his last will and testament, which prompts a bickering Jackie and Sara to begin plotting how they will spend their inheritance.
Season 2, episode 8
W: Ken Hecht, Bob Brunner D: Russ Petranto
With William Cort (Lester Nugent). Monroe graduates from assertiveness training as a bully.
Season 2, episode 9
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Paddi Edwards (Dr. Connelly). Henry and Muriel secretly plan to sneak off to a romantic hideway for their 25th anniversary, unaware that the girls are planning a surprise party at home.
Season 2, episode 10
W: Bruce Kalish, Philip John Taylor D: Russ Petranto
With Gary Dontzig (Brad Turner), Ralph Wilcox (Willard). Against her father's wishes, Jackie falls for and accepts a marriage proposal from a police officer she's only known for a couple of months.
Season 2, episode 11
W: George Arthur Bloom D: Russ Petranto
With Ronnie Schell (Don Kellogg). Henry interferes with April's romance when she wants to move in with her boyfriend -- who is twice her age.
Season 2, episode 12
W: Erik Tarloff D: Lee Lochhead
With M.G. Kelly (Ron Williams), Wendy Brainard (Kathy). Henry receives sinister letters about his cartoon and, probably not coincidentally, someone steals Cosmic Cow.
Season 2, episode 13
W: Jeff Reno, Ron Osborn D: Lee Lochhead
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin), Robert Mandan (Bill Rush). The family conspires to reunite Henry and his brother, who can't remember why they stopped speaking 40 years ago.
Season 2, episode 14
W: Jill Baer, Christopher Vane, Jeff Reno, Ron Osborn D: Russ Petranto
With Cliff Norton (Charlie Davis), Jennifer Richards (Roxanne), Patricia Pivaar (Carol), Neal Kaz (Waiter). Henry plots revenge on his nemesis Charlie, a renowned practical joker.
Season 2, episode 15
W: Jeff Cohn D: Lee Lochhead
With Bill Beyers (Les Miller), Janis Paige (Irene Miller), Gregg Berger (Bellhop), John Lamont (Glen Miller). Henry spends a ski weekend with Jackie and Sara which goes steadily downhill -- but not on the slopes.
Season 2, episode 16
W: Julie Friedgen D: Russ Petranto
With Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin). Muriel responds in kind when her mother insults Henry.
Season 2, episode 17
W: Earl Barret, George Bloom D: Lee Lochhead
With Dennis Flood (Mr. Moncrief), Libby Aubrey (Mrs. Moncrief), Rebecca Holden (Susan Andrews), Beverly Sanders (Nurse Gaynor). A pretty art student comes on to Henry while Muriel suffers seventh-month blues.
Season 2, episode 18
W: Bruce Taylor D: Lee Lochhead
With Wendell Wright (Mr. Jenkins), Ruth Nerken (Health Official), Jamie Masada (Juan), Sheldon Feldner (Mr. Reynolds). The girls' cookie company threatens to expand upstairs.
Season 2, episode 19
W: Jeff Reno, Ron Osborn D: Russ Petranto
With Barbara Barnett (Liz Chapman), John O'Leary (Terrence Chapman). While in London, the girls exchange apartments with a visiting English couple whose luggage is filled with firearms.
Season 2, episode 20
W: Milt Rosen D: Earl Barret, Nancy Heydorn
With Bill Dana (Wendell Balaban). A reunion with a friend is chilled by a cold war between Henry and Sara, who has decided to quit college to take a job on a TV talk show.
Season 2, episode 21
W: Austin Kalish, Irma Kalish D: Russ Petranto
With Tyke Caravelli (Hooker), Dan Dolan (Serviceman), Joy Garrett (Mrs. Beckley), Patrick Cronin (Mr. Beckley), Jordan Bennett (Brad Turner). Jackie's policeman fiancee cops out of the wedding.
Season 2, episode 22
W: Bruce Kalish D: Jon Sharp
With Bob Maroff (Workman), Michael Horbund (Moose), Peggy Mondo (Paula DeFranco), Lew Palter (Benny DeFranco). A piano crate blocks Muriel's dash to the maternity ward.
September 30, 1982: Break Out The Pampers
Season 3, episode 1
W: Arne Sultan, Earl Barret D: Russ Petranto
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin). After bouts with false labor pains, Muriel has to be rushed to the hospital on Monroe's motorcycle when her baby finally decides to enter the world.
Season 3, episode 2
W: Laurie Gelman D: Russ Petranto
With Leigh Scarritt (Sylvia), Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin), Brad Maule (Phil), Dennis Robertson (TV Anchorman). Muriel's mother decides to move in; Sara makes a disastrous debut as a weathercaster.
Season 3, episode 3
W: Douglas Arango, Phil Doran D: Russ Petranto
With Warren Berlinger (Herb), Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin), Di Ann Monaco (Waitress). Henry and Muriel realize that Andrew could soon have a little brother or sister unless Henry takes a drastic step to change his life.
Season 3, episode 4
W: Laurie Gelman D: Chuck Liotta
With Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin), Earl Boen (Buck). When the baby contracts chicken pox, Henry squawks at having to take refuge at his mother-in-law's.
Season 3, episode 5
W: Bruce Howard D: Russ Petranto
With Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin), Richard Erdman (Carl), Bibi Osterwald (Charlotte). Muriel has dreams of another wedding ceremony to celebrate their 26th anniversary.
Season 3, episode 6
W: Mark Masuoka D: Russ Petranto
With Vanda Barra (Mrs. Novak), Kelly Medina (Mrs. Rappaport), Libby Aubrey (Carol Hubert), Ronnie Kimble (Cab Driver). Muriel's baby photo session develops into a mob scene during which Andrew disappears.
Season 3, episode 7
W: Douglas Arango, Phil Doran D: Earl Barret
With Christopher Morley (Pat). Henry gives Monroe advice on how to land a woman (or so he thinks) who refuses to go out with him.
Season 3, episode 8
W: Laryr Balmagia D: Russ Petranto
With Ray Middleton (Huey Rush), Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin). Iris's disappearance on Thanksgiving adds excitement to a family gathering already enlivened by the presence of Grandpa and the thoughts of baby Andrew.
Season 3, episode 9
W: David Braff D: Lee Lochhead
With Audrey Meadows (Iris Martin). Henry's womenfolk badger him to increase his life insurance after the ashes of a friend are tossed off a tuna boat by his economizing family.
Season 3, episode 10
W: Laryr Balmagia D: Russ Petranto
With Selma Diamond (Mildred Rafkin), Charles Lampkin (Mr. Christmas), Carl Kraines (Officer Wesson), Bob Basso (Officer Smith). A certain "Mr. Christmas" comes to the Rush's home and claims to be the real Santa Claus. Henry thinks he's out to rob them and calls the police.