Three's Company: Friends and Lovers

Three's Company: Friends and Lovers
ABC
September 18, 1984
Sitcom
DVD
B

Burditt, Ross, and West wrote this series finale, which morphs into Three's a Crowd at the end.  At least this time, Janet is given some more attention, although we still don't see much of Phillip.  And Terri's plan to move to Hawaii would drop out of syndication.  Still, it's easy to believe that the emotions were real (DeWitt was on the verge of tears for many reasons), and there are some good moments.  I never cared for Robin's Nest, but I like Cadorette as Vicky, and Mandan is always fun.  I enjoyed 3'saC at the time but haven't seen it since I think the late '80s.  Of course I would've liked Company to keep going, but I was mostly OK with it ending like this.  I might've felt differently had I known that Crowd would last only one season, but maybe not.  Note that Jack is too old-fashioned to live with someone non-platonically, but Terri convinces him he shouldn't lose Vicky.  And when he's nervous about his first night with Vicky in their apartment over the restaurant (now no longer just one room), she knows how to put him at his ease.

Henry Sutton, who was Mr. Graves on Bosom Buddies, plays the Minister.  Robert Clotworthy returns in the role of Phillip's relative Tony Williams.

Three's Company in its final season ranges from C to B+, but about half of the episodes earn B-, and that is the average.  So I don't think it ever jumped the shark, although it never topped the first season.

Three's Company: Cupid Works Overtime

Meet-cute and spin-off launcher.

Three's Company: Cupid Works Overtime
ABC
May 15, 1984
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Show creators Michael "Mickey" Ross and Bernie West co-wrote this episode with George Burditt.  (Don Nicholl died in the summer of '80, another reason Season Five was dramatic behind the scenes.)  I like how they acknowledge that Jack and Janet have a history in the apartment, as when she says they had a lot of fun there and he says, "Ain't dat the truth?"  However, it does bug me that less energy goes into establishing Janet's relationship, or even chemistry, with Phillip than went into some of her one-episode boyfriends.  I realize that the producers were eager to transition over to the sequel, and so the focus is mostly on Jack's relationship with Vicky Bradford (Cadorette), but I don't like seeing Janet short-changed like this, especially when her engagement should be a bigger deal.  This episode also introduces Robert Mandan as Vicky's father, James Bradford, and Mandan is basically in Chester Tate mode, without the lechery and deceit, i.e. he's pompous and he disapproves of his daughter's "low-class" boyfriend.

The version on DVD says to be continued next week, but it would in fact be the next Fall before this series wrapped up.

Three's Company: Grandma Jack

Three's Company: Grandma Jack
ABC
November 22, 1983
Sitcom
DVD
C

Mike Weinberger wrote the teleplay based on a story by Garry Ferrier and Aubrey Tadman, who co-wrote a couple late Welcome Back, Kotter episodes.  And Bob Priest and Michael Ross took over directing duty from Dave Powers for some reason.  So I'm not sure who's to blame for this episode being more implausible and creepy than funny.  For one thing, how the heck did Jack plan to cash a check made out to "Grandma Tripper"?  And for another, couldn't he have resisted hitting on his blonde competitor while in drag?  Verdict: it's better when Larry is drag than when Jack is, because Kline actually tries to present a character, while Ritter is just doing shtick.  That said, I do like the idea of menthol cough drops in the cookies and am just glad Terri didn't have Ex-Lax in her purse.

Three's Company: The Party's Over

Three's Company: The Party's Over
ABC
December 5, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Although on my earlier blog, I said that the Man About the House episode of the same name was better, I think that while this isn't as funny, I do prefer that Mr. Roper doesn't commit borderline adultery with Mrs. Hollins from the pet shop (Diana Herbert, who played a Secretary on That Girl).  I don't think I mentioned it before, but it does seem odd to me now that the kids think they can get away with throwing a party without their landlord who lives right below finding out.  In any case, both versions get B-s and, yes, this adaptation is by NRW as usual.

Three's Company: The Kleptomaniac

Three's Company: The Kleptomaniac
ABC
November 28, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This NRW story has a continuity error but is otherwise solid.  Mr. Roper offers Jack $50/day to paint the outside of the apartment building, although he's only giving him the weekend.  That's not the error.  Helen receives a COD package and says that Jack and Stanley went to the paint store.  But only a minute later, Jack is on the ladder, looking into his own bedroom.  He's just in time to see Chrissy take money out of his bureau in order to loan it to Mrs. Roper.  (There's a line about not giving an IOU to the UPS for a COD.)

There are more sight gags than usual, from Ritter but also from his teamwork with DeWitt.  I like that the misunderstanding is (relatively) plausible.  And Jack and Janet's concern for Chrissy is sweet.  Note that the date Chrissy types on Jack's letter has eight characters, so I'm guessing it was M/D/1978 format.

Three's Company: Bird Song

Jack trying to get the tickets.

Three's Company: Bird Song
ABC
May 9, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This NRW adaptation of a Man About the House episode is equivalent to and pretty faithful to the original.  The main differences are that Janet doesn't immediately give a Sinatra ticket to her blonde roommate, the way that Brit-Chrissy does, and Jack's Inga doesn't turn out to be a lesbian like Robin's does.  (As far as we know.)

Three's Company: Days of Beer and Weeds

Three's Company: Days of Beer and Weeds
ABC
February 21, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is a fairly seamless blend of Man About the House's "beer" and "pot" stories, of course written by NRW.  They obviously have to get florist Janet out of the apartment before Larry shows up and misidentifies the plant as cannabis (while ironically missing the actual cannabis in Chrissy's bouquet).  Note that so far all of Larry's appearances are in Americanizations of MAtH episodes.  I don't recall when he has his first appearance in an original story.  That said, as the series went on, a smaller percentage of the episodes were conversions.

Desk Sergeant David Tress would return as Virgil.

Three's Company: Will the Real Jack Tripper

Three's Company: Will the Real Jack Tripper
ABC
February 14, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

As I said in my review of the Man About the House episode this is based on, the Americanization (by NRW as usual) is an improvement, I think mostly due to Amer-Larry being less sleazy and making a more convincing queen than his British inspiration.  This has the official introduction of Linda (who's been mentioned at least once but not seen) and she's well played by Anne Schedeen (understandably brought back in this and other roles).  The episode is notable for proof that Jack has had sex with at least one girlfriend (the "be careful"/"I thought I was" exchange for instance).  Also we can hear Chrissy do her snort-laugh, although technically that debuted in the previous episode.  (And it's in an out-take from the Dick Sargent episode.)

Paul Ainsley returns as Jim the Bartender.  Ted Gehring, who plays Sandra's Father, had made a M*A*S*H appearance and would make another that year.  Hobin and Ross co-directed again.

Three's Company: Home Movies

Three's Company: Home Movies
ABC
January 24, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This NRW adaptation is as good as the British original and generally faithful, although not as explicit.  Chrissy makes a home movie because of her film-fanatic boyfriend, Neil (Stuart Gillard, who had written "Chrissy's Night Out" and ironically would go on to be an award-winning director).  Jack's friend, Larry (Richard Kline, in only his second 3'sC appearance) gets ahold of what he thinks is a "blue movie" and wants to use Chrissy's projector to watch it.

Three's Company: The Babysitters

Three's Company: The Babysitters
ABC
January 17, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is an NRW adaptation of a MAtH episode I don't currently have, where it's a Robin & Chrissy plot.  There are some differences, including much more sexual tension between the British babysitters, but it's overall the same plot.  Janet has a date and can't babysit for her friends the Randalls.  (Jerry Randall is played by Archie Hahn, who was on The Bob Newhart Show a couple times and who would go on to Whose Line Is It Anyway?)  She pressures Chrissy and Jack into covering for her.  This is the episode where Mrs. Roper innocently says the word "nipple."

Sheila Rogers, Punkin's mother, had appeared on That Girl and What's Happening!!, but she's more memorable for her four later appearances on 3'sC, as a nurse at Terry's hospital.

Three's Company: Three's Christmas

Three's Company: Three's Christmas
ABC
December 20, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

NRW adapted this from a Man About the House episode I'm currently missing, where Robin and Chrissy actually make out!  This version is set on Christmas Day, indeed a Sunday in 1977 (which makes it even stranger that Chrissy's boyfriend would be doing a commercial).  It's Chrissy's first Christmas away from home, although (like Brit-Chrissy) I think she's been living in the apartment for at least a year.  She tells Jack she was named Christmas Snow because her father is a Bing Crosby fan.  (On the episode set during Janet's birthday, Janet claimed that Chrissy was born in January.  It is possible she was born during later of the Twelve Days of Christmas.)

Although other characters are mentioned, including Helen's brother Billy, we only see the main five.  The first half of the episode, set in the trio's apartment, has a giddy feel to it, with everyone excited about their first Christmas together, including presents, a big tree, mistletoe, and jitterbugging.  The second half, set at the Ropers', is an entertaining version of a boring party, including sing-alongs as Jack plays the piano.  (I don't remember if he has this skill in later episodes.  Robin was also able to play that instrument, although not the guitar.)

Three's Company: Stanley Casanova

Three's Company: Stanley Casanova
ABC
November 22, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This, the first of two 3'sC stories by Gary Belkin, has Stanley wanting to prove to Helen and himself that women find him attractive, so Jack has Joan (Alba Francesca, who was Nurse Cathy King on M*A*S*H) flirt with him.  Joan agrees on condition that Jack go out with her.  Helen of course walks in at the worst moment.  I'm not too happy with anyone's behavior in this one.  Hobin and Ross again co-directed.

Three's Company: Cyrano de Tripper

Three's Company: Cyrano de Tripper
ABC
November 8, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Wayne & Burditt adaptation is a definite improvement over the Man About the House episode "Some Enchanted Evening."  Partly this is due to Jess Nadelman's performance as Chrissy's gourmet boyfriend Michael Winthrop.  (It's a very different, slightly foppish character, compared to Bud Brey on The Bob Newhart Show and the Coach on Welcome Back, Kotter, both in '75.)  He interacts well with Jack, who is uncomfortable having to hide in the kitchen while Chrissy serves the meal Jack cooked, although he's flattered by Michael's praise.  There's a misunderstood conversation between Janet and Mr. Roper about what exactly is going on upstairs.  And Jack teasing Chrissy about the salad dressing is cute.  Again, both Hobin and Ross directed.

Three's Company: Alone Together

Three's Company: Alone Together
ABC
October 25, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I don't think this adaptation of the Man About the House episode "And Then There Were Two" is nearly as good.  For one thing, the subplot about Mr. Roper and the real estate fraud is less interesting than Jo's nephew's christening.  And for another, the male roommate possibly "attacking" Chrissy plot is more tasteless here than in the British version.  Note that Jack is now dating Linda, although they seem to break up over the phone at the end.  (We won't see her till later.)

Sondra Currie makes her first of three 3'sC appearances, this time as Sherry Lee.  This is the first of two Bryan Joseph scripts.  And for some reason there are two directors, Hobin and Ross.

Three's Company: Chrissy's Date

Three's Company: Chrissy's Date
ABC
October 11, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

I'm currently missing the Man About the House episode that NRW adapted, but I remember it as being equally good.  Chrissy here dates a post-Bewitched Dick Sargent as Lloyd Cross, who lies about being divorced.  This is one of the better episodes showing Jack's sweetness to and protectiveness of Chrissy, although Chrissy does defend herself against Lloyd's lies.  Joyce Bulifant, who was then best known as Murray Slaughter's wife on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, plays Mrs. Cross.

Note that although the "dirty word" scrabble isn't as extensive as on a different MAtH episode, Jack does think Janet is spelling "tit" rather than "title."  The other words are in-joky, like "snow," "wood," and "company."

Three's Company: Jack Looks for a Job

Three's Company: Jack Looks for a Job
ABC
September 20, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is a rare adaptation that outdoes the British original in both humor and outrageousness.  Before Jack ends up working for Morris Morris (Fieldler, as mousy as on The Bob Newhart Show), he considers nude modeling.  The tag suggests he went through with it, despite his denials.  (And, yes, this was an era when you could have trading cards for even episodes about pornography.)  The story also has Janet much flirtier than usual with Jack, as she plays a lonely and horny housewife to prove that his sales manual doesn't cover every situation.

Three's Company: And Mother Makes Four

Three's Company: And Mother Makes Four
ABC
March 24, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

I'm going to go ahead and give this a B-, like Pilot #2 and the British original, although I do think Priscilla Morrill is an improvement over whoever the actress was who played Susan Lanier's mother.  (Morrill was the aunt in the "Summer of the Swans" After School Special, and we'll be seeing her again.)  There's still the basic problem that they think they can keep a secret like this from Chrissy's parents.  That said, the episode is fun, with some of the fun coming from the enthusiastic studio audience, who not only savor the innuendo but make audible remarks like, "Go for it, Jack," and "The mop."

As I mentioned before, I suspect that the cab driver's scene was carried over, but I think both Janet's hair and Mrs. Roper's outfit are different from Pilot #2 and they did indeed have Shera Danese come back as the buxom Barmaid.  This aired on a Thursday, the same night as What's Happening!!, and knowing ABC, the Family Hour, and the late '70s in general, I'm going to guess it was after WH.

Three's Company: A Man About the House

Three's Company: A Man About the House
ABC
March 15, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

Yes, they finally got the mix right.  Not only are Ritter, DeWitt, Lindley, and Fell more settled into their roles, but Somers blends right in.  Even Kit McDonough, in the role of Patricia, is just right.  (She'd go on to at least three other of my shows, starting with Mork & Mindy.)  Hobin's direction is more assured, although like other ABC shows of its time, there is a visible hanging mic.  The NRW script follows the first episode of Man About the House [interesting that an "A" is added to the episode title] more closely than Gelbart's for the first pilot did, although there are touches like adding a mention of an earthquake to remind the audience that this is set in Calfornia.  The studio audience is clearly having a good time, and the home audience would quickly embrace the series as well.

If I remember correctly, this aired in the time slot it would claim, Tuesday at 9 p.m., after the hit shows Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley (#1 and #2 in the ratings that season).  This put it, for the moment, opposite M*A*S*H.  I can't swear that I caught this series from the beginning, but I vaguely recall watching it before the end of this short season.  M*A*S*H was still too grown-up for me, but I was at nine starting to appreciate "adolescent comedy."

Three's Company: Pilot #2

Three's Company: Pilot #2
ABC
October 1976
Sitcom
DVD
B-

I'd put this on a level with the Man About the House episode it's based on, although it wouldn't have worked as a first episode to air of course.  The formula for the show is getting closer to what would work, with Mrs. Roper a definite improvement-- funnier and more likable-- than on the first pilot, while Fell adds some touches to his portrayal of Mr. Roper (now Stanley rather than George).  Ritter's rendition of Jack is close to what it'd become, and very different than David Bell.  Twenty-seven-year-old Joyce DeWitt plays a naughtier, more East Coast version of Janet than we would usually see on the show.  As for Lanier, I have to wonder if the role might've worked better if it were more like her Bambi character on Welcome Back, Kotter, the spacy Californian I mean, not the bitter Texan underneath the surface.  She's not bad but I can see why she was replaced and the role rewritten to be more like MAtH's Jo, or Gracie Allen.  (In the early seasons I mean, not what Suzanne Somers morphed into.)

The script, which runs fairly close to the MAtH version, was written by the trio of producers: Nicholl, Ross, and West.  It has some of the flaws of the original, including that they don't just tell Chrissy's mother the situation, since she's got to find out sometime.  Watching it now, I couldn't help missing some of the lines that were added for the version that would air the following Spring.

Bill Hobin, who had directed a couple of recent Welcome Back, Kotter episodes, would go on to do another 30 3'sC episodes.  His style here is serviceable, although there was one part where Chrissy's mother was talking and the camera stayed too long with just Chrissy's reaction.

"Goodnight, John-Boy."

Cab Driver Lou Wills would also be on the revamped "And Mother Makes Four," but I suspect that they just reused the footage, since it was only Wills and Ritter.  On the other hand, I think they may've brought Shera Danese back as the Barmaid, although it is possible that her footage was recycled, too.  I don't recognize the actress playing Chrissy's mother and she's not listed on IMDB.  And note that they're still using that dooty-doo version of the title song, although the opening credits are a bit more creative.