Three's Company: Secret Admirer

Three's Company: Secret Admirer
ABC
March 11, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Mark Tuttle worked on this episode with Joyce Gittlin and Steve Clements, who'd co-written a couple for Welcome Back, Kotter, but unfortunately it's a weak remake of Man About the House's "Somebody Out There Likes Me."  My main gripe (as it was on my blog five years ago) is with Jack's behavior, how he insults Janet, Chrissy and the secret admirer, Gilbert Larwin (former child star Barry Gordon, at this point in his career in between Fish and Archie Bunker's Place).  Jack also jumps to conclusions and gives bad advice.  Janet is guilty of this, too, but less so.  What I do like is the wardrobe (from Chrissy's springtime dress to Larry's zebra print robe), and that Chrissy and Gilbert actually hit it off.  If they were going to go in a different direction than the MAtH original (where SA actually fancies Jo but doesn't know her name), then why not just pursue Chrissy/Gilbert?  And have Jack be nicer.

David Himes, who plays Brad, had two roles on The Bob Newhart Show.  Stephen Johnson, who's Phil Durkin, would return as one of the many Police Officers on this show.  This is Paul Ainsley's last appearance as Jim the Bartender.