Three's Company: Mate for Each Other

Three's Company: Mate for Each Other
ABC
May 11, 1982
Sitcom
DVD
B

Ellen Guylas wrote this story where Janet's old friend Joan visits after at least two years and introduces her husband, whom she met through computer dating.  Both Janet and Jack decide to "enter the electronic age," without telling anyone, except Jack telling Larry.  (Interestingly, Jack chooses the pseudonym "Duke Bradford," which includes the last name of the woman he'll fall in love with two years later.)  J & J are paired together and spend a pleasant if sometimes awkward evening together.  They have been on "dates" before, like to the movies, but I guess this is seen as something more serious, as is their kiss, even though they've been kissing each other for five years.  Adding to the farce, Larry comes over to hear about Jack's date and ends up comforting Terri in her bedroom about her roommates dating behind her back, which brings out Jack and Janet's protective instincts when they eavesdrop.  In the tag, Terri asks Janet about her date, and Jack eavesdrops outside the door, as the girls soon realize.

J/J shippers can take hope from this episode, including that Jack seems very pleased (rather than scared or shocked or what have you) to hear that Janet could fall for him.  On the other hand, you could argue from this episode that J & J are unable to cross the border over from mostly platonic to something more romantic.  Tony and Angela would have an even more awkward "first real date" after living together for years, but Who's the Boss? would make that "will they or won't they?" relationship more central.  On 3'sC, it's more in the background and you can see it or not.  I'd argue that Janet had a crush on Jack by at least the time of the first season's "birthday" episode, but I also think she gave up on him for various reasons after awhile.  Jack's probably less aware of his feelings for Janet, beyond mild lust and strong affection.

Brian Byers, who was a Box Boy on The Bob Newhart Show and two different patients on M*A*S*H, is Joan's husband Tom.  This time Mickey Deems is the Maitre D'.