Clevercell Very disappointing...

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

hnt_dnl THREE'S COMPANY (1977-84) was one of my favorite comedies growing up and one of the very few I still watch in re-runs. The comedy may be farcical and slapstick for the most part, but early in the series, the overt comedy was underscored with a sharp, witty edge full of puns and double-entendres. The early seasons of the show were actually more methodical and topical with an amazingly playful edge that you rarely would see in other shows of the time. The middle seasons had it's share of slow and unfunny episodes, while the later seasons enjoyed a rejuvenation.The series starred the versatile physical comic actor John Ritter (who actually won a Lead Actor Emmy for this show) as Jack Tripper, a struggling yet gifted chef. Jack was a major ladies man and hornball, but he had a heart of gold and was the best friend to his roommates. In the series pilot, Jack needed a place to stay and so roommates Chrissy Snow (played by blonde bombshell Suzanne Somers, who displayed a surprising gift for comic timing and humor) and Janet Wood (wonderfully played by Joyce DeWitt). Chrissy, a secretary, was an early TV prototype for the "dumb blonde" role and, in my opinion, set the stage for the way the character is played in modern TV, for example, I see qualities of Chrissy in later famous TV "dumb" blondes, like Kelly Bundy or Phoebe Buffay. Janet, a floral shop employee, was the more level-headed, smart, less-but-still-attractive brunette and kind of the calm center of the show.The roommates' original landlords were the Ropers, the strict, old-schooler Stanley (superbly performed by Norman Fell) and his sweet, sarcastic, sexually-repressed wife Helen (hilariously played by Audra Lindley. During the "Roper" seasons, I'd say that the show was more of an ensemble, with the Ropers being given equal screen time to the main trio, more often than not referred to as "the kids" by Mrs. Roper. The Ropers were almost surrogate parents to them, with Roper being the stern Dad and Helen being the loving and more tolerant Mom. A running gag for the entirety of the series was that Jack had to pretend to be homosexual in order for the landlords to get him to live with 2 girls. In these politically correct times, I doubt a show could get away with this now! I'd say that Seasons 1-3 are the best seasons, with the stories usually consisting of "the kids" having the A plot and the Ropers having the B plot, with overlap from time to time. Then there are episodes where all 5 got to interact completely as the main plot. The Ropers left the show at the end of Season 3 and went onto their own doomed series that bore their last name, only coming back in a Season 5 episode for a guest spot. Early on, the show introduced a supporting character Larry Dallas (wonderfully performed by the reliable Richard Kline, a shady used- car salesman (is there any other kind!) and Jack's best friend, who lived a swinging single lifestyle. Kline was excellent at one-liners and punchlines and played off Ritter very well.Season 4 introduced new landlord Ralph Furley (played by comic TV icon Don Knotts), ushering in an era or broader, wilder comedy. Knotts brought his brand of limbering, lumbering physical comedy to the table. Backstage drama also lead to Somers being fired from the show at the end of Season 4, so in Season 5, a new character, Chrissy's cousin Cindy Snow (played with wide-eyed gusto by Jenilee Harrison, a pretty good physical comedienne in her own right) was introduced as the new 3rd roommate. It was really around Seasons 4 and 5 that the show really suffered a creative crisis, and may have been doomed to end had it not been for the smart decision to demote Cindy to supporting status in Season 6 and introduce yet ANOTHER and FINAL 3rd roommate Terri Alden (refreshingly played by the underrated Priscilla Barnes), a nurse. Cindy was much better served as a recurring, supporting character in Season 6 and Terri complemented Jack and Janet more. I really wish that Harrison had stayed on in Seasons 7 and 8 in her supporting turn because I thought she had really found her comfort zone as a funny supporting character a la Mr. Furley and Larry who would pop in on the main trio from time to time.I found Seasons 6-8 very entertaining, if less witty and risky as the early seasons. In these later seasons, the show really played up the physical comedy, with all characters getting to shine at various moments. In particular, Ritter was allowed to run wild and show off his physicality in full force. Especially in the later seasons, the show became a show about "misunderstandings", where every episode seemed to be about characters getting the wrong idea about situations or other characters and the writers and actors played these to the hilt, with great facial expressions and reactions.The show also boasted some of the HOTTEST female characters I've ever seen, with Jack getting to date gorgeous women in about every other episode. And the ladies he got to live with weren't so shabby either!"Three's Company" has a carefree, loose quality that I find enjoyable. It may be the level of shows like "Cheers" or "Seinfeld", but in it's own way, the show is iconic. A huge guilty pleasure!

Goodday-3 Three's Company never showed any real imagination in it's writing. It was nothing more than one two bit easy shot sexual innuendo after another. Had the girls not been so pretty I am more than a little sure the whole thing would have crashed & burned after the first or second season. THAT was what sustained the show.....Lonely people with no company at home wishfully imagining a ("Not so funny"... But very NON Lonely) situation of TV make believe with sub-standard hack sexual comic writing. The recorded laugh track was... I will admit was used well and often. It is sad that there are that many painfully lonely Elleneror and Eddie Rigbies out there painfully using their TV's as a substitute for real people company and instead opt for Three's Company! ..... Louie Orduna

disdressed12 before Friends,there was this little gem.Three's Company will have you crying in tears,just like Friends.however,unlike Friends,the humour is mostly slapstick and usually revolves around simple misunderstandings.The late great john Ritter,Who played Jack tripper, was master of the pratfall.as Lucille Ball once said(i'm paraphrasing)John would have been at home in the era of silent comedy.the man was, put simply,a genius.nobody had better comic timing.But equally great in their roles were:Joyce De Witt, who played Janet wood, one of Jack's 2 female roommates,and the more straight laced of the bunch.In the early years Suzanne Somers would play Jack's other roommate,Chrissy Snow,who was little more than a ditsy airhead,and a great foil for both Jack and Janet.Later on Jennilee Harrison(for a very brief time),would take over the role as Jack's second roommate,Cindy Snow,Chrissy's cousin.(who had inherited the same intellect)after Suzanne quit/was let go.And finally,Priscilla Barnes would fill the role for the remainder of the show's run as Terri Alden,a nurse.Terri could also be a bit dim at times Actually,they could all be a bit dim at times.i should mention that the apt had very strict same sex rules.you'll see why this is funny and how they get around it,in a bit.anyway,next we have Norman Fell as Mr Roper land lord and husband to Helen,who was sex starved/crazed and tried everything, usually unsuccessfully to get Mr Roper into bed.then there is Richard Kline who played Jacks'girl crazy friend Larry Dallas.Larry could be a letch at times,always trying to get Janet,Terri and the others to sleep with him.but deep down,he had a good heart.this is the 1st episode. now the same sex rule and how they get around it.Jack was out of the room,Mr.Roper had basically kicked him out.when Jack came back,to his surprise,Mr Roper had agreed to let him stay.later on Jack asks why he changed his mind.Janet's reply in short "i told him you were gay".so you can imagine how things could get funny,just based on that.Eventually,the Ropers leave and in walks Don Knotts as Ralph Furley.(R.F as he became affectionately known) as an aside Don was also a master of comedy,as evidenced by his actions and reactions to some of the situations that would unfold.Don sadly also died in Feb 2006.Anyway Ralph considers himself a ladies man.Of course,he'the only one who does.anyway,as the series progressed,Jack and the girls had to continue keeping Jack's secret from Ralph (by the way Jack wasn't really gay.in fact he loved women.)there you have a synopsis of the series.There are obviously things i left out,such as how Janet and Chrissy met Jack.but you get the gist.basically,Three's Company is one of the all time great sitcoms.if you haven't seen it,i urge you to look for it. 10/10.i must mention that the world lost 2 great talents in John Ritter and Don Knotts.

happipuppi13 On the date mentioned in the title,Three's Company made it's premiere on the ABC Schedule. In the sense that nothing like it had ever been on TV before,much like Norman Lear sitcoms,this show is (like it or not) a milestone in TV history. I was watching that night,despite being only 8!Unlike Norman Lear sitcoms,of course,Three's Company is not exactly a "thinking man's" situation comedy. It was much like the screwball comedy movies of the 30's & 40's,wild,crazy & silly and also drew from the French entertainment world,with what was known as "bedroom farce". Comedy coming from assumed situations,sexual innuendo and even situations that spin hopelessly out of control.The late and very great John Ritter starred as cooking student & then chef Jack Tripper (an appropriate name given all of his wonderful physical humor). His TV series debut as this character is unforgettable.One morning after a going away party for their roommate Eleanor,Janet Wood (sporting a New York accent) and Chrissy Snow (short for Christmas Snow!) enter their bathroom and find party crasher Jack, passed out in the tub soaking wet. The Ropers,landlords of this complex with no name,live directly under this apartment and Stanley Roper decides to go up and have a talk with the girls about the noise last night. Meantime,Janet and Chrissy discover that jack is a student living at the YMCA and after much discussion decide Jack should be their new roommate. Enter Stanley,who notices Jack in one of the girls robes,runs downstairs and gets his wife. The Ropers (more Stanley than Helen)disapprove of the opposite gender living together. While Jack is in the kitchen,Janet gets a foolproof idea that satisfies The Ropers. She convinces them that Jack is gay! So began the 8 season show.During it's course are many changes and behind the scenes turmoil. The addition of Richard Kline as Jacks best friend Larry Dallas used car salesman and womanizer.The much publicized Suzanne Somers salary dispute,leading to her eventual termination. ABC giving The Ropers their own (failed) spin off and then instead of welcoming them back,replaces them with Don Knotts who played new,chick magnet in his own mind,landlord Mr. Furley. Then, two more roommates Cindy Snow (Chrissy's cousin)played Jennilee Harrison) and then Nurse Terri Alden played by Priscilla Barnes.There's so many memorable comic moments that take place throughout:After another party Jack and Mr. Roper wake up in bed together.Jack has to stay out of the apartment in the rain,while Janet's mother comes to visit.Stanley eavesdrops on the kids private conversations through the plumbing! (My favorite):Jack punches a cop and ends up in jail and tries to be a tough guy with the other prisoners,after they find out he beat up a cop:"Butt me!" (asking for a smoke and then gagging on it!)So instead,"Gum me!" "Gimmie Some gum"!! "Now!" -----------Then,the episode TV Guide calls a classic,"Up In The Air",Jack and Janet attend a party given by a man Janet likes (Barry Williams of The Brady Bunch)and Jack takes tranquilizers to relax for the flight to the island that the party takes place on. After arriving Jack meets the hosts beautiful sister but Janet has told jack under no circumstances is he to tell anyone he's a chef. (High brow crowd y'know!) So after concocting fib after fib to different people she thinks he's a phony. He then drowns his troubles in a drink called "The Rocket" which,mixed with the pills,turns Jack into a virtual Fred Astaire dancing machine! An incredible dance sequence for that matter. A fantastic demonstration of John's great comic capabilities,although I know he was also a very good actor,which showed through in the series few serious moments.Many feel that episode was the show at it's comic peak but it carried on for two more seasons. In the final show,Janet marries a nice "rich" guy,Terri moves to Hawaii and Jack moves in with his new girlfriend Vicki (telling Mr. Furley he's cured & going to try and be with a woman)! John Ritter then went on to the short lived,"Three's A Crowd" spin off but it was just more of the same. Sometimes networks just don't know when to let things be.In the time since the shows end,we have said goodbye to Norman Fell (Stanley) in 1997,Audra Lindley (Helen) in 1998),John Ritter in 2003 and 1 year ago in Feb. 2006 Don Knotts. We miss them very much.Meaning the obvious,there will be no reunions of our favorite roommates but we forever have the memories of a once controversial show that now seems tame by today's standards. Not to mention wonderful shows to laugh at and remember for always. The show really is a "10" but I only took one star off for the shabby way Norman Fell and Audra Lindley were treated in 1980. That aside,I put it right up there with I Love Lucy. Even she loved,"Three's Company" and showed it in her guest shot. Here's a toast to thirty years (and many more) of Three's Company,to quote them:Jack:"Happy Days" Janet:"Good Times" Chrissy:"Little House On The Prarie"! (END)