Three’s Company
Three’s Company is an American sitcom that aired from 1977 to 1984 on ABC. It is a remake of the British sitcom Man About the House. The story centers on Janet Wood, Chrissy Snow (later Cindy Snow and Terri Alden), and Jack Tripper living in an apartment complex owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roper (later by Bart Furley and managed by his brother), in Santa Monica, California:, their misunderstandings, social lives, and struggle to keep up with rent.
Jack is studying to be a chef at a technical college and happens across Janet, a florist, and Chrissy, a secretary, in need of a new roommate. Due to Stanley Roper’s intolerence for co-ed living situations, even in a multi-bedroom apartment, Janet tells him that Jack is gay. Helen Roper figures out Jack’s true sexuality in the second episode, and does not tell her husband, her bond with the three roommates grows until the Roper’s departure, and she often sides with them over her husband.
The show was set minutes from the beach in Santa Monica, California, and focused on three sets until the later seasons: the trio’s apartment, their landlord’s apartment and the neighborhood pub, The Regal Beagle. In later seasons more sets were used, regularly seeing Angelenos restaurant, and later Jack’s Bistro, and the hospital where Terri works.
Humor in the show is based on farce, relying on innuendo, misunderstanding, as well as physical comedy. With running jokes on Jack’s (supposed) sexuality, and Mr. Roper’s lack of sexual prowess. Conflict in the show came from the dysfunctional marriage of the Ropers, Jack’s lust for Chrissy versus Janet’s intolerance for a roommate romance, and later on Larry and Jack’s friendship, and Larry’s abuse of it.
The theme song was by Ray Charles (unrelated to the more famous, late rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles) and Julia Rinker. It was composed by Joe Raposo (perhaps most well-known for his composing for the children’s television show Sesame Street).
CAST
John Ritter as Jack Tripper
Joyce DeWitt as Janet Wood
Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow [ 1-5 ]
Audra Lindley as Helen Roper [ 1-3 ]
Norman Fell as Stanley Roper [ 1-3 ]
Richard Kline as Larry Dallas [ 3-8 ]
Don Knotts as Ralph Furley [ 4-8 ]
Ann Wedgeworth as Lana Shields [ 4 ]
Jenilee Harrison as Cindy Snow [ 5-6 ]
Priscilla Barnes as Terri Alden [ 6-8 ]
Paul Ainsley as Jim the Bartender [ 1-5 ]
Brad Blaisdell as Mike the Bartender [ 6-8 ]
Jordan Charney as Frank Angelino [ 6-7 ]