Three's Company

infobox television
show_name = Three's Company


caption = The title card of the last two seasons of "Three's Company"
format = Sitcom
runtime = 23 minutes (per episode)
location = Santa Monica, California
Hollywood, California
creator = Don Nicholl
Michael Ross
Bernie West
starring = John Ritter
Joyce DeWitt
Suzanne Somers (1977—1981)
Priscilla Barnes (1981—1984)
Norman Fell (1977—1979)
Audra Lindley (1977-1979)
Ann Wedgeworth (1979)
Richard Kline (1979-1984)
Jenilee Harrison (1980–1982)
and Don Knotts (1979—1984)
country = USA
network = ABC
first_aired = March 15, 1977
last_aired = September 18, 1984
num_seasons = 8
num_episodes= 172 (plus 2 episodes of "The Ropers" aired in syndication as "Three's Company")
locations = Hollywood, California
Santa Monica, California
website = http://www.threescompany.com/
imdb_id = 0075596
tv_com_id = 629
followed_by="The Ropers" "Three's a Crowd"
related = "Man About the House"

"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 three roommates in Santa Monica, California: Janet Wood, Chrissy Snow, and Jack Tripper, and their efforts to convince their landlord that Tripper is gay so he will approve of the co-ed living situation.

Description

Jack, Janet and Chrissy lived in apartment 201, directly above the landlord unit in Santa Monica. Jack is studying to be a chef at a technical college and, as the girls do not know how to cook, they decide it would be a good idea for Jack to move in. In order to get permission to keep Jack as a roommate, Janet tells the landlord, Stanley Roper, that Jack is gay while Helen Roper was aware of Jack's true sexuality from the second episode forward. This was a premise of the show until the very end. The other major premise of the show, until the departure of the Ropers, was their marital bickering and lack of sexual intimacy. After the Ropers were spun off the show focused more on the three roommates.

The show was set minutes from the beach in Santa Monica, California, and usually focused on four sets: the trio's apartment, the landlord's apartment, the upstairs apartment of Larry and the neighborhood pub/restaurant called "The Regal Beagle". In later seasons, The Beagle was seen less frequently, as Jack's Bistro became the setting for many scenes. The series revolved around sexual double entendres, misunderstandings and clumsiness/slapstick.

Running jokes and gags

The show used many running jokes and gags such as:
* Mr. Roper breaking the fourth wall: Norman Fell would turn to the camera and grin after making a joke, usually at Mrs. Roper's expense.
* Jack's perceived homosexuality: Mr. Roper and Mr. Furley would make homophobic remarks such as "Tippy toes" or "Tinkerbell," call him a "fairy," bend their wrists or shake a pretend bell.
* Chrissy being misunderstood by one of her roommates and then launching into a long and convoluted explanation that made no sense to anyone but her.
* Mrs. Roper insinuating that she would welcome some physical affection from her husband, and him shooting her down.
* Larry excitedly telling Jack he's fixed him up with a hot date, then realizing that the landlord is listening behind him, and having to fabricate another story to protect Jack.
* Cindy slamming the door into someone (usually Jack).
* Lana chasing after Jack (that being the only reason she ever came over), only to be chased in turn by Mr. Furley.

Characters

Primary characters

ee also

* Three's Company in popular culture

References

External links

*
* [http://www.threescompany.com/ The Official Site of "Three's Company"]
* [http://www.tvland.com/shows/threescompany/ "Three's Company" on TVLand.com]