I didn’t grow up watching Three’s Company. When Season One came on I was three years old. I started watching the show about a year ago when the old episodes came on cable television. I have become addicted to the show. Three’s Company is at the top of my list of favorite shows to watch.

When I heard that Season One was coming out on DVD I knew that I had to get it. Yes, I still watch the episodes that come on every night at midnight. I wanted the DVD though so that I could watch it other times when there is nothing good to watch. It’s great for a Sunday afternoon when you can’t find absolutely anything on.

Background of the show:

From 1973-1976 there was a show called Man About the House, which aired in Great Britain. It was about a cooking student named Robin Tripp that lived with two female roommates. It is the show that started it all for Three’s Company. They took that idea and made it into the show many people know and love.

The Show:

The original show was released in the March 1977. They weren’t sure if fans would like it or not. It didn’t take long for it to become a number one show. The primary cast members are the three roommates: Jack Tripper (John Ritter), Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers). Also on these episodes you will see a lot of the apartment landlords Mr. and Mrs. Roper (Norman Fell & Audra Lindley). You will also see an appearance of Richard Kline, who plays Jack’s friend, car salesman Larry.

The Episodes:

A Man About the House

Janet and Chrissy are roommates. Janet works in a flower shop and Chrissy is a typist. Their roommate, Eleanor, had moved when she got married. The episode starts when they wake up after the going away party they had for Eleanor. They find a stranger in the bathtub that was passed out. After talking with him they find he needs a place to live and decides he will be their roommate. Mr. Roper won’t allow a man to live with two women. Janet tells the Ropers that Jack is gay. Mr. Roper agrees to let Jack live there since there won’t be any “hanky panky” going on.

And Mother Makes Four

Mrs. Snow, Chrissy’s mother, decides to come for a visit. Chrissy is afraid of what her mother will say about Jack living there. They rush to get him out of the house. Mr. Roper tells Mrs. Snow about Jack living there and that he is gay. The roommates are relieved when they find out that Mrs. Snow knows that Jack lives there and that she is okay with it. She is glad for a man to be around and knows that he won’t be fooling around with Chrissy.

Roper’s Niece

Mr. Roper’s beautiful niece, Karen, comes for a visit. Mr. Roper decides to ask Jack to take her on a date. Jack declines since he is working on Janet’s birthday party for the evening. When Mr. Roper offers him $50 he can’t refuse the offer. Janet is livid. Mr. Roper catches Jack and Karen in a passionate kiss. Mr. Roper tells Jack to get out of the building. Karen takes the blame for the kiss and Mr. Roper decides to let him stay. Jack spends the money he made buying Janet’s birthday gift.

No Children, No Dogs

Jack brings home a puppy, but the landlord won’t allow pets. They try to hide him from Mr. Roper. Jack tries in vein to give the dog away. This episode was especially funny when Janet thought Jack and Chrissy were getting busy in the kitchen.

Jack the Giant Killer

Jack, Chrissy and Janet are hanging out at the local pub, The Regal Beagle. As they are sharing a beer a big man tries to pick up Chrissy. She refuses his advances, but he keeps on. Jack is too afraid to stand up to him. Later the Ropers come in. Mr. Roper chews out the man for bumping into him and making him spill his drink. The next night Jack proves he is a real man when he stands up to the man causing him to run out of the bar.

It’s Only Money

Jack, Janet and Chrissy think their apartment has been broken into when their rent money is gone. They call the police who think they are making up the story. Mr. and Mrs. Roper decide to take them out to dinner. The roommates try to avoid the Ropers until they can find a way to come up with the rent money. When they finally talk to the Ropers Chrissy confesses that the rent money is gone. They are all relieved when Mr. Roper tells them he picked up the money when he was in the apartment earlier.

The Menu:

The main menu plays the theme song from the show. The menu was super easy to navigate through. My 9-year-old son can get through it without any problems. It is a very simple menu.

Come and knock on our door
We’ve been waiting for you
Where the kisses are hers and hers and his
Three’s company too!

Assorted pictures of the cast flash across the screen as the theme song plays. From the main menu you have three things you can go to:

1. Episodes
2. Season Two Info
3. In Memory of John

Extra Stuff:

~ There is a small description of each episode included.
~ Season Two Info ~ It will be released in Spring 2004. (I can’t wait.)
~ In Memory of John is a paragraph about John. It tells you about his work with The United Cerebral Palsy. A portion of the sales from this DVD will be donated to the UCP. John worked to raise money and awareness for the cause since the late 70’s. This cause was close to his heart because his brother has cerebral palsy.

The pictures inside the case:

There is a section of pictures that you can take out from inside the case. There is a 5x7 picture of John, Suzanne and Joyce on the front. Open it up and there are 7 assorted pictures of the cast. On the back page are 6 different pictures of John Ritter with a quote from Joyce.

”A great loss to the joy in the world”.
- Joyce De Witt

The sound and picture:

The sound and picture is decent. I found the quality to be a little better than you would see on normal television, but nothing too different from what I normally see.

DVD Info:

Three’s Company Season One
DVD version
Not rated
Released November 2003
146 Minutes
Color
UPC: 013131-26739-6

My Thoughts:

I loved this DVD especially since I am such a huge fan of Three’s Company. I remember when I first heard about the death of John Ritter back in September 2003. I was devastated and felt like I had lost a close, personal friend. John Ritter is an actor that is easy to love. He was hilarious and is truly missed by many. It isn’t rated, but I don’t have any problem with my children watching it.

I like being able to watch it anytime that I want to. This is especially nice for when I can’t find a thing on television. My favorite episodes are the ones where Suzanne Somers is in them. There were others who replaced her when she was fired. I never enjoyed their work as much as I did when Suzanne was on there. While they may not have always gotten along in real life, John, Suzanne and Joyce had an on-screen chemistry that I love to watch.

I will be looking forward to the tribute to John Ritter that is supposed to be on the Season Two DVD. I would have liked to have seen more included on this DVD. They only had a paragraph about John in the memory section. I would have loved to have seen pictures, interviews, behind the scenes shots and things of that nature. Besides the six episodes there isn’t much on this DVD. I can’t wait to see what special features will be on the next DVD, which is coming out spring 2004.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8