TV show reviews: Three’s Company
The sitcom Three’s Company, an iconic masterpiece of comedic misunderstandings and situations has stood the test of time from its inception in 1977 to perpetual re-run heaven on the reprise networks. As a man who grew up watching this splendidly delicous masterpiece, all I can utter are a long series of laughs and guffaws from this splendid masterpiece. In modern times, its worthy successor “Two and a Half Men” keeps me in stitches with its modern humor. But watching the 2 and a half guys reminds me so much of Three’s Company that its creators had to be inspired somewhat by the old sitcom…
Although not nearly as open and frank like the two and a half guys, its humor crossed all racial, religious and cultural lines, continuing to keep us all thoroughly entertained.. The misunderstandings were the trademark of this show. Such misunderstandings that we are all presented with everyday, but the show’s creators saw a chance to exploit in a grossly-overinflated way that kept us all in stitches. Couple that with the existing sexual tension between Jack and the girls, throwing in the libindous sexual exploits of Jack’s conniving friend, Larry, plus the Ropers and Mr. Furley and you had a magnificient hit. Who couldn’t guffaw at Mr. Furley, so splendidly played by Don Knotts, in those crazy outfits, with the huge ties and an attitude that he was the greatest womanizer of all time. Ha-ha..
The show came out in an era of an explosion in sexual freedom for men and women, cleverly exploiting that into a menage a trois of giggling proportions . Although the show never went anywhere near what the 2 and a half guys did, it paved the way for it and other shows. Sex was okay, not dirty, or something you had to necessarily wait till marriage to do. The sixties and seventies, with comedic gemstones like 3′s Company, brought an end to bygone notions.
I still watch that show and chortle. It is a television comedic masterpiece that will live on for many years to come in repeats, seemingly magically transporting us back to relive those comedic moments over and over again. Admittedly, a little dated and with many awful double-standards, but it premiered in 1977. But still a spectacle for the funnybone. Silly and politically incorrect? Certainly, but something that will keep generations to come laughing. Even people who were probably too young to see it first-run will still chortle and laugh. In some ways, don’t we all have some of those characteristics of the comedic threesome from years past and can laugh at ourselves, much like its creators envisaged?
Written by Todd Daigneault
Professional writer
