The first six episodes of "Three's Company" are featured on this DVD including the original pilot from 1977.
--Randy
Three's Company: Season One
Directors: Various
Producers: Various
Writers: Various
Features: Full Screen 1.33:1, Color, And English: Dolby Digital Stereo(CC).
Characters:
Jack Tripper...John Ritter
Janet Wood...Joyce DeWitt
Chrissy Snow...Suzanne Somers
Stanley Roper...Norman Fell
Helen Roper...Audra Lindley
Larry...Richard Kline
Genre: Comedy
Review:
John Ritter will always be remembered as Jack Tripper of "Three's Company" fame. He is gone now, but never to be forgotten. The new DVD "Three's Company: Season One" will help ensure that. This DVD only has six episodes, that's all there were for the Spring 1977 season, but they are key to the early personalities of the characters. All in all there have not been many changes in the character traits of the three roommates. Jack Tripper is introduced as a student in a culinary school who has to pretend he is gay in order for the landlord of an apartment complex to allow him to live with two women. Chrissy Snow(Suzanne Somers) is shown as ditzy from the beginning and quit the show in a later season with no further character development. Janet Wood(Joyce DeWitt) was always the practical one and stayed that way.
The thing that stands out most in these early episodes is how much fun was made of homosexuals. Nowadays a show like this would have to be on cable and even then probably catch flack from many different factions. Stanley Roper(Norman Fell) is constantly referring to Jack as Tinkerbell or a fairy. Other shows in the seventies like "Sanford And Son" had no mercy for homosexuals either, but it is "Three's Company" that has fun with the queer lifestyle in almost every episode of the first season. The fun in most cases was simply referencing a derogatory name.
The reason Jack was probably given a queer cover was it was reasoned it was preferable to him having an obvious heterosexual relationship with two unmarried women. That is a little strange in itself since all the adventures of "Three's Company" are situated in Santa Monica, California, a city known for being ultra-liberal. It must be remembered that this show was televised across America into not so liberal areas. Better for him to be a silly boy and offend no one.
The pilot episode called "A Man About The House" gets its title from the British television show it was based upon called "Man About The House." I have never seen the British show so I can't compare or contrast it to "Three's Company." In the pilot episode Chrissy and Janet discover Jack passed out in their bathtub after a wild party held at their apartment the previous night. Janet has a really bad hairstlye that would go away in another season. Ellenor, the earlier roommate is talked about. She has left forever on a honeymoon while expecting a baby. She is never seen. Chrissy's job is said to be a typist and Janet is supposed to work at a flower shop. The landlords, Stanley Roper and his wife Helen(Audra Lindley), discover Jack in the apartment and want him out, but Janet takes Stanley aside and tells him Jack is gay. After that Stanley is fine with Jack being the girl's roommate. It should be noted that throughout this episode and all the others to follow that Stanley and Helen trade digs at each other with Helen lamenting Stanley's lack of ardor.
In the second episode "And Mother Makes Four" Chrissy's mom is coming to visit and Chrissy wants Jack to stay elsewhere while she visits. It turns out Chrissy's dad is a minister though he makes no appearance. Chrissy is worried her mom will tell her dad about Jack. In this episode Stanley refers to Jack as Tinkerbell and as a fairy, but not to his face. Later, Stanley meets Mrs. Snow and let's her know that Jack is living with the girls, but not to worry because he is gay. In this episode Helen tells the girls she knows Jack is not gay and his secret is safe with her. The Regal Beagle Pub is first seen in this show.
In "Roper's Niece" it is Janet's birthday and Jack is broke, but wants to get her a present. Stanley's niece, Karen, is visiting and Stanley pays Jack fifty dollars to take her out and show her a good time. Stanley feels safe having Karen with Jack, but at the Roper's apartment Karen gets aggressive with Jack and strips down to her underwear just as Stanley comes into the room. In this episode Stanley once again refers to Jack as Tinkerbell and a fairy, but not to his face. Early on, Chrissy is seen typing on a manual typewriter at the apartment. Has it been that long since the personal computer has not been around?
In "No Children, No Dogs" Jack brings home a puppy given to him by an acquaintance car salesman named Larry(Richard Kline). Dogs are not allowed in the apartment so the group has to hide it from the Ropers. This was all that would be seen of Larry this first season. Chrissy is sleepwalking in this episode as she is anxious about a boss who can't keep his hands off her at work. Thinking some dog food is one of Jack's fancy meals, Stanley eats it. Jack lets loose with some slapstick by bumping into a lot of furniture in the dark.
In "Jack The Giant Killer" Jack Tripper backs down from a fight at the Regal Beagle with a tough looking man who has been bothering Chrissy. To make matters worse, Stanley comes in and winds up standing up to him. Back at the apartment Jack is feeling low because he lacked the courage to fight and Stanley calls him Tinkerbell to his face. Jack goes back to the Regal Beagle to find his tormentor with Janet interceding to save him.
In the last episode, "It's Only Money," the friends think their apartment has been burglarized as an envelope containing three hundred dollars for the rent is missing. They call a policeman who thinks they made up the story to avoid paying rent to the landlord and leaves. Jack trys to get a student loan at his school, but fails. Then the group has to try to avoid Roper who is looking for them, not for the rent, but to invite them out to dinner. Jack makes the only gay referrence when he talks about a couple named Horace and Mike that live next door.
Throughout these early television shows Jack was periodically making a play for Chrissy, virtually ignoring Janet. In episode three the girls take time out and discuss their feelings for Jack. This kept a sort of tension as the audience had to wonder if something might happen in an upcoming show.
This DVD of "Three's Company: Season One" has very little extras. It does not even have a scene index, but the shows are short so the fast forward button can easily be used to get wherever you choose. It has a page dedicated to John Ritter and relates how a portion of every DVD sold will go to the United Cerebral Palsy organization. This was a cause John Ritter championed because his brother has this disease. Another DVD page tells about the release date of the next DVD collection. The inside pamphlet has different photographs of the "Three's Company" crowd with the majority being of John Ritter.
The picture and sound on this DVD was excellent. This DVD is highly recommended to all fans of John Ritter and the "Three's Company" television show.
----Randy