Before Three's Company? I guess not. Most sitcoms were either workplace based or featured families living together prior to Three's Company, and I guess that was what made the show groundbreaking in the first place. A show that emphasized the single life. It was definitely a theme that got beat to death in the 90s with the popularity of Friends and Seinfeld and the like, but I'm pretty sure at least as far as American sitcoms went Three's Company paved the way for those programs. Prior to Three's this topic wasn't examined much if at all. Single men and women living together was a topic the networks wouldn't touch until Three's Company. Everybody in prior sitcoms had to be mother and father, sons and daughters if they were going to live under the same roof.

Can anybody correct me on that? Was there an American sitcom about unrelated people in a non-workplace environment prior to Three's?

The Odd Couple

Three's Company was based on Man About the House, so technically that would be the first sitcom to have men amd women living together. But, as you stated Three's Company is the first in America.

The Odd Couple
Yeah, that one passes the test I suppose. Maybe it's something that doesn't get emphasized enough about the show.

Yeah, that one passes the test I suppose. Maybe it's something that doesn't get emphasized enough about the show.

What about The Monkees or The Flying Nun? I don't think they would fall under workplace.

Prior to Three's this topic wasn't examined much if at all. Single men and women living together was a topic the networks wouldn't touch until Three's Company. Everybody in prior sitcoms had to be mother and father, sons and daughters if they were going to live under the same roof.

Can anybody correct me on that? Was there an American sitcom about unrelated people in a non-workplace environment prior to Three's?

Other than the Odd Couple and Sherlock Holmes, you're right. Most single people were either seen together at work or living with family. I think TC was very probably the very first American TV show that showed single men and women living together.

While The Odd Couple qualifies, note that they were two *divorced* men (I think that was a calculated move to prevent any possible doubt about their heterosexuality), and of course Sherlock Holmes is of proper British literary origins. So they didn't exactly push the envelope in that regard.

I'd also say it was also perhaps the first time we saw on TV a clearly positive portrayal of gay people that promoted acceptance. Mr. Roper was always the butt of the joke when he was homophobic, and Jack (a very hetero man) was never threatened by being perceived as or having to "act" gay. That was a big step.

What about The Monkees or The Flying Nun? I don't think they would fall under workplace.Isn't being a nun a job? Didn't the action take place at her work? If I'm wrong, well it shows how much I know about Catholicism, right? ;) I never saw any episodes of The Flying Nun.

I don't think so about The Monkees because they were a band and they worked together as well as lived together, so I wouldn't count it.

Isn't being a nun a job? Didn't the action take place at her work? If I'm wrong, well it shows how much I know about Catholicism, right? ;) I never saw any episodes of The Flying Nun.

I don't think so about The Monkees because they were a band and they worked together as well as lived together, so I wouldn't count it.

Being a nun is a job, but the nuns don't hang out together as much as they do on Taxi or Cheers. Its mostly Sally Field goofing around with Alejandro Rey. I just don't think people think of either shows as workplace sitcoms. They are fantasy and musical, but for the confines of your definition you're right.

But, nevermind. I don't know what I was thinking. :happyface

I Dream of Jeannie. You also have some disguised shows like the Farmer's Daughter and Nanny and the Professor where the kids are just props for having the adults in the same house.
Yeah, perhaps I Dream of Jeannie would count, or perhaps it wouldn't.

I guess the show managed to avoid controversy in the day by claiming Jeannie was a Genie, not a girl. ;)

I still wouldn't count it because Jeannie is a Genie. And you might be right about Farmer's Daughter and Nanny and The Professor.....they may not really be family shows but nonetheless the families are still there.

For the record I think my question was answered with "The Odd Couple". The only thing Three's really did different was make it people of different genders.