You could tell the show was out of ideas towards the end when they reverted to a variation of an old episode story.

In 1983 Janet hires a young kid to fix a stereo as a surprise for Jack & Terri and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

In 1980, Janet interviews male decorators to redo her bedroom as a surprise for Chrissy and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

I wonder if there are any more? I just noticed it today when the 1983 episode aired and it reminded me of the 1980 one because they were so similar in theme.

You could tell the show was out of ideas towards the end when they reverted to a variation of an old episode story.

In 1983 Janet hires a young kid to fix a stereo as a surprise for Jack & Terri and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

In 1980, Janet interviews male decorators to redo her bedroom as a surprise for Chrissy and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

I wonder if there are any more? I just noticed it today when the 1983 episode aired and it reminded me of the 1980 one because they were so similar in theme.

In Chris Mann's Three's Company book he lists at least twenty recycled plots/misunderstandings. The episode in Season 8 ("Look What I Found") where the trio hide a cat from Furley was what made John Ritter realize the show should end, because it was the same plot as Season 1's "No Children, No Dogs."

They started recycling plots as early as Season 4 but the more it happened the more noticeable it was.

In Chris Mann's Three's Company book he lists at least twenty recycled plots/misunderstandings. The episode in Season 8 ("Look What I Found") where the trio hide a cat from Furley was what made John Ritter realize the show should end, because it was the same plot as Season 1's "No Children, No Dogs."

They started recycling plots as early as Season 4 but the more it happened the more noticeable it was.

Wow. I had no idea there were that many! I've watched the show a lot and never really noticed the recycling of stories until the episode yesterday on Antenna TV. Now i'm going to keep an eye out for the others.

Here are some screenshots of the book. pgs 246 and 247

Season 8 had the trio hiding a kitten from Furley, and they did that in season 1 with a puppy.

Not specific episodes, but there are multiple episodes that dealt with pretending to be married for the benefits of parents; or Jack being attracted to a relative of his roommate's or landlord's, or boss.

In Chris Mann's Three's Company book he lists at least twenty recycled plots/misunderstandings. The episode in Season 8 ("Look What I Found") where the trio hide a cat from Furley was what made John Ritter realize the show should end, because it was the same plot as Season 1's "No Children, No Dogs."

They started recycling plots as early as Season 4 but the more it happened the more noticeable it was.

That's because even John Ritter said they were running out of ideas i.e. original material.

You could tell the show was out of ideas towards the end when they reverted to a variation of an old episode story.

In 1983 Janet hires a young kid to fix a stereo as a surprise for Jack & Terri and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

In 1980, Janet interviews male decorators to redo her bedroom as a surprise for Chrissy and they both think she's having sex with him instead.

I wonder if there are any more? I just noticed it today when the 1983 episode aired and it reminded me of the 1980 one because they were so similar in theme.


I hate when shows do that! But these days they revert to the whole show and try to do it over again! What happened to creativity?

I hate when shows do that! But these days they revert to the whole show and try to do it over again! What happened to creativity?

It's GONE!

Too many shows have been created over the past 70 years so most all of the good ideas have already been used up!