'Three's Company' Hasn't Aged Well and Here's Why

[PaperClips]

Originally Posted by DEH55

Well the show is a bit homophobic and really sexist. And Jack grabs and kisses numerous women. That's sexual assault today. So in that sense there are cringe worthy aspects of the show. And the sets are really cheap looking. So some parts don't hold up well.

I agree - I watched some episodes the last week and it is just "cringe". They also run the same plot over and over but just tweak it a bit.

[damon strong]

All of the "problematic" things mentioned are the very reason why I LIKE the show. It makes me laugh. As for the lack of diversity, I suggest the writer go watch anything produced by Tyler Perry and he'll see a perfect example of a lack of diversity.

[ClarenceAlabama]

Originally Posted by PaperClips

I agree - I watched some episodes the last week and it is just "cringe". They also run the same plot over and over but just tweak it a bit.

I think it's becoming a generational thing. People who are old enough to remember when comedy had no limits find older shows funny. The younger generation not so much and they're missing out.

The show was a farce and it was laugh out loud funny.

[Superswiper]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Disagree

I think it's a very fun show and people can enjoy it. It was a show that my parents and grandparents could enjoy (and they were prudes!).

If I choose to wear 2023 viewing specs then NOTHING is funny and I am offended at everything. Context, context, context...

I was born after the show had already ended, and didn't start watching it until around 1998 or so. I would have been 11 at the time. It quickly became one of my all-time favorite sitcoms.

To be honest, the show is actually pretty tame by today's standards.

[BestTVever]

The reason TC was so popular when it debuted was because how cutting edge it was. It was the first sitcom with major sexual innuendo themes. Sexual misunderstandings, gay people discussed, guys talking about getting it on with women, a sexually frustrated older woman, talk of nude beaches, hot women dressed hot and some called it jiggle TV. It just was an explosion of sex and the public ate it up. It was ground breaking. However the mid to late 70s was a very liberal era. Disco dancing, sex, and gay stuff was coming of age. So in some ways it fit but was fairly typical of what was going on in Santa Monica in the mid to late 70s. Its truly a time capsule of the 70s.
When people say it does not hold up because of themes would be like saying "I Love Lucy" does not hold up because Lucy and her husband slept in different beds on TV.

[TMC]

I suspect that Three's Company, especially had it come along a bit later like Friends, would in itself, be heavily criticized for its questionable diversity.

I read that Bobby F. Ellerbee, who played Dr. Cooper in the "Jack Bares All" episode (AKA Priscilla Barnes' first episode as Terri Alden), was the first black actor to have a speaking role on Three's Company. And we are already in the sixth season by that point.

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by TMC

I suspect that Three's Company, especially had it come along a bit later like Friends, would in itself, be heavily criticized for its questionable diversity.

I read that Bobby F. Ellerbee, who played Dr. Cooper in the "Jack Bares All" episode (AKA Priscilla Barnes' first episode as Terri Alden), was the first black actor to have a speaking role on Three's Company. And we are already in the sixth season by that point.

Unfortunately Mr Ellerbee wasn't watching Three's Company - s03e07 - 1978 - Chrissy and the Guru were a black actress by the name of Diane Sommerfield (1949-2001) had several lines for about 4 minutes when main cast was at the Regal Beagle.

the only other one the I know of is Macho Man - later in season 6 episode 11
by the late Rod Gist who played Big Eddie - was bullying Jack in the jail cell.

Three's Company is timeless funny today than ever before.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by PaperClips

I agree - I watched some episodes the last week and it is just "cringe". They also run the same plot over and over but just tweak it a bit.

One line in particular, that has aged horrifically is from the Season 3 episode "The Bake Off". This is what Dean Travers says to Jack at the top of the episode:

- THIS IS THE ROSE BOWL
OF BAKING, JACK.

AND I NEED THE O.J.
SIMPSON OF CRUSTS.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

Here's another article that lists Three's Company as a show that has not held up well over time.

Three's Company you could argue, was actually a lot deeper than a show of its type would probably lead you to believe. People talk about Mr. Roper and Mr. Furley making crude gay jokes at Jack's expense. Well, the people making the gay jokes were at the end of the day, the ones who the joke was ultimately on. Furley could not get laid to save his soul and Roper could not even take care of his wife, so go figure.