The character of Janet was assassinated for me…. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CJMD03 · 03-08-2026, 09:29 PM

……after the episode where her sister, Jenny, visits. Janet was nasty and rude and I never liked her character really after that. She was actually psychotic to Jack. I know it’s a sitcom, but she was just beyond bizarre in that episode….

BestTVever · 03-09-2026, 06:52 AM

It was an ongoing theme on the show where Janet, Larry, or The Ropers would set Jack up with a date and then fret about it thinking Jack is taking advantage of them. Larry even punches Jack thinking he did something with his sister.

I hate A Night Not To Remember when Jack is out of character and is drunk and so mean to Janet.

rcbrad · 03-09-2026, 11:17 AM

Joyce Dewitt did a great job portraying Janet. I remember this episode, but I did not have that reaction. I will rewatch it sometime. The one episode that I did not care for that centered around Janet was the episode Janet Wigs out. It was played too over the top and was not believable. The story line was generally fine, but it was too exaggerated. When certain sitcom episodes become not true to character, become forced or too exaggerated in either story or characterization, the comedy falls flat.

CJMD03 · 03-10-2026, 01:24 AM

The actress loathed “JWO,” too. Once again, I know it’s a sitcom, but if I were Jack, I would have told Janet to “F” off and not speak to her again.

BestTVever · 03-10-2026, 12:16 PM

Ok, which was worse? Janet Wigs Out or Hair Today Gone Tomorrow?

Each script reduced one of the girls to a stupid superficial woman which was so out of character for them.

Dianne3 · 03-10-2026, 04:59 PM

I also did not like Janet in the episode where Jenny visits, but the difference here compared to the other episodes that I don't care for Janet is this was an earlier episode.
Since this was an earlier episode, it could be Janet genuinely did think Jack took advantage of her sister.

It's the later episodes where one character thinks the worst of another character I hate is because by that time you would expect them not to jump to conclusions.

Janet Wigs out was a stupid episode (and Cindy's last)

For me, Janet was the most psycho in the final season in the episode when she thinks Jack is dating a hooker. She was so nasty to Mr. Furley.

CJMD03 · 03-10-2026, 08:11 PM

Janet was a very abusive character.

BestTVever · 03-11-2026, 07:49 AM

Janet became really annoying in the later seasons. I also did not like the episode where she fixes Jack up with her friend Agnes and expects Jack to cancel plans and wine and dine her. Then Janet and Terri go to the Bistro and spy on Jack on the date.

She was annoying in Jack's tattoo too.

But I hate when the girls would flirt and kiss Jack but if he dared respond they would attack him. In She loves me, loves me not Jack thinks one of the girls has a crush on him. Both of them kiss him and tell him how much they want to spend the weekend with him.
Janet was also annoying when Jack wrecks her car and is in the hospital.

Lastly they were all so annoying in The Brunch being characters they are not trying to convince the Bistro is something that is not. Just a lame script.

CJMD03 · 03-16-2026, 05:25 PM

Janet was also physically abusive to Jack. She seemed to get really mean in the end.

03-08-2026, 09:29 PM	#1
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 412	The character of Janet was assassinated for me…. ……after the episode where her sister, Jenny, visits. Janet was nasty and rude and I never liked her character really after that. She was actually psychotic to Jack. I know it’s a sitcom, but she was just beyond bizarre in that episode….

03-09-2026, 06:52 AM	#2
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	It was an ongoing theme on the show where Janet, Larry, or The Ropers would set Jack up with a date and then fret about it thinking Jack is taking advantage of them. Larry even punches Jack thinking he did something with his sister. I hate A Night Not To Remember when Jack is out of character and is drunk and so mean to Janet.

03-09-2026, 11:17 AM	#3
rcbrad Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Posts: 479	Joyce Dewitt did a great job portraying Janet. I remember this episode, but I did not have that reaction. I will rewatch it sometime. The one episode that I did not care for that centered around Janet was the episode Janet Wigs out. It was played too over the top and was not believable. The story line was generally fine, but it was too exaggerated. When certain sitcom episodes become not true to character, become forced or too exaggerated in either story or characterization, the comedy falls flat.

03-10-2026, 01:24 AM	#4
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 412	The actress loathed “JWO,” too. Once again, I know it’s a sitcom, but if I were Jack, I would have told Janet to “F” off and not speak to her again.

03-10-2026, 12:16 PM	#5
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	Ok, which was worse? Janet Wigs Out or Hair Today Gone Tomorrow? Each script reduced one of the girls to a stupid superficial woman which was so out of character for them.

03-10-2026, 04:59 PM	#6
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,056	I also did not like Janet in the episode where Jenny visits, but the difference here compared to the other episodes that I don't care for Janet is this was an earlier episode. Since this was an earlier episode, it could be Janet genuinely did think Jack took advantage of her sister. It's the later episodes where one character thinks the worst of another character I hate is because by that time you would expect them not to jump to conclusions. Janet Wigs out was a stupid episode (and Cindy's last) For me, Janet was the most psycho in the final season in the episode when she thinks Jack is dating a hooker. She was so nasty to Mr. Furley.

03-10-2026, 08:11 PM	#7
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 412	Janet was a very abusive character.

03-11-2026, 07:49 AM	#8
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	Janet became really annoying in the later seasons. I also did not like the episode where she fixes Jack up with her friend Agnes and expects Jack to cancel plans and wine and dine her. Then Janet and Terri go to the Bistro and spy on Jack on the date. She was annoying in Jack's tattoo too. But I hate when the girls would flirt and kiss Jack but if he dared respond they would attack him. In She loves me, loves me not Jack thinks one of the girls has a crush on him. Both of them kiss him and tell him how much they want to spend the weekend with him. Janet was also annoying when Jack wrecks her car and is in the hospital. Lastly they were all so annoying in The Brunch being characters they are not trying to convince the Bistro is something that is not. Just a lame script.

03-16-2026, 05:25 PM	#9
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 412	Janet was also physically abusive to Jack. She seemed to get really mean in the end.