So far I've made it through season 1 and the first 6 episodes of Season 2.

[JSP]

I'm really enjoying this show. Some of the humor on it seems very risqué even for today's standards.

Three's Company was controversial at the time because it was too sexy and these days it would be controversial because it would be considered too sexist.

But I don't think its popularity at the time was a sign of America's moral decay like critics were saying. Its popularity was because the audience knew quality laugh-out-loud comedy was at work.

People that don't appreciate this show really must have not paid much attention to it. At least early on in what I've seen so far it's brilliant. John Ritter really went off on his own with the comedy sometimes....I think he might have improvised some of his comedic moments. In some sense he was like Robin Williams, only not as rapid fire in his delivery. He's really anchoring this show though.

I still don't know how physical comedians can do pratfalls and not hurt themselves. John's falls seriously looked real and dangerous.

[JackJanetChrissy]

I think this show was at its best seasons 1-3. I wish they hadn't dumbed down Chrissy so much in season 4, because the chemistry the trio achieved before that was just about perfect. Chrissy was sweet and innocent but not a total airhead, and the airheadedness made her less likeable, I think. Innocent doesn't necessarily mean dumb.

I find it interesting you say it's too sexist for today's TV. I sort of agree. But look who was writing it. The actors made the characters very likeable despite some of the writing content.

I agree about the pratfalling! I always wondered if they put a mattress behind the couch or on the bathroom floor because Jack always was falling behind the sofa or into the bathroom. And Joyce gets caught up in his moves, too. She's always being flung through a door or strongarmed here and there. I was impressed at how effortless she made that look.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

I find it interesting you say it's too sexist for today's TV. I sort of agree. But look who was writing it. The actors made the characters very likeable despite some of the writing content.

A lot of it has to do with Jack talking about how certain things are a man's job around the house and then the woman always end up doing them better.....Another thing that wouldn't be so popular these days is the notion that the women need a man around for their protection. That wasn't controversial at the time but it would be considered so today.

A co-worker of mine that I told I was watching the show believed the show to be sexist.

I don't think the sexism on the show was too severe but I think there are a lot of people out there that think anytime a woman is shown to have a nice body and attention is drawn to it then that's sexism.

A lot of people out there, male or female, are simply just fed up with THAT notion.

[JackJanetChrissy]

Originally Posted by JSP

A lot of it has to do with Jack talking about how certain things are a man's job around the house and then the woman always end up doing them better.....Another thing that wouldn't be so popular these days is the notion that the women need a man around for their protection. That wasn't controversial at the time but it would be considered so today.

I agree. A lot of times this trope was inverted to make Jack (the man) look foolish, which happens on pretty much every sitcom today. The man of the house is really not the boss, usually the wife or daughters are the ones who run the show. That happened a lot on TC, like where Jack wouldn't stand to a bully or the time he was trying to teach Chrissy karate and Janet threw him over the couch.

And I don't know if it was the sexiness alone (I'm assuming we're talking Chrissy) that is sexist. I think it was the fact that Chrissy was the ultimate "feminine" female---beautiful, soft, naive, innocent, and vulnerable. Sort of the helpless woman-child thing. Sex is everywhere today and pretty much every woman on TV is gorgeous, but today's woman generally owns it and is world weary. It's funny, because in this day and age a character like early Chrissy is kind of refreshing. You don't see that kind of innocence and sincerity in anyone today. Everyone now is too cynical, savvy and a debbie downer, lol, and if they display any kind of vulnerability we immediately dismiss, pity, or laugh at them.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

I agree. A lot of times this trope was inverted to make Jack (the man) look foolish, which happens on pretty much every sitcom today. The man of the house is really not the boss, usually the wife or daughters are the ones who run the show. That happened a lot on TC, like where Jack wouldn't stand to a bully or the time he was trying to teach Chrissy karate and Janet threw him over the couch.

And I don't know if it was the sexiness alone (I'm assuming we're talking Chrissy) that is sexist. I think it was the fact that Chrissy was the ultimate "feminine" female---beautiful, soft, naive, innocent, and vulnerable. Sort of the helpless woman-child thing. Sex is everywhere today and pretty much every woman on TV is gorgeous, but today's woman generally owns it and is world weary. It's funny, because in this day and age a character like early Chrissy is kind of refreshing. You don't see that kind of innocence and sincerity in anyone today. Everyone now is too cynical, savvy and a debbie downer, lol, and if they display any kind of vulnerability we immediately dismiss, pity, or laugh at them.

Early Chrissy was the best. She was sexy without trying to be. She wasn't stupid. She was just naaive. I hated what they did to her character and Suzanne even takes great pride in developing her laugh which I hated. I think the show lasted as long as it did because by replacing Suzanne ( and to a lesser extent ) the Ropers it kept the show fresh. If they hadn't changed Chrissy, maybe it wouldn't have been necessary . By the time Suzanne left it was like Jack and Janet were the parents and Chrissy was the child.