Three's Company versus Laverne and Shirley - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 06-08-2003, 07:05 PM

I'm just curious to know whaT was it about Laverne and Shirley that put the show slightly over THree's Company in the Ratings from 76-79? I watched both shows and i'm having a hard time understanding why more people preferred L&S over Three's Company. Does anyone know?

Penny Lane · 06-08-2003, 07:11 PM

I choose L&S. Don't know why for sure. Maybe it's a "girl" thing?

*PinkLady* · 06-08-2003, 07:15 PM

Probably because everyone has different taste. That's all there is to it.

TVFactFan · 06-08-2003, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by *~PinkLady59~*
Probably because everyone has different taste. That's all there is to it.

I already know that, i'm looking for a reason WHY people preferred L&S over TC. Just saying because people have different taste doesn't say nothing.

Cashodeen · 06-08-2003, 07:51 PM

I call it a phenomenon. There is no logical explanation for it, because it makes NO SENSE! I wish I had something to offer. I've sat here the last 3 minutes trying to think of something good. I have nothing.

jayman75 · 06-08-2003, 08:08 PM

You can't compare apples to oranges. They are two different shows. Different locations. Different cast demographics. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. You always seem to post about these comparisons, but it's all about personal preference.

TVFactFan · 06-08-2003, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jayman75
You can't compare apples to oranges. They are two different shows. Different locations. Different cast demographics. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. You always seem to post about these comparisons, but it's all about personal preference.

Well what do u think was more entertaining about L&S?

Cashodeen · 06-08-2003, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jayman75

You can't compare apples to oranges. They are two different shows. Different locations. Different cast demographics. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. You always seem to post about these comparisons, but it's all about personal preference.

You're right about that. One show was good while the other one wasn't. Only kidding, only kidding.

Apples and Oranges? That's a fair comparison. It is just suprising that L@S had more viewers than TC.

jayman75 · 06-08-2003, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON

Well what do u think was more entertaining about L&S?

I never said that. Review my post. I said you can not compare the two shows, because they are too different.

TVFactFan · 06-08-2003, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jayman75

I never said that. Review my post. I said you can not compare the two shows, because they are too different.

Why are these two shows different?

Cashodeen · 06-09-2003, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jayman75

I never said that. Review my post. I said you can not compare the two shows, because they are too different.

Okay, Mr Eyeroll, this thread was asking people's thoughts about why L&S beat out TC in the ratings. Anything can be compared when it comes to ratings. L&S beat TC for a reason, and people have their thoughts as to why. Your explanation that the shows "cannot be compared" says nothing.

Say a store sells more apples than oranges during a certain week, and someone wants to know why. Saying "Because apples and oranges are different and cannot be compared," is not an answer to the question!

Apples could have been bought more just by chance, or maybe the town was holding an annual apple pie bake-off. Those are possible answers to the question. You know what I'm saying? Just like there are possible answers for L&S and TC.

Janice · 06-09-2003, 01:43 AM

Personally, I never cared for Laverne and Shirley. The characters just worked my last nerve. Lenny and Squiggy or whatever their names are....Laverne and Shirley with those nasely voices. The characters are poor, and the clothes and set design reflect that. Wasn't it set in cold Milwaukee or somewhere like that? It was depressing to me.

Three's Company, on the other hand, was always a winner with me, back then in its original airing and now. The characters were great looking with up-to-date clothes. Sunny California was a great location. Every character, including Chrissy's replacements, had charisma. Jack Tripper stole every scene he was in. The show was hilarious.

I'm no help here. I have no idea why L&S would beat TC in the ratings. I can't relate.
Did L&S have a better timeslot or something?

Sean Snow · 06-09-2003, 03:45 PM

I love both shows, though I prefer Three's Company out of the two.

One reason L&S may have had better ratings was it's time slot - between Happy Days at 8:00PM and Three's Company at 9:00PM on Tuesdays. While Three's Company had a good lead-in (Laverne & Shirley), the ratings for the shows after it, while good, were usually not in the top ten (these shows included Soap, Taxi, Too Close for Comfort, 9 to 5, and Oh, Madeline throughout it's run).

The timeslot definately helped them out. When Lavene & Shirley was moved from Tuesdays, it's ratings fell out of the top 30. After moving back to Tuesdays in 1980, it's ratings were not nearly as high as they used to be, which was probably due to something with the fact that Happy Days' ratings were also falling. Meanwhile, Three's Company remained in the top 10 until it's last season when it dropped out of the top 30.

TVFactFan · 06-09-2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
Personally, I never cared for Laverne and Shirley. The characters just worked my last nerve. Lenny and Squiggy or whatever their names are....Laverne and Shirley with those nasely voices. The characters are poor, and the clothes and set design reflect that. Wasn't it set in cold Milwaukee or somewhere like that? It was depressing to me.

Three's Company, on the other hand, was always a winner with me, back then in its original airing and now. The characters were great looking with up-to-date clothes. Sunny California was a great location. Every character, including Chrissy's replacements, had charisma. Jack Tripper stole every scene he was in. The show was hilarious.

I'm no help here. I have no idea why L&S would beat TC in the ratings. I can't relate.
Did L&S have a better timeslot or something?

Janice since you watched TC during it's original run, I have questions

When you first saw Cindy appear, how long did you think she would last?

When Chrissy did her phone scenes, did you think she would eventually return to TC?

Were you bothered when the Ropers left the show?

Janice · 06-09-2003, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SOLOMON
Janice since you watched TC during it's original run, I have questions

When you first saw Cindy appear, how long did you think she would last?

When Chrissy did her phone scenes, did you think she would eventually return to TC?

Were you bothered when the Ropers left the show?

I don't recall my thoughts on Cindy. While Chissy did her phone scenes, I think most people thought that Suzanne Somers and ABC would work out their differences. I was very surprised they fired her. It was big news back then.
I remember missing the Ropers but warmed up to Don Knotts right away.

06-08-2003, 07:05 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,152	Three's Company versus Laverne and Shirley I'm just curious to know whaT was it about Laverne and Shirley that put the show slightly over THree's Company in the Ratings from 76-79? I watched both shows and i'm having a hard time understanding why more people preferred L&S over Three's Company. Does anyone know?

06-08-2003, 07:11 PM	#2
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,423	I choose L&S. Don't know why for sure. Maybe it's a "girl" thing?
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

06-08-2003, 08:08 PM	#6
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	You can't compare apples to oranges. They are two different shows. Different locations. Different cast demographics. ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. You always seem to post about these comparisons, but it's all about personal preference.
	__________________ A fan of quality, classic television comedies and holiday specials... The Wonder Years,The Golden Girls,Burns and Allen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Are You Being Served?, Family Guy, South Park, Designing Women, Dallas, The Facts of Life, Roseanne, Will and Grace, The Twilight Zone, Original Scooby-Doo, Murphy Brown, The Big Bang Theory... Talk to me about one of these shows, and I'm all yours...

06-08-2003, 07:15 PM	#3
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	Probably because everyone has different taste. That's all there is to it.

06-08-2003, 07:51 PM	#5
Cashodeen Hi. Forum Star Join Date: Aug 30, 2001 Posts: 11,363	I call it a phenomenon. There is no logical explanation for it, because it makes NO SENSE! I wish I had something to offer. I've sat here the last 3 minutes trying to think of something good. I have nothing.

06-09-2003, 01:43 AM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Personally, I never cared for Laverne and Shirley. The characters just worked my last nerve. Lenny and Squiggy or whatever their names are....Laverne and Shirley with those nasely voices. The characters are poor, and the clothes and set design reflect that. Wasn't it set in cold Milwaukee or somewhere like that? It was depressing to me. Three's Company, on the other hand, was always a winner with me, back then in its original airing and now. The characters were great looking with up-to-date clothes. Sunny California was a great location. Every character, including Chrissy's replacements, had charisma. Jack Tripper stole every scene he was in. The show was hilarious. I'm no help here. I have no idea why L&S would beat TC in the ratings. I can't relate. Did L&S have a better timeslot or something?

06-09-2003, 03:45 PM	#13
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	I love both shows, though I prefer Three's Company out of the two. One reason L&S may have had better ratings was it's time slot - between Happy Days at 8:00PM and Three's Company at 9:00PM on Tuesdays. While Three's Company had a good lead-in (Laverne & Shirley), the ratings for the shows after it, while good, were usually not in the top ten (these shows included Soap, Taxi, Too Close for Comfort, 9 to 5, and Oh, Madeline throughout it's run). The timeslot definately helped them out. When Lavene & Shirley was moved from Tuesdays, it's ratings fell out of the top 30. After moving back to Tuesdays in 1980, it's ratings were not nearly as high as they used to be, which was probably due to something with the fact that Happy Days' ratings were also falling. Meanwhile, Three's Company remained in the top 10 until it's last season when it dropped out of the top 30.