DVD
Review | Three's Company (Season 2)
Written by: Kage
Alan
It’s amazing how many sitcoms today will make a
reference to “Three’s Company.” One of my favorite “Friends” quotes
involves some of the characters watching an episode and trying to
figure out which one it is. Something gets said about there being a
misunderstanding between Jack, the girls and someone else and there
being a bit of trouble…which oddly enough sums up most, if not all, of
the episodes of the show. Even so, while the writing on “Three’s
Company” might not always have depth, it certainly allows for its cast
to shine. These DVDs also allow a new generation of viewers the
opportunity to watch actor John Ritter in his first long-term starring
role.
After having successfully convinced landlords
Stanley (Norman Fell) and Helen (Audra Lindley) Roper that he’s no
threat (mostly because they think he’s gay), Jack Tripper (Ritter) has
settled in with roommates Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow
(Suzanne Somers). They’re all struggling in their professional lives to
make ends meet back home, their personal lives to meet that perfect
someone (imagine what would happen if we could send the cast of
“Friends” back in time to meet the cast of “Three’s Company”!) and
keeping an careful eye on each other to ensure that nobody falls.
Season 2 finds a great deal of heart between the
characters. Not only do Jack and Janet help Chrissy realize that the
man she’s dating is married, but Jack refuses to let his Uncle get away
with passing a fake check on to Mr. Roper while the girls assist Mrs.
Roper into making her husband understand just how much she contributes
to the relationship even though she doesn’t work. Helping move the
stories along is the ever-sexual banter between the Mr. and Mrs., which
sounds harmless enough for younger viewers, but adults easily understand
and find quite amusing. As for the rest of the shows, just sit back and
enjoy them! It’s difficult to pick out an absolute favorite.
Anchor Bay has released “Three’s Company (Season
2)” in its original Full Screen ratio. I don’t ever expect to see a
Widescreen transfer until Ben Stiller remakes it into a movie…something
I hope never happens after seeing what he did to “Starsky & Hutch.”
Video quality is grainy at times, but definitely has the vintage feel
one is looking for when watching a series from the late 1970s. It
works. Audio quality is also vintage and without complaints.
Where this season really excels is in the area of
extras. First up is “John Ritter: Always Leave Them Laughing” (10 min),
hosted by Joyce DeWitt, an Introduction and “Blooper Reel” (12 min),
“Commentary” on the episode “Days of Beer and Weeds” with Chris Mann
(author of “Come And Knock On Our Door”), “Eight Years of Laughter” (22
min), “Best of Janet: Season 2” (6 min), “Best of Chrissy: Season 2” (6
min), “Best of the Ropers: Season 2” (6 min), a Trivia Game, Still
Gallery, Memorabilia Gallery and some Talent Bios. While the
featurettes are wonderful, the commentary is lacking. While Mann
relates some wonderful background information, his relating what it is
we’re watching on the screen gets very tiresome. I’m sure he’ll improve
if he’s asked to do another since recording a commentary is probably a
bit nerve-wracking. The best extra by far, though, is the Blooper reel
due to its behind-the-scenes footage.
I have to admit after watching Season 2 that I’m
extremely curious about the inner workings of the show and what the
actors thought of it during and after its heyday. Mann’s book might
just be on my future purchase list because of this. There are a handful
of easily identifiable shows from the 1970/1980s and “Three’s Company”
is definitely one of them. While it might not seem so to other
countries, it’s a piece of television history for us.
Film Rating:
B+
DVD Special Features: A-
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