Customer Reviews

Three's Company: Season Four

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For me, this classic sitcom came into its own during its fourth year.

While many lamented the Ropers' departure, Don Knotts' Ralph Furley was more than adequate enough replacement for the two. In fact, after the Ropers left, it was as if the entire show had a face lift and had new blood pumped into it.

Joyce DeWitt looked her best this year, trading in big hair and frumpy clothes for a short sexy spiky 'do and body hugging designer jeans. Richard Kline finally became a full-fledge regular, and last but not least was Ann Wedgeworth's Lana Shields, who practically steals every scene she was in.

The antics and zaniness was turn up to the nth degree in season four, mainly due to Suzanne Somer's Chrissy, who had de-evolve from someone who was just naive to someone who was so dumb you wonder how on earth did she ever get through the day, much less hold a job. But in any case, her radical transformation of the character generated some of the biggest and most memorable laughs in the series's history.

Sadly, the series' success got into Ms. Somer's head, and this year turn out to be the last full year she was with the show. One can only imagine how much more side splitting guffaws we would have if she had stay on with the show.

In any case, if there is one year which totally define THree's Company, Season Four is IT.

Three's Company is my favorite show, no doubt, but for me it really kicked into high gear when Mr. Furley moved in as the new landlord. I thought his brand of physical comedy was better suited to the show than the Ropers' (who were also great, in their own way) one-liners. The production values also seemed to improve. This is a great collection and the cast really seemed to gel this season. The two episodes with Dr. Prescott are among the best in the show's history. I wonder why he wasn't written into more episodes. And you can't help but laugh when Jack and Chrissy get handcuffed together. The extras are really nice; great to see the original cast interviewed after all these years - but no Suzanne Somers? Jeez, bury the hatchet already!

In my opinion, the show only got better when Mr. Furley (Don Knotts) joined the cast in the fourth season. His enthusiasm and humor is second to none, and these episodes are so funny!! If you haven't ever watched Three's Company before, you're in for a timeless treat! Make to sure to buy this season to ensure that Anchor Bay will release all 8 seasons of the show, and hopefully the spin-offs (The Ropers and Three's A Crowd) as well!

John Ritter is the only celebrity that I have cried for when he passed. After growing up watching Three's Company it felt like he was an old friend. Watching Threes Company is fun and if you loved it then, you'll still love it now. It never stops being funny no matter how many times you watch it. He was just the most classic "Funny guy" and will always be the best in my heart. This Season is full of funny episodes, and it introduces Don Knotts as the new landlord. There are also great insights in the commentary, and in the interviews with the cast.
I do wish they would have interviewed Suzanne Somers, but I understand why they did not. I recommend ALL the seasons of Threes Company. If you are a true blue fan, they do not dissapoint.

So funny!! I was also glad that there were a lot of extras- sure is great to see Don Knotts after so many years!! Three's Company was, put simply, a well executed farce. Simple, no-nonsense comedy, hilarious situations, comedic misunderstandings. This show is a classic. We'll miss John Ritter, but at least we have Three's Company on DVD! P.S. You can already buy season five scheduled for release in October- buy 'em to make sure they release all the seasons!

Season 4 marks the debut of Don Knotts as "The New Landlord" Ralph Furley. Knotts replaces Norman Fell and Audra Lindley who spun off "The Ropers." Also, Ann Wedgeworth joins the cast as Lana Shields, the sexy divorcee. Although Mr. Furley tries to get Lana several times, she only has eyes for Jack Tripper. Sadly, however, Lana would have the shortest run of any character on the show, lasting for only this season. "A Black Letter Day" is the last episode which she appears in, and no storyline or reason is ever given which explains her departure. Also this season, Richard Kline is added to the opening credits as a regular cast member. One of the funniest scenes this season is the hammock scene in the episode "A Camping We Will Go." At the end of this season, Jack graduates cooking school, however it almost doesn't happen because of a dishonest student switching his dish with Jack's. This is Suzanne Somers' last full season on the show. A victim of her own greed, she will soon be gone.

Season 4, to me, is the final year of the show as we know it. Losing the Ropers for their own series was enough of a risk on its own (TV just wasn't ready for the spiritual precursor of Al and Peg Bundy, without the Children and then the lousy network execs wouldn't fulfil their PROMISE by re-incorporating them by the time season 6 came around, but that's another story), but on the plus side they seemed to have an inkling for the perfect replacement. And in perfect casting they chose the inestimable Don Knotts (YES!). I've always loved the goofiness of Mr. Furley and who better than Don Knotts to play him out?

I am disappointed to hear that this set will be blooperless, but instead continue with more of the rather pointless "best of" montages, which seem to be little more than a waste of space. The remaining extras, mostly interviews, do sound like they'll be good - as they've been good in the past. I especially am looking forward to the bits "Casting Suzanne Sommers" and "Casting Don Knotts" (Also a pity they've ran out of pilots to lump in, but that's okay!)

As usual, there's the obligatory episode that has commentary from Chris Mann. While his book is exceptionally well done, his commentaries aren't quite as exciting and don't tell us much of anything new. I'd much rather have an actual cast member do this, but the interviews more than make up for this. Indeed, it's a bit of a surprise to include an interview from Ritter's first wife, Nancy. That, I suspect, is going to be worth watching.

And I feel sorry for the ill-fated Ann Wedgeworth. Not well used and then discarded, I liked the potential she had. Especially when fighting off Furley's advances, which was a good way to replace the sparring between Stanley and Helen Roper.

Episodes to really look out for are: "Love the Neighbor", "The New Landlord" (the first one actually filmed yet third aired), "Snow Job", "Old Folks at Home", "A Camping We Will Go", "Chrissy's Hospitality", "The Love Barge", "The Reverend Steps Out", "The Love Lesson", "Handcuffed" (this one's great), "The Root of All Evil", "Secret Admirer", "The Goodbye Guy", and "Jack's Graduation".

DVD quality will likely be as good as season 3's; with the usual plusses and minuses.

I'm also looking forward to season 5. Which is the show's turning point, but that's another story...

Even after all these years, Three's Company is still a show I can laugh at. Has some classic episodes including the first one where Ralph Furley (played by Don Knotts) is introduced, the episode where the kids take in a kind old man, the camping episode, the episode where Chrissy bumps her head in the tub and ends up in the hospital, the episode where the kids win a lot of money and it begins to ruin their relationship, and the last one is Jack's graduation from cooking school.

There are many other episodes in this season that are worth the watch as well.

There are some really great extras included here as well. There is an audio commentary for the hospital episode, an interview with John Ritter's first wife, Nancy. Interviews with Don Knotts, Richard Kline, and Ann Wedgeworth, and informational interviews with some crew members on the casting of Don Knotts and Suzanne Somers.

This is a really great set and I highly recommend it.

If you grow up in the times when this show was on TV, those were the times! The clothes, music, attitude, jokes & plots are all wonderfully expressed in this show! Its hilarious watching Jack (John Ritter), get into all kinds of trouble and usually needs cast members like Chrissy (Suzanne Sommers) & Janet (Joyce DeWitt) to bail him out, and who could forget the funny landlord Ralph (Don Knott) who always tries to impress the ladies but is usually out of date on clothes and hip phrases!
This is an awesome show and a great chance to see John Ritter at his best, and how he started in the acting business!

Disc 1
Jack on the Lam (Original broadcast date: 09/11/79)
Love Thy Neighbor - (09/18/79)
The New Landlord - (09/25/79)
Snow Job - (10/02/79)
Jack the Ripper - (10/09/79)
The Life Saver - (10/23/79)
Old Folks at Home - (10/30/79)

Disc 2
A Camping We Will Go - (11/06/79)
Chrissy's Hospitality - (11/13/79)
The Loan Shark - (11/20/79)
The Love Barge - (11/27/79)
Ralph's Rival - (12/04/79)
A Black Letter Day - (12/11/79)
The Reverend Steps Out - (12/18/79)

Disc 3
Larry Loves Janet - (01/08/80)
Mighty Mouth - (01/15/80)
The Love Lesson - (01/22/80)
Handcuffed - (01/29/80)
And Baby Makes Two - (02/05/80)
Jack's Bad Boy - (02/12/80)
Lee Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - (02/26/80)

Disc 4
The Root of All Evil - (03/04/80)
Secret Admirer - (03/11/80)
The Goodbye Guy - (03/25/80)
Jack's Graduation - (05/06/80)

I think that the show only got better when Don Knotts joined the cast in the fourth season. His enthusiasm and humor is second to none, and these episodes are so funny!! If you haven't ever watched Three's Company before, you're in for a timeless treat! Make to sure to buy this season to ensure that Anchor Bay will release all 8 seasons of the show, and hopefully the spin-offs