Beech Tree News Network

Recently I stumbled upon a few classic series’ being aired on IFC.  IFC stands for Independent Film Channel.  Although these days it just goes by IFC because they show more than movies.  A few weeks ago, I ran across a tweet where a follower of mine was mentioning the show Who’s The Boss.  That was one I hadn’t heard about in years.  I asked him where he found that show.  He quickly replied, “it’s on IFC”.  Naturally, I went straight to the tv, looked through the guide and started recording stuff.  One of those is another classic and often forgotten show, Three’s Company.

Three’s Company was an ABC sitcom that ran for 8 seasons (March 15, 1977-September 18, 1984).  The show is based on the British sitcom called Man About The House.  In fact, the pilot episode of Three’s Company is called Man About The House. The show revolves around three single roommates: Janet Wood (played by Joyce DeWitt), Chrissy Snow(played by Suzanne Somers) and Jack Tripper(played by the late John Ritter). They all platonically lived together in a Santa Monica complex owned by Stanley Roper(played by the late Norman Fell) and Helen Roper(played by the late Audrey Lindley).  After Fell and Lindley left the series in 1979 for their own sitcom The Ropers, the late Don Knotts joined the cast as the roommates’ new landlord Ralph Furley.  Following Somers’ departure in 1980, Jenilee Harison joined the cast as Chrissy’s cousin Cindy Snow.  She was soon replaced by Pricilla Barnes, who played nurse Terri Alden. The popular series spawned two spin-offs, The Ropers and Three’s A Crowd.  

Let’s talk about the show’s famous pub.  Cheers had, well, Cheers.  How I Met Your Mother had MacLaren’s(which is based on a real place, McGee’s Pub).  Three’s Company had The Regal Beagle.  Later in the series, Jack, who was a chef, had his own restaurant called Jack’s Bistro.  

Famed Broadway writer Peter Stone tried to Americanize the British sitcom Man About The House.  He originally set the series in New York.  He envisioned the male roommate as a successful, yet underpaid, chef in a fancy French restaurant.  I’d say he succeeded.  

Along with IFC, you stream Three’s Company on Pluto TV.   Also, its theme song is among some of the catchiest in television history.  It ranked #98 in Rolling Stones’ 100 greatest tv theme songs of all time.  They called it “the Boogie Nights” of sitcom themes.  

If you’re so inclined, check out my podcast called Blendertainment at the links below:

https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5ZEI-wzQ

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172