Sitcom: Three’s Company
Episode: Three’s Christmas
Year: 1977
Story line: The trio is invited to two Christmas parties.
Details: This one is a classic. It has the original cast, including Suzanne Somers as Chrissy and Norman Fell as Mr. Roper. Crap TV doesn’t get any better than this. This also is the episode where we learn that Chrissy’s real name is Christmas, making her full name Christmas Snow. Hmm. Anyway, Jack, Janet and Chrissy get invited to the Ropers on Christmas Day, but they really want to go to a party at the Stevens. The usual misfires, miscommunications and double dealing ensue. Turns out the Ropers were in the same boat and wanted to go to the Stevens party, too. In the end, everyone gets to go and we carry a sloshed Mr. Roper home. A good time is had by all. Those wacky kids.
Killer quote: “You chopped off my sprig, Scrooge.” Jack to Janet after she rips off the sprig of mistletoe that he had hanging from his forehead and that he was using as an excuse to to molest her and Chrissy.
Killer quote II: “Just put him under the tree. I’l unwrap him in the morning.” Mrs. Roper to Jack, who is carrying a drunken Mr. Roper home from the Stevens’ party.
Ebenezer alert: The easy pick here is Mr. Roper. He’s a world-class bore and a prick. He and his wife end up coming home early from her sister’s on Christmas because Roper can’t get along with his brother-in-law (apparently, he did something heinous in the guy’s fish tank). And he’s always suspicious that Jack isn’t gay and shouldn’t be living in an apartment with two babes. To clinch it, he pulls out a trombone that is truly Ebenezer-fied.
Childhood memory: This show was truly titillating (heh heh I said titillating). The whole idea of a guy living with two women in 1977 was somewhat risque (damn, times have changed) and while this schtick got old after about 1.5 episodes, it still was somewhat groundbreaking, if for no other reason that to watch Suzanne Somers in her prime. I don’t recall this episode, but I did watch this pretty regularly during the first couple of seasons.