MovieChat Forums > Man About the House (1973) Discussion > Three's Company

Three's Company

posted 18 years ago by vampire_mike
15 replies | jump to latest

While some may disagree with me, I prefer Three's Company to this show. Don't get me wrong, this show was funny, but I still think 3C did it better. I know 3C is not the original, and this is one of the few exceptions to the rule "the original is better" in my opinion. Robin, Chrissy and Jo just don't seem to have the same flare as Jack, Janet and Chrissy/Cindy/Terri. The Roper's sarcasm towards each other seems more forced in MATH than in 3C where it seems almost natural. MATH's first episode and 3C's first episode follow almost exactly the same script (but not completely, I did notice some scenes in 3C's that were not in MATH's), but I still think 3C played it off better. This might have to do with me being American but I'm not sure. In any case, I am glad I got the oppurtunity to watch this britcom that inspired one of my favorite sitcoms.

[–] crisotto 18 years ago

Ah, mate, we wouldn't disagree with you... we'd just all laugh uproariously and call the collector van from the lunatic asylum to come and pick you up.

[–] ragreen259 17 years ago

I guess you get what you bring in. Neither show is that funny.

[–] Twilightnight 18 years ago

I think this has a lot to do with you being American to be honest (not that there's anything wrong with that!) The humour in MATH was very British, full of smut and innuendo, the fact that it lacked 'flair' was part of what made it so good. I've seen 3C and did like it but it was far tamer than MATH, unfortunately a lot of the smut and 'near the knuckle' humour was more or less removed, which sucked the life out of the show really. Possibly the fact that MATH was older and lacked the glamour of 3C would put Americans off too as you're used to glossy sitcoms. Can't agree re; the Ropers either, Brian and Yootha were exceptional and probably the best thing about the show - the US couple weren't even close to being as good. It was no surprise when they were given their own show (George and Mildred) which was #1 in the UK ratings throughout its run.

In summary, it probably is a cultural thing. In saying that, Frasier is probably my favourite sitcom of all time, but I always thought that had a very British (sarcastic, close-to-the-bone dialogue) feel to it.

[–] crisotto 17 years ago

The way I see it the English version had grown up humour, (within the bounds of ENglish television of the time of course) and this was completely removed by the US network due to the right wing religious morality lobby there. It was replaced with what you describe as "gloss" and what I would describe in somewhat more earthy terms.

Then, over the succeeding years US TV has discovered jokes centred around sex (starting with "Soap" probably) and now US TV has lots of sex... but the US hasn't backtracked and seen MATH for what it really was, which was funny. And sexy. At the same time, 3C has gained the gloss of nostalgia and the loyalty of original fans, due to the fact that it is now old.

[–] buckaroobanzai50 17 years ago

"... we'd just all laugh uproariously and call the collector van from the lunatic asylum to come and pick you up..."

Heh heh. That made me laugh.
I liked the US version too. But it was ruined after Suzanne Sommers left over money wrangles. The three actors had a similar chemistry as their UK counterparts, but whenever Sommers was absent from episodes, it lacked a certain sparkle. Gimme the UK version anytime...Although, I'm surprised the US version wasn't shown on TV again, after John Ritter's untimely death. Wouldn't mind seeing 'em again.

[–] trollomatic 12 years ago

<<<Then, over the succeeding years US TV has discovered jokes centred around sex (starting with "Soap" probably) and now US TV has lots of

actually, there were some earlier references to it on American tv.

In "The Beverly Hillbillies", talking about what Jethro wrote on a job application to work at the bank, Mr. Drysdale tells Jethro:

Jethro, where it says "sex", you're supposed to write "male", not "oh boy!"

We know what was on Jethro's mind now, don't we?

And on "Petticoat Junction", just watch "Uncle Joe's" reaction when Homer Bedloe mentions "sex".

Absolutely hilarious. Bedloe meant it in the way which means male or female.

"Uncle Joe" mistook it as him meaning the other meaning.

and bawled Homer Bedloe out.

especially with three young girls living at the hotel.

We now know what "Uncle Joe" thought Bedloe wanted to do with "Betty Jo, Bobby Jo, and Billie Jo".

[–] marktayloruk (2558) a year ago

Who didn't?

[–] laurence01 12 years ago

The humour in MATH was very British, full of smut and innuendo,

I find this a strange thing to say when you consider that a lot of the early episodes of TC are virtually copies of the MATH scripts.

Let Zygons Be Zygons.

[–] trollomatic 12 years ago

after Thee's Company became popular, during TC's original run on ABC, Man About the House was syndicated on independent tv stations here in the U.S. (commercial stations, not PBS), and comparing the two, I always liked Three's Company better. Even though I was aware and knew that MATH was the original.

Now I have the first two seasons of MATH on dvd and the first season of TC on dvd.

I still like Three's Company better. I think they did it better.

Another example of a remake being better than the original is the 1939 remake version of "The Wizard of Oz"

[–] johanson17 12 years ago

I am American and I identified with MATH more than 3C, but I lived in a part of the country more like England, than California.

[–] MinaMitchell 10 years ago

I like the British version better and I'm American, but only because American sitcoms get dragged on and on.

http://www.booksie.com/Origins_and_Tall_Tales

[–] johanson17 10 years ago

Good point - I think anyone who watched the American version of the Office would agree with you.

[–] libertarian45 8 years ago

I first saw MATH circa 75 on PBS and loved it. Saw 3C a few years later and thought it to be an extremely weak copy (like virtually all American attempts at capitalizing on Brit shows' success...three attempts to make a Fawlty Towers rip off? Really? Then you use that idiot John Laroquette for the lead?). I then saw the 2 Brit spin offs while living in Australia. All the Brit versions were superior to the US versions.

The fact that American viewers actually believe that John Ritter is funny and has some talent beggars the imagination.

[–] Mustang (5524) a month ago

John Ritter steals anything he is in. I remember 3's Company more than Robin's Nest. I liked both but 3's Company was a little better.

[–] Where (1582) 7 days ago

I only saw MATH a few times but it had more raw comedy. 3C was such a canned, studio sitcom but John Ritter’s star power talent bolstered it up. Somers too, but she left the show too soon.