Three's Company: Season 04 (1979)

TV's second most popular series, and its single most popular sitcom, Three's Company returned in 1979 for its fourth successful season. As before, the titular trio consists of aspiring chef Jack Tripper (John Ritter), florist Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt), and receptionist Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), who for economic, rather than carnal, reasons all share the same Santa Monica apartment. In past seasons, the very heterosexual Jack had to convince his landlord, Mr. Roper (Norman Fell), that he was gay so that Roper would not break his lease. In season four, Jack pulls the same snow job on new landlord Ralph Furley, played by Don Knotts. Also joining the regulars is Ann Wedgeworth in the hitherto recurring role of Jack's girlfriend Lana Shields -- though Wedgeworth would exit the series after ten episodes, allegedly because of friction on the set. As for another of the series' regulars, Richard Kline as photographer Larry Dallas, he is off the show more than on during season four, due to other professional commitments. The season's biggest news might have been Joyce DeWitt's new hairstyle had it not been for the well-publicized salary haggles between Suzanne Somers and the series' producers. The air became so thick by the end of the season that neither of Somers' co-stars were speaking to her, and the hostilities were reflected by the actress' diminishing appearances during season five. Ignoring these backstage intrigues, it can be said that the best of Three's Company's fourth-season episodes were well up to the series' standards. Highlight include, "Lee Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," in which John Getz appears for the first and only time as Jack Tripper's brother Lee; and the season finale, "Jack's Graduation" -- said graduation (from cooking school) almost not coming off due to the usual hilarious complications. ~ Rovi