Three's Company
An Anniversary Surprise
TV Flash files “An Anniversary Surprise” as hour 51 of 170 in the TV Flash guide — Three's Company (1977–1984) on ABC, season 3, episode 20, aired 1979-03-13, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E20: listed hour 51 of 170 in the Three's Company guide, hour 20 of 22 in season 3. It aired 1979-03-13 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “The Bake-Off” (S03E19). Next is “Jack Moves Out” (S03E21).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Roper plans to sell the apartment house as an anniversary surprise for Helen. This sets off the premise for the spinoff series "The Ropers".
Viewer FAQ
Where does An Anniversary Surprise sit in the Three's Company guide?
S03E20 is listed hour 51 of 170 — hour 20 of 22 in season 3, season 3 episode 20.
When did Three's Company S03E20 air?
An Anniversary Surprise aired 1979-03-13 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Do I need the British Man About the House first?
No. Three's Company Americanizes the roommate farce for ABC. The UK original is a cousin, not a prerequisite.
In the series
Why this series still plays
John Ritter's Jack Tripper pretends what the landlord needs to hear so he can room with Janet and Chrissy, then the slammed doors do the rest. British Man About the House farce Americanized into ABC innuendo. Olympic slapstick, dated wiring, jiggle-era multi-cam craft.
The first flash is a slammed door and a body in midair: John Ritter's Jack Tripper pretending what the landlord needs to hear so he can room with Janet and Chrissy. ABC's Three's Company (1977–1984) Americanized Britain's Man About the House into eight seasons, 170 episodes, of innuendo farce. Joyce DeWitt's Janet and Suzanne Somers's Chrissy set the early roommate math; later roommates cycled after cast changes. Norman Fell and Audra Lindley's Ropers policed the staircase, then Don Knotts's Mr. Furley took the…
Filed against
- John Ritter as Jack Tripper
John Ritter’s Jack Tripper pretended what the landlord needed to hear on Three’s Company — rooming with Janet and Chrissy, slammed doors, British Man About the House farce Americanized into ABC innuendo. Olympic slapstick, dated wiring,…
- Joyce DeWitt as Janet Wood
Joyce DeWitt’s Janet Wood was Three’s Company’s adult in the room — John Ritter pretending what the landlord needed to hear, slammed doors, British farce Americanized into ABC innuendo. Olympic slapstick, dated wiring, jiggle-era…
- Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow
Suzanne Somers bounced Three's Company as Chrissy Snow — jiggle-era multi-cam, slammed doors, British farce Americanized into ABC innuendo. John Ritter's Olympic slapstick, a landlord lie, dated wiring that still photographs as a brand.…
- Norman Fell as Stanley Roper
Norman Fell made Stanley Roper the landlord as sitcom weather on Three’s Company — a 1970s ABC farce where Jack Tripper pretends what the lease requires and slammed doors do the rest. Suspicion as a running gag, jiggle-era multi-cam…
- Audra Lindley as Helen Roper
Audra Lindley’s Helen Roper leased Three’s Company its innuendo — John Ritter’s Jack pretending what the landlord needs to hear, Janet and Chrissy, slammed doors, British farce Americanized into ABC jiggle-era multi-cam. Olympic…