Some sitcoms make you smile; Three’s Company makes you brace yourself, because you can sense a misunderstanding sprinting toward the living room like it’s late for rent. If you’re introducing someone to the show—or you just want a greatest-hits rewatch that feels like slipping into a familiar, very chaotic sweater—these episodes capture the series at its most delightfully tangled.
“A Man About the House”
Right out of the gate, the show establishes its signature formula: a simple situation, one desperate explanation, and a landlord who hears exactly the wrong thing. Jack’s move-in hinges on convincing Mr. Roper that the living arrangement is harmless, which leads to a cover story that sets the tone for years of glorious confusion.
“The Bake Off”
Few episodes sum up the series’ energy better than a dessert emergency that escalates into full-bodied farce. Jack’s carefully prepared chocolate mousse pie becomes the victim of Chrissy’s appetite, and the attempted substitution turns into a frantic, public unraveling once a judge might recognize the ringer. It’s culinary sabotage, but with nicer hair.
“The New Landlord”
Change can be scary, yet Don Knotts’ arrival as Ralph Furley feels like the show getting a much-needed addition. A harmless mix-up over furniture sold during a “junk sale” sends Furley into eviction mode, and the gang scrambles to charm him back from the ledge—it’s the kind of episode that we remember decades later.
“A Camping We Will Go”
Take the roommates out of the apartment, and you don’t get peace! No, no, you get chaos with pine trees. Larry’s little boast about Jack being a “famous” producer/director snowballs into a crowded getaway where everyone shows up, beds become rare currency, and the trip turns into a comedic adventure rather than a relaxing retreat.
“Opening Night”
When Jack’s dream of running a restaurant finally takes center stage, the pressure rises. As you can imagine, comedy follows. “Jack’s Bistro” is ready, the gang’s assembled, and then the tiny detail of the wrong date on the flyers leaves the place painfully empty—until Larry’s relatives offer a last-minute rescue that feels perfectly on-brand.
