Three's Company/Fridge

Fridge Brilliance

• As a kid, I watched Three's Company in its original run and thought it was hilarious. In my late teens/early twenties, I thought it was an overblown, overwrought comedy and was ashamed I ever watched it. Now, when I see reruns in my thirties, I realize that all the actors involved were intentionally being Large Hams, and I think it's hilarious. -- Devils Advocate

Fridge Horror

• In the pilot, Janet and Chrissy's roommate Eleanor is leaving the apartment because she's getting married...and it's made clear (via Jack's dialogue) that she went into labor at her going-away party. When she returns sometime later in the episode "Eleanor's Return", it is revealed that she's getting a divorce and moving to a new city to start over. However, no mention is made of a child. Now, one could assume that the marriage didn't work out because it was one of necessity rather than love, but the fact that the baby that (presumably) caused the wedding in the first place isn't present or even discussed could only mean one of two things:

1. The ex-husband got custody of the child. Unlikely, given the time period. But if he did, that means that Eleanor must have had some fairly serious issues that prevented her from taking care of her child (and there are occasional mentions within the show supporting the idea of her being a bit "wild" during her time in the apartment). It is possible her parents are simply taking care of the child while she settles into her new life, but again this is never mentioned or explained either.

1. Eleanor had a miscarriage (possibly after leaving the party mentioned in the pilot) or the child passed on at some other later date, thus destroying the marriage. And her roommates are well aware of what happened to the baby, which is why the matter is never brought up and why they don't appear too surprised to hear about the divorce.
   
   Either way, heavy stuff for a light-hearted sitcom.

Fridge Logic

• So both Mr. Roper and Mr. Furley had an issue with a (straight) man "living in sin" with two women, but neither of him had any sort of issues with Larry's parade of women? What - pre-marital hanky panky is okay as long as you're not living together?.
  • Possible they just didn't realize it. It's much easier to hide it when the women leave and don't hang around the apartment. As long as he kept up with his rent and didn't make too much noise they never seemed to pay much attention to what Larry did.