“Double Trouble”

Everyone has a dirty little secret or secrets, don’t they?  And, no I am not speaking about anything X-rated here, in case you are wondering.  Instead, I am referring to the innocent things that we do that others might not know or guess about us, which can sometimes be a good thing.  We’ve all heard of those who clean their house in the nude, those who sing a cappella in the shower, those who hide candy for sole/soul indulgences later on, and the list goes on.  While I may be guilty of the latter two, I’ll leave you guessing on the first.

It just so happens for me that I am thoroughly addicted to the ’70’s/’80’s sitcom, Three’s Company.  I own all of the seasons’ DVD’s and have even subscribed to the channel which houses all of the oldie, but goodie comedies from those decades.  I remember watching the half-hour shows with my family back in the day, and once the series re-aired when I was in my late teens/early 20’s, I was hooked all over again. I think what I like most about the episodes is its most predictable plot of misunderstandings and the innocent portrayal of its characters, who are young and relatable.  In particular, I adore John Ritter’s role as Jack Tripper.  He’s sweet, funny, scheming (in a good way), and genuine.  In playing off of the girls’ characters, namely Chrissy and Janet, Jack is like the big brother you would want to have, while possessing the characteristics that one would likely look for in a loyal boyfriend/husband–the perfect mix!  His brilliant physical comedy set him apart from other actors at the time, and still does in my mind.  Add in Don Knotts, who played Mr. Furley, the threesome’s landlord for a while, and you’ve got a simple, entertaining show sans the drama, violence, and crudeness that many of today’s programs rely on for kicks.

When I learned that John Ritter passed away due to a pre-existing heart condition at the young age of 54, I was shocked and saddened.  The world had lost one of the good guys!  Though he went on after Three’s Company to do other shows and had acted previously, I will always think of him as the lovable Jack Tripper, whose memorable lines and actions still make me laugh to this day.  When all else fails on TV, as is often the case in finding something decent to watch, I turn to my favourite character who always leaves me with a smile.  Unfortunately, my poor husband, who cares not as much as I about the show, gets stuck watching the re-runs over and over again, so much so that he is now quoting lines without even realizing it.  (He! he!)  Thankfully, he goes along with it, and will sometimes even PVR the episodes for me, so that I can watch them later in the evening when I am looking to unwind after a long day.  Come to think of it, I guess I have lucked out in finding my own real-life Jack Tripper of sorts–thoughtful, funny and oh so lovable:-).

I have included the episode below for your viewing pleasure, should you so desire, because it was the first thing that I thought of when presented with today’s word prompt, ‘jangle’.  Partway through the show named, Double Trouble, Jack pretends to have a twin brother named Austin, so that he can date Mr. Furley’s niece.  Furley thinks that Jack is gay, and so in order not to blow his cover, he invents a Texan twin.  Excited to date the gorgeous blonde, he dons his cowboy hat and begins singing, “I got spurs that jingle, jangle, jingle”, as he heads down to Ralph Furley’s apartment to meet up with her.  It is a classic, along with all of the other eight seasons’ worth, and certainly one of my guilty pleasures to watch.  In them, the spirit of John Ritter lives on, which in turn brightens my own spirit.  Maybe not so much of a dirty little sercret after all…

Jangle

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