Janet intends to entertain a prospective client for the flower shop, back at the apartment. She's expecting him to be older, and a fairly boring type, so she's caught off guard when he turns out to be young and good-looking. Then she's hurt when the guy (John Fink, "The Carey Treatment") goes gaga for the vivacious Chrissy, whom Janet *did* ask to be nice to him. They run off to a beach barbecue, while Janet stews at home. Later, Jack attempts to get the girls to patch things up.
A subplot has Helen asking to sleep in the kids' apartment, since the Ropers' place is being painted, and Helen can't tolerate the smell of the paint. She's ever-mindful of the fact that Stanley is NOT the romantic he once was (she opens the episode by reading some of his old love letters). One of the best lines in 'The Rivals' occurs when she says to him, "Make a game of it. See if you notice I'm not there." (Meaning not in their bed.)
There are some very big laughs here, especially involving John Ritter. The viewer will be amused at the amount of times Jack gets a door slammed in his face. Still, 'The Rivals' is good the way that it shows how much he values the girls' friendship, the way that he works at getting them to speak to each other again. Then, of course, there's a classic 'Three's Company' misunderstanding when Helen walks in on Jack & Janet in the girls' bedroom, and makes an understandable assumption.
Best of all is the hilarious coda when the kids finally think that they're going to get some sleep...but they're denied.
Seven out of 10.
A subplot has Helen asking to sleep in the kids' apartment, since the Ropers' place is being painted, and Helen can't tolerate the smell of the paint. She's ever-mindful of the fact that Stanley is NOT the romantic he once was (she opens the episode by reading some of his old love letters). One of the best lines in 'The Rivals' occurs when she says to him, "Make a game of it. See if you notice I'm not there." (Meaning not in their bed.)
There are some very big laughs here, especially involving John Ritter. The viewer will be amused at the amount of times Jack gets a door slammed in his face. Still, 'The Rivals' is good the way that it shows how much he values the girls' friendship, the way that he works at getting them to speak to each other again. Then, of course, there's a classic 'Three's Company' misunderstanding when Helen walks in on Jack & Janet in the girls' bedroom, and makes an understandable assumption.
Best of all is the hilarious coda when the kids finally think that they're going to get some sleep...but they're denied.
Seven out of 10.
