What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThree's Company
Johnnie Mortimer · Series · 1977
If you loved Three's Company, start with 3 Women (Robert Altman, 1977) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Three's Company across media.
You loved Three's Company because you enjoy the chaotic energy that arises when awkward social deceptions collide with unconventional living arrangements.
Books on the same thread
Three Men in a Boat
Jerome Klapka Jerome · Book · 2010
Explores: Friendship, Leisure, British Culture.
If you enjoyed the bumbling camaraderie of Three's Company, you will appreciate how these friends navigate their own series of ridiculous mishaps while traveling together on the river.
Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare, Maitman, Ian Waldron · Book · 1990
Shares 2 threads with Three's Company: Mistaken Identity, Deception.
Much like the elaborate ruses found in Three's Company, this play centers on the comedic fallout of mistaken identity and the social complications born from gender-based deception.
Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy
Harvey Fierstein · Book · 1979
Explores: Coming of Age, Self-Acceptance, Mother-Son Relationships.
Fans of Three's Company who appreciate character-driven stories about unconventional domestic life will find a more poignant exploration of identity and family dynamics within these theatrical acts.
A Confederacy of Dunces
John Kennedy Toole · Book · 1980
Explores: eccentric protagonist, social misfit, anachronistic worldview.
The farcical domestic tension seen in Three's Company is mirrored here, as an eccentric protagonist navigates a dysfunctional household through an increasingly absurd and stubborn worldview.
Films on the same thread
3 Women
Robert Altman · Film · 1977
Explores: Identity Crisis, Female Identity, Reality vs. Illusion.
While Three's Company uses roommates for laughs, this film explores the strange, shifting power dynamics between two women sharing a space in a much more psychological, experimental fashion.
The Apartment
Film · 1960
Explores: Corporate Ambition, Moral Compromise, Loneliness.
The reliance on apartment-based schemes to manage complex social lives makes this film a perfect companion for anyone who enjoyed the apartment antics of Three's Company.
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Blake Edwards · Film · 1961
Explores: Escapism, Identity Crisis, The Price of Freedom.
Those who loved the bohemian apartment lifestyle depicted in Three's Company will recognize the same spirit of romantic complication and urban escapism found in this classic film.
Some Like It Hot
Film · 1959
Shares 3 threads with Three's Company: Mistaken identity, Slapstick, Farce.
This film is essential for Three's Company fans, as it features the exact same brand of slapstick farce driven by the necessity of maintaining a false gender identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Stugotz and Company
iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: absurdism, unfiltered opinion, camaraderie.
If you valued the irreverent camaraderie of the Three's Company trio, you will appreciate this podcast for its reliance on absurd, unfiltered banter and spontaneous, conversational humor.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
Fans of the playful, character-focused interactions in Three's Company will enjoy the way this show uses self-deprecating humor to explore the boundaries of professional and personal friendship.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Why does Jack have to pretend to be gay in Three's Company?
In Three's Company, Jack must pretend to be gay to appease the conservative landlady. This deception allows the roommates to justify having a man living in the Santa Monica apartment with two single women while avoiding the landlady's strict rules regarding their living arrangements.
How do Janet and Chrissy meet Jack in Three's Company?
Janet and Chrissy meet Jack in Three's Company when they find him passed out in their bathtub. This occurs following the going-away party for their previous roommate, leading them to offer him the vacant room to help cover their rent in the Santa Monica apartment.
Is Three's Company set in a specific city?
Yes, Three's Company is set in Santa Monica. The plot revolves around two roommates, Janet and Chrissy, who need to find a new person to share their apartment in that city, eventually leading them to invite Jack to live with them after a party.
What is the premise of Three's Company?
Three's Company follows two single women, Janet and Chrissy, who invite a man named Jack to be their roommate. Because their conservative landlady disapproves of men living with women, Jack is forced to pretend he is gay to maintain their housing arrangement and avoid eviction.