It's been just over three years since the death of John Ritter, the charismatic actor/comedian who fell victim to a heart ailment just a few days shy of his 55th birthday. Although he appeared in films as varied as Sling Blade and Problem Child, Ritter was best known for his starring role in Three's Company, the popular sitcom from the late 70s-early 80s. Running for a total of eight seasons (from 1977-84, to be exact) with a total of 172 episodes, Three's Company also spawned The Ropers (1979-80) and Three's A Crowd (1984-85), two short-lived spin-offs met with only a fraction of the original's popularity. After all, you can't go home again.

There's a reason Three's Company was so successful: it was a good show, made funnier with terrific performances by John Ritter and the rest of the cast...but it was certainly more than the sum of its parts. Though it was never really a staple of mine growing up (even in syndication), it's a fun, light-hearted diversion that seems to have held up surprisingly well in the last 25-odd years. Three's Company's reliance on sticky situations was hardly anything new (especially by sitcom standards), but the risqué double entrendres really pushed the envelope back then---and who knows, it might even raise a few eyebrows in today's world of PC television. Either way, Three's Company really clicked with audiences and has maintained a strong following over the last few decades. It may not be in the same league as I Love Lucy or The Honeymooners (or is it?), but it's a fine example of a sitcom that proved to have real staying power.

This eighth season, which aired from 1983-84, marks the final leg of the series' successful tenure. Though Three's Company sank dramatically in the overall ratings (hitting its overall peak during the 1978-79 season), it still remained among the top 50 most-watched shows during the last year. Luckily, the actual quality of the series didn't seem to suffer...aside from the familiarity of everything, of course. Though many different characters and locations were written out and introduced over the years, Season 8 provides a similar backdrop to the previous season: Jack, Janet, Terri, Larry and Mr. Furley are back in the spotlight, Jack still owns his restaurant, our three leads live in the same apartment, and so on. Along the way, we get to see cross-dressing, people trapped in freezers, a troublesome tattoo removal and much, much more. Yet there are plenty of major changes in the works before the curtain finally drops, especially during the double-length series finale, "Friends and Lovers" (which didn't originally air until September of 1984). Though other sitcoms have ended on higher notes, it's hard not to feel a sense of loss after so many consistent seasons.

Sharp-eyed viewers should be able to spot a gaggle of guest stars this time around, including Joanna Kerns (Growing Pains), Jeffrey Tambor (who not only guest-starred on previous seasons, but had a recurring role on The Ropers) Rita Wilson (Auto Focus), the late Lana Clarkson (Roger Corman's Barbarian Queen) and several others. Luckily, most of the stories revolve completely around the main characters; at this point, they've developed enough chemistry to play off each other extremely well. Three's Company usually stayed comfortably within the boundaries it set but remained fairly fresh, one of the primary reasons it survived for so long. Not many others sitcoms can claim to have replaced main characters and kept going strong, but Three's Company did so on several occasions.

As the series comes to a close, so does Anchor Bay's presentation of Three's Company on DVD. This four-disc collection preserves all 21 Season 8 episodes on the usual four discs, complete with a decent presentation…and a surprisingly lackluster assortment of extras, unfortunately. Even so, it's hard to complain when you're getting a complete season of a classic TV series for under $30. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

The menu styles for this season are consistent with those from the first seven, offering a retro atmosphere and smooth, simple navigation. While it's disappointing that these episodes still lack chapter stops (aside from the skippable opening sequence), this is a minor complaint for an otherwise excellent presentation. All menus and bonus features are presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio; the latter also include Closed Captioning support. The packaging is also roughly identical to past seasons, as this four-disc set is housed in a hinged digipak case with a partial slipcover. No episode summaries have been included, but we're treated to another season synopsis by production executive George Sunga.

The bonus material is much thinner than expected, but a few items of mild interest have been included on Disc 4. First up is a collection of Bloopers from Seasons 7 & 8 (19:57), featuring plenty of line flubs by Janet, Terri, Larry, Mr. Furley…and yes, even Jack fouls up a few times. Up next is a retrospective piece, "Working With A Master" (25:10), hosted by director Dave Powers and John's first wife, Nancy Morgan Ritter. It's disappointingly light on content---and while Powers and Ritter offer a few tidbits and memories, it's largely a clip-heavy affair that doesn't accomplish much. Also included is another dubbed clip, entitled "Usted Habla Three's Company?" (from Episode #4, "Out On A Limb", 2:01), featuring a Spanish voice actress representing Janet. Closing things out is another round of Best Of montages for the major characters, including Jack (12:18), Janet (11:39), Terri (9:42), Larry (10:54) and Mr. Furley (11:53).

Overall, there's not much to dig through here, but fans should enjoy a good portion of this bonus material. Sadly, the sporadic but entertaining episode commentaries featured on past volumes haven't returned. A sticker on the front cover also promises a 30-year reunion special, but it looks to have been scrapped at the last minute. Even so, we've been treated to a nice assortment of extras during the past few seasons, so it's tough to be disappointed on the whole.

Funny and entertaining all the way to the final frame, Three's Company makes a modest exit on DVD courtesy of Anchor Bay. The episodes themselves are on par with Seasons 6 and 7, for the most part; though a few dip below the usual quality line, it's hard to nitpick as the series races towards the closing moments. This four-disc set from Anchor Bay keeps the price low and the technical presentation high, but the disappointing bonus features bring this collection down a notch. Still, those who enjoy the exploits of Jack Tripper and company would be crazy not to pick this season up; even with a few nitpicks, it's a bargain for the price and comes easily Recommended. Now, if Anchor Bay would get to work on The Ropers and Three's A Crowd, even the most ardent fans could sleep peacefully.