SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 23 Min.
Televised by ABC on November 6, 1979, this Dave Powers-directed installment has a sleep-deprived Jack reluctantly taking up Larry’s offer for a quiet weekend in the woods. His main objectives are evading love-starved neighbor Lana and desperately catching up on some shut-eye. Larry, of course, has a sleazy ulterior motive – namely, he is wooing naïve actress Laura. Realizing that Larry’s hyped deluxe ‘chalet’ is an undersized dump of a cabin, Jack’s close quarters gets even closer when Janet, Chrissy, Lana, Laura, and Mr. Furley all show up. A wild series of misunderstandings and schemes impacting Jack’s exhaustion make for unforgettable fun in the great outdoors.
Notes: A syndicated version omits the last scene (which is available in the episode on the Season 2 DVD set). Back at their apartment, Jack, Chrissy, & Janet receive one last unpleasant souvenir from their disastrous camping trip. The predictable gag is an afterthought, so viewers aren’t missing much. Also, guest star Louise Williams’ likely best-known credit is voicing The Wonder Twins’ Jayna on the animated Super-Friends TV series.
Jack Tripper: John Ritter
Larry Dallas: Richard Kline
Janet Wood: Joyce DeWitt
Ralph Furley: Don Knotts
Chrissy Snow: Suzanne Somers
Lana Shields: Ann Wedgeworth
Laura: Louise Williams
REVIEW:
Overcoming the ultra-clichéd TV camping trip-gone-awry premise, this episode’s raunchy humor is an absolute gem! Aside from a few over-exaggerated facial reactions, John Ritter’s slapstick (including his hammock and sleeping bag gags) is dynamite. In particular, Ritter’s chemistry with Don Knotts, Richard Kline, and guest star Louise Williams proves spot-on hilarious. This episode is also one of those instances where Knotts’ randy ‘Mr. Furley’ is just as funny as the Ropers once were. His mildly risqué scenes with Ritter and Ann Wedgeworth are delightful, as far as endearing the gang’s new castmates. Of note, this episode is Wedgeworth’s best appearance before she was abruptly dropped from the cast.
Among the uninvited guests, an exasperated ‘Janet” and airhead ‘Chrissy’ contribute the least to this episode, but Joyce DeWitt tries her best. Still, Richard Kline’s smarmy sub-plot with guest star Louise Williams is a hoot. In particular, the awkward chemistry Williams sparks with Ritter’s incredulous ‘Jack’ belongs on the season’s highlight reel. When one throws in the ridiculous Lana-Jack-Furley ‘love triangle,’ this episode showcases Three’s Company at its best during the Don Knotts era. As almost everything magically clicks, “A-Camping We Will Go” makes for an inspired laugh-fest.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
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