Jack & Janet are extremely worried when Chrissy doesn't get home until after three in the morning. In tears, Chrissy reveals to Janet that she's upset because a stranger in a bar had assumed that she was a prostitute. When the guy (the top character actor James Cromwell, "Babe") shows up at the kids' apartment later, Jack immediately leaps to defend Chrissy's honor, and decks the guy. Unfortunate, because we've already found out that the guy is actually a vice detective! Now Jack is panicking because he rightfully guesses that he'll be heading straight to prison.
There are some truly hysterical moments here. In the early going, Jack & Janet take turns panicking over Chrissy's whereabouts, and we can see the marvelous chemistry that John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt had. We can also see that the kids are fundamentally good people, because when Jack realizes that his bad jokes have made Chrissy feel worse, he decides to go on an impromptu walk. We sure get an idea of the very paternalistic, protective attitude that Jack & Janet take towards her.
Some of the heartiest laughs naturally derive from Jack having fun with both Mr. Roper and the detective. Cromwell is naturally hesitant to have to admit to ANYBODY that he got his lights out punched out by a homosexual. After a lot of banter (including a priceless moment where Jack has to get Janet to stop shooting off her mouth), Cromwell finally sees the light.
But the levity doesn't end with his departure. Jack once again acts the shameless horn dog with a naive Chrissy, prompting Janet to "cool him off". Ritters' slapstick shenanigans here are the perfect bright spot at which the episode can sign off.
A very good episode in general.
Eight out of 10.
There are some truly hysterical moments here. In the early going, Jack & Janet take turns panicking over Chrissy's whereabouts, and we can see the marvelous chemistry that John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt had. We can also see that the kids are fundamentally good people, because when Jack realizes that his bad jokes have made Chrissy feel worse, he decides to go on an impromptu walk. We sure get an idea of the very paternalistic, protective attitude that Jack & Janet take towards her.
Some of the heartiest laughs naturally derive from Jack having fun with both Mr. Roper and the detective. Cromwell is naturally hesitant to have to admit to ANYBODY that he got his lights out punched out by a homosexual. After a lot of banter (including a priceless moment where Jack has to get Janet to stop shooting off her mouth), Cromwell finally sees the light.
But the levity doesn't end with his departure. Jack once again acts the shameless horn dog with a naive Chrissy, prompting Janet to "cool him off". Ritters' slapstick shenanigans here are the perfect bright spot at which the episode can sign off.
A very good episode in general.
Eight out of 10.
