Quoting:
Hey Steve,
I don't have an answer for you but I was thinking...Wasn't that show taped in front of a "Live Studio Audience"?  I think so, I wonder if the reaction was in response to something that had happened during the scene that had to be re-shot because of a flubbed line or mistake.

Anyway, I found this episode guide, maybe you can find it  here

http://www.tvtome.com/ThreesCompany/season9.html

I'm also a mother of a newborn baby who happens to like to eat during the 3-3:30 AM episode of "Three's Company" on Nick at Night.  I've been watching the show for the past 5 weeks, haven't seen that one yet, but if I do, I'll let you know.
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Thanks Lorac. I never thought of that. Maybe John Ritter did something funny during re-hearsal,and the memory of what he said or did made the audience laugh out loud. Or perhaps,he did flub his lines beforehand,and the audience remembered what he said earlier, and made the loud reaction.  :) Thanks for the memories! Sincerely,Steve

Quoting:
I have a question about a particular episode of "Three's Company". It has been years since I saw this episode, and this has been haunting me for a long,long time. In the episode where Jack gets a job as a "mechanical man" pointing to men's clothing in a department store window (does anybody remember that one?) he says something that gets a big laugh out of the audience, and I always wondered why, because it never struck me as that funny of a line. One of the girls (it could be Janet,Chrissy,or even his date in that particular episode) recogonizes him and says "Jack,is that really you?" or something to that effect. He responds by saying "Don't you know me?" and the audience roars hysterically. I am a big "Three's Company" fan, but I always wondered why the audience reaction to that line is so loud,and long lasting. Is his line "Don't you know me" a reference/quote from a popular movie,tv show,or pop tune? Thanks for the memories! Sincerely,Steve.
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Steve, I remember that episode. The plot was that Jack and Larry were dating the same girl, but neither of them knew it until Larry showed up with the girl at the department store at which Jack worked as the mechanical man.

Jack was dressed in a tuxedo (I think) and he had on a fake mustache and a wig (a slicked-back type of hairdo). Larry brought the girl to the department store window and they were making out in front of Jack, who got mad and started using his cane to destroy all the props in the window.

Then he went outside and told Larry to take his hands off his (Jack's) girl. The girl didn't recognize Jack, so he took his top hat off and said something like, "Don't you know me? It's me....Cuddle Cakes."

The audience was laughing because Jack still had on the mustache/wig when he said, "Don't you know me?" Plus, John Ritter's delivery was great when he said it (the whole puppy dog eyes look.) The girl then said, "Oh my gosh, it IS Cuddle Cakes!" She also had a nickname for Larry but I can't remember it.

Quoting:
he says something that gets a big laugh out of the audience, and I always wondered why, because it never struck me as that funny of a line.End Quote

Probably a classic example of laugh-track overuse.  Sit coms are notoriously bad that.

I watched the show all the time during its heyday and reruns but I don't recall the episode.  I always like Mr.Roper.
http://www.dailyhog.com/images/mrroper.jpg
(BTW, www.dailyhog.com is a pretty funny place)  :)

Quoting:


Steve, I remember that episode. The plot was that Jack and Larry were dating the same girl, but neither of them knew it until Larry showed up with the girl at the department store at which Jack worked as the mechanical man.

Jack was dressed in a tuxedo (I think) and he had on a fake mustache and a wig (a slicked-back type of hairdo). Larry brought the girl to the department store window and they were making out in front of Jack, who got mad and started using his cane to destroy all the props in the window.

Then he went outside and told Larry to take his hands off his (Jack's) girl. The girl didn't recognize Jack, so he took his top hat off and said something like, "Don't you know me? It's me....Cuddle Cakes."

The audience was laughing because Jack still had on the mustache/wig when he said, "Don't you know me?" Plus, John Ritter's delivery was great when he said it (the whole puppy dog eyes look.) The girl then said, "Oh my gosh, it IS Cuddle Cakes!" She also had a nickname for Larry but I can't remember it.
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Thanks PhiKapDave...Your plot summary brings back many fun memories of that episode. I think you are right. The audience was laughing hysterically at John Ritter's comedic talents,and his wonderful sense of timing. Him saying "Don't you know me?" with that ridiculous wig and costume on made them laugh out loud!  :D Thanks for the memories! Sincerely,Steve