JOYCE DeWITT

One of my favorite photos from my childhood was taken in 1978. My mom and I were leaning up against our gigantic white Cadillac, which was parked in front of the house my folks still live in. My mom had a perm, and was wearing bellbottoms and a hoodie, and I was sporting the pigtails that would soon disappear after an unfortunate "don't let him blow his bubble gum too close to your hair" incident.

My mom looked EXACTLY like Janet from Three's Company.

She used to walk down the street and people would point at her mumbling, "Woah, it's, um, <snap, snap, snap> JANET! Janet from, uh..." The comments only multiplied when we visited Portland, where the likelihood of Joyce DeWitt walking out of Spencer Gifts at Clackamas Town Center was a little more feasible. "Have you ever been told that you look just like..."

My mom's style paralleled Janet's too: from permed hair and secretary dresses to straight razored hair, snug t-shirts and high-waisted jeans. She was a ringer.

Three's Company aired on ABC from 1977 - 1984, and produced one of the most famous theme songs in sitcom history. The premise was that Jack Tripper, played by John Ritter, had to pretend to be gay so he could co-habitate platonically with two women, Janet and Chrissy, played respectively by Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers. While Somers played the ditzy sex symbol (complete with her own best-selling "Chrissy" poster), I always preferred the style and comedic timing of the show's dark horse, Joyce DeWitt. She had an understated sex appeal, often sporting very short shorts or rather revealing nighties, but never giving it all away. She left something to be desired. And she flew her tomboy flag loud and proud.

I remember Janet being the queen of the disco/secretary dress. That probably explains why I have a whole collection of them today.

Sometimes off-the-shoulder...

Sometimes a *wee* bit revealing...

Sometimes strappy...

Sometimes perfectly innocent...

And sometimes as a tool for seduction, as in this scene with playboy neighbor, Larry Dallas.

I was thrilled to find this photo of Joyce where she really gets to rock her silky short shorts look. First in a candid test shot:

And again in a magazine-ready pose:

In the spirit of striking resemblances, and in an effort not to be overshadowed by my incredibly smart, talented and beautiful mother, I'll leave you with this story about MY doppelganger. At a recent Stolen Sweets show, I walked off stage during a break and made a B-line for the bar (per the usual). After I ordered my drink, I was approached by a man who said, "I hope you don't think I'm totally weird or creepy, but there's something I've got to show you. I've been trying to figure out who you look like, and it finally came to me: Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama, circa 1988."

For years, I'd been told that I look like "that chick from The Bangles," but I could never figure out who people were talking about. Alas, the mystery was solved - they were talking about Bananarama!

Many thanks to the mystery gentleman who finally made me feel like I'm somebody. Look mom - I have a doppelganger!!