Three's Company

[Chris2]

Suzanne admitted that 150K was a starting point in the negotiations, and that she hoped they’d end up somewhere in the middle. A independent production company could not afford the deficit financing that six-figure salaries for the leads would have entailed. What the lead trio needed to negotiate was back-end points (profit participation) as Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams did a few years earlier. And they would have gotten it had they banded together. There was no way Taffner and associates would have risked the golden goose that was about to lay those huge syndication eggs. They could have afforded to give the trio a half percentage point each.

They should have spun off Three’s a Crowd a year earlier than they did, before the parent show dropped so drastically in the ratings. People were tiring of Three’s Company and the leads seemed too old to be living together at that point. Add to that the poorly-drawn new characters and the miscasting, and you’ve got a flop on your hands. Ritter never had to carry Three’s Company the way he did Three’s a Crowd, because he had a strong ensemble in the original series.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Suzanne admitted that 150K was a starting point in the negotiations, and that she hoped they’d end up somewhere in the middle. A independent production company could not afford the deficit financing that six-figure salaries for the leads would have entailed. What the lead trio needed to negotiate was back-end points (profit participation) as Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams did a few years earlier. And they would have gotten it had they banded together. There was no way Taffner and associates would have risked the golden goose that was about to lay those huge syndication eggs. They could have afforded to give the trio a half percentage point each.

They should have spun off Three’s a Crowd a year earlier than they did, before the parent show dropped so drastically in the ratings. People were tiring of Three’s Company and the leads seemed too old to be living together at that point. Add to that the poorly-drawn new characters and the miscasting, and you’ve got a flop on your hands. Ritter never had to carry Three’s Company the way he did Three’s a Crowd, because he had a strong ensemble in the original series.

I don't think John Ritter ever would have agreed to a group negotiation. I also wonder if Somers' husband was the more prominent one in the negotiations.

 

[ClassyCo]

And yet, she was the funniest female.

I've never found Priscilla to be the funniest. Why do you think so? I do remember her being "smarter" and more sarcastic than Suzanne or Jenilee had been. Terri wasn't the "dumb blonde" Chrissy and Cindy were presented as.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I've never found Priscilla to be the funniest. Why do you think so? I do remember her being "smarter" and more sarcastic than Suzanne or Jenilee had been. Terri wasn't the "dumb blonde" Chrissy and Cindy were presented as.

Yes, PB was a capable addition to the cast, but not funny. Suzanne Somers had that comedy the best of the three.

 

[ClassyCo]

Yes, PB was a capable addition to the cast, but not funny. Suzanne Somers had that comedy the best of the three.

Priscilla Barnes was probably the best actress on the show, but she wasn't as naturally funny. When she came on, she was the "straight" and Joyce became more spastic.

 

[Soaplover]

I was watching the 2 part episode that introduced Terri onto the show.. and her character was a lot more sarcastic and looked as though she could call out Jack when he acted goofy.. but eventually they seemed to not do anything with her character other then be the logical and pragmatic one.. without Joyce Dewitt's facial expressions and line reading. Priscilla was more comedic on Jane the Virgin when she played Petra's OTT mother Magda.

Meanwhile, Jennilee Harrison wasn't funny either despite her best attempts at playing naive in a goofy way... but man she and John Ritter were a great physical comedy team. In season 6, Cindy the Maid was a pretty good showcase for her and I think she worked better in a supporting/recurring character way like Larry/Furley.

Suzanne was adorable, sweet, and intelligent in a naive way in season 1 to 2, season 3 was a perfect balance of a goofier Chrissy that still had the sweet warmth of season 1/2.. while season 4/5 was a Chrissy that I was surprised could wake up, dress herself, and go to work.

Sometimes Suzanne would do things in her career that kind of worked against her such as this one interview with a writer that worked on She's the Sherriff where Suzanne wanted the character to be written/presented like a Lucille Ball type of character while the writer stated that if they wrote the lead character like that.. it would hurt the show because no one would take her seriously as a sheriff. Suzanne won out, and it didn't work for the show or character.

Suzanne in one interview talked about Step by Step where she said she had to reign it in and not go for the joke/punch line because she was playing a sitcom mom.. but I will say that Carol Foster was quite a memorable sitcom mom for a 90s family friendly sitcom.. and she and Patrick Duffy had great chemistry and could banter back at one another with ease. That was where I noticed Suzanne getting the laugh was in scenes opposite Patrick Duffy while she played the mom aspects more straight.

 

[ClassyCo]

I was watching the 2 part episode that introduced Terri onto the show.. and her character was a lot more sarcastic and looked as though she could call out Jack when he acted goofy.. but eventually they seemed to not do anything with her character other then be the logical and pragmatic one.. without Joyce Dewitt's facial expressions and line reading. Priscilla was more comedic on Jane the Virgin when she played Petra's OTT mother Magda.

Priscilla Barnes was honestly a strong addition to the cast, at least initially. But, as previously stated, Barnes herself felt so overwhelmed by the swarm of publicity she received by getting the THREE'S COMPANY job that it ended up hindering her. To top it off, she apparently went to the producers and asked for a release from her contract, but they were determined to hold her to her three-year deal. They were perfectly fine with sidelining her for those final three seasons, though. Priscilla as Terri could be funny, but I just don't see her as funny as the earlier blonde roommates. Which, to be fair, that might not be Priscilla's fault, but the continuous decline in the show itself.

Meanwhile, Jennilee Harrison wasn't funny either despite her best attempts at playing naive in a goofy way... but man she and John Ritter were a great physical comedy team. In season 6, Cindy the Maid was a pretty good showcase for her and I think she worked better in a supporting/recurring character way like Larry/Furley.

I'm divided here. I thought Jenilee Harrison was very pretty and brought a young freshness to the show that could be humorous and, when executed right, quite funny. The problem was Jenilee was very young (perhaps too young for the show), and the writers and the producers never saw her as a permanent replacement. Jenilee was merely recruited to finish out Season 5. The producers were pretty obvious that they just wanted a "replacement character" that could help use up some of the scripts they had already written for Suzanne as Chrissy, which was both a cost-saving and time-saving decision. Indeed, if memory serves, some scripts merely crossed out "Chrissy" and penned in "Cindy" and called it a day.

I will say, though, that Cindy worked very well in a secondary character compacity. It must've been awkward for Jenilee and Priscilla, too. The replacement working with the one she's replacing... and then Cindy's just gone after Janet's mean to her in the episode where Janet decides blondes do really have more fun when she wears a wig. Anyway, poor Jenilee got a sour deal, I'd say, but she wasn't bitter. She ended up on DALLAS, and seems to have been fulfilled outside of show business, too.

Suzanne was adorable, sweet, and intelligent in a naive way in season 1 to 2, season 3 was a perfect balance of a goofier Chrissy that still had the sweet warmth of season 1/2.. while season 4/5 was a Chrissy that I was surprised could wake up, dress herself, and go to work.

Early Suzanne was best. Still, the show was never quite the same without her.

Sometimes Suzanne would do things in her career that kind of worked against her such as this one interview with a writer that worked on She's the Sherriff where Suzanne wanted the character to be written/presented like a Lucille Ball type of character while the writer stated that if they wrote the lead character like that.. it would hurt the show because no one would take her seriously as a sheriff. Suzanne won out, and it didn't work for the show or character.

I've never seen SHE'S THE SHERIFF, and based on the reviews, I don't think I've missed very much. Suzanne was supposed to go into THE SUZANNE SOMERS SHOW on CBS when she walked out on THREE'S COMPANY, but that never bore fruition. ABC caught wind of the emerging sitcom over on their rival network, CBS, and threatened to sue if Suzanne's new TV character resembled "Chrissy Snow" in any way. So, CBS bucked under the pressure and eventually scrapped their deal with Suzanne.

Much like Farrah when she left CHARLIE'S ANGELS, Suzanne upset the wrong people when she decided to overplay her hand and leave THREE'S COMPANY. Her career immediately went on the wane, and it suffered for a few years as a result. It was as if the industry was popping her hand for leaving the show that made her a household name.

Suzanne in one interview talked about Step by Step where she said she had to reign it in and not go for the joke/punch line because she was playing a sitcom mom.. but I will say that Carol Foster was quite a memorable sitcom mom for a 90s family friendly sitcom.. and she and Patrick Duffy had great chemistry and could banter back at one another with ease. That was where I noticed Suzanne getting the laugh was in scenes opposite Patrick Duffy while she played the mom aspects more straight.

I recall watching STEP BY STEP (a BRADY BUCNH redo for the 1990s) when it was in reruns on ABC Family back when I was young. It was never really a favorite, but it was in the same rotation with FULL HOUSE and FAMILY MATTERS, all TGIF shows, so I watched them all.

I will say, though, that STEP BY STEP was better than the most. Suzanne and Patrick Duffy shared good chemistry together.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Much like Farrah when she left CHARLIE'S ANGELS, Suzanne upset the wrong people when she decided to overplay her hand and leave THREE'S COMPANY. Her career immediately went on the wane, and it suffered for a few years as a result. It was as if the industry was popping her hand for leaving the show that made her a household name.

I saw it more as a situation where the producers (as a group, not just the individual producers on CA and 3C) had to make an example of both actresses in order to keep the actors (as a group) from gaining advantage. Even after each left their respective show, other producers felt obligated to shun them to continue the "punishment" to send the message that if you get too demanding, we can ruin you. The producers knew that if they caved in to a popular actor's demands, then they'd have to do it every time a show became popular. There was an inevitable march toward just that destination (where stars wielded more power over the direction of a show than producers), but producers were fighting it all the way.

 

[Soaplover]

Priscilla Barnes was honestly a strong addition to the cast, at least initially. But, as previously stated, Barnes herself felt so overwhelmed by the swarm of publicity she received by getting the THREE'S COMPANY job that it ended up hindering her. To top it off, she apparently went to the producers and asked for a release from her contract, but they were determined to hold her to her three-year deal. They were perfectly fine with sidelining her for those final three seasons, though. Priscilla as Terri could be funny, but I just don't see her as funny as the earlier blonde roommates. Which, to be fair, that might not be Priscilla's fault, but the continuous decline in the show itself.


I'm divided here. I thought Jenilee Harrison was very pretty and brought a young freshness to the show that could be humorous and, when executed right, quite funny. The problem was Jenilee was very young (perhaps too young for the show), and the writers and the producers never saw her as a permanent replacement. Jenilee was merely recruited to finish out Season 5. The producers were pretty obvious that they just wanted a "replacement character" that could help use up some of the scripts they had already written for Suzanne as Chrissy, which was both a cost-saving and time-saving decision. Indeed, if memory serves, some scripts merely crossed out "Chrissy" and penned in "Cindy" and called it a day.

I will say, though, that Cindy worked very well in a secondary character compacity. It must've been awkward for Jenilee and Priscilla, too. The replacement working with the one she's replacing... and then Cindy's just gone after Janet's mean to her in the episode where Janet decides blondes do really have more fun when she wears a wig. Anyway, poor Jenilee got a sour deal, I'd say, but she wasn't bitter. She ended up on DALLAS, and seems to have been fulfilled outside of show business, too.


Early Suzanne was best. Still, the show was never quite the same without her.


I've never seen SHE'S THE SHERIFF, and based on the reviews, I don't think I've missed very much. Suzanne was supposed to go into THE SUZANNE SOMERS SHOW on CBS when she walked out on THREE'S COMPANY, but that never bore fruition. ABC caught wind of the emerging sitcom over on their rival network, CBS, and threatened to sue if Suzanne's new TV character resembled "Chrissy Snow" in any way. So, CBS bucked under the pressure and eventually scrapped their deal with Suzanne.

Much like Farrah when she left CHARLIE'S ANGELS, Suzanne upset the wrong people when she decided to overplay her hand and leave THREE'S COMPANY. Her career immediately went on the wane, and it suffered for a few years as a result. It was as if the industry was popping her hand for leaving the show that made her a household name.


I recall watching STEP BY STEP (a BRADY BUCNH redo for the 1990s) when it was in reruns on ABC Family back when I was young. It was never really a favorite, but it was in the same rotation with FULL HOUSE and FAMILY MATTERS, all TGIF shows, so I watched them all.

I will say, though, that STEP BY STEP was better than the most. Suzanne and Patrick Duffy shared good chemistry together.

Don't forget the 1985 pilot she did with John Davidson called 'Goodbye, Charlie'.. where Charlie dies and comes back in the body of Suzanne Somers... she's hilarious in it. It's on Youtube

 

[ClassyCo]

Don't forget the 1985 pilot she did with John Davidson called 'Goodbye, Charlie'.. where Charlie dies and comes back in the body of Suzanne Somers... she's hilarious in it. It's on Youtube

I seem to remember that existing, but I had forgotten about it. I might have to check it out.

 

[Crimson]

I saw it more as a situation where the producers (as a group, not just the individual producers on CA and 3C) had to make an example of both actresses in order to keep the actors (as a group) from gaining advantage. Even after each left their respective show, other producers felt obligated to shun them to continue the "punishment" to send the message that if you get too demanding, we can ruin you.

In an age when actors can become multi-millionaires from long running TV shows, it's easy to forget how hostile producers back in the 70s and 80s were to actors fighting for a piece. This was an era when producers were willing to do prolonged number of episodes without Archie Bunker or Fred Sanford, when the Duke boys could be replaced with poor substitutes for an entire season, and Valerie could be fired from a show named after her. Even a united group of actors were not guaranteed to win.

 

[ClassyCo]

In an age when actors can become multi-millionaires from long running TV shows, it's easy to forget how hostile producers back in the 70s and 80s were to actors fighting for a piece. This was an era when producers were willing to do prolonged number of episodes without Archie Bunker or Fred Sanford, when the Duke boys could be replaced with poor substitutes for an entire season, and Valerie could be fired from a show named after her. Even a united group of actors were not guaranteed to win.

The producers were relentless in their efforts to prove their point and make sure the actors stayed in their place. Cindy Williams also thought she'd get what she wanted when she decided to roll the dice at the beginning of the eighth season of LAVERNE & SHIRLEY. The producers booted Williams out, leaving Penny Marshall to carry a show that retained a title that no longer made any sense. But I suppose Marshall wasn't too upset, seeing as she demanded double-or-nothing when it came to her per-episode salary in order to finish the eighth season.

 

[Soaplover]

Since the 80s, there has been massive over-correction to the point where actors, writers, and directors have gotten much too greedy and as a result.. reality tv became a thing and streaming became a thing with a lower episode count and a lower quality in writing.

In regards to Suzanne, it was a mistake to have her hubby handle things.. but there was an interview where the lawyer that her husband and Somers used had beaten the network/producers in regards to another salary situation so they were determined to not even entertain her demands.

In regards to Cindy Williams, her side of the story was that one of the days she was required to film was the day her daughter was born.. so I think she had a right to push back.. .and she had said that she focused on motherhood after being pushed out of Laverne & Shirley

 

[Seaviewer]

Don't forget the 1985 pilot she did with John Davidson called 'Goodbye, Charlie'.. where Charlie dies and comes back in the body of Suzanne Somers... she's hilarious in it. It's on Youtube

I assume that's based on the movie with Tony Curtis and Debbie Reynolds, which is one of my favourite comedies. I'll have to check this out.

 

[Chris2]

In regards to Cindy Williams, her side of the story was that one of the days she was required to film was the day her daughter was born.. so I think she had a right to push back.. .and she had said that she focused on motherhood after being pushed out of Laverne & Shirley

I’ve always taken that as hyperbole on Williams’ part. What production would want a pregnant person working on the day they’re going to give birth? So production can be disrupted?

The real issue was that Williams (understandably) wanted a reduced schedule during her pregnancy, and Paramount wanted to reduce her salary accordingly. Paramount’s stance wouldn’t fly today, but this was over 40 years ago.

 

[Bobby Southworth]

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Laverne & Shirley. It can be ok, but for me, it was just a little too silly and contrived, like most Miller/Boyett productions. Actors with real talent, and shows where the premise was setup perfectly and promisingly, totally butchered and watered down by Miller-Boyett's assembly line of kid friendly slop. I'm sorry.. I know there were still good moments, but they really knew how to ruin a show with potential.

Oddly enough, I've always had somewhat of a soft spot for the last season with just Penny. I don't think every episode was good, but it gave her a chance to really shine, and her reactions to all the craziness around her, and the situations she somehow found herself in were gold. I really appreciated Penny Marshall's personality in real life, too. The "I just don't give a crap", sarcastic attitude, and her delivery.

There was an episode that last season where Laverne walks into a friend's apartment, and if I'm remembering correctly, he might have already been depressed or something, and she tosses a ball for his dog to catch, and the ball goes over the balcony, and the dog jumps right over the balcony after it. I literally laughed out loud, and the fact that this scene comes to mind so many years after I saw it says something. You find out the dog is ok because I think he's on the 1st floor or something like that, but as the audience, we didn't know at first. LOL. This kinda writing was top notch, and it's too bad Miller/Boyett didn't have more of it.

 

[ClassyCo]

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Laverne & Shirley. It can be ok, but for me, it was just a little too silly and contrived, like most Miller/Boyett productions. Actors with real talent, and shows where the premise was setup perfectly and promisingly, totally butchered and watered down by Miller-Boyett's assembly line of kid friendly slop. I'm sorry.. I know there were still good moments, but they really knew how to ruin a show with potential.

Oddly enough, I've always had somewhat of a soft spot for the last season with just Penny. I don't think every episode was good, but it gave her a chance to really shine, and her reactions to all the craziness around her, and the situations she somehow found herself in was gold. I really appreciated Penny Marshall's personality in real life, too. The "I just don't give a crap", sarcastic attitude, and her delivery.

There was an episode that last season where Laverne walks into a friend's apartment, and if I'm remembering correctly, he might have already been depressed or something, and she tosses a ball for his dog to catch, and the ball goes over the balcony, and the dog jumps right over the balcony after it. I literally laughed out loud, and the fact that this scene comes to mind so many years after I saw it says something. You find out the dog is ok because I think he's on the 1st floor or something like that, but as the audience, we didn't know at first. LOL. This kinda writing was top notch, and it's too bad Miller/Boyett didn't have more of it.

I enjoy LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, especially before they move to Hollywood. The first four seasons are funny, especially when you catch an episode in the right mood.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Williams was, reportedly at the time, insecure that Penny's family ran the show (and possibly for good reason).

I enjoy LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, especially before they move to Hollywood. The first four seasons are funny, especially when you catch an episode in the right mood.

And their jumping ahead by several years because "nothing much happened in the early-'60s."

 

[Bobby Southworth]

Yes, I remember my grandmother even, not being a fan of the series, and in the pre-internet days talking about how Williams was bullied by the family ties running the show. I don't know 100% how true, or how bad it really was, but it would make sense that she felt kind of like an outsider.

Going back to Three's Company. For me, the first three years were the true gold, with the Ropers. I still think it's almost gold the 4th year, but by the time Suzanne started missing episodes, it lost a little something, and continued to do so for the remainder of the series. It still remained good, but just not "as" good. I never found Terri funny, but I'm not sure how much we were supposed to?? The blonde roommate had always been the go to for the cheap laughs in the past, but I agree that it seems more like Janet was sorta placed in that position those last few years. Even though I didn't find Terri funny, that doesn't mean she wasn't a likable character, just not a very funny one. I would probably take her over what Chrissy had become in her last two or so years.

 

[Chris2]

I liked the early days of “Laverne & Shirley” because of the wonderful chemistry between the two leads, and because of Cindy Williams’ way of being able to wring laughs out of the must mundane lines.

The weakness of the show, to me, was that outside of Lenny and Squiggy, the supporting cast was blah at best. I liked the first year or two where they had a different, funnier landlady; Laverne’s dad was only seen occasionally, and the joke that he was barely comprehensible; and they had foils for the girls: Big Rosie and Lucille, Carmine’s girlfriend.

Later, they settled on a more boring landlady, the Big Ragoo, and Laverne’s dad in a bigger role. I didn’t find any of them particularly funny. I saw an interview with cocreator Mark Rothman and he basically said the same thing.

And even before the ill-fated move to California, you could see the decline setting in during season 5. This is when Bob Boyett joined the show as a consultant and you could see them moving towards the more simplistic, kid-oriented formula that he and Tom Miller perfected with their shows in the late 80s and 90s.

As for TC: they didn’t give Priscilla much to work with. I thought she was strong in her first few episodes. Terri was accomplished in her career, payed the violin, and flirted with Jack. They could have leaned into that more, the way they leaned into Chrissy’s airheadedness. Instead, they didn’t do much to distinguish her from Janet.