MovieChat Forums > Three's Company (1977) Discussion > How the show died a slow death

How the show died a slow death

posted 8 years ago by trevor_d
14 replies | jump to latest

Chrissy started off sexy and sensual. Jack was extremely attracted to her and tried to get her into bed several times. Chrissy was also attracted to Jack and at times, had a hard time trying to resist him. This created the basis for the show in its early years. The sexual tension created between Jack and Chrissy was what made the show great. As time went on, Chrissy got dumber, and much funnier but their dynamic changed. Chrissy became more of a kid sister to Jack. The goofier Chrissy got, the less sexual attraction there was to the point where there was none at all. All three roommates simply became like brother and sisters. The sexual tension died and the show started to suffer slightly. But Chrissy made the show and she was brilliant by season 3. Unfortunately Somers was fired and as a result, the ratings took a big hit. They brought in Chrissy's cousin Cindy to replace Somers. Cindy's clutzyness was funny, but the character herself wasn't funny at all and didn't fit in. Plus, she was a terrible actress. Ratings didn't improve and fans didn't like Cindy so they axed her and brought in Terri, who was NOT funny at all and was completely pointless. Fans however, liked her more than Cindy and ratings improved a bit. The problem with Terri is that her character was not well developed and she wasn't funny. She was just THERE because the show was called Three's Company and they needed a 3rd roommate. Terri became just a person that Jack and Janet could talk too and she really had no point on the show whatsoever. To me, the show stopped being funny and great the moment Suzanne Somers was fired. That was the biggest mistake the producers ever made. With Somers, the show was a HUGE phenomenon and a HUGE ratings hit that everyone talked about and loved. After she left, the show was never the same and lost every bit of it's original charm. The show was a ratings hit not because of John Ritter, but because of Suzanne Somers. By season 7, the writers were just rehashing earlier storylines, much like Bewitched did. What was once a brilliant show in it's first 4 seasons became a train wreck.

[–] SmokyBrownEyes 8 years ago

Jack's physical comedy is what made the show. I even liked the bromance between Jack and Larry better. I liked early Chrissy too (and Jack trying to put the moves on her) but blonde roommates like her came a dime a dozen. Obviously. After a while Chrissy was just a third wheel to Jack and Janet therefore I liked the chemistry between Jack and Janet even more. They had a brotherly/sisterly vibe going on in some episodes but in others they were a bit too touchy feel-y, kiss-y kiss-y for that.

[–] alanjobe 8 years ago

I agree with OP. I loved the chemistry between Jack and Chrissy in the early seasons.

The show never was the same after the Ropers left. The dynamic of the original 5 characters is what made the show so great.

[–] jdchisholm 8 years ago

The show was still good after the Ropers left. In fact, I think the 4th season TC was at its peak. The 5th season slipped but rebounded in the 6th season with adding on Terri and the focus more on Jack. After Jack opens his bistro, it was slim pickings. The way the series ended was rushed and just done poorly.

[–] redhillpb 8 years ago

I think you're right, alanjobe. Those original 5 made for some great television. Don Knotts did an admirable job but it lost too much of the original spark with the Ropers' exit.

[–] nikki-12813 8 years ago

You're exactly right Trevor d.

[–] chasrich-1 8 years ago

Maybe they should have given Somers the raise she wanted after all to keep the quality of the show.

[–] digitalboy72 8 years ago

Funny but I didn't miss Somers at all when she left, I really didn't care for how ditzy she became.

Cindy was nothing special but thankfully wasn't there long and Terry, I had a mad crush on her so yeah having her there was fine by me lol.

As for the show never being the same, you're right, it was better! If for any reason for Mr. Furley, Don Knotts plays second fiddle to no one and was an absolute scream lol.

[–] blakgard 8 years ago

I was glad Somers was gone.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] antonasmodeus 8 years ago

Three's Company died a slow death when Suzanne Somers had to film a ridiculous short scene on the phone at the end of the episodes where she was missing. Talk about embarrassing!

[–] TMC-4 (20488) 8 years ago

https://jacksonupperco.com/2015/07/07/the-ten-best-threes-company-episodes-of-season-five/

It’s probably a good thing that Somers left the show when she did; her character had become a caricature, and an unlikable one at that. In fact, Chrissy’s farewell leads to better and meatier material for DeWitt, Kline, and especially Knotts, who becomes zanier than he had been in his debut season. However, because Harrison is noticeably unskilled (albeit amiable), the show’s focus subtly shifts: no longer are stories crafted around a trio of equals; now it is every character for himself, and only when they came together as an ensemble (with Kline and Knotts) does the show recapture some of its early season charm. In the meantime, Ritter seems more focused on the work, and this is probably his best individual season on the show. So while many fans (myself included) have trouble considering this an excellent season because there’s no solid third roommate, there are a lot of truly outstanding bits and a surprisingly high offering of classics. Thus, I think it’s ultimately a much stronger year than the backstage strife might lead one to believe (especially for Ritter fans). So, I have picked ten episodes that I think exemplify this season’s strongest installments. For new fans, this list will give you a place to start. For seasoned fans, there might be a few surprises.

[–] michma321 8 years ago

I had the opposite impression. To me the first 3 seasons seem relatively boring. There are some gems, of course, but overall I think the writing and acting got better as the show progressed. I think replacing the Ropers with Mr. Furley and increasing the importance of Janet and Larry were a big part of that. Between Jack and the girls upstairs and the Ropers downstairs there were too many sexual innuendo jokes and it got old pretty quickly. Kind of childish. That era of the show seems really dated to the 70s when it didn't necessarily have to be.

I wasn't a big Cindy fan, but there are so many great episodes in season 5 that I think it's one of the best despite her character's relative ineffectualness. However I do think Terri was a great permanent replacement for Chrissy. I would say the show really started getting good with season 4, peaked in seasons 5 through 7, and still went out strong in season 8. Especially starting with season 6 there seems to be more heart in the episodes along with the humor, which is what I think sets aside great sitcoms from good ones.

[–] Wuchak (8853) 7 years ago

With Somers, the show was a HUGE phenomenon and a HUGE ratings hit that everyone talked about and loved. After she left, the show was never the same and lost every bit of it's original charm.

Yeah, right. I didn't even come aboard until Chrissy was gone. I backtracked to the earlier episodes, but didn't think they were as good. Chrissy was a joke and I couldn't stomach the Ropers, although those episodes were entertaining enough once I got used to them (or ignored them). The chemistry of Jack and Janet made the show -- likable Jack was always amusing while winsome Janet was smart and alluring. The peripheral cast helped -- whether Cindy, Terri, Larry or Mr. Furley.

If Somers "made the show" how did it possibly last for four more seasons without her as a main cast member?

[–] modica (4169) 7 years ago

I am surprised at all the Chrissy haters. Somers was the main reason people watched the show. If people remember correctly. After Somers left, the show was pretty bad. Cindy and Terri just didn't have what Somers had. Everyone knows that.