Last Minute Name
Much like our internet dating experiences nothing was decided until the last minute in terms of a name for the show. Apparently the writers had no idea what to call the program and thus settled on Three’s Company at the last minute. Works for us! If only things would work out as well when we use those free online dating services.
Threes Company
Three Pilot Episodes
Most script’s tend to only get one pilot episode in order to see if the program will get picked up. However our crew was lucky enough to have three chances at it. On the third try it looks like things went well — Three’s Company would be seeing the light of day.
Three Pilot Episodes
John Ritter’s Child
In the opening of the show, when the Three’s Company theme song is playing, we see a little kid walk up to Joyce DeWitt while she’s feeding a goat. That child is actually John Ritter’s kid, Jason.
John Ritters Child
Billy Crystal Auditions
We can’t imagine anyone as Jack other than John Ritter but that doesn’t mean that the casting directors agree. Apparently there were a few quality talents that dropped in to audition for the role: Billy Crystal, Barry Van Dyke, and Michael Lembeck all took a swing at the gig.
Billy Crystal Auditions
Floating Microphones
All productions suffer from a few equipment related gaffes, but Three’s Company definitely had a larger than average problem with it. Eagle eyed viewers can spot microphones and light stands in certain shots. The standards for production were a little lighter back then and there was no digital fixing in post. (P.S., there’s even talk of a movie in the works, fingers crossed).
Floating Microphones
John Ritter the Star
Though Three’s Company was definitely an ensemble show, John Ritter’s Jack was the only character to appear in every single episode. This is particularly strange in an era when studios wanted to get as much out of their talent as possible.
John Ritter The Star
Based On Other Work
While most audiences are familiar with Three’s Company as an original property, this isn’t quite the case. Apparently the show took heavy inspiration and was essentially based on the sitcom Man About the House which aired in 1973 over in the United Kingdom.
Based On Other Work
Spin-Off Problems
As Three’s Company was winding toward an end the producers decided to give John Ritter his spin off show, Three’s a Crowd. The show was supposed to stay secret until Company finished airing. However, Joyce DeWitt found out and this caused tensions to rise on set.
Spin Off Problems
No Rehearsal
The core cast never met each other for rehearsal after being cast in their respective roles. The first time that they met each other was on set of the first night of taping. Talk about walking onto a tough situation! Things all worked out, we’d say.
No Rehearsal
Suzanne Somers Barely Made It
The role of Chrissy was one that the production had to fight to get filled. The casting director had seen proverbial scores of actresses try out but nobody hit the right notes. Suzanne Somers was a last minute addition to try out for the part. She auditioned, landed the role, and began taping the very next day.
Suzanne Somers Barely Made It
Almost Chrissy
Loni Anderson was almost Chrissy but producers decided to keep looking because they wanted someone who was a perfect fit. Good choice.
Almost Chrissy
And Suzanne Leaves
Despite being an integral part of the show Somers was released well before the rest of the cast. Somers created tension on set when she demanded a $120,000 raise per episode — the same pay as Ritter. She also requested a slice of the profits from the show. The writers quickly wrote her out and let her go after her contract expired.
And Suzanne Sommers
Many A Role
Jeffrey Tambor actually played three different roles on the show! He starred as a rich man, Winston Cromwell III, who was after Chrissy in “Father of the Bride”; in “Two Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” he played Dr. Tom Miller, a psychiatrist who Jack and Janet confuse for a mental patient; and he was also the dentist Dr. Phillip Greene, a crazy dentist who was recently dumped by Terri.
Many A Role
John Ritter and Joyce Dewitt
Of all the performers that came and left during the duration of the show, only this magical pair made it until the end. Still, as we stated above — the end was more than bittersweet as DeWitt was angered at being left behind from the spin off show.
John Ritter And Joyce Dewitt
Whoops
If you noticed, the first few seasons, the opening and credits were shot on the beach which was a last minute decision by the producers at Venice Beach. Basically, the first shot where the camera zooms in on ‘Jack Tripper’ who is riding his bike was obtained by going onto the roof of a Venice shop-owner who charged $100 for use of his roof. The bike that Jack rides belonged to a producer, and the girl he stares at that makes him fall off his bike is actually none other than Suzanne Sommers in a dark wig.
Whoops
Rewritten Theme Song
Did you know that the original theme song was supposed to be sang by the primary cast members? However this plan didn’t come to fruition and the gig was eventually passed on to another team. Still, the theme song ended up coming out alright in our opinion. In fact to put things into further perspective with a bonus fact: the theme song was initially written without any words at all! The theme song had to be reworked several times until it ended up where it was. Sort of like our dating online history, swing and a miss several times until it all comes up right.
Rewritten Theme Song
Jenilee Harrison Dropped
Despite being well liked and respected by the rest of the cast, Jenilee Harrison was dropped from the show due to declining numbers. The producers wanted to find a way to shake up the cast and get ratings back on track. The search for the third roommate would continue.
Jenilee Harrison Dropped
Christmas Flavored Names
Chrissy, for all of the actress’s problems on set, still has the best name we’ve seen in the sitcom world. Chrissy’s full name is actually: Christmas Noelle Snow. Now doesn’t that just get you ready for the holidays? Knowing how Somers would leave the show, do you think the writers would be right to go ahead and add ‘Grinch’ somewhere in the middle of her name?
Christmas Flavored Names
Laughed Off
How anyone could laugh at Heather Locklear is beyond us! The story goes that when Locklear was heading into audition to replace Somers, she was sweating and put Kleenex under her arms to help. While performing a funny scene in front of the producers, nobody laughed. However as soon as Locklear stepped out of the room, she heard laughing and noticed that the Kleenex had come out. “So I guess they thought I stuffed my bra,” Locklear recalled and the jokes on them cause she went out to become a huge star.
Laughed Off
Stanley Roper Inspiration
When it came to our favorite landlord, Norman Fell looked to reality in order to craft the perfect fiction. Fell says that he based the character off of this guy from Philly. He said that the guy in Philly was “innocent” but he just couldn’t do anything right. Still, Fell says that the guy believed was “the cat’s meow”. We can totally see how this character ended up being crafted how he ended up.
Stanley Roper Inspiration
Leaving on Bad Terms
When the show ended the cast didn’t really have much of a friendship to speak of anymore. Suzanne’s sad departure mixed in with Dewitt’s anger toward Ritter caused all three actor to go mute toward one another for nearly 30 years. Somers made amends with Joyce on her web show but Ritter died at the age of 54. Sommers alleges that she had cleared the air with Ritter by then but who really knows?
Leaving On Bad Terms
The Ropers Were Shafted
Norman Fell and Audra Lindley were so popular in their parts that ABC offered them a spin off show with the caveat that a return was promised in the future if the show failed. The Ropers had one solid season before they were moved to a poor time slot and summarily canceled. ABC moved on from their promise to bring them back and instead hired Don Knotts to go ahead and hold down the suddenly coveted role. Upon Knotts’ arriving on Three’s Company the ratings for the show plummeted an incredible 20%. It was clear as day that the Ropers would have the last laugh.
The Ropers Were Shafted
Quite the situation
Back in March of 2001, a viewer claimed that there was a certain part of John Ritter’s “anatomy” that was visible for a brief period in the episode “The Charming Stranger.” Nickelodeon took the complaint very seriously and edited it shortly after. As a response to the controversy, Ritter said, “I’ve requested that [Nickelodeon] air both versions, edited and unedited, because sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you don’t.”
Quite The Situation
Almost a quitter
Pricilla Barnes portrayed nurse Terri Alden, who was a replacement for Cindy (who was a replacement for Chrissy) for the final three seasons of the show. “Our bosses were very, very controlling,” Barnes told CNN back in 2002. “If my hair was too blond, I’d get called up in the office.” She told reporters that it was the worst experience of her life.
Almost A Quitter
Unauthorized Story
Back in 2003, there was a made-for-TV movie called Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three’s Company. It showed the on-and off-screen antics of the incredible sitcom, including the drama surrounding Suzanne Somers’ exit. Joyce and Suzanne actually weren’t on speaking terms at the time, but all three of the main cast members gave some input to the show.
Unauthorized Story
Acting Debut
Jason Ritter made his debut on the show without really realizing what happened. When he was younger, a little incident occurred but he doesn’t recall it. John’s “mistake” would remain in the opening credits from seasons six through eight. Jason told The Huffington Post, “The story is they were shooting a bunch of things at the zoo and I got away from my mom. I just walked into the shot and it made Joyce DeWitt laugh so they kept it in the opening credits.” We’re so glad this happened because we love his work on Parenthood and Gravity Hills and all his other roles too!
Acting Debut
DVD Releases
As the show was a top ten hit from 1977 to 1983, the series has remained popular in syndication and even through various DVD releases.
DVD Releases
Too Blonde
There were times that Priscilla Barnes was considered “too blonde” sometimes. Barnes played the role of nurse Terri Alden, who was a a replacement for Cindy (who was a replacement for Chrissy) for the final three seasons of the show. “Our bosses were very, very controlling,” Barnes told CNN in 2002. “If my hair was too blond, I’d get called up in the office.”
Too Blonde
Location, Location, Location
The famous apartment actually got not one, not two, but three different addresses throughout the show’s entire run. I guess the whole, “location, location, location” was taken a bit too literally.
Location, Location, Location
Age is just a number
There’s a pretty big rumor that Suzanne told John and Joyce that she had her son (who was 11) when she was just 17. She claimed to be 28 and the year was 1974-75. Unfortunately, she was born in 1946 and the show didn’t start until 1977. #hmm
Age Is Just A Number
So many emotions
Turns out that Priscilla Barnes claimed that working on the show was the unhappiest she’s ever been in her entire acting career. According to her, the backstage atmosphere was not healthy.
So Many Emotions
Besties
Larry Dallas, who was played by Richard Kline, was actually only meant to be a one-time guest appearance. However, the producers enjoyed the chemistry between him and John Ritter so much that they made him a regular cast member.
Besties
Hint, Hint
If you remember, at the end of the second episode, Jack says, “Goodnight John boy.” This was a deliberate nudge to John Ritter’s time on The Waltons as Reverend Fordwick. How cute.
Hint, Hint
Army brat
As a story for the beloved character of Jack Tripper, his background is said to have served in the US Navy. Maybe that’s where he learned his cooking skills?
Army Brat
Consistent
Did you know that John Ritter (Jack) and Joyce De Witt (Janet) were the only actors on the show to appear in every single episode of the show’s entire run.
Consistent
YMCA
Have you ever thought about where Jack lived before he moved in with Chrissy and Janet? Well it was the Y.M.C.A, of course.
YMCA
Line!
Even though Terri was on the show longer than Cindy was, the actress who portrayed Cindy has more lines than the actress playing Terri. Huh, interesting.
Line!
Hairstyles
Many cast members hair styles changed throughout the entire series (especially Joyce DeWitt’s) but none of the re-enactment actors changed styles.
Hairstyles
Sailboats
In season 7 of episode 20 titled “Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow,” the black shirt with the sailboats that Jack wore in this episode is the exact same one that Larry wore in part of the season 5 episode entitled “Dying to Meet You.”
Sailboats
My Last Name
Did you know that Larry’s last name is actually Dallipoulos, but in short, it is Dallas.
My Last Name
How about some pie?
In season 3, Episode 19 titled “The Bake-Off,” William Pierson (Dean Travers) went through three suits for the pie scene of this episode.
How About Some Pie?
That’s a lot of dough
Jack, Janet and Chrissy’s rent for their large two bedroom apartment in Santa Monica is only $300 per month in the show of course. According to the cost of living calculator from the American Institute for Economic Research, that $300 in 1977 is equal to $995.05 today. Whoa.
That’s A Lot Of Dough
The audience
Are you surprised to learn that the same audience shots are reused throughout the film at tapings’ of different episodes.
The audience
Acting Debut
So the apartment door shows to be the normal curve shape in one shot, but it is a normal square door in all of the other scenes of the movie. Huh, odd that the television and film would be different, it’s the little things!
Apartment Door
Eleanor’s Return
Chrissy and Janet actually had another roommate long before Jack Tripper showed up. Her name was Eleanor and she ‘returned’ for one episode in the third season. Interesting!
Eleanor’s Return
Four days later
Four days after John Ritter’s tragic death, Nick at Nite ran an all-night Three’s Company marathon dedicated to his memory. His loss is still so heavily felt.
Four Days Later
Norman Fell
Normal Fell will always be our favorite hardnosed landlord, Stanley Roper. In fact, for his portrayal of Stanley, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Actor in a Supporting Role in 1979.
Norman Fell
Wigged Up
There was no one quite like the wisecracking, perpetually unfulfilled, and sexually frustrated Helen Roper! For her incredible role, she actually had to wear a wig to maintain the character’s exaggerated hairstyle.
Wigged Up
All star
Larry has the great distinction of being the only other character besides Jack Tripper to appear on Three’s Company and both of its spin-offs. Impressive.
All Star
Look at my face
The incredibly talented John Larroquette actually had a small role in the show playing a cop who caught Jack trying break into his own apartment while his roommates were asleep. Originally, the shot wasn’t supposed to focus on John, so he took matters into his own hands. “So I had to figure out a way to get my hat off. And this is all completely selfish and premeditated. So inside my hat, I’ve written the Miranda rights. So I take my hat off and tell him, ‘You have the right to remain silent.’ He carried on to keep his hat off for the remainder of the scene, allowing his face and confidence as a cop to be seen.
Look at my face
Joyce DeWitt filming a Leggs commercial
So early in the movie, shortly after Three’s Company became a huge hit, there is a short music montage featuring a clip of Joyce DeWitt filming a Leggs commercial. However she did not endorse this product until much, much later on.
Joyce DeWitt Filming A Leggs Commercial
Color Me Impressed Or Something
Fred Silverman’s VARIETY title is always in red, while the producers is in green. Then, you can see that in another shot, the producers newspaper has a red title, but it isn’t Variety.
Color Me Impressed Or Something
Weekend Fun
The show would always film on a Friday. However, the producers and John did hold the audition for Jack’s fiancee on a Friday. Then Joyce said she came in the day before filming in order to set up her dressing room, which would then mean that the show tapes on Saturdays.
Weekend Fun
Casting
This one is just so odd but there is actually no mention of Lana (Ann Wedgeworth) or Larry (Richard Kline), even though there was an actor cast to portray Larry.
Casting
Fiance Who?
What’s more is the woman who was cast as Jack’s fiancee, just never happened. She only become his live-in girlfriend, giving the spin-off the plot they need as the two weren’t married.
Fiance Who?
Minutes
When the producers first proposed the spinoff to Audra Lindley and Norman Fell, it took Norman Fell almost six months to sign onto the project. But in the movie, it shows that he agrees in less than two minutes.
Minutes
Not My Cup of Tea
Don Knotts has always said that he would never dress like his character, Mr. Furley, does in that crazy clothing style. However whenever he shows up to discuss joining the cast, he is also seen wearing an outfit just like Ralph Furley would wear.
Not My Cup of Tea
Silverman
After it becomes public that Fred Silverman (programming chief) left NBC, you can see the new president’s name displayed on the door. Then in the very next shot, you can see that Fred Silverman’s name tag has just reappeared on the door.
Silverman
Blue or Pink?
After the missed tapings, the actors receive a blue and a pink copy, one is intended for us if Suzanne Somers shows up and one if she doesn’t. However, when she does enter the room, she receives both copies as well…when she should have only been given the one copy with her in it, not both of them. Yikes.
Blue Or Pink?
Not Even Close
During the final scenes of the television show and the movie, none of the actors in the movie are wearing anything close to what the trio did in the final episode. Odd.
Not Even Close
Copy Cat
In season 4 during the scene where Janet is explaining Jack’s absence to the cop, she says, “It could be days, weeks before he comes back”. Well, she also said the exact same line to the FBI agents in Jack on the Lam.
Copy Cat
Bumpy
Things got a bit bumpy in Season 7 Episode 1 titled rightly so, A Night Not to Remember. You can clearly see John Ritter bans his head on the table as he is sliding down underneath it at the end of the restaurant scene. Later he mentioned that it actually knocked him unconscious and he performed the rest of the show with a visible welt on his temple. Ouch.
Bumpy
Not Mine
The movie takes place between 1977 and 1984, but there are just so many errors of things that pop up in the scenes during the time period. Many current things of now appear, like cell phones, certain newspaper headlines that couldn’t have happened then, and others.
Not Mine
College Life
During Season 8, Episode 21: Friends and Lovers, there’s a bit of a goof that happens. Vicki’s father asks Jack where exactly he went to school and Jack replies San Diego High. But he must have forgotten that he went to cooking school at LA Technical College.
College Life
Oh, Hey
During Season 8 Episode 4: Out on a Limb, something rather funny but embarrassing happens. After Jack leaves Terri in Miss Fitsimmons to set out to distract her. You can see that as Jack is closing the door, you start to see stoop down and crawl past the window in the bushes.
Oh, Hey
About That Number
When they show the filming of the series finale, Terri turns off the light and closes the door to apartment 201. However in the movie, Jack turns off the light and closes the door to apartment number 291.
About That Number
What’s In A Name.
The names that some of the other roommates suggested for the restaurant are hilarious – such as, La Grande Cuisine (Janet), Babette’s (Larry), Voulez Vous(Terri), Froggy’s (Mr. Furley), and Gay Paree (Mr. Furley).
What’s In A Name.
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
So during Season 8 Episode 2, titled She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, there is a wire seen that isn’t supposed to be. When Larry (and later Jack) fall into the lake from the boat, you can clearly see a mysterious wire that is attaching the boat to the dock so it doesn’t move too fast. Sloppy.
She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not
Answering Machine
In Season 7 Episode 3: Diamond Jack, we have the case of a rather peculiar answering machine. You see it was in this episode that the roommates get an answering machine but you never see it again in the series!
Answering Machine
Oops
Whoopys, during the examination scene in the Doctor’s office of season 6, episode 20, Jack mistakenly calls Janet as Mrs. Fordwick instead of Mrs. Foster. This mistake even draws some minor laugh from the audience.
Oops
