I've wondered for a while why the producers did not bring back some of the past cast members for the final episode (after all Mickey Ross and Bernie West had writing credits for the first time in several years)? Obviously the bridges with Suzanne had been burned, but it would have been nice to see The Ropers, Cindy (who was just a few miles away at UCLA!), or even Lana come back for the wedding! Does anyone know if they were even asked? Or why they weren't?

I've wondered for a while why the producers did not bring back some of the past cast members for the final episode (after all Mickey Ross and Bernie West had writing credits for the first time in several years)? Obviously the bridges with Suzanne had been burned, but it would have been nice to see The Ropers, Cindy (who was just a few miles away at UCLA!), or even Lana come back for the wedding! Does anyone know if they were even asked? Or why they weren't?


It wouldn;t have made sense for Lana to be there because she was only on the series briefly in season 4. Plus Lana was not one of janet's friends so it was no need for her to be at the wedding. Now the Ropers could have been there and Cindy, but defintely not Lana

The producers were more concerned with creating Three's A Crowd then worrying about a proper final.

I want to know why her sister and her parents wern't there

The producers were more concerned with creating Three's A Crowd then worrying about a proper final.


Exactly!

Yeah and Three's a Crowd didn't even last that long.

The producers were more concerned with creating Three's A Crowd then worrying about a proper final.


Well it couldn't be a complete and total closeout of the Three's Company because of like you said, they were continuing with the life of Jack tripper. So to me it wasn;t a real finale, it was just the other three's company characters being written off so they could continue with season 9 of the show which only focused on Jack and new characters

Actually Cindy wouldn't want to come.It's said that the reason she never came back is because she was mad at Janet for what Janet did to her at the Beagle

Actually Cindy wouldn't want to come.It's said that the reason she never came back is because she was mad at Janet for what Janet did to her at the Beagle



For the last time, SHE WAS NOT MAD AT JANET. Cindy was just a little surprised at Janet's new attitude and she said to herself-"Well I see you around" Her exit from the beagle never showed she was upset.

Yea that wouldn't make much sense because everybody else forgave Janet for her attitude. You would think that Cindy would too.

The producers were more concerned with creating Three's A Crowd then worrying about a proper final.
That's exactly what I was going to say.

Actually Cindy wouldn't want to come.It's said that the reason she never came back is because she was mad at Janet for what Janet did to her at the Beagle
Since Cindy basically disappeared and there was never really a formal reason for her departure, many people use the idea of her being angry with Janet as the reason why she left and never came back, but this isn't the actual reason. There was never a reason given as to why Cindy never returned (we all know the reasons behind the scenes, but for the actual character there is no real explanation).

That's exactly what I was going to say.


Since Cindy basically disappeared and there was never really a formal reason for her departure, many people use the idea of her being angry with Janet as the reason why she left and never came back, but this isn't the actual reason. There was never a reason given as to why Cindy never returned (we all know the reasons behind the scenes, but for the actual character there is no real explanation).



I guess the only explanation we can use is that she met new people at UCLA and didn't have time to go back to APT 201 with all her studying and new friends

Since Cindy basically disappeared and there was never really a formal reason for her departure, many people use the idea of her being angry with Janet as the reason why she left and never came back, but this isn't the actual reason. There was never a reason given as to why Cindy never returned (we all know the reasons behind the scenes, but for the actual character there is no real explanation).
That would've been the only true reason why she didn't return.Like they should've had one of the characters say that CIndy wasn't gonna come back,then gave the reason.It's just like CHrissy.No one knew why she didn't come back also.The two characters just disappeared and never came back without anyone knowing why

That would've been the only true reason why she didn't return.Like they should've had one of the characters say that CIndy wasn't gonna come back,then gave the reason.It's just like CHrissy.No one knew why she didn't come back also.The two characters just disappeared and never came back without anyone knowing why


Cindy enrolled in UCLA which is why we saw less and less of her. Then she probably met new friend and just didn't find the time to visit the trio.

They should'ing like that.They should've had CIndy call them and tell them that she met some new friends and won't be able to visit that much which the trio might've understood

That's exactly what I was going to say.


Since Cindy basically disappeared and there was never really a formal reason for her departure, many people use the idea of her being angry with Janet as the reason why she left and never came back, but this isn't the actual reason. There was never a reason given as to why Cindy never returned (we all know the reasons behind the scenes, but for the actual character there is no real explanation).
Its sorta like what happened with Lana. I always assumed the reason she dissapeared was because she thought something was going on between Jack and Janet and Chrissy.

I've wondered for a while why the producers did not bring back some of the past cast members for the final episode (after all Mickey Ross and Bernie West had writing credits for the first time in several years)? Obviously the bridges with Suzanne had been burned, but it would have been nice to see The Ropers, Cindy (who was just a few miles away at UCLA!), or even Lana come back for the wedding! Does anyone know if they were even asked? Or why they weren't?

The producers didn't think to bring back any of these characters for the finale since the actors who played these parts were screwed over by them. Plus, it didn't matter to the producers whether Janet Wood got her due with including her family there. To them, John Ritter was the show and that's what their focus was on. They tried to explain the spin-off as not really the end of Three's Company but as a continuation of the show that evolved into Jack Tripper living with his girlfriend.

I guess they thought that since All in the Family was successful somewhat when it 'evolved' (or, in my opinion, spun-off) into Archie Bunker's Place, the same could be done with Three's Company. The other characters were considered expendable and unimportant in their eyes when compared to Jack Tripper and they thought that by surrounding Jack with a new supporting cast, the old roommates/landlords/friends would be forgotten.

It was really distasteful, unfair, cruel and unprofessional on their part to treat their original ensemble of actors that way and I'm kind of glad they fell flat on their faces. The producers didn't deserve to have another hit on their hands given the way they did business before. It was about time that they were given their comeuppance...

Ed

The issue of bringing back past characters for the final episode has been discussed many times before. Below is a posting I made on this board nearly two years ago.

-------------------------------

Assuming that everything in the TV-movie "Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Three's Company" depicted the real-life situation correctly, then it becomes very obvious why Chrissy could not realistically appear in the final episode. The producers disliked Suzanne Somers so much and vice versa that there was no way the two sides could ever cooperate to do another episode ever again.

To a lesser extent, the same thing may be said of Norman Fell and Audra Lindley for being deceived into thinking that their spinoff would do well, and maybe even of Jenilee Harrison for being written out of the show. I think it's very difficult for any actor/actress to depart on good terms with the producers if they are written out of the show. It's almost like being being fired. What employee departs on good terms with a firm that fires them?

Of course, from the viewers point of view it's always good to see old characters return one last time. And if the producers really wanted to yield to the sentimental wishes of their loyal audience, I think the least they could have done was to hire lookalike actors and actresses for the role of past characters. Of course, it will never be as good as the originals, but it's probably better than nothing. I know of at least two sitcoms that had different people playing the same character, and it didn't produce that much of a difference:

1. Roseanne: Both Alicia Goranson and Sarah Chalke played Becky Connor.

2. Baywatch: First Brandon Call, and then Jeremy Jackson played Hobie Buchanon.

While we are talking about this subject, below is another posting I made two years ago that I think would be appropriate for this thread.

---------------------------------

Many of you on this thread mention how great it would have been if the main cast members who left (Chrissy, Cindy, Mr. & Mrs. Roper, Lana) would have rerturned one last time for the Sitcom finale. I totally agree with that. But I think in the end it all depends on whether the both the producers and the actor/actress is willing to return for the finale. Also, this is dependant on assuming the producers know that it is a finale as some sitcoms did produce a final episode, but it obviously was not a finale.

Below, I have compiled a list of long-running series finales in which the main past cast members (usually those who appeared when the show first started) returned for the last episode, and another list of sitcoms that did not bring back the cast member. As you can see, there are a lot more sitcoms that did NOT bring back main past cast members, so Three's Company definitely was not alone. I admire those sitcoms that were able to bring back all the original cast members for a final reunion in the grand finale.

:) Sitcoms in which past cast members returned for the finale

1. Cheers - Shelley Long as Diane Chambers returned.

2. Growing Pains - Tracey Gold as Carol Seaver returned for the final few episodes despite her battle with anorexia.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Despite being killed off, Denise Crosby returned as Tasha Yar in a skillfully written finale.

4. Dallas - Several past characters.

5. The Wonder Years - Olivia D'Abo returned as Karen in the finale.


:confused: Sitcoms in which past cast members did NOT return in the finale

1. Home Improvement - Jonathan Taylor Thomas never returned as Randy in the final episode even though he was well liked by many. Neither did Pamela Anderson as Lisa, the first tool-time girl.

2. Cosby Show - Lisa Bonet did not return as the second daughter, Denise, in the finale.

3. Family Matters - the youngest daughter, Judy, was written out of the series and never returned.

4. Diff'rent Strokes - Dana Plato as Kimberley missed many episodes in the last season including the finale, as did the past housekeepers.

5. Married...With Children - Steve was not in the finale.

6. Beverly Hills 90210 - Shannen Doherty as Brenda was not in the finale.

7. The Facts of Life - I don't think Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Garrett was in the final episode.

:confused: Sitcoms in which past cast members did NOT return in the finale

1. Home Improvement - Jonathan Taylor Thomas never returned as Randy in the final episode even though he was well liked by many. Neither did Pamela Anderson as Lisa, the first tool-time girl.

5. Married...With Children - Steve was not in the finale.

Home Improvement:JTT still made an appearance in a christmas episode.ALso,Pamela Anderson appeared in one episode after she left

Married...With Children:Steve appeared in MANY of episodes after he left

If we're talking about characters that were missed but never appeared in the finale,Sasha Mitchell,who played Cody(my all time favorite character on the show),made a guest appearance when he gave everybody gifts,but still didn't appear in the finale.

Man,we're talking about other shows in a TC message board.Yikes:eek:

To get back on the topic,it would've been great to see The Ropers in the finale.I would've liked to see the look on Roper's face when he finds out that Jack isn't gay after all

Home Improvement:JTT still made an appearance in a christmas episode.ALso,Pamela Anderson appeared in one episode after she left

For the record, Home Improvement wanted desperately for Jonathan Taylor Thomas to appear in the finale. So did Tim Allen. Jonathan Taylor Thomas simply refused to. He didn't think it would be good for his career (what stupid logic is that?) and he wanted more money for it. I remember Patricia Richardson stating in an interview that, while she didn't hold a grudge against JTT for not appearing, she was disappointed and replied that she thinks JTT isn't always given the best advice for his career (meaning she thought it wouldn't have tarnished his career to appear in the finale). Just thought this should be mentioned in case no one knew the circumstances of why JTT was AWOL for the finale.

Married...With Children:Steve appeared in MANY of episodes after he left

If we're talking about characters that were missed but never appeared in the finale,Sasha Mitchell,who played Cody(my all time favorite character on the show),made a guest appearance when he gave everybody gifts,but still didn't appear in the finale.

Just so we're clear, Chain Gang Member is referring to the show that Suzanne Somers later starred in called Step By Step. This was the show that Sasha Mitchell played Cody.

Man,we're talking about other shows in a TC message board.Yikes:eek:

To get back on the topic,it would've been great to see The Ropers in the finale.I would've liked to see the look on Roper's face when he finds out that Jack isn't gay after all

So would I, but again, they were screwed over by the producers, so who knows if they'd agree to come back. They did, however, do that guest appearance on Three's Company where they met Mr. Furley and Cindy, and this was AFTER their show The Ropers was cancelled. So perhaps they would've been willing to appear. I think they simply weren't asked. It was clear at this point that the producers didn't even value the current cast of Three's Company, so it's not too much of a stretch to consider they thought even less of those cast members who were no longer on the show...

:(

Ed

The issue of bringing back past characters for the final episode has been discussed many times before. Below is a posting I made on this board nearly two years ago.


This is all well and good, but your post wasn't in this thread, so I felt it necessary to address the very points you covered "nearly two years ago". Besides, there are so many threads for every message board that I have absolutely NO intention of looking through them all to see what's been covered and what hasn't. I do have a life after all...

Ed

For the record, Home Improvement wanted desperately for Jonathan Taylor Thomas to appear in the finale. So did Tim Allen. Jonathan Taylor Thomas simply refused to. He didn't think it would be good for his career (what stupid logic is that?) and he wanted more money for it. I remember Patricia Richardson stating in an interview that, while she didn't hold a grudge against JTT for not appearing, she was disappointed and replied that she thinks JTT isn't always given the best advice for his career (meaning she thought it wouldn't have tarnished his career to appear in the finale). Just thought this should be mentioned in case no one knew the circumstances of why JTT was AWOL for the finale.

So would I, but again, they were screwed over by the producers, so who knows if they'd agree to come back. They did, however, do that guest appearance on Three's Company where they met Mr. Furley and Cindy, and this was AFTER their show The Ropers was cancelled. So perhaps they would've been willing to appear. I think they simply weren't asked. It was clear at this point that the producers didn't even value the current cast of Three's Company, so it's not too much of a stretch to consider they thought even less of those cast members who were no longer on the show...

:(

Ed
I wish they did because they could've met Terri:D

Just so we're clear, Chain Gang Member is referring to the show that Suzanne Somers later starred in called Step By Step. This was the show that Sasha Mitchell played Cody.

Whoops:eek3: I forgot to put that in

It would have been nice, but the writers and producers still ended the show great! And it was not just the end of Three's Company, it was the begining of Three's a Crowd.