Hi!
I don't mean to cause any trouble, so please don't think I want any kind of argument. I've been reading the posts around here and I see most people have a bone to pick(so to speak) with the Behind the Cameras movie, so I just thought I would ask this question.

How could Suzanne honestly say that she invented Chrissy Snow?

Really now, she was coached and guided throughout her performances, the movie shows John and Joyce helping her, the director helps her, even the blooper reels on the DVDs show how they had to keep after her to perform. Her laugh was an accident on Suzanne's part because she was laughing so hard at John. Her signature hair style was to cover another accident when she was bleaching her hair. Writers told her what to say. How can she say she created Chrissy when she had so much help?:confused:

Hi!
I don't mean to cause any trouble, so please don't think I want any kind of argument. I've been reading the posts around here and I see most people have a bone to pick(so to speak) with the Behind the Cameras movie, so I just thought I would ask this question.

How could Suzanne honestly say that she invented Chrissy Snow?

Really now, she was coached and guided throughout her performances, the movie shows John and Joyce helping her, the director helps her, even the blooper reels on the DVDs show how they had to keep after her to perform. Her laugh was an accident on Suzanne's part because she was laughing so hard at John. Her signature hair style was to cover another accident when she was bleaching her hair. Writers told her what to say. How can she say she created Chrissy when she had so much help?:confused:
A lot of actors think the characters are their creation. Fred Berry made it his life and even changed his name to Rerun. The writers created the character as they do on all shows but it's the actors that bring it to life. I can understand why Suzanne would think that. She was wrong of course because just like other shows the Producers can fire you and hire another actor to replace you and they would play the same character.

But then again suzanne was convinced that she was the star of the show as well, and didnt allan try to pump her up with alot of hot air, its not the producers of the show that were suzannes problem it was allan hamil, she should have just dumped the creep, and i believed the show was made up of john joyce and suzanne so it was the 3 that were the stars togather, not just her.

But then again suzanne was convinced that she was the star of the show as well, and didnt allan try to pump her up with alot of hot air, its not the producers of the show that were suzannes problem it was allan hamil, she should have just dumped the creep, and i believed the show was made up of john joyce and suzanne so it was the 3 that were the stars togather, not just her.
I think their problem was that they were believing their own publicity. Suzanne was the most visable star on the show back then She was everywhere.. She even overshadowed John at times. The problem was John was the one person on the show that couldn't have been replaced. He was the star.

I think their problem was that they were believing their own publicity. Suzanne was the most visable star on the show back then She was everywhere.. She even overshadowed John at times. The problem was John was the one person on the show that couldn't have been replaced. He was the star.

I want to shake your hand on that one! I couldn't agree with you more! :)

Hi!
I don't mean to cause any trouble, so please don't think I want any kind of argument. I've been reading the posts around here and I see most people have a bone to pick(so to speak) with the Behind the Cameras movie, so I just thought I would ask this question.

How could Suzanne honestly say that she invented Chrissy Snow?


Oh my lord, what a troublemaker! :lol: kidding. :)

Serioulsy, I never understood that either. That drives me crazy when she says she created the character. Alan was really screwing up her career and she was making it worse by trying to claim the character as her own. Did she think it would help her? Obviously, it didn't.

Suzanne Somers actually caused a lot of trouble behind the scenes of TC that we all will never know about, even with the TV movie. She was pitched as the bubble-head sex kitten, and, yes, that sexiness (back then) overshadowed John Ritter, who was the real star of the show. She got the preverbial "big head" because of that & in hers & her husbands minds, SHE was the real star of the show. I read somewhere that she got paid $30,000 per episode back then & demanded a pay increase of $150,000 per episode plus 10% of the shows profits!!! That was totally unheard of back in 1980-81!! So the producers "forced" her to honor her contract with the 1-2 minute phone tags until they could replace her- then she was fired. I've read where most people say that she is their favorite character on the show. This is crazy, because she got dumber & dumber after season 2. The ONLY reason she is considered most people's favorite is quite simply the sex kitten , bomb shell image. She's pretty & all that stuff, but, she is my least fave charactor because of the total silliness that her charactor projected & also the behind the scenes turmoil she started that broke up the original cast.

Suzanne Somers actually caused a lot of trouble behind the scenes of TC that we all will never know about, even with the TV movie. She was pitched as the bubble-head sex kitten, and, yes, that sexiness (back then) overshadowed John Ritter, who was the real star of the show. She got the preverbial "big head" because of that & in hers & her husbands minds, SHE was the real star of the show. I read somewhere that she got paid $30,000 per episode back then & demanded a pay increase of $150,000 per episode plus 10% of the shows profits!!! That was totally unheard of back in 1980-81!! So the producers "forced" her to honor her contract with the 1-2 minute phone tags until they could replace her- then she was fired. I've read where most people say that she is their favorite character on the show. This is crazy, because she got dumber & dumber after season 2. The ONLY reason she is considered most people's favorite is quite simply the sex kitten , bomb shell image. She's pretty & all that stuff, but, she is my least fave charactor because of the total silliness that her charactor projected & also the behind the scenes turmoil she started that broke up the original cast.
ummm don't tell me I'm crazy because I like her. The sex kitten thing was only part of it. I also think her character's very funny and when I originally watched it , it was because of her and Jack, Janet was my least favorite character of the original; cast. Her character was boring. That's not to say that she wasn't important to the show or that I don't like Joyce. I just get tired of people going on about Suzanne like that. Yes she had a swelled head, and she acted like a bitch ,everybody knows that, but it was 26 years ago. I think a lot of people are just going to take their hatred of her to the grave.

True. And look who has a career today and who doesn't. I stopped watching TC faithfully when Suzanne left. I'm GAY, so it wasn't for her jiggle, lol. I just enjoyed her ditzy character. And SS was sooo charasmatic - that's something she brought to the character that Jennilee and Priscilla were NOT able to dupilcate. And annoying Janet was cute in her own way, but sorry, yawn. To me, it seemed the BOYS club wanted John to be the star and catered to HIM. SS was the star of that show ALONG with John, but the ROPERS, and later, Mr. Furley were GREAT too. The show just had everything going...great cast, writers, direction, and then, like most shows, it just got OLD....especially after Chrissy left. Just My OPINION.

ummm don't tell me I'm crazy because I like her. The sex kitten thing was only part of it. I also think her character's very funny and when I originally watched it , it was because of her and Jack, Janet was my least favorite character of the original; cast. Her character was boring. That's not to say that she wasn't important to the show or that I don't like Joyce. I just get tired of people going on about Suzanne like that. Yes she had a swelled head, and she acted like a bitch ,everybody knows that, but it was 26 years ago. I think a lot of people are just going to take their hatred of her to the grave.


It took me a long time to get over it but i'm glad I did. I always liked Chrissy and Suzanne did a great job with this character. It's hard to hate somebody you don't know, especially Suzanne. Like you said, it's been over 25 years since this happened. It's time to get over it.

BTW: Welcome to the TC board alicefan4vr.

To I Walk The Line -I wasn't meaning anything wrong or implying that you are crazy for liking Suzanne Somers. I just meant that she got the big head & thought she was the real star of the show. Which isn't true, in the least, & everyone knows this. And she did get sillier after season 2. The total silliness deminished her character, somewhat (to me), But then again, we are all entitled to our own opinions by the 1st Amendment- & I really like Suzanne Somers myself, it was just the big head, behind the scenes turmoil (or "misunderstandings", get it) that ensued. And yes, it is 25 years ago, it's water under the bridge, & should be let go. Also, I actually liked some of the SBS shows in the '90's. And BTW, Joyce DeWitt's character was the level-headed "straight-man" role that kept everyone else grounded, in a since. I guess nearly every "straight-man's" role in the history of TV is considered boring, though, huh?? But I meant no offense at all.

Thank you,
jacktripper1

To I Walk The Line -I wasn't meaning anything wrong or implying that you are crazy for liking Suzanne Somers. I just meant that she got the big head & thought she was the real star of the show. Which isn't true, in the least, & everyone knows this. And she did get sillier after season 2. The total silliness deminished her character, somewhat (to me), But then again, we are all entitled to our own opinions by the 1st Amendment- & I really like Suzanne Somers myself, it was just the big head, behind the scenes turmoil (or "misunderstandings", get it) that ensued. And yes, it is 25 years ago, it's water under the bridge, & should be let go. Also, I actually liked some of the SBS shows in the '90's. And BTW, Joyce DeWitt's character was the level-headed "straight-man" role that kept everyone else grounded, in a since. I guess nearly every "straight-man's" role in the history of TV is considered boring, though, huh?? But I meant no offense at all.

Thank you,
jacktripper1
No that's okay. I guess I took your comments as being offensive. I agree with you about a lot of that. I do think they dumbed her character down to much, and I did enjoy her a lot more in the early years then the later ones although their was a few like Chrissy's Hospitality that 's still one of my favorites. I've always tried to seperate the actor's from their character too. Their are a lot of stars in Hollywood with swelled heads and a lot of them do stupid things and if I stopped enjoying their work because of it, I probably wouldn't be watching to much tv or movies. About Joyce, she was a very important part of the show because she provided balance for Jack and Chrissy and the show really needed that. One of my favorite episodes was Good Old Reliable Janet in which she thought she was boring, so that tells you something. :lol:

Anyhow welcome to SO, I didn't mean to go after you last night, it's just that a lot of threads on the TC Board have been made downing Suzanne and it does get old after awhile.

Anyhow welcome to SO, I didn't mean to go after you last night, it's just that a lot of threads on the TC Board have been made downing Suzanne and it does get old after awhile.
I wasn't trying to make her sound like a monster. I know several people do think of her that way, but hey it's their opinion, right? I'm just trying to say that she did have a lot of help with "bringing Chrissy to life" and then she wanted to say she "created/invented" her. As the saying goes, Suzanne was the canvas and Chrissy was the painting, but it was ultimately Chrissy Snow that shone, you know what I mean? People were not necessarily tuning in to see John, Joyce, and Suzanne.....they were tuning in to see Jack, Janet, and Chrissy.;)

Thanks for the welcome! :)

I actually got the chance to produce Suzanne (and Alan) about 7 years ago on a talk show I was producing. I reunited her with the car she drove in American Graffiti. She was a guest on many occasions and always very sweet and professional. Who knows what she is REALLY like? I'd have to think that for two people to be married for this long, and for to have found steady work that she can't be THAT bad. Hmmm?

Thanks for reading. :)

I wasn't trying to make her sound like a monster. I know several people do think of her that way, but hey it's their opinion, right? I'm just trying to say that she did have a lot of help with "bringing Chrissy to life" and then she wanted to say she "created/invented" her. As the saying goes, Suzanne was the canvas and Chrissy was the painting, but it was ultimately Chrissy Snow that shone, you know what I mean? People were not necessarily tuning in to see John, Joyce, and Suzanne.....they were tuning in to see Jack, Janet, and Chrissy.;)


Oh I know. I wasn't talking about you. And I understand that whole thing with Suzanne is a part of TC history, it's just that some people seem to really hate her and yet they've never met her. She was greedy but their's a lot of greedy people in Hollywood. She's not the only one and you're right, we all tuned in to watch Jack, Janet and Chrissy. They were the character we know. As for the actors, we really only know what we hear from the media. And you're right Suzanne did have a lot of help with the character but I'm sure a lot of actors on different television shows do too. The writers create the characters but the actors bring them to life and remember Suzanne was the 3rd person who played the role that eventually became Chrissy so she had to have something for it to work. Anyway I'm sorry if you thought I was talking about you last night. It's more like other people around the board and they know who they are. :)

I think their problem was that they were believing their own publicity. Suzanne was the most visable star on the show back then She was everywhere.. She even overshadowed John at times. The problem was John was the one person on the show that couldn't have been replaced. He was the star.
Thank you I walk the line! I cou ldn't have said it better myself! John was the show. It was his name that you saw first on the screen, not Susanne.:thumbsdow

The only thing that she invented of CHrissy was her snort because she did that on accident but they thought it was funny and decided to use it in the script

John was da Man! :nod:

John was da Man! :nod:

I agree! :)

The show was designed for John Ritter, period!! he was the main star hands down. No matter who was the supporting cast, John made it work. Because of him, that's why the show lasted 8 seasons!!

Obviously Suzanne and her man thought she was the star and the show wouldn't last without her either...HISTORY PROVED THEM BOTH WRONG.

The show was designed for John Ritter, period!! he was the main star hands down. No matter who was the supporting cast, John made it work. Because of him, that's why the show lasted 8 seasons!!

I think that the cast made the show not just JR!! He was the main character of the show but w/out the whole cast the show went under!!!

I think that the cast made the show not just JR!! He was the main character of the show but w/out the whole cast the show went under!!!
They all contributed to the show but I think anyone of them could have been replaced except John. They went on without Suzanne, they went on without The Ropers, they probably could have found other actors to fit in too as replacements. And you can't use TAC as an example because TC was on it's last legs by the time TAC premiered.

They all contributed to the show but I think anyone of them could have been replaced except John. They went on without Suzanne, they went on without The Ropers, they probably could have found other actors to fit in too as replacements. And you can't use TAC as an example because TC was on it's last legs by the time TAC premiered.

I still believe the cast as a whole made the show...and I do go back to TAC!! I think people were used to the old characters even if the show (TC) was doing bad in ratings ....bringing new characters into the show and expecting viewers to get used to and like them like they liked the regular members of the cast was just a dumb idea!!!! Not even John himself pulled it off!!!

I still believe the cast as a whole made the show...and I do go back to TAC!! I think people were used to the old characters even if the show (TC) was doing bad in ratings ....bringing new characters into the show and expecting viewers to get used to and like them like they liked the regular members of the cast was just a dumb idea!!!! Not even John himself pulled it off!!!
TAC was getting crushed by The A-Team early in the season. Ratings were actually getting better by the end of the season, and if it would have got renewed I think it would have been a hit. Growing Pains replace it in that time slot the following year and looked what happened. Plus WTB was getting the same ratings as TAC . It was TAC's lead-in and the following year it burst into the top 10, and the A-Team's ratings were falling by then. Even so TAC still ended up being ranked in the mid 30's and today that would be considered a hit especially for a sitcom.

TAC was getting crushed by The A-Team early in the season. Ratings were actually getting better by the end of the season, and if it would have got renewed I think it would have been a hit. Growing Pains replace it in that time slot the following year and looked what happened. Plus WTB was getting the same ratings as TAC . It was TAC's lead-in and the following year it burst into the top 10, and the A-Team's ratings were falling by then. Even so TAC still ended up being ranked in the mid 30's and today that would be considered a hit especially for a sitcom.

Still IMO if the producers thought he was that great alone then the show should have continued!! And it didn't!! I am not saying John wasn't talented b/c we all know he def. was but he still needed the back up cast!! If the producers would have given the new characters more time it might have helped!!! JMO!

The ratings the show was having would have looked good now b/c there is a lot more on tv....more channels and stuff to watch!

Still IMO if the producers thought he was that great alone then the show should have continued!! And it didn't!! I am not saying John wasn't talented b/c we all know he def. was but he still needed the back up cast!! If the producers would have given the new characters more time it might have helped!!! JMO!

The ratings the show was having would have looked good now b/c there is a lot more on tv....more channels and stuff to watch!
It was just a matter of luck. Their were times late in that season that it was announced in some papers that TAC had been renewed. I was stunned when it was cancelled because it was like a formality that it was going to come back. The producers even leaked a story that Jack and Vicki were going to get married on the season premiere.


I don't know what that has to do with it because if their are more channels today then being ranked around #35 back than is impressive. Plus during that whole 1984-1985 season ,ABC fell in the basement. They had very few hit series . Dynasty and Hotel were the only ABC shows to finish in the top 20. TAC was still one of ABC's better ranked shows.

The whole cast did "make it work". They all did play a very intrical part in 3's Company's success, but John WAS the main character. The show was designed for him. All I said was, no matter who was the supporting cast, John made it work. I'm saying thru ALL the replacements he made it work- because think of this- if John had been replaced, TC would have tanked very quick. ABC could have probably even replaced Janet & still went on, somewhat, because of John. But, then again, it may not have worked, because they had a certain chemistry together. Who knows......