While The Departures Of Norman,Audra,Annn,Suzanne And Jenilee Never Hurt The Show There Are 2 Departures That Would Hurt The Shows Ratings And That Is John Ritter And Joyce Dewitt. If John Ritter Left His Departure Would Have Killed The Show In Less Then A Month And Would Have Been Cancled.Now Let Stay Joyce Dewitt Left Instead Of Suzanne Somers I Think Her Departure Would Have Hurt The Shows Ratings but Would Have Taken A Little Longer And Three's Company Would Have Been Cancled Shortly.
What Your Opinion?

I think the only one who was irrepaceable was John. The show would have died on the spot. While Joyce was an important part of the show, if she left the show would have went on. Suzanne was more popular back then and the show survived her leaving.

But DeWitt's departure WAS the end of Three's Company! :) It's not just a matter of popularity; Janet WAS Jack's conscience for as long as he lived in 201, and when she left, he HAD to move as well.

I think the only one who was irrepaceable was John. The show would have died on the spot. While Joyce was an important part of the show, if she left the show would have went on. Suzanne was more popular back then and the show survived her leaving.
That's it, in a nutshell. Suzanne was much more popular than Joyce, and the show survived without her. Even today, only solid fans of the show even know Joyce DeWitt's name. I just asked my husband the name of the actress who played Janet, and he had no clue. He said Suzanne Somers name in a split second. That could be due to the fact that Joyce had no career following Three's Company. Joyce was cute and bubbly, but average, in my opinion. I also think she had a tendency to over-act, and was the least funny of the original three.

Without John, there would be no Three's Company. John Ritter was Three's Company, and the only one who was irreplaceable. I missed Suzanne, but continued watching for John.

Without John, there would be no Three's Company. John Ritter was Three's Company, and the only one who was irreplaceable.

Well, to be sticky, one does not make three :)

Obviously Ritter was the star, without dispute. Still, the fact remains that Three's Company without Joyce DeWitt is called "Three's A Crowd". In that sense, the second banana was irreplaceable.

If TC was able to move on without Suzanne Somers (a household name) then certainly without Joyce it could have done the same.

Well, to be sticky, one does not make three :)

Obviously Ritter was the star, without dispute. Still, the fact remains that Three's Company without Joyce DeWitt is called "Three's A Crowd". In that sense, the second banana was irreplaceable.
not really. She was fired basically. The producer's wanted the show to end. The reason for the name change is they wanted a new start and without both girls it wasn't Three's Company anymore. See you can use that same logic with Terri too. If in 1980 Joyce had walked out they could have replaced her with another roommate just as easy. .

If TC was able to move on without Suzanne Somers (a household name) then certainly without Joyce it could have done the same.

I'm not sure. Sometimes it's not a matter of obvious popularity. I think if DeWitt had left but they replaced her with someone else, it would have been a Dick York/Dick Sargent thing all over again, with Elizabeth Montgomery the undisputed star.

I'm not sure. Sometimes it's not a matter of obvious popularity. I think if DeWitt had left but they replaced her with someone else, it would have been a Dick York/Dick Sargent thing all over again, with Elizabeth Montgomery the undisputed star.
I will agree if they recast her like they did Dick York but not if they replaced her. :)

No, I meant bring on another actress as ANOTHER character. Suzanne was fired and they replaced her character. Had for some reason Suzanne was a cooperating woman and Joyce was being the bitch and she was fired, Joyce could easily have been replaced.

John was the star of the show.

I will agree if they recast her like they did Dick York but not if they replaced her. :)


What would be the point of bringing in another character unless it's Janet all over again, even under another name?

Janet was the one who was always showing Jack the sane or "moral" way out. (Yes, I know, even while going nuts herself :) ). She was the true straight man. TC without that isn't really TC anymore; one possibility was what they called Three's A Crowd, I'll agree others were possible. But if they wanted to retain "Three's Company", anyone they cast for the new... Mary character would still have been really unfavorably compared to Janet/DeWitt.

No, I meant bring on another actress as ANOTHER character. Suzanne was fired and they replaced her character. Had for some reason Suzanne was a cooperating woman and Joyce was being the bitch and she was fired, Joyce could easily have been replaced.

John was the star of the show.

I think most casual fans consider Somers' departure the end.

Cf. http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/Threes-Company/Threes-Company-General-Comments/1987

Chrissy was supposed to be the funny, naive, clownish girl. They brought in another actress, changed the character and had her be too similar to Chrissy. Then they brought in Teri who was obviously not playing dumb, was not naive nor clownish. A whole different character.

Well, to be sticky, one does not make three :)
I'm sure you're aware of the terms figuratively and literally speaking. :)

Figuratively speaking, John was Three's Company, and the show could not survive without him. Suzanne was much more popular than Joyce, and the show made it without her. Janet could be replaced, in my opinion.

Figuratively speaking, John was Three's Company, and the show could not survive without him. Suzanne was much more popular than Joyce, and the show made it without her. Janet could be replaced, in my opinion.

The show survived for 22 episodes with Ritter alone.

How much shorter or longer it would have as TC without DeWitt is a moot point. I suspect, about the same length of time. :)

The show survived for 22 episodes with Ritter alone.

How much shorter or longer it would have as TC without DeWitt is a moot point. I suspect, about the same length of time. :)
TC was dying. You are talking about the ninth season ( TAC) compared to the 5th. If Joyce had stayed on the show TC probably only had another 22 episodes anyway. :)

Janet was the one who was always showing Jack the sane or "moral" way out. (Yes, I know, even while going nuts herself :) ). She was the true straight man. TC without that isn't really TC anymore;
Terri was a voice of reason too. Had Janet left, they could have kicked that up a few notches, and figured out who else they wanted to round out the three. I maintain that TC could have survived Janet's departure.

As for the JTS site, I agree that the show took a hit when Suzanne left. I don't think it would have been nearly as bad if Janet left. With all due respect to Janet fans, she's my least favorite character. Bland, generic, vanilla, and not even that good of an actress. She never stopped moving. It was like she had ants in her pants, lol.

TC was dying. You are talking about the ninth season ( TAC) compared to the 5th. If Joyce had stayed on the show TC probably only had another 22 episodes anyway. :)

Even if DeWitt had been the one to go in season 5, I cannot see the show surviving more than one year (to 82 or so). Chrissy (dumb mode), Jack, and Ms. X??? -- Without spinoff/continuation. I could be wrong, though.

With all due respect to Janet fans, she's my least favorite character. Bland, generic, vanilla, and not even that good of an actress. She never stopped moving. It was like she had ants in her pants, lol.

Terri, Jack, and Ms. X??? -- More possible. But then Terri becomes Janet, and, much as you dislike DeWitt, do you really see Barnes doing better?

Even if DeWitt had been the one to go in season 5, I cannot see the show surviving more than one year (to 82 or so). Chrissy (dumb mode), Jack, and Ms. X??? -- Without spinoff/continuation. I could be wrong, though.



Terri, Jack, and Ms. X??? -- More possible. But then Terri becomes Janet, and, much as you dislike DeWitt, do you really see Barnes doing better?
You have to remember that back then Suzanne was a lot more popular than Joyce. I mean when I watched the shows back then she was probably my least favorite. It didn't mean she wasn't important but she was replaceable. After Suzanne left I was more interested in Jack, Larry and Furley. They should have spin them off into another show. They were hilarious. :lol:

and I never said I disliked Joyce because I don't. Just said that she was replaceable. And I could see Terri taking Joyce's place. Janet was too bossy a lot of the time anyway. :)

You have to remember that back then Suzanne was a lot more popular than Joyce. I mean when I watched the shows back then she was probably my least favorite. It didn't mean she wasn't important but she was replaceable. After Suzanne left I was more interested in Jack, Larry and Furley. They should have spin them off into another show. They were hilarious. :lol:

and I never said I disliked Joyce because I don't. Just said that she was replaceable. And I could see Terri taking Joyce's place. Janet was too bossy a lot of the time anyway. :)

I think we've reached stasis. :) :)

Just to clarify, I was replying to you and Janice in the same post -- she's the one who seems not to like Joyce very much :)

If Joyce had left TC, I don't think it would have hurt the show at all. She actually missed an episode during the 3rd season "Stanley's Hotline" and I thought it was one of the best episodes of the series. I don't miss her at all when I watch that episode. I liked the Janet character and she was a big part of TC, but she was certainly replaceable.

The only one who couldn't be replaced is John. He was the star of TC and if he had left, I doubt the show would have lasted a month longer.

Bottom line, as huge a star as Suzanne was, her being fired proved one thing regarding shows that have more than one co-star in a series, ANYONE CAN BE REPLACED, even a supposed star like Suzanne. I think it is a lesson in the industry that many have forgotten abt when they think they are larger than life and that a show needs them. Anyone remember David Caruso and Shelley Long?

Joyce DeWitt didn't have the status that Suzanne did, so if Suzanne could be fired and replaced, so could have Joyce, sorry.

Off topic, but I'm curious, does anyone know if John ever missed an episode? I don't recall a show without him.

Nope. John was always there.

Nope. John was always there.
I wish he was still here, Irene. I miss him. I watch the show almost every night, and I still can't believe he's gone. I don't think I'll ever get used to the idea. :(

I wish he was still here, Irene. I miss him. I watch the show almost every night, and I still can't believe he's gone. I don't think I'll ever get used to the idea. :(
I know how you feel. Whenever I had a bad day at school or something, I could always count on John and TC to cheer me up. I still can't believe he's gone.:(

I know how you feel. Whenever I had a bad day at school or something, I could always count on John and TC to cheer me up. I still can't believe he's gone.:(
I know, it's surreal.

Three's Company and The Jefferson's have the best re-watchability factor for me. Seinfeld too.

Three's Company and The Jefferson's have the best re-watchability factor for me. Seinfeld too.

Well, surely the magic rewatchability of the show has something to do with the whole cast.... And maybe we shouldn't speculate on who is replaceable and who is not. :)

I don't know if the show could have lasted without Joyce on it. Her character kept the show from getting too crazy. Yes she can be a little hyper sometimes but I liked her when she was a mother figure around Chrissy. I also liked it when you can tell Joyce and Priscilla were close friends in real life because you can tell it when you see them on the show. I thought it was real cute. :)

Well, surely the magic rewatchability of the show has something to do with the whole cast.... And maybe we shouldn't speculate on who is replaceable and who is not. :)
Well, that's the topic of the thread, so I gave my opinion. Perhaps you shouldn't participate in a thread, if the subject matter bothers you. :)

Sorry to say, but Janet has nothing to do with the re-watchability factor for me. Again, no disprespect to Janet/Joyce fans, but I'm coming clean here and now, I never could stand Janet's character. Lousy actress, average looks, annoyingly hyper, and that's what I like about her. I'm kidding with that last line, lol. There's a reason Joyce never had an acting career, and it's because she's a mediocre actress, at best. She could handle a lightweight role on TC, but Joyce wasn't destined for the big screen. She seems like a nice enough person, although what's up with that grudge holding deal? Getting close to three decades now.

One thing I've never understood is why people get upset if others don't like their favorite actors, singers or TV shows. I've seen people lose it when someone knocks their show. I almost saw tears when I criticized a Beatle. I honestly couldn't care less if anyone hates one of my favorite shows, singers, or actors. I'll defend someone I like against lies, but I don't care if someone doesn't like them.

I love The Sopranos. I never missed a single episode in its 8 and a half year run. Now, if someone told me that they hated that show, and listed 100 reasons why, I'd laugh or shrug it off. I don't need anyone else's opinion to validate mine. We all like what we like, and don't like what we don't like. I'll never understand why adults get upset over that. It actually cracks me up, lol.

Well, that's the topic of the thread, so I gave my opinion. Perhaps you shouldn't participate in a thread, if the subject matter bothers you. :)

Um, just to clarify. I meant that if so many of us think that the show is so excellently rewatchable, that probably says something about how indispensable all of the main characters were, at least at one time or another. I'm sorry, I don't do irony or sarcasm very well: nothing said above bothered me, and for my part I hope I didn't offend. :) :) :)

I know, it's surreal.

Three's Company and The Jefferson's have the best re-watchability factor for me. Seinfeld too.
I know over time you have mentioned how much John's death has affected you. I grew up watching TC during its first run and of course, during syndication. It was right up there with I Love Lucy as far as rewatchability. I was stunned, shocked and saddened to hear of John's death.

If anything, I am so glad we have the DVD's and reruns so we can watch John over and over again. He made me laugh so much, I would cry. He was excellent at physical comedy and Lucille Ball said it best when she described him as another Buster Keaton. What an honor that must have been to John.

In my opinion and I know it is beyond fact, the show was nothing without John. He was irreplaceable. We could easily see how the characters such as the Ropers and Chrissy Snow could be replaced, but that is because they were co-stars. John was the star. ;)

Um, just to clarify. I meant that if so many of us think that the show is so excellently rewatchable, that probably says something about how indispensable all of the main characters were, at least at one time or another. I'm sorry, I don't do irony or sarcasm very well: nothing said above bothered me, and for my part I hope I didn't offend. :) :) :)
None taken, my friend. :cheers:

But DeWitt's departure WAS the end of Three's Company! :) It's not just a matter of popularity; Janet WAS Jack's conscience for as long as he lived in 201, and when she left, he HAD to move as well.


:clap: :clap: :clap: :rock:

Totally agree...There is NO Jack without Janet and no Janet without Jack!!!

:clap: :clap: :clap: :rock:

Totally agree...There is NO Jack without Janet and no Janet without Jack!!!
Sure there is. Jack stood on his own and needed NOBODY. He was a force of nature. Now Janet on the other hand, she needed Jack to shine.