I don't understand why Season 5's opening wasn't redone or edited to include Jenilee Harrison in the credits even if they had to keep Suzanne Somers in them since she was still on contract.

I don't understand why Season 5's opening wasn't redone or edited to include Jenilee Harrison in the credits even if they had to keep Suzanne Somers in them since she was still on contract.


Because Jenilee was a late season addition and was credited as a guest not a cast member. Not until season 6.

Then also, why was it decided that Priscilla Barnes (Terri) would become their new roommate at the start of season 6, but Cindy was kept on the show until the end of that year? Had they signed Jenilee Harrison to a contract but decided they wanted someone different to play the third roommate?

Solomon Explained it pretty well, but I am going to put into more details.

First Question-The Stunt Suzanne Somers pulled at the begining of Season 5 came at the worst time possible, First off there was a Actor's Strike from July-Octorber 1980 causing Three's Company to be delayed for 2 months until Octorber. In July 1980 Suzanne asked ABC and the Producers for a raise from 30,000 dolloars to 150,000 dollars, The Producers Refuse her request for that Ridiculously Large Raise, the show did not cost that much and only John could get that amount anyway. they offered Suzanne a smaller rasie but she turned it down. When the cast returned in Octorber for filming thing got worst when Unexpectedly Suzanne did not show up, Causing the the Producers to Cancle and Scrap episodes and even delaying one until she came back, one of the final straws came when they were shooting a episode on a Saturday but bcause she couldn't come the cast agreed to come on their day off and shoot the episode but that next day which was a sunday, Suzanne did not show up and John and Joyce were Furious, The Producers and ABC Were also Angry, John and Joyce no longer wanted to be on the same sets with her and the Producers wanted to Fire Suzanne but ABC wanted to keep her because they were afraid they would lose ratings so the Producers decided to keep Suzanne and have her for 1 minute only at the each of one episode But ABC did not want to have another episoder of only John and Joyce, so the producers brought in Jennilee to replace Suzanne as Cindy to live with Jack and Janet, it was to late in the season to film another opening and they also thought that Suzanne would drop her demand for money but she didn't and it got worst also they were afraid they would lose viewers if they saw Jennilee and not Suzanne at all and by season end Suzanne was let go.

Second Question- Cindy was not as popluar as Chrissy which was why they brought in terri also they wanted a different type of blonde. Jennilee was in the Season 6 Opening because the Producers wanted to keep Cindy in Season 6, Just in case Viewers did not like Terri. so if they had to give Terri the booth they could Bring Cindy right back without having to explain why Cind was back after not being seen for 20 episopdes.

You can tell in season 6 with the addition of Priscilla Barnes as Terri, the cast seems so much happier. I'm sure there was less hostility on the set with Suzanne Somers finally officially gone.

Thanks for your replies. You said only John could get that kind of salary--so was John Ritter getting $100,000 plus per episode? as well as 10% ownership of the show?? I can see why Suzanne would have wanted more than $30,000 if that were the case, but I don't know why her husband thought she deserved 10% ownership of the show especially if no other cast members had such a thing.

You can tell in season 6 with the addition of Priscilla Barnes as Terri, the cast seems so much happier. I'm sure there was less hostility on the set with Suzanne Somers finally officially gone.

Thanks for your replies. You said only John could get that kind of salary--so was John Ritter getting $100,000 plus per episode? as well as 10% ownership of the show?? I can see why Suzanne would have wanted more than $30,000 if that were the case, but I don't know why her husband thought she deserved 10% ownership of the show especially if no other cast members had such a thing.
No he was getting 50,000. I Believe Joyce had more then Suuzanne also.

No he was getting 50,000. I Believe Joyce had more then Suuzanne also.

No I believe Joyce made the same amount as Suzanne. According to "Come and Knock On Your Door" book, Joyce had a parity agreement with ABC that ensured that she get exactly what Suzanne got. And when Hamel asked for $150,00 for Suzanne Ted Bergman said, "You've got to be kidding $150,000? that means that we have to give Joyce the same amount."

No I believe Joyce made the same amount as Suzanne. According to "Come and Knock On Your Door" book, Joyce had a parity agreement with ABC that ensured that she get exactly what Suzanne got. And when Hamel asked for $150,00 for Suzanne Ted Bergman said, "You've got to be kidding $150,000? that means that we have to give Joyce the same amount."
That right.

This whole thing seems so ridiculous. I can understand someone wanting a raise, but what made Suzanne and her husband think Suzanne was the star of the show? I sure never thought she was or that Chrissy's naive/dumb lines were always that funny. Betty White's naive Rose Nylund character on Golden Girls was far better.

I remember Joan Collins had a similar dispute with Dynasty over her salary in the Fall of 1985 and she was absent from the season opener. Her demands for $60,000 an episode were eventually met (which makes Suzanne asking for $150,000 per episode in 1980 even more insane). The producers knew though how valuable Alexis was to the show which I have to agree Dynasty couldn't have been as popular without her. However, I think Three's Company did quite well without Suzanne Somers and Chrissy Snow. I guess Suzanne felt she was fairly paid when she did Step By Step since I don't recall reading about any disputes with that show.

^ I also think Suzanne's Three's Company experience humbled her by the time Step By Step came along. Plus, she knew she wasn't the only big name on the show - Patrick Duffy was just coming off 13 successful years on Dallas.

Speaking of Dallas, Larry Hagman was ready to walk unless they gave him a huge raise and more creative input on the show. They were ready to give the role to Robert Culp (after a "plastic surgery on his face" storyline), but ultimately TPTB realized that Larry Hagman was irreplaceable. The rest is history.

I guess Suzanne sort of made herself more famous by pulling her contract negotiation stunts since they are still talked about today nearly 30 years later. Longtime fans of the show can't help remember the ordeal when they watch the reruns and DVD episodes and see Chrissy's phone calls from home during her final season.