I think that I get that Jennilee Harrison (Cindy) was really always meant to be a stop-gap measure before they could figure out how to truly move on from the drama surrounding Suzanne Somers' departure in Season 5. But in hindsight, was Priscilla Barnes the best option as the permanent new blonde roommate? Barnes was no doubt attractive but in a very mature, and sophisticated way, which felt like the complete opposite of a show like Three's Company. I'm guessing that part of that was intentional as the producers didn't want another cute but goofy, ditsy blonde woman like Chrissy and Cindy.

The main problem with Terri I think is that the writers never seemed to know what to do with her character. Sometimes she was smart and sophisticated, other times dumb and wacky. Terri at the end of the day, just felt like the third wheel to Jack and Janet and not on equal footing so to speak.

Not a chance! She was the best blonde roommate by far! I mean her acting.

She also had one of the most beautiful faces on earth! Her facial features were pretty close to perfection.

To me Priscilla wasn’t the right replacement for Suzanne.

The writers didn't know what to do with her but that wasn't her fault. I think she made the best of the situation. Casting someone too similar to Chrissy Snow would have only invited comparisons to Suzanne.

Having a more sensible blonde gave the show a different dynamic that worked as the actors and the show aged. Would have been weird to have someone in their mid-late 30s be as vapid as Chrissy was by Season 5...

To me Priscilla wasn’t the right replacement for Suzanne.

But she was definitely better than Suzanne. Chrissy's dumb blonde act was getting stale and worn out!

Suzanne HERSELF admitted in an interview once how it might have been best she moved on because they took the Chrissy character as far as they could.

Most everyone admits both Cindy & Terri were breaths of fresh air the show badly needed!

I thought that Priscilla Barnes was great on the show; I absolutely loved Terri.

And the writers did know what to do with her. They made her the "straight man" on the show. In a way, she was a lot like Polly on Fawlty Towers, who was the one "sane" person reacting to all the madness like a normal person but at the same time had her moments of goofiness.

I thought that Priscilla Barnes was great on the show; I absolutely loved Terri.

And the writers did know what to do with her. They made her the "straight man" on the show. In a way, she was a lot like Polly on Fawlty Towers, who was the one "sane" person reacting to all the madness like a normal person but at the same time had her moments of goofiness.

I love Terri, too, but her being the straight man was what made her role confusing because Janet was always the straight man. When Terri came Janet went back and forth from being the sensible one to being the wacky one. Terri was great but was often kind of a bystander who just reacted to stuff.

I wouldn't say so. Terri was my favorite blonde on the show. In fact, I actually saw some of the Terri episodes before watching any with Chrissy or Cindi, and she didn't at all feel out of place.

I thought that Priscilla Barnes was great on the show; I absolutely loved Terri.

And the writers did know what to do with her. They made her the "straight man" on the show. In a way, she was a lot like Polly on Fawlty Towers, who was the one "sane" person reacting to all the madness like a normal person but at the same time had her moments of goofiness.

Me too. I just wish she loved the show back. If she had signed that 5 year deal maybe the producers could've eeked out 1 more season of TC? But Priscilla doesn't hate the show anymore since she's appeared at TV conventions at the TC area. She must know this will be her legacy once she's gone.

She also had the prettiest facial features of any regular on the show. Tori Lysdahl has to be #1 out of EVERYONE who ever appeared on the show though.

I thought she was great! I was having a hard time with Cindy & the whole klutz angle. I was glad Priscilla was brought on as Terri.

I thought she was great! I was having a hard time with Cindy & the whole klutz angle. I was glad Priscilla was brought on as Terri.

Only because she was a relative of chrissy.

If anything Suzanne Somers was miscast. Three's Company would've been just FINE if Priscilla Barnes was the blonde roommate from the start.

Remember it was John Ritter that got the overwhelming majority of laughs on the show and even the producers said there would be NO Three's Company without John!

If anything Suzanne Somers was miscast. Three's Company would've been just FINE if Priscilla Barnes was the blonde roommate from the start.

Remember it was John Ritter that got the overwhelming majority of laughs on the show and even the producers said there would be NO Three's Company without John!

They were trying to maintain the goofy link to chrissy while she was gone. It was easier to have a normal girl added once it was confirmed suzzane somers wasn't coming back

They were trying to maintain the goofy link to chrissy while she was gone. It was easier to have a normal girl added once it was confirmed suzzane somers wasn't coming back

The goofy link was Cindy not Terri since Cindy was Chrissy's cousin. Even Cindy was better than Chrissy. The "dumb blonde" Chrissy character was just AWFUL.

The goofy link was Cindy not Terri since Cindy was Chrissy's cousin. Even Cindy was better than Chrissy. The "dumb blonde" Chrissy character was just AWFUL.

i was saying since the chrissy character was temporarily gone, they used cindy to maintain that dumb blonde link. Once terri started, it was already confirmed suzanne somers was not coming back so it was easier to bring in a new type of blonde. They couldnt do that in season 5 because no one knew how the contract negotiations would turn out so they had another blonde who was.a relative to maintain that dumb blonde roomate until she came back. So they knew it would have been weird to add another dumb blonde after suzanne was no longer around

I don't really think of her as a replacement but she's my favorite out of all of the girls. She was the only one who didn't act ditzy (well, except for Janet). Chrissy and Cindy got on my nerves.

I don't really think of her as a replacement but she's my favorite out of all of the girls. She was the only one who didn't act ditzy (well, except for Janet). Chrissy and Cindy got on my nerves.

yes she was more of an addition

Terri lost her apartment and needed a new one. She likes to save money and make friends. :lol:

I don't really think of her as a replacement but she's my favorite out of all of the girls. She was the only one who didn't act ditzy (well, except for Janet). Chrissy and Cindy got on my nerves.

Cindy goofy ass was the replacement:lol:

Teri being the third room mate on Three's Company reminds me of the third waitress on "Alice" as the "Jolene" character. On Alice, you had "Flo" at the start, then she left in season 4 and was replaced with "Belle" who like "Cindy" on TC was just a little bit like the first and was only in the series for a short time. Then "Belle" was replaced with "Jolene" who like Teri was the much more stable replacement.

Teri being the third room mate on Three's Company reminds me of the third waitress on "Alice" as the "Jolene" character. On Alice, you had "Flo" at the start, then she left in season 4 and was replaced with "Belle" who like "Cindy" on TC was just a little bit like the first and was only in the series for a short time. Then "Belle" was replaced with "Jolene" who like Teri was the much more stable replacement.

Just realized her and Vicky was never in the same scene or had a interaction

I think producers realized they were never going to able to replace Suzanne and the Chrissy character with anyone funnier so they went the other way and just have jack get all the laughs. The Terri character was not funny.

Terri said she wanted to be close to the hospital. That's why she moved in. :lol:

Here is some interesting trivia I never knew before. Priscilla Barnes was the lead in the pilot for She's The Sherriff and then Suzanne Somers took over. And Jenili Harrison guest starred on the show. As well as Don Knotts. Anyone see these episodes? Good to see there weren't any hard feelings between Don and suzanne.

Here is some interesting trivia I never knew before. Priscilla Barnes was the lead in the pilot for She's The Sherriff and then Suzanne Somers took over. And Jenili Harrison guest starred on the show. As well as Don Knotts. Anyone see these episodes? Good to see there weren't any hard feelings between Don and suzanne.

I saw a episode when I was tape trading years ago but I dont think it was with Don Knotts or Jenilee Harrison.

I was just reading that when Suzanne was being ignored by John and Joyce that Don Knotts would still talk to her and be nice to her. Shows what a good person Don Knotts was.

I was just reading that when Suzanne was being ignored by John and Joyce that Don Knotts would still talk to her and be nice to her. Shows what a good person Don Knotts was.

Well he was new, so he didnt have a issue

Just realized her and Vicky was never in the same scene or had a interaction

You mean Terri & Vicky were never even in a scene together?? But they were both there at Janet's wedding!

I think producers realized they were never going to able to replace Suzanne and the Chrissy character with anyone funnier so they went the other way and just have jack get all the laughs. The Terri character was not funny.

WTF?? Being a MORON isn't funny. Unless you have a special talent like Don Knotts did.

Chrissy was NOT funny. Suzanne even admitted she was on the cover of all those magazines due to her sex appeal NOT because she was funny.

I can think of some scenes where Terri was funny. But she wasn't hired to be Jay Leno or another Jack Tripper or something.

I was just reading that when Suzanne was being ignored by John and Joyce that Don Knotts would still talk to her and be nice to her. Shows what a good person Don Knotts was.

Don was known to love the ladies in real life so he was probably hoping he could get some of that tail! :lol:

I thought she was great. Having Chrissy stay for long would have been boring. It was great Terri came along because she was the opposite of Chrissy and it was refreshing.

You mean Terri & Vicky were never even in a scene together?? But they were both there at Janet's wedding!

They never had a interaction

Both Don and Richard Kline thought the producers went overboard in punishing Suzanne with the “Chrissy Minute”.

Both Don and Richard Kline thought the producers went overboard in punishing Suzanne with the “Chrissy Minute”.

They only did that to fulfill her contractual obligation. She signed for so many episodes.

I suppose they could've bought her out or just excused her but they would still have to pay her.

Both Don and Richard Kline thought the producers went overboard in punishing Suzanne with the “Chrissy Minute”.

Don and Richard were right. The producers of that show decided to make a example out of her. It was a different time. You had these old sexist male bosses and they were showing her who's boss. They had a we'll make you or break attitude. If it had been Years later Suzanne would not have been shunned or treated like she was. She couldn't get work in Hollywood for about 4 years. She was blackballed. If she had been male then it would have been a different story.

Don and Richard were right. The producers of that show decided to make a example out of her. It was a different time. You had these old sexist male bosses and they were showing her who's boss. They had a we'll make you or break attitude. If it had been Years later Suzanne would not have been shunned or treated like she was. She couldn't get work in Hollywood for about 4 years. She was blackballed. If she had been male then it would have been a different story.

But they had to fulfill her contractual obligation to be in so many episodes unless they bought her out or something.

Remember John & Joyce were no longer talking to Suzanne so she couldn't be a regular cast member again because that would've created a lot of tension & maybe arguing/fighting so they wanted to avoid that.

I wouldn't say so. Terri was my favorite blonde on the show. In fact, I actually saw some of the Terri episodes before watching any with Chrissy or Cindi, and she didn't at all feel out of place.

tDhXyy3UwQY

Here's my salute to the wonderful actress, Priscilla Barnes, who, for 72 episodes during the early 80's played smart and sexy Terri Alden on the classic television sit-com, "Three's Company".

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0340/2733/9835/products/9b07532c-4d27-5318-be44-400745f689d3_1163x.jpg?v=1587882488

The writers didn't know what to do with her but that wasn't her fault. I think she made the best of the situation. Casting someone too similar to Chrissy Snow would have only invited comparisons to Suzanne.

Having a more sensible blonde gave the show a different dynamic that worked as the actors and the show aged. Would have been weird to have someone in their mid-late 30s be as vapid as Chrissy was by Season 5...

Was Terri the only one of the roommates who really didn't have a distinctive key to her character:

Jack: Horny, desperate, klutzy.

Janet: Sweet, sensible, intelligent.

Chrissy: Dimwitted, naïve, sexy.

Cindy: Even klutzier than Jack, as naïve as Chrissy.


Perhaps Terri was supposed to be pretty, normal, and reasonably intelligent. Or as the cover of People magazine (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=6166330&postcount=37) described her as being "smart, sexy, and sweet".

Was Terri the only one of the roommates who really didn't have a distinctive key to her character:

Jack: Horny, desperate, klutzy.

Janet: Sweet, sensible, intelligent.

Chrissy: Dimwitted, naïve, sexy.

Cindy: Even klutzier than Jack, as naïve as Chrissy.


Perhaps Terri was supposed to be pretty, normal, and reasonably intelligent. Or as the cover of People magazine (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=6166330&postcount=37) described her as being "smart, sexy, and sweet".

You answered the question in your write-up, she did have a distinctive personality, unfortunately it belonged to another character on the show.

Here's the description of Janet in your write-up:

Sweet, sensible, intelligent.

Now look at the description of Terri:

Perhaps Terri was supposed to be pretty, normal, and reasonably intelligent. Or as the cover of People magazine described her as being "smart, sexy, and sweet".

In other words, a blonde Janet, rendering Priscilla's character indistinguishable from Joyce's character. Great for John Ritter who didn't need to be concerned about either one of them taking the spotlight from him.

You answered the question in your write-up, she did have a distinctive personality, unfortunately it belonged to another character on the show.

Here's the description of Janet in your write-up:

Sweet, sensible, intelligent.

Now look at the description of Terri:

Perhaps Terri was supposed to be pretty, normal, and reasonably intelligent. Or as the cover of People magazine described her as being "smart, sexy, and sweet".

In other words, a blonde Janet, rendering Priscilla's character indistinguishable from Joyce's character. Great for John Ritter who didn't need to be concerned about either one of them taking the spotlight from him.

I naturally assume that the main point of Terri (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/13650497-terri-priscilla-barnes-from-three-s-company)'s character was that she was supposed to be the complete opposite of Chrissy. Terri (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/22591202-priscilla-barnes-on-three-s-company-) unlike Chrissy (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/15783185-three-s-company-after-chrissie-the-ropers.) was supposed to be very sophisticated and intellectual (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDhXyy3UwQY). Basically, she wasn't a complete bimbo (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/26679079-why-didn-t-jack-or-janet-ever-acknowledge-the-stroke-chrissy-obviously-suffered-between-seasons-on-three-s-company-) like Chrissy or a goofy klutz like Cindy. I never really thought of Terri (https://jacksonupperco.com/2015/07/14/the-ten-best-threes-company-episodes-of-season-six/) as the "blonde Janet". She was just supposed to be the more "grown up" and professional blonde girl in the apartment unlike the two Snow girls. It was the show's natural way of evolving you could say.

I naturally assume that the main point of Terri (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/13650497-terri-priscilla-barnes-from-three-s-company)'s character was that she was supposed to be the complete opposite of Chrissy. Terri (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/22591202-priscilla-barnes-on-three-s-company-) unlike Chrissy (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/15783185-three-s-company-after-chrissie-the-ropers.) was supposed to be very sophisticated and intellectual (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDhXyy3UwQY). Basically, she wasn't a complete bimbo (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/26679079-why-didn-t-jack-or-janet-ever-acknowledge-the-stroke-chrissy-obviously-suffered-between-seasons-on-three-s-company-) like Chrissy or a goofy klutz like Cindy. I never really thought of Terri (https://jacksonupperco.com/2015/07/14/the-ten-best-threes-company-episodes-of-season-six/) as the "blonde Janet". She was just supposed to be the more "grown up" and professional blonde girl in the apartment unlike the two Snow girls. It was the show's natural way of evolving you could say.

The argument that Terri had to be different than Chrissy is one I think we can agree makes a certain amount of sense. But what doesn't make sense is giving her the same personality as Janet! One of the cornerstones of comedy is contrasting personalities, that's what the show had in the first place. The show advertised it, the physical comic character, Jack TRIPPER, the flaky one Chrissy SNOW, the solid sensible one Janet WOOD, The married couple (they had tied the knot) the ROPERS. A number of things could have been done to differentiate the Terri character from Janet, but that wasn't possible because the focus of the show had to be on John Ritter's character. John demanded it and the producers feeling John was a horse they could win with went along. Priscilla stated at the time it was the worst three years of her life, Joyce felt betrayed by John and the producers.

tDhXyy3UwQY



https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0340/2733/9835/products/9b07532c-4d27-5318-be44-400745f689d3_1163x.jpg?v=1587882488

Maybe it's just my imagination, but does Priscilla wear that same blue dress in the episode "The Impossible Dream" (https://www.google.com/search?q=the+impossible+dream+three%27s+company&oq=The+Impossible+Dream+Three%27s+Company&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyBwgBEC4YgATSAQ4yNzY5NDIxMjVqMGoxNagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) (the one where Larry becomes a singer at Jack's Bistro) from Season 7?

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQH8ymWC8EcRENI9wE7uOfNpRyBTU_dQ_8C3g&usqp=CAU

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODQ5WDYwMA==/z/vAEAAOSweIlhOGNR/$_12.JPG?set_id=880000500F

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/105242641/photo/john-ritter-and-priscilla-barnes-during-press-luncheon-for-threes-company-at-beverly-hilton.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=yOp5rhfDyXtbUqKrCiEl7Uw06fPvrfG7J6s7805CyE4=

It looks the same to me... and she looks good in it. :)

I thought she was great. Having Chrissy stay for long would have been boring. It was great Terri came along because she was the opposite of Chrissy and it was refreshing.

One thing that I think that Terri had that Chrissy maybe didn't is that I could genuinely believe that Terri and Janet would be friends unlike with Chrissy. Maybe it's because I completely don't understand why a reasonably smart and sensible woman like Janet would hang around a girl like Chrissy outside of convenience.

I think Cindy and Terri were excellent replacements. My only complaint they should have kept Cindy on to make up for the loss of Mrs. Roper.

I felt that Suzanne Somers was miscast as Chrissy. She was 34 when she left the show, and she looked it. Wrinkles and crows feet were evident. She was too old to be playing a naive "girl".

I agree. Somers’ age was evident, BUT - by the end, they all looked about 35.

I remember years ago when the “Chrissy Minute” was cut out of every rerun - because they wouldn’t have to pay SS if it were shown in syndication.

I remember years ago when the “Chrissy Minute” was cut out of every rerun - because they wouldn’t have to pay SS if it were shown in syndication.

I love Terri, too, but her being the straight man was what made her role confusing because Janet was always the straight man. When Terri came Janet went back and forth from being the sensible one to being the wacky one. Terri was great but was often kind of a bystander who just reacted to stuff.
**** THIS ****
I agree. I dont think Priscilla was miscast but her role changed the dynamic of the show. However, the scripts started only to feature Jack and the women played supporting roles of being the serious character. So in that sense it worked. But it would have never worked keeping the same dynamic because Jack and Chrissy and Jack and Cindy had slapstick comedy. When Terri came, Jack had to do it alone.
I see what the directors/producers were going for. They did not want another dumb blonde and look at it as a Chrissy replacement. They went in a different direction completely.

I wouldn’t say Priscilla was miscast, but her character was most definitely boring and seemed like a carbon copy of Janet. They didn’t have to make Terri dimwitted like Chrissy, but it would have been nice to see the character have some sort of personality. Perhaps she could have been promiscuous and man-hungry like Flo from Alice and Blanche from The Golden Girls.

Terri was great. :lol:

Terri was great. :lol:

Yes she was. I liked Chrissy the first 2 seasons before they made her dumber.

I wouldn’t say Priscilla was miscast, but her character was most definitely boring and seemed like a carbon copy of Janet. They didn’t have to make Terri dimwitted like Chrissy, but it would have been nice to see the character have some sort of personality. Perhaps she could have been promiscuous and man-hungry like Flo from Alice and Blanche from The Golden Girls.

I dunno about making her promiscuous, Jack was already THAT, how would that work out between her and Jack, would there be something going on between them?

To me, Terri's personality became more like Janet's from the early seasons, Janet became more like Chrissy in the later years, but angrier IMO

I dunno about making her promiscuous, Jack was already THAT, how would that work out between her and Jack, would there be something going on between them?

To me, Terri's personality became more like Janet's from the early seasons, Janet became more like Chrissy in the later years, but angrier IMO
I mean, they could have toned down Jack’s promiscuity so that Terri could have that type of personality. I just wish that Terri was more interesting. The seasons that she’s in are hardly watchable IMO.

Terri always seemed older than than Jack and Janet and I’m sure she did it need roommates on a nurse’s salary.

I wouldn’t say Priscilla was miscast, but her character was most definitely boring and seemed like a carbon copy of Janet. They didn’t have to make Terri dimwitted like Chrissy, but it would have been nice to see the character have some sort of personality. Perhaps she could have been promiscuous and man-hungry like Flo from Alice and Blanche from The Golden Girls.

Terri you could say, did kind of have a dimwitted moment in the "Mate for Each Other" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0722960/) episode, where she bluntly mistakes Larry's impersonation of John Wayne (or I think it was supposed to be John Wayne) for Howard Cosell. Maybe it's the way that Priscilla Barnes sells it that makes it funny.

I felt that Suzanne Somers was miscast as Chrissy. She was 34 when she left the show, and she looked it. Wrinkles and crows feet were evident. She was too old to be playing a naive "girl".

Suzanne was in real life, actually older than John and Joyce and yet, could've easily believed that she on the show, always had to be babied by her roommates.

The writers didn't know what to do with her but that wasn't her fault. I think she made the best of the situation. Casting someone too similar to Chrissy Snow would have only invited comparisons to Suzanne.

Having a more sensible blonde gave the show a different dynamic that worked as the actors and the show aged. Would have been weird to have someone in their mid-late 30s be as vapid as Chrissy was by Season 5...

Based on her introductory episode (http://reviewingeverytvshowiown.blogspot.com/2016/10/threes-company-jack-bares-all.html) and her first encounter with Jack at the hospital, I wonder if Terri was supposed to be this no-nonsense, "I don't take any crap!" nurse. I guess that Terri you could say, was also supposed to have a confident and bold personality, like when she tries to seduce Jack in the kitchen.

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/93375584/photo/united-states-threes-company-jack-bares-all-part-i-season-six-10-6-81-new-roommate-terri-alden.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=sNfAa0vkVfobkO4U-LrYn_81VRf7fsn0rspk9D8J6DA=

Terri was always sold, gave the cast a good mix. Priscilla did a great job.

[QUOTE=TMC;6316338]Suzanne was in real life, actually older than John and Joyce and yet, could've easily believed that she on the show, always had to be babied by her roommates.[/

I never knew that. I thought they all around the same age.

Terri was always sold, gave the cast a good mix. Priscilla did a great job.

Priscilla Barnes' best moment as a comedic actress was arguably in the episode (https://www.reddit.com/r/threescompany/comments/1l7qf9y/this_episode_was_extremely_funny_one_of_my/) from Season 6 (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/And_Now_Here%27s_Jack), where Terri goes on that cooking show with Jack and Janet. And the whole time, Terri just has this blank, glazed, deer in headlights look on her face for the TV cameras.

https://vhsrewind.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/episode_6_threescompanys6e23.jpg

I wouldn’t say Priscilla was miscast, but her character was most definitely boring and seemed like a carbon copy of Janet. They didn’t have to make Terri dimwitted like Chrissy, but it would have been nice to see the character have some sort of personality. Perhaps she could have been promiscuous and man-hungry like Flo from Alice and Blanche from The Golden Girls.

I'm starting to wonder if they were after a while (https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/threes-company.4311/post-438775), really caught in a rock in the hard place with Terri's character. Somebody else argued (https://www.tellytalk.net/threads/threes-company.4311/post-438885) that Terri really couldn't absolutely, be written as the smartest person in the room so to speak (which would in theory, otherwise make sense given that Terri works as a nurse), because otherwise, the entire material (in other words, the "everything is a misunderstanding" formula) would fall part.