I just remember back in the day EVERYONE thought Chrissy was the sexiest roommate by far and Janet largely got overlooked and ignored... Nowdays EVERYONE seems to pick Janet as the sexiest, and Chrissy is overlooked! What happened?!?

In a more general sense, what we find attractive does tend to change throughout the decades. In the 1920s, a slender figure was more popular. By the 1940s it was seen as good to be more voluptuous. In the 1960s you saw a lot of women wanting to look super thin. And by the 1980s, athletic bodies were more the rage. This is a broad generalization.

But in the case of these particular women, could it be that as we grew up we found the more grounded Janet to be more appealing over the flaky Chrissy?

There come to think of it, was you can say something of a Betty and Veronica (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BettyAndVeronica) dynamic, where Janet is Betty and Chrissy is Veronica. Gilligan's Island famously had that too with Mary Ann as the Betty and Ginger as the Veronica to Jack's Archie. WKRP in Cincinnati also had that with Bailey as the Betty to Jennifer's Veronica.

I just remember back in the day EVERYONE thought Chrissy was the sexiest roommate by far and Janet largely got overlooked and ignored... Nowdays EVERYONE seems to pick Janet as the sexiest, and Chrissy is overlooked! What happened?!?

I'm guessing that when Three's Company was first on the air, Charlie's Angels was running concurrently on ABC. And both shows were classified as "jiggle shows" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiggle_television). I'm guessing that at the time, Suzanne Somers was considered the Farrah Fawcett of the show to Joyce DeWitt's Kate Jackson.

I'm also guessing that the tide started to turn in Janet's favor when Chrissy became really Flanderized (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanderization#:~:text=Flanderization%20is%20the%20process%20through,course%20of%20a%20serial%20work.) towards the end of her run on the show. Janet I suppose always seemed more like a grounded, relatable, multi-dimensional character than Chrissy, who always seemed like a dingbat. Chrissy just seemed like the type of girl that you would get tired of being around for too long of a period, especially as her character got dumber and dumber as the seasons progressed.

There come to think of it, was you can say something of a Betty and Veronica (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BettyAndVeronica) dynamic, where Janet is Betty and Chrissy is Veronica. Gilligan's Island famously had that too with Mary Ann as the Betty and Ginger as the Veronica to Jack's Archie. WKRP in Cincinnati also had that with Bailey as the Betty to Jennifer's Veronica.

I used to read Betty and Veronica comics. I really like your analogy.

I think more fans have developed a bigger interest in Janet because her character lasted the entire show. However, there was little wow factor to Janet the first two seasons. Her character was routinely dressed in dowdy clothing/apparel.

I think more fans have developed a bigger interest in Janet because her character lasted the entire show. However, there was little wow factor to Janet the first two seasons. Her character was routinely dressed in dowdy clothing/apparel.
Exactly. In the pilot episode Janet brings her concern to Chrissy that Jack's eyes are all over her. In the next episode Chrissy's mom visits. They are hiding Jack in their bedroom and when Chrissy steps out Jack says something like "she's a girl everywhere" and Janet exclaims "then what am I"
Clearly Janet was the smart, serious grounded character in the beginning.

There come to think of it, was you can say something of a Betty and Veronica (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BettyAndVeronica) dynamic, where Janet is Betty and Chrissy is Veronica. Gilligan's Island famously had that too with Mary Ann as the Betty and Ginger as the Veronica to Jack's Archie. WKRP in Cincinnati also had that with Bailey as the Betty to Jennifer's Veronica.

I think I'm the only person on the planet who would pick Mary Ann over Ginger, Bailey over Jennifer, but I would pick Chrissy over Janet. :crazy:

I think I'm the only person on the planet who would pick Mary Ann over Ginger, Bailey over Jennifer, but I would pick Chrissy over Janet. :crazy:

Who would you pick , Jackie Rush or Sara Rush?

Who would you pick , Jackie Rush or Sara Rush?

I would pick Sara Rush...

Some guys are partial to blondes and some to brunettes, but hair color doesn't matter to me. I tend to go for sweet and cute. Personality plays a huge part.

In the opening credits, Janet is in long sleeve plaid shirt watering plants. Chrissy is in a bikini sun bathing.
You know right away Janet is the serious, smart, stable character.

Chrissy was the sexiest the first few seasons until they dumbed her down and she started wearing those bangs.

Chrissy was considered the sexiest at the time for no other reason that she was a platinum blonde and everyone was still hung up on that look (Carol Wayne, Loni Anderson, etc.). I think it went out of fashion in the 1980s because it was so played out. Notice how most of the "it" girls of the 1980s wound up being raven-haired or brunette (Sean Young, Demi Moore, Debra Winger, Phoebe Cates, etc.). It was like there was a major backlash.

Chrissy was the sexiest the first few seasons until they dumbed her down and she started wearing those bangs.

I agree! I am referring to Chrissy seasons 1-3.

Chrissy season 4-5, I would run from... :lol:

I think I'm the only person on the planet who would pick Mary Ann over Ginger, Bailey over Jennifer

You're not the only one because so would I.

You're not the only one because so would I.
I would too.

You're not the only one because so would I.

Me Three! And, I'll add in from the previous post of Sara Vs. Jackie Rush that I am and always have been Team Jackie!

In the opening credits, Janet is in long sleeve plaid shirt watering plants. Chrissy is in a bikini sun bathing.
You know right away Janet is the serious, smart, stable character.

Also by the time that Terri showed up and they did the opening credits set at the zoo, Janet was the only character who wasn't doing anything remotely goofy. There, she's seen playing with the goats alongside a really young Jason Ritter (who's of course, John Ritter's son) wearing denim overalls.

I think there's always been a difference between who the insiders publicize as sexy and who the audience is paying attention to.

I agree! I am referring to Chrissy seasons 1-3.

Chrissy season 4-5, I would run from... :lol:

Chrissy during the early seasons (specifically when the Ropers were the landlords) was merely naïve but not out and out stupid and a Flanderized cartoon character. A perfect example of how dumb Chrissy got is in the episode (https://www.threescompany.com/episode/lee-aint-heavy-hes-my-brother/) where Jack's brother Lee comes over to visit. And Chrissy starts talking about (https://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?p=180271) "Willie Star Trek" when talking about the baseball player Willie Stargell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Stargell).

Chrissy during the early seasons (specifically when the Ropers were the landlords) was merely naïve but not out and out stupid and a Flanderized cartoon character. A perfect example of how dumb Chrissy got is in the episode (https://www.threescompany.com/episode/lee-aint-heavy-hes-my-brother/) where Jack's brother Lee comes over to visit. And Chrissy starts talking about (https://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?p=180271) "Willie Star Trek" when talking about the baseball player Willie Stargell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Stargell).

I noticed it got really bad at the end of season 4. My least favorite shows are the last six episodes of season 4.

People say when Suzanne Somers left the show it was never the same. I would argue that when Suzanne Somers ruined the character of Chrissy, the show was not the same.

I think the quality rebounded after she left, I don't think it would have lasted 8 seasons with her doing the Chrissy character like that.

I noticed it got really bad at the end of season 4. My least favorite shows are the last six episodes of season 4.

People say when Suzanne Somers left the show it was never the same. I would argue that when Suzanne Somers ruined the character of Chrissy, the show was not the same.

I think the quality rebounded after she left, I don't think it would have lasted 8 seasons with her doing the Chrissy character like that.

I don't think Suzanne ruined the character, she just does what the writers say. But Chrissy was not the only one to go through a change.... By the end, Janet was NOTHING like she was when she started out, personality wise. In the early episodes Janet was very cool and down-to-earth, by the end she acted like she was about to have a nervous breakdown at any moment, she was also a tad ditzier in the later episodes. It seemed like they were trying to make Janet be a bit more like Chrissy in the later years and make Terri the down-to-earth one.

I don't think Suzanne ruined the character, she just does what the writers say. But Chrissy was not the only one to go through a change.... By the end, Janet was NOTHING like she was when she started out, personality wise. In the early episodes Janet was very cool and down-to-earth, by the end she acted like she was about to have a nervous breakdown at any moment, she was also a tad ditzier in the later episodes. It seemed like they were trying to make Janet be a bit more like Chrissy in the later years and make Terri the down-to-earth one.

Suzanne claimed she was responsible for the changes in Chrissy. She said she came up the hair, the laugh, the facial expressions, etc.

She would do the Chrissy character in her Vegas show and the producers threatened to sue her if she continued. She argued that she made the Chrissy character into what it became.

Suzanne claimed she was responsible for the changes in Chrissy. She said she came up the hair, the laugh, the facial expressions, etc.

She would do the Chrissy character in her Vegas show and the producers threatened to sue her if she continued. She argued that she made the Chrissy character into what it became.

Suzanne in her latter seasons on Three's Company was trying way, way, way too hard (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/threes-company.2541705/post-61972600) to be funny. She in the process, lost her natural comedic personality (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/threes-company.2541705/post-61978430), which was sweet and naïve.

Come to think of it, Suzanne kind of reminds me of Dustin Diamond as Screech Powers on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, where he seemed way too self-conscious that he was playing "a character" (i.e. mugging aggressively, putting on a dopey voice, playing a lot dumber than what his character was previously written and portrayed to be, etc.) instead of just of acting naturally.

Suzanne in her latter seasons on Three's Company was trying way, way, way too hard (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/threes-company.2541705/post-61972600) to be funny. She in the process, lost her natural comedic personality (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/threes-company.2541705/post-61978430), which was sweet and naïve.

Come to think of it, Suzanne kind of reminds me of Dustin Diamond as Screech Powers on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, where he seemed way too self-conscious that he was playing "a character" (i.e. mugging aggressively, putting on a dopey voice, playing a lot dumber than what his character was previously written and portrayed to be, etc.) instead of just of acting naturally.

I agree with this! The Screech comparison is spot on too!

I don't think Suzanne ruined the character, she just does what the writers say. But Chrissy was not the only one to go through a change.... By the end, Janet was NOTHING like she was when she started out, personality wise. In the early episodes Janet was very cool and down-to-earth, by the end she acted like she was about to have a nervous breakdown at any moment, she was also a tad ditzier in the later episodes. It seemed like they were trying to make Janet be a bit more like Chrissy in the later years and make Terri the down-to-earth one.

I can't help but immediately think of that episode where Terri dates a man who just so happens to be a convicted murderer and they have Janet acting like a hyperactive mad woman when she tries to warn Terri. I don't think that the Janet of the earlier seasons with Chrissy, would've acted or behaved like that.

I think more fans have developed a bigger interest in Janet because her character lasted the entire show. However, there was little wow factor to Janet the first two seasons. Her character was routinely dressed in dowdy clothing/apparel.

The only time that I can immediately recall Janet overtly acting "sexy" was in the "Larry Loves Janet" (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/Larry_Loves_Janet) episode, and even then, it was more of an exaggeration than something that was meant to be sincere or played straight.

https://blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/rk7.jpg?w=584&h=439

Chrissy was considered the sexiest at the time for no other reason that she was a platinum blonde and everyone was still hung up on that look (Carol Wayne, Loni Anderson, etc.). I think it went out of fashion in the 1980s because it was so played out. Notice how most of the "it" girls of the 1980s wound up being raven-haired or brunette (Sean Young, Demi Moore, Debra Winger, Phoebe Cates, etc.). It was like there was a major backlash.

It's kind of like how on Baywatch, which helped revive the jiggle show craze in the '90s, I actually found myself more attracted to Alexandra Paul (https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=4997d9601951f80e&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIK8HwBgNrkuM7e4ce0vZOg6Lu0o0w:1727851313355&q=baywatch+alexandra+paul&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J_86uWOeqwdnV0yaSF-x2jrJh7Dt5wV71ckxEPe_0GQyc61_Jkg5ZI9z4zNW20fWd2tUn_HrTAULuFP7u75dytEkiWC15l7moHi_nYsx6bYU7gYxjHncfuRcjwgxByi-2dbm91Px5JKg1Jotj8vdUSEMemJ8XA6RB42LqHkYBEFrl5n20w&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiukofei--IAxWVEkQIHZfIO8YQtKgLegQIEBAB) than the bustier, blonde-haired women on the show like Pamela Anderson. Maybe it's because Alexandra actually seemed to be credible/plausible (i.e. less artificial) as a lifeguard because of her tall, athletic frame. Also, I remember Alexandra from the 1987 Dragnet movie with Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks and being in love with her and her character (https://www.google.com/search?q=Dragnet+Alexandra+Paul&sca_esv=4997d9601951f80e&sca_upv=1&udm=2&sxsrf=ADLYWIIvQJVHFkpYMRqVZhC0iirCAOGrKA%3A1727851658700&ei=iuz8ZrHHKoHQkPIP9KOyoQQ&ved=0ahUKEwixtN2Cje-IAxUBKEQIHfSRLEQQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=Dragnet+Alexandra+Paul&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFkRyYWduZXQgQWxleGFuZHJhIFBhdWwyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gIyBxAjGCcY6gJItR1QAFjVG3ABeACQAQCYAQCgAQCqAQC4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgGgAkqoAgqYA0qSBwExoAcA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp) "The Virgin" Connie Swail (https://www.google.com/search?q=%22The+Virgin%22+Connie+Swail&sca_esv=4997d9601951f80e&sca_upv=1&udm=2&sxsrf=ADLYWILif-nzomych2kOAUXmCZ4-gxxIVQ%3A1727851336691&ei=SOv8Zsb_KeCjkPIPucCXqAE&ved=0ahUKEwjGw5fpi--IAxXgEUQIHTngBRUQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=%22The+Virgin%22+Connie+Swail&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGSJUaGUgVmlyZ2luIiBDb25uaWUgU3dhaWwyBRAAGIAESJIuUABYvydwAXgAkAEAmAFgoAFgqgEBMbgBA8gBAPgBAfgBApgCAqACjAGoAgrCAgcQIxgnGOoCmAMmkgcDMS4xoAdQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp).

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/888826518/photo/baywatch-stars-in-a-photocall-in-london-for-the-tv-series-now-appearing-on-british-television.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=9Yt8CFe7urVzZuUlmcwZaRPsJgrgIKByvVNC7V5CM4Y=

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_BMeEvvGWLslXQiRCv82-pfR6OhoyRL5jSg&s

The only time that I can immediately recall Janet overtly acting "sexy" was in the "Larry Loves Janet" (https://threescompany.fandom.com/wiki/Larry_Loves_Janet) episode, and even then, it was more of an exaggeration than something that was meant to be sincere or played straight.

https://blastzoneonline.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/rk7.jpg?w=584&h=439
Don't forget Janet Wigs out which was so out of character for her it was ridiculous.