Why was Suzanne Somers forced to film on a separate set during her contract dispute

[TMC]

I do think that Suzanne deserved to be fired from Three's Company. She simply put overplayed her hand and her importance to that show. I'm guessing that Suzanne started to think that Chrissy Snow was the second-coming of Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy (Lucille Ball herself, was a fan of the show, so it kind of goes hand in hand) and not simply a dumb sexpot character on when you really get down to it, a dumb and campy sitcom with a lot of dumb sex jokes or a silly misunderstanding.

If I have my facts straight, Suzanne was claiming she was worth as much money as Alan Alda and Carroll O'Connor were making at the time. Think about it this way, Suzanne to the best of my knowledge, wasn’t asking for equal pay. While John Ritter was getting 50k she was asking for 150k plus profits. She also attempted to break her contract.

But even so, why couldn't the producers just cut their losses short and fire Suzanne right then and there? I'm immediately assuming that they couldn't just do that because she was technically, still under contract. But did they have to still have Chrissy appear on camera? Even though Suzanne in my estimation isn't entirely innocent, does anybody else feel that escorting her into the separate studio with security was even at the time, incredibly sadistic, cruel, and kind of sexist and sick? Plus, those end of the episode tags with Chrissy on the phone usually cut out of reruns but the few times they’re on, and perhaps for a good reason.

[rusty spike]

Suzanne was suing the producers so I think it was wise for the studio to have security present for her taping. Keep in mind, she kept delaying the taping do to a back injury which nobody could substantiate. save for a quick check-in to a hospital. Can you imagine what else could have transpired without a lot of eyes watching (possible falls)?

A very unpopular opinion: I think Suzanne wanted out of her contract altogether. I think her plan from the start was to demand a ton of money to get released. If she had to play Chrissy and finish the season, then she wanted Fort Knox. She already had a lucrative tv-movie deal with CBS and really wanted ABC to release her.

[TV Guy]

Suzanne realized that Three’s Company was going to make a fortune in syndication. And she was right - it made a half billion dollars during its first 20 years in syndication. She wanted a piece of that. She was right to want it; Ritter and Dewitt deserved a piece of the profits too. I don’t agree with how she negotiated (the three of them should have negotiated together, a la Friends). But I don’t see how any reasonable person could deny that these three actors were a huge part of the show’s success and deserved a piece of the profits.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by TMC

I do think that Suzanne deserved to be fired from Three's Company. She simply put overplayed her hand and her importance to that show. I'm guessing that Suzanne started to think that Chrissy Snow was the second-coming of Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy (Lucille Ball herself, was a fan of the show, so it kind of goes hand in hand) and not simply a dumb sexpot character on when you really get down to it, a dumb and campy sitcom with a lot of dumb sex jokes or a silly misunderstanding.

If I have my facts straight, Suzanne was claiming she was worth as much money as Alan Alda and Carroll O'Connor were making at the time. Think about it this way, Suzanne to the best of my knowledge, wasn’t asking for equal pay. While John Ritter was getting 50k she was asking for 150k plus profits. She also attempted to break her contract.

But even so, why couldn't the producers just cut their losses short and fire Suzanne right then and there? I'm immediately assuming that they couldn't just do that because she was technically, still under contract. But did they have to still have Chrissy appear on camera? Even though Suzanne in my estimation isn't entirely innocent, does anybody else feel that escorting her into the separate studio with security was even at the time, incredibly sadistic, cruel, and kind of sexist and sick? Plus, those end of the episode tags with Chrissy on the phone usually cut out of reruns but the few times they’re on, and perhaps for a good reason.

Because her coworkers, John and Joyce were upset with her and didnt want to be around her

[DORVID]

She moved back to Fresno to care for her Mom.

[DEH55]

I think Suzanne's husband was more to blame. Poor negotiation skills. He was doing the talking for her at the time. I think Suzanne did deserve a raise. She was hugely popular. When I was a kid everyone liked Chrissy. But her husband was not doing a good job as her manager. And things got heated. John and Joyce stopped talking to her and I think the producers decided to make a example of her and decided to make her life hell on her way out the door. It's too bad. She was phased out in a bad way until the character was completely forgotten about and never mentioned again.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by DEH55

I think Suzanne's husband was more to blame. Poor negotiation skills. He was doing the talking for her at the time. I think Suzanne did deserve a raise. She was hugely popular. When I was a kid everyone liked Chrissy. But her husband was not doing a good job as her manager. And things got heated. John and Joyce stopped talking to her and I think the producers decided to make a example of her and decided to make her life hell on her way out the door. It's too bad. She was phased out in a bad way until the character was completely forgotten about and never mentioned again.

But characters aren't usually mentioned again once they leave. Look at Mrs. Garret & Adelede on Different Strokes. Or Henry Jefferson on All in the Family. Mother Jefferson or Alan on the Jeffersons. Many other examples.

Remember even Suzanne said years later her dumb blonde act was getting old & maybe the change was for the best? There's NO WAY this show lasts 8 years with IDIOT blonde Chrissy! The character of Chrissy was just getting STALE!

Both Cindy & Terri were a breath of fresh air!

[DEH55]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

But characters aren't usually mentioned again once they leave. Look at Mrs. Garret & Adelede on Different Strokes. Or Henry Jefferson on All in the Family. Mother Jefferson or Alan on the Jeffersons. Many other examples.

Remember even Suzanne said years later her dumb blonde act was getting old & maybe the change was for the best? There's NO WAY this show lasts 8 years with IDIOT blonde Chrissy! The character of Chrissy was just getting STALE!

Both Cindy & Terri were a breath of fresh air!

But there were also shows that did mention past characters like Mash and Happy Days. If the Chrissy character got stale that is the makers of the shows fault for making her that stupid. Not Suzanne's. I just remember how popular the character was. To me the show didnt have as a good chemistry after Suzanne was gone. Just not as funny for me. John was still great but I didnt find the girls as good. Everyone has their favorites.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DEH55

But there were also shows that did mention past characters like Mash and Happy Days. If the Chrissy character got stale that is the makers of the shows fault for making her that stupid. Not Suzanne's. I just remember how popular the character was. To me the show didnt have as a good chemistry after Suzanne was gone. Just not as funny for me. John was still great but I didnt find the girls as good. Everyone has their favorites.

Suzanne was fired so they wasnt going to mention her name

[DEH55]

I realize that. But Suzanne was fired, not Chrissy. To act like a major character never existed and a explanation is never given to what happened to the character is insulting to your viewers. I understand with a character like Lana because she wasn't important but Chrissy was huge. They even did the same with Cindy.lol one day she just vanished.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DEH55

I realize that. But Suzanne was fired, not Chrissy. To act like a major character never existed and a explanation is never given to what happened to the character is insulting to your viewers. I understand with a character like Lana because she wasn't important but Chrissy was huge. They even did the same with Cindy.lol one day she just vanished.

Lana didnt need an explanation because she wasnt a major character and was just a tenant. They did give an explanation for Chrissy and it was that she was home because her mom was sick. So she we never saw her again we as fans assume that her mom passed and she decided not to come back

[DEH55]

All it would have taken is one line to explain it. Chrissy has moved back to Fresno permanently to be take care of her family. Gee we sure are going to miss her Now we are going to have to get a new roommate. It would have taken 30 seconds. Her cousin Cindy doesn't even mention her. Cindy would soon be joining her lol

How far is Fresno from Santa Monica anyways?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by DEH55

All it would have taken is one line to explain it. Chrissy has moved back to Fresno permanently to be take care of her family. Gee we sure are going to miss her Now we are going to have to get a new roommate. It would have taken 30 seconds. Her cousin Cindy doesn't even mention her. Cindy would soon be joining her lol

How far is Fresno from Santa Monica anyways?

3 hours

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by DEH55

All it would have taken is one line to explain it. Chrissy has moved back to Fresno permanently to be take care of her family. Gee we sure are going to miss her Now we are going to have to get a new roommate. It would have taken 30 seconds. Her cousin Cindy doesn't even mention her. Cindy would soon be joining her lol

How far is Fresno from Santa Monica anyways?

That wouldn't work because EVERYONE at Three's Company was VERY upset with Suzanne down to John & Joyce! Remember John & Joyce REFUSED to even speak to Suzanne at the end!

It was such a BITTER experience for them all they just wanted to FORGET her. As long as the show was still funny(it actually got FUNNIER!) after Suzanne left then the fans wouldn't care about Chrissy which they didn't. Both Joyce & John never even spoke to Suzanne again for well over a DECADE after Three's Company ended! THAT is how much bad blood there was!

Plus they never said Cindy was joining Chrissy which would be stupid because adult cousins almost never live together..LOL.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

That wouldn't work because EVERYONE at Three's Company was VERY upset with Suzanne down to John & Joyce! Remember John & Joyce REFUSED to even speak to Suzanne at the end!

It was such a BITTER experience for them all they just wanted to FORGET her. As long as the show was still funny(it actually got FUNNIER!) after Suzanne left then the fans wouldn't care about Chrissy which they didn't. Both Joyce & John never even spoke to Suzanne again for well over a DECADE after Three's Company ended! THAT is how much bad blood there was!

Plus they never said Cindy was joining Chrissy which would be stupid because adult cousins almost never live together..LOL.

Well atleast we know Cindy went to college