The series finale of "Three's Company" first aired 40 years ago this month

[TMC]

I know that I'm getting ahead of myself since it actually originally aired on ABC on September 18, 1984. I naturally assume that the series finale was strategically placed in September (the penultimate episode, "Cupid Works Overtime" first aired on ABC back on March 13, 1984), to provide better momentum and a more seamless transition to the then forthcoming Three's a Crowd spin-off. Apparently, the series finale for Three's Company, "Friends and Lovers", was originally supposed to air on May 22, 1984.

[BuffaloBill]

I was 16 in 1984, man do I fell old. Interesting I was knew, of course I watch the last episode,
aired in Sept of 84. New to me is the possible airing of part 2 in March or May. To me technically
there was a ninth season of Threes Company. Be it one episode it technically aired the next season in Sept. Obviously with the continuation as a new show the following week on Sept 25. Just my opinion.

[Mace Dolex]

I remember the exact night this aired, my whole family gathered in the living room to watch it and record onto VHS, I was 8 years old and didn't understand when a TV show airs it's final episodes maybe because I could simply watch TC in syndicated reruns.

The goofiest thing was that weeks TV Guide had a two page spread announcing the series finale and had all the cast in group shot with Janet's head superimposed onto a wedding gown and of course she didn't wear a wedding dress in the actual episode.

[BestTVever]

We did not notice watching in real time but looking back there was a major clue in season 7 that a spin off was coming. When Jack gets the Bistro lays the ground for Three's A Crowd. When the Bistro appears the Regal Beagle slowly vanishes. While Jack has a new apartment in the spin off, the Bistro is exactly the same where Threes Company ended.

[TMC]

LANGUAGE WARNING

Three's Company lasted eight glorious seasons. Join the SIT-COMMENTATORS as they watch Jack, Janet, Furley and Terri say goodbye in the Three's Company series finale!

[TMC]

Joyce DeWitt Looks Back on ‘Three’s Company’ 40 Years After Finale (Exclusive)

By Ryan Hudgins September 18, 2024

Come on knock on our door! Joyce DeWitt (a.k.a. Janet) is taking a trip down memory lane to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Three’s Company finale.

“The most dear, precious, tender — and utterly unexpected — experiences that have come from working in Three’s Company are the many, many adults who have told me that Three’s Company was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years — for some, the only safe haven,” DeWitt, 75, exclusively told Us Weekly while reflecting on the Wednesday, September 18, milestone.

DeWitt noted that she’s enjoyed “countless letters and spontaneous conversations” with fans, who she think found “comfort” in watching the sitcom. Three’s Company, which ran for eight seasons from 1976 to 1984 — and lived on for decades later in syndication — followed the hijinks of Jack Tripper (John Ritter) after he moved into an apartment with Janet Wood (DeWitt) and Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers). The beloved, lighthearted series made the most of all three stars’ comedic gifts— so many pratfalls and misunderstandings! — and undeniable, warm chemistry with one another playing platonic roomies.

“It was a ‘time out’ from the oppressive, challenging, difficult circumstances they were navigating in their young lives,” DeWitt recalled. “And, oh by the way, they say the characters also did stupid, crazy stuff that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust and support of the characters, one to the other, that made them lifelong fans.”

While reflecting on the show’s legacy, DeWitt recalled one fan interaction where a woman gushed that Three’s Company “was a family.”

“That as an actor you could be part of such an impact or presence in a young person’s life when all you were doing was trying to make people laugh, that feedback is a blessing unimaginable!” DeWitt said.

DeWitt called Somers “absolutely wonderful” in her role, while also gushing over Ritter. (Somers died in October 2023 at age 76, while Ritter died in September 2003 at age 54.)

“I think I would not be chastised by my friends and fellow cast members in speaking for all of us in saying that working with John was a gift,” she said. “An adventure and a gift, a true gift.”

As for where her character, Janet, would be today, DeWitt admitted that she sees a different future than what the producers and writers intended.

“I was a bit offended when it was time to retire the show that they chose to ‘marry her off’ as the path forward for that character,” DeWitt confessed. “I would have sent her to law school or medical school or to the Peace Corps.”

Instead, DeWitt thinks her character would be helping Phillip Dawson (David Ruprecht) in his art business during the day while attending law school at night. DeWitt added that she believes Janet “now works for the ACLU — her intention and passion being to help give voice to those who don’t have one, or at least to assist them in finding their own voice.”

While the show has been off the air since 1984, DeWitt noted that fans of Three’s Company can find the series from that era later this year on the streaming channel 80s Sitcom Flashback. A new 40th Anniversary DVD set includes all episodes of the eight seasons of Three’s Company.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

Joyce DeWitt Looks Back on ‘Three’s Company’ 40 Years After Finale (Exclusive)

I find it kind of interesting that Joyce appears to believe that Janet would've still been together with Phillip. I do wonder if Joyce was ever in the camp that believes that Janet should've wound up with Jack to close out Three's Company instead of the direction that they ultimately went with. I do agree that just marrying Janet off just never felt or sat completely right with me. Especially with how we barely got to know Phillip (he was literally introduced two episodes prior to the finale) to be truly invested in his relationship with Janet.

[TMC]

I just found this on Instagram:

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

I remember the exact night this aired, my whole family gathered in the living room to watch it and record onto VHS, I was 8 years old and didn't understand when a TV show airs it's final episodes maybe because I could simply watch TC in syndicated reruns.

The goofiest thing was that weeks TV Guide had a two page spread announcing the series finale and had all the cast in group shot with Janet's head superimposed onto a wedding gown and of course she didn't wear a wedding dress in the actual episode.

I assume that you're talking about this.

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

I was 16 in 1984, man do I fell old. Interesting I was knew, of course I watch the last episode,
aired in Sept of 84. New to me is the possible airing of part 2 in March or May. To me technically
there was a ninth season of Threes Company. Be it one episode it technically aired the next season in Sept. Obviously with the continuation as a new show the following week on Sept 25. Just my opinion.

I can understand completely why people weren't totally satisfied with the ending. It was deemed as being the "end" but we never got a full sense of closure, at least for Jack. The fact that Three's Company literally ends with Mr. Bradford barging into Jack's new bedroom to inform him that he's his new landlord kind of rubs me the wrong way. It felt more like an unresolved cliffhanger ending (at least, if you've never watched Three's a Crowd), cruel twist ending, or a shaggy dog joke if that makes sense. I would've preferred the episode to end with Jack, Janet, and Terri leaving the apartment one last time. And whatever transpires next for Jack could be settled on Three's a Crowd.

[James28]

Originally Posted by TMC

Apparently, the series finale for Three's Company, "Friends and Lovers", was originally supposed to air on May 22, 1984.

I just don't understand why ABC just couldn't have had that "Friends and Lovers" finale air on May 22 of 1984 (only two weeks after Happy Days's official series finale), and then repeated it on September 18. Another thing that makes Three's Company's ending (and the whole show in general) look fxxked up.

[Mace Dolex]

Originally Posted by TMC

I assume that you're talking about this.

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

Yep that's the one, amazing how good of a memory I still have 40 years later.

[BuffaloBill]

https://www.pinterest.com/thomasolso...hrees-company/

Ok, now you can decide which is/are Janet/Joyce's sexist pics !

[thejasoomian]

Originally Posted by BuffaloBill

https://www.pinterest.com/thomasolso...hrees-company/

Ok, now you can decide which is/are Janet/Joyce's sexist pics !

That one photo "For Brad" where Joyce has long hair is nice. I don't believe I've ever seen her with long hair. I assume this was after 3's went off the air?

Maybe trying to change up her look.

[king of comedy]

To be honest, I love all her pictures.