1979 Facts regarding Joyce DeWitt's struggle with developing Janet Character

[thejasoomian]

Originally Posted by chris3sComann

Hi there! Thanks for your questions. I knew a little about Three Apartments, but I was unable to add a section about it to the book due to time and space limitations. (Suzanne interviewed for the book at the 11th hour, causing me to need to re-interview many others about her account (and do two follow-ups interviews with Suzanne in between), rewrite portions of the book, and make some cuts to materials I'd intended to include at the end. Also, my mind is a bit hazy about this particular matter, as I finished writing the book 29 years ago and so much of the focus of the story was on the backstage relationships of the original trio and their dealings with the producers.)

I asked Joyce about Three Apartments last year and she said she'd never been approached about it. It wouldn't surprise me that she wasn't consulted early in the development process, which is about how far TA made it. John had agreed, though, to guest star as Jack because he loved Norman and Audra. As I'm sure you know, the producers intended to include Chrissy, too, but this time played by a new actress. That re-casting never happened because the show wasn't ordered to pilot or series. Much of this info I learned in more recent years.

I am unaware of any specific episodes that went unproduced on 3's Co or its two aired spin-offs. 3's a Crowd shot an episode ("One Ego to Go") with at least one carnival scene.

I haven't given much thought to a revised hardback edition of my 3's Co book. Was Pilato's Bionic Book commemorative edition heavily illustrated with crisp and vibrant black-and-white and color photos from the original two series? Quality printing and other considerations can run up prices these days.

Thanks for answering my questions! I really appreciate it. Especially about Three Apartments. I wonder who they had in mind to play Chrissy.... maybe Teri Copely?

For more information about the "Larry Lose His Job" script here is a link:
https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/unproduced-episode/

Regarding the Three's A Crowd unproduced episode maybe "One Ego To Go" was a rewrite of a episode deemed too expensive? Or maybe it was a episode that originally had a carnival but got dropped. I always liked the episodes where they got away from the apartment on Three's Company and the Bistro on TAC.

The Bionic Book and the Wings hardcover books were put out by Bear Manor Media. I thought BMM did a good job with the book/pages/binding. There are no color photos. Only B&W photos. Scott Ryan's Moonlighting book is a softcover but it has color photos along with B&W photos. It feels more computer made though. I think it is a private press. If you ever do a revised hardcover version of your book I'll be buying a copy!

[chris3sComann]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

it still would have been nice for it to be mentioned how the producers got them to come back. Especially since it was only a year later. And they just didnt return as a guest they obviously had to be contacted. So i am curious to know what the conversation was like when they was contacted to make a guest appearance.

Did they agree right away? Did money had to be offered?


All this should have been mentioned

As Norman mentioned in the book, ABC President Fred Silverman was the main force that lured him into signing a contract stipulating he could return as a co-star to 3's Co if The Ropers was cancelled before the end of one year. And Joyce said that ABC, after Silverman left, tried to go back on a non-executed contractual promise to her as leverage to keep Norman and Audra from getting big money for their spinoff.

Fell's beef was primarily with ABC--namely Silverman, who was long gone in 1980-81. And as he told me in the book when he learned he couldn't come back as a co-star, "I put it behind me. I was upset about it, but I give myself a day or two to be moody." In fact, as Ted Bergmann told me, he tried unsuccessfully to sell The Ropers to Silverman at NBC after ABC dropped it. So the producers did make an effort to rectify the situation, and I'm sure they made them a conciliatory and/or attractive offer for their guest-starring gig in spring 1981.

Much, much more important stuff was happening behind the scenes at 3's Co during that season. The producers threw some "special guest star" money at them, they loved John and Joyce, and they said yes. It's not really rocket science.

But thanks for your politely stated input.

[chris3sComann]

Originally Posted by thejasoomian

Thanks for answering my questions! I really appreciate it. Especially about Three Apartments. I wonder who they had in mind to play Chrissy.... maybe Teri Copely?

For more information about the "Larry Lose His Job" script here is a link:
https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/unproduced-episode/

Regarding the Three's A Crowd unproduced episode maybe "One Ego To Go" was a rewrite of a episode deemed too expensive? Or maybe it was a episode that originally had a carnival but got dropped. I always liked the episodes where they got away from the apartment on Three's Company and the Bistro on TAC.

The Bionic Book and the Wings hardcover books were put out by Bear Manor Media. I thought BMM did a good job with the book/pages/binding. There are no color photos. Only B&W photos. Scott Ryan's Moonlighting book is a softcover but it has color photos along with B&W photos. It feels more computer made though. I think it is a private press. If you ever do a revised hardcover version of your book I'll be buying a copy!

Thanks so much for your support, and for this info about the BMM and Moonlighting books.

I had no idea that Richard Kline tried pitching his own spec script. Thanks for the "Larry Loses His Job" link!

I'm really not sure about the Three's a Crowd carnival question. I, too, enjoyed the episodes of 3's Co and TAC filmed away from the apartments. My favorite episode of TAC was the one that featured Jack working as a Benihana-style chef at a Japanese restaurant. I sure missed the 3's Co gang, though, and wish they'd been more involved in, as Joyce called it, "the transition" to the spin-of -- meaning Jack Tripper's ninth season (aka the first season of TAC), at least.

I suppose it's possible that Teri Copley was or would be considered for the Chrissy re-cast. But I'm betting she was already attached to the syndicated version of We Got It Made that premiered in Sept. 1987 and was publicly announced in December 1986 -- two months after Taffner publicly announced Three Apartments.

[BestTVever]

Here is the interview. She says she never thought about going back to TC but loved going back as a guest star to see everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46KIz5X-syA

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by chris3sComann

As Norman mentioned in the book, ABC President Fred Silverman was the main force that lured him into signing a contract stipulating he could return as a co-star to 3's Co if The Ropers was cancelled before the end of one year. And Joyce said that ABC, after Silverman left, tried to go back on a non-executed contractual promise to her as leverage to keep Norman and Audra from getting big money for their spinoff.

Fell's beef was primarily with ABC--namely Silverman, who was long gone in 1980-81. And as he told me in the book when he learned he couldn't come back as a co-star, "I put it behind me. I was upset about it, but I give myself a day or two to be moody." In fact, as Ted Bergmann told me, he tried unsuccessfully to sell The Ropers to Silverman at NBC after ABC dropped it. So the producers did make an effort to rectify the situation, and I'm sure they made them a conciliatory and/or attractive offer for their guest-starring gig in spring 1981.

Much, much more important stuff was happening behind the scenes at 3's Co during that season. The producers threw some "special guest star" money at them, they loved John and Joyce, and they said yes. It's not really rocket science.

But thanks for your politely stated input.

Ok thank you

[chris3sComann]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Here is the interview. She says she never thought about going back to TC but loved going back as a guest star to see everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46KIz5X-syA

This is so helpful. I wish I had the full power of the Internet at my hands in 1995-96. Thanks for sharing.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Here is the interview. She says she never thought about going back to TC but loved going back as a guest star to see everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46KIz5X-syA

I wish I can go back in time and jump into this video and ask her



1.Did the producers tell you why they wanted you and Norman to come and do a guest appearance

2.Were there any discussions of anymore guest appearances after that one?

3.Were u surprised that Suzanne Somers was no longer part of the show

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

Here is the interview. She says she never thought about going back to TC but loved going back as a guest star to see everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46KIz5X-syA

I was in 8th grade when most of the filming was done on Buffalo's upper west side. Played street hockey at very playground / rec park that Burt Reynolds was at in a scene watching kids playing hockey. An interesting fact, Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn were at the Buffalo Aud on Feb 24, 1982 when Wayne Gretzky scored his 77th goal to break Phil Esposito's single-season record. Both big hockey, fans Reynolds and Hawn were in the middle of the Buffalo filming of "Best Friends".

Here is the link https://x.com/BWipp/status/1037830015067537410

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by chris3sComann

Thanks so much for your support, and for this info about the BMM and Moonlighting books.

I had no idea that Richard Kline tried pitching his own spec script. Thanks for the "Larry Loses His Job" link!

I'm really not sure about the Three's a Crowd carnival question. I, too, enjoyed the episodes of 3's Co and TAC filmed away from the apartments. My favorite episode of TAC was the one that featured Jack working as a Benihana-style chef at a Japanese restaurant. I sure missed the 3's Co gang, though, and wish they'd been more involved in, as Joyce called it, "the transition" to the spin-of -- meaning Jack Tripper's ninth season (aka the first season of TAC), at least.

I suppose it's possible that Teri Copley was or would be considered for the Chrissy re-cast. But I'm betting she was already attached to the syndicated version of We Got It Made that premiered in Sept. 1987 and was publicly announced in December 1986 -- two months after Taffner publicly announced Three Apartments.

Just to circle back to Teri Copley, she was in the original 1983 NBC version of the show that lasted only one season. I had no idea there was a second version of the show aired in sindication 4 years later. Of course the irony would be about a woman (maid) living with 2 men. It did run concurrently with 3's Comp during it's last season.

Finally in another interesting tie to "Best Friends", Valarie Curtin has an uncredited role in the movie as Hawn's friend. Curtin co-wrote the movie with husband at the time Barry Levinson. She also co-stared (as Jenny) with John Ritter and Susanne Zenor in the 1st pilot of Threes Company. Of course Lindley and played the landlords.