The argument that "Three's Company" destroyed Suzanne Somers' career

[TMC]

At least according to WatchMojo.com:

3. Suzanne Somers - Three’s Company (1977-84): Among the earliest stars to challenge pay disparity in the industry, Suzanne Somers left her star-making role after a highly controversial salary dispute. In the show’s fifth season, the actress demanded equal pay with co-star John Ritter. When ABC refused, Somers’ role was reduced to one-minute appearances filmed separately from the main cast before her contract was terminated. As a result, Somers’ mainstream career effectively evaporated during the ‘80s. It wasn’t until “Step by Step” in the ‘90s that she returned to the broad TV exposure. Her relationships with Ritter and DeWitt were also strained. She reconciled with Ritter shortly before his death and made up with DeWitt in 2012.

[BestTVever]

I think its fair to say her "mainstream" career was ruined. No network would touch her. However she went on to have the last laugh because she made more money than all of the cast combined times 10 with selling products on TV, hosting shows, and doing Vegas appearances. Yes she did show up on TV many years later but it was so much later and such a blip.
I think its fair to compare her TV career to Farah Fawcett. Both had contract disputes and both left. Farah was sort of punished too requiring her to appear in 5 more episodes over 2 years or something. But her career was majorly damaged. No network or Hollywood director wanted nothing to do with her. She was stuck doing cheezy films like Cannonball Run. When she did do a dramatic TV movie "The burning bed" it almost was huge because she had been missing for about a decade. Just imagine if she did 1 or 2 more seasons of Charlies Angels and left at the height of the show. Her career would have been something (possibly.) Suzanne could have stayed but asked for too much later and dared ABC not to renew her contract. In both situations they both took on networks that were ready to crush women TV stars asking for fair compensation. I think Farah's replacement made close to what she was asking for. The network also refused Farah's request to get 10% of merchandise sales. Hard to imagine today that a TV star where a doll is created in your like with your name and they wont even give you 10% of profits?

[CJMD03]

Farrah Fawcett did “TBB.” SS was right about the pay increase, but went about it the wrong way. She also wanted residual rights and even Ritter wasn’t getting that. She also not only cost the network money, but took money away from cameramen, et al, by not showing up, thus causing hatred towards her. Even she said that she went about it wrong.

However, they made Chrissy so stupid by Season 05 it was, literally, painful for me to watch. The character hit a dead end because of that.

[groberts]

Do you mean Season 4 because for me they turned her from a lovable ditzy blonde to a complete airhead and more whiny.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

I think its fair to say her "mainstream" career was ruined. No network would touch her. However she went on to have the last laugh because she made more money than all of the cast combined times 10 with selling products on TV, hosting shows, and doing Vegas appearances. Yes she did show up on TV many years later but it was so much later and such a blip.
I think its fair to compare her TV career to Farah Fawcett. Both had contract disputes and both left. Farah was sort of punished too requiring her to appear in 5 more episodes over 2 years or something. But her career was majorly damaged. No network or Hollywood director wanted nothing to do with her. She was stuck doing cheezy films like Cannonball Run. When she did do a dramatic TV movie "The burning bed" it almost was huge because she had been missing for about a decade. Just imagine if she did 1 or 2 more seasons of Charlies Angels and left at the height of the show. Her career would have been something (possibly.) Suzanne could have stayed but asked for too much later and dared ABC not to renew her contract. In both situations they both took on networks that were ready to crush women TV stars asking for fair compensation. I think Farah's replacement made close to what she was asking for. The network also refused Farah's request to get 10% of merchandise sales. Hard to imagine today that a TV star where a doll is created in your like with your name and they wont even give you 10% of profits?

I don't know if I would out and out say that Suzanne Somers' career was "destroyed" by the whole contract mess with Three's Company. If you're talking about in regard to when the series was still on the air, then maybe. Suzanne however, was able to finally land a series with She's the Sheriff. It didn't last very long (it was only on the air for two seasons) and it didn't get great reviews, but it did show that Hollywood and the industry in the end, still "wanted her". And of course, she was finally able to land another long-lasting TV series with Step by Step.

I mean, that's more to say than what with all due respect, John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, or Priscilla Barnes were able to accomplish after Three's Company went off the air. And yes, I previously written about how, John Ritter for whatever the reasons, was never able to land another long-running TV show after Three's Company. This includes 8 Simple Rules for Dating Teenage Daughter, which was the TV show that he was working on at the time of his untimely death.

Suzanne's net worth at the time of her death, was said to be at least $100 million.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TMC

I don't know if I would out and out say that Suzanne Somers' career was "destroyed" by the whole contract mess with Three's Company. If you're talking about in regard to when the series was still on the air, then maybe. Suzanne however, was able to finally land a series with She's the Sheriff. It didn't last very long (it was only on the air for two seasons) and it didn't get great reviews, but it did show that Hollywood and the industry in the end, still "wanted her". And of course, she was finally able to land another long-lasting TV series with Step by Step.

I mean, that's more to say than what with all due respect, John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, or Priscilla Barnes were able to accomplish after Three's Company went off the air. And yes, I previously written about how, John Ritter for whatever the reasons, was never able to land another long-running TV show after Three's Company. This includes 8 Simple Rules for Dating Teenage Daughter, which was the TV show that he was working on at the time of his untimely death.

Suzanne's net worth at the time of her death, was said to be at least $100 million.

She was one of the hottest if not the hottest TV star in 1979 and 1980. She disappeared completely from TV. Like Farah no network would hire her for the antics of trying to get out of an existing contract. Suzanne was fired, Farah was not. But regardless of the credibility of their claims their tough tactics hurt their career. Like Suzanne, Farah also had products like shampoo she was selling. So they made tons of money but to be TV's #1 star they took a hard landing because they both almost disappeared from series or movies.

[TMC]

Actresses Who Walked Off Sets and Paid the Price

Suzanne Somers

During the height of ‘Three’s Company’ the lead actress demanded a significant salary increase and a share of the profits. When her demands were not met she began appearing only in short segments filmed separately from the main cast. The producers eventually fired her and she found herself blacklisted from major network television for nearly a decade. She eventually rebuilt her brand through exercise equipment and Las Vegas residencies.