Interesting Three's Company Facts

[CliffClavin]

The final episode of the series didn't air until the beginning of the 1984-1985 season when it served as the lead in to its spin-off "Three's a Crowd" (1984).


Jack lived at the Y.M.C.A. before moving in with Janet and Chrissy.


Janet and Chrissy had another roommate named Eleanor before Jack moved in.


John Ritter is the only cast member from the original pilot to make it onto the show.


In the early series pilot, shot in March 1976, there were vast differences and similarities to the actual show that ran for eight years:
Norman Fell and Audra Lindley played 'The Ropers' in the pilot, but were only known as 'George' and 'Mrs. Roper." As in the UK original, 'Mrs. Roper' was more serious and not zany as in the main series.
The pilot took place in a triplexed apartment area in North Hollywood, called the "Hacienda Palms", where the main series was an apartment house in Santa Monica.
John Ritter's character in the pilot was 'David Bell.'
The two women roommates in the pilot were played by 'Valerie Curtain' and 'Suzanne Zenor' - who didn't make it into the show's eight-year run.
The "Come and knock on our door..." theme song originated from the pilot, but there were no lyrics.
The sets used in the pilot mirrored the main series with the exception of the living room used by the three roommates.



Three different addresses were given for the apartment throughout the seasons (none of them was real).


Billy Crystal auditioned for the role of Jack Tripper.


During the pilot episode, Jack says: "Well, you know you have to learn to trot before you can gallop... who said that?" and the audience laughs. This was John Ritter's way of paying homage to his late father, Tex Ritter.


At the end of the second episode, first season, Jack says: "Goodnight, John Boy." This was a direct wink at John Ritter's former performance on "The Walton's" as Reverend Fordwick.


'Suzanne Sommers' was fired midway through the show's run due to salary disputes, amid a very public lawsuit and loads of publicity.


Anytime Norman Fell said an especially funny or witty line, he would look directly into the camera as he laughed.


When Jack opened his restaurant, Larry brings his Greek family there for dinner. It is later revealed that Larry's real last name is Daliapolis.


Mr. Roper's car was a '58 Chevy.


Although Mr. Roper had a 1958 Chevy, he is seen driving a 1956 De Soto in the episode where the Ropers were purchasing a townhouse.


Priscilla Barnes said her years on this show were the unhappiest in her professional career. She almost quit as soon as she was cast because she did not like the backstage atmosphere.


In the first few seasons, where the opening and closing credits were shot on the beach, it was done as a last-minute aspect by the producers at Venice Beach. The first shot where the camera zooms in on 'Jack Tripper' riding his bike was obtained by going on the roof of a Venice shop-owner who took $100 for use of his roof.


The exterior shots of the Roper's apartment was an actual corner apartment-house in Santa Monica. Permission was obtained by the owners for filming rights.


Audra Lindley and Norman Fell left the show after the second season for a spin-off of their characters. They were promised by the ABC network that if their show didn't make it past it's first season - their spots were secure for a permanent return on the series. Their spin-off failed after a season and a half, and were permanently replaced by Don Knotts.


The first season DVD set was rushed onto the market due to the demand after the death of John Ritter in 2003.


Chrissy's father was a Methodist minister.


In the opening credits, the brunette that knocks Jack Tripper off his bike was Suzanne Somers in a wig

[Chain Gang Member]

Actually Audra Lindley and Norman Fell also made it to the show.If you were to say that John was te only one of the trio to make it through the original,then you'd be right

[BuffaloBill]

actually the ropers were on the show for 3 seasons.....76-77,77-78, and 78-79 . also according to billy crystal it was between and john ritter as finalists for the role of jack tripper. crystal was swell received by abc that he was than assured of his break thru rule on SOAP.