Did The Producers of 'Three's Company' Mistreat Their Talent?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-11-2010, 10:34 PM

Do you think the producers mistreated the talent on Three's Company? If so, do you think the Suzanne Somers debacle caused it? For example....

The Ropers were promised back on the show if their spinoff failed. All they got was a guest starring appearance and that was it.

Ann Wedgeworth was fired

Jenilee Harrison was discarded

Then the coup de gras was Joyce, Richard Kline, Pricilla Barnes and Don Knotts were dumped for a new series with the Jack character.

TVFactFan · 09-11-2010, 10:47 PM

They didn't mistreat the STARS-lol

Brian Damage · 09-11-2010, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

They didn't mistreat the STARS-lol

What about Joyce?

TVFactFan · 09-11-2010, 11:16 PM

Or should i say-"THE STAR"

lol

Brian Damage · 09-12-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Or should i say-"THE STAR"

lol

So you admit they mistreated the supporting players?

USATVFAN · 09-12-2010, 12:22 AM

Yes The Producers did mistreat the cast except for John. The Producers were jerks at time. It was Obviously that John was their Favorite!

Smartboy · 09-12-2010, 07:05 AM

Do we know for a fact that Pricilla, Joyce, Richard and John wanted to stay on after the original series was over? Is this documented anywhere?

SpunkiiMonkii7078 · 09-14-2010, 12:35 AM

Joyce has said she thought Three's A Crowd should have been with Jack and Janet.

TVFactFan · 09-14-2010, 10:09 PM

Joyce wasn't the star of the show

Smartboy · 09-14-2010, 11:51 PM

I would like to apologize for a goof that I made in my last response. When I was listing the performers whose character's had been terminated by the time of "Three's a Crowd", the last of four that I meant to write was Don (as in Don Knots) but I ended up write John instead! I am sorry if I confused anyone!

lucyandethel · 09-15-2010, 02:27 AM

I think there has always been this notion that John Ritter was the star of the show. While I think he was a very talented and funny performer, I don't think the success of the show rested on his shoulders. It was an ensemble show. After the show had been on eight years, they couldn't continue in the same format and they had to shake things up a little bit. The decided to continue with the Jack Tripper character and shelve everyone else. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea because "Three's a Crowd" didn't last. It was a business move, hence the name, "show business".

USATVFAN · 09-15-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucyandethel

I think there has always been this notion that John Ritter was the star of the show. While I think he was a very talented and funny performer, I don't think the success of the show rested on his shoulders. It was an ensemble show. After the show had been on eight years, they couldn't continue in the same format and they had to shake things up a little bit. The decided to continue with the Jack Tripper character and shelve everyone else. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea because "Three's a Crowd" didn't last. It was a business move, hence the name, "show business".

I agree. It was not a 1-Star show. It was an Ensemble. Joyce Dewitt said once that Her and John always thought of it as an Ensemble show not a 1-Star show.

Only 1 Cast member thought it was a 1-Star show and she thought she was the Star. You all know who I am talking about.

Jude The Obscure · 09-15-2010, 10:39 AM

I do know that Joyce and Priscilla are not too fond of what happened during the later seasons regarding how the producers treated them.

Mr. Television · 09-15-2010, 11:43 AM

TC was an ensemble show in a way. All the cast were great and contributed to it's success but c'mon. I don't care what John and Joyce said, he was the star. If he left, the show was over. Joyce could have been replaced just like Suzanne was replaced. The Ropers were a big part of the show but they were replaced and as much as I liked DK and RK , they could have been replaced too and the show could have went on. Would it have been the same? No but nobody knows if it would have been better or worse. The replacements worked out pretty well for Chrissy and the Ropers and I actually think that kept the show more fresh. If John left the show, it would have been over pretty fast. All shows, even shows that have star talent is only as good as the supporting cast. The problem with TAC was the supporting cast especially Mary Cadorette. Alan Campbell was annoying. John and Robert Mandan were good but if the cast was better, it could have last longer and actually even with the cast, the ratings were not that bad. It had about the same ratings as Who's the Boss which broke out into a hit during year 2.

and nobody wanted to see Jack and Janet in TAC. Ratings were falling and they needed to rejump the series. If they were going to keep Janet on the show, they should have just done a final season of TC which is what they probably should have done anyway. Of course I also heard that Priscilla's contract was up so they probably would have had to replace her.

09-11-2010, 10:34 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Did The Producers of 'Three's Company' Mistreat Their Talent?!? Do you think the producers mistreated the talent on Three's Company? If so, do you think the Suzanne Somers debacle caused it? For example.... The Ropers were promised back on the show if their spinoff failed. All they got was a guest starring appearance and that was it. Ann Wedgeworth was fired Jenilee Harrison was discarded Then the coup de gras was Joyce, Richard Kline, Pricilla Barnes and Don Knotts were dumped for a new series with the Jack character. Attached Images
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09-12-2010, 12:22 AM	#6
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	Yes The Producers did mistreat the cast except for John. The Producers were jerks at time. It was Obviously that John was their Favorite!
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09-14-2010, 12:35 AM	#8
SpunkiiMonkii7078 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 20, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 784	Joyce has said she thought Three's A Crowd should have been with Jack and Janet.
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09-15-2010, 11:43 AM	#14
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	TC was an ensemble show in a way. All the cast were great and contributed to it's success but c'mon. I don't care what John and Joyce said, he was the star. If he left, the show was over. Joyce could have been replaced just like Suzanne was replaced. The Ropers were a big part of the show but they were replaced and as much as I liked DK and RK , they could have been replaced too and the show could have went on. Would it have been the same? No but nobody knows if it would have been better or worse. The replacements worked out pretty well for Chrissy and the Ropers and I actually think that kept the show more fresh. If John left the show, it would have been over pretty fast. All shows, even shows that have star talent is only as good as the supporting cast. The problem with TAC was the supporting cast especially Mary Cadorette. Alan Campbell was annoying. John and Robert Mandan were good but if the cast was better, it could have last longer and actually even with the cast, the ratings were not that bad. It had about the same ratings as Who's the Boss which broke out into a hit during year 2. and nobody wanted to see Jack and Janet in TAC. Ratings were falling and they needed to rejump the series. If they were going to keep Janet on the show, they should have just done a final season of TC which is what they probably should have done anyway. Of course I also heard that Priscilla's contract was up so they probably would have had to replace her.
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09-11-2010, 10:47 PM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,023	They didn't mistreat the STARS-lol

09-11-2010, 11:16 PM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,023	Or should i say-"THE STAR" lol

09-12-2010, 07:05 AM	#7
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	Do we know for a fact that Pricilla, Joyce, Richard and John wanted to stay on after the original series was over? Is this documented anywhere?

09-14-2010, 10:09 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,023	Joyce wasn't the star of the show

09-14-2010, 11:51 PM	#10
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	I would like to apologize for a goof that I made in my last response. When I was listing the performers whose character's had been terminated by the time of "Three's a Crowd", the last of four that I meant to write was Don (as in Don Knots) but I ended up write John instead! I am sorry if I confused anyone!

09-15-2010, 02:27 AM	#11
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I think there has always been this notion that John Ritter was the star of the show. While I think he was a very talented and funny performer, I don't think the success of the show rested on his shoulders. It was an ensemble show. After the show had been on eight years, they couldn't continue in the same format and they had to shake things up a little bit. The decided to continue with the Jack Tripper character and shelve everyone else. Obviously, it wasn't a good idea because "Three's a Crowd" didn't last. It was a business move, hence the name, "show business".

09-15-2010, 10:39 AM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I do know that Joyce and Priscilla are not too fond of what happened during the later seasons regarding how the producers treated them.