Joyce about Feud with Suzanne "The press made something out of it that it never was"

[USATVFAN]

In a new Interview Joyce who is doing a musical in Boston was asked about her reconciliation with Suzanne after 31 years, she says that the Media made it out to be something that it never was and that the never had a Argument or a dispute:

Q: After having such a fun time on the show, it must have felt good to reconcile with Suzanne Somers after not having spoken for 30 years.

A: The word reconcile is hard for me. She battled with the show’s producers over contracts. John [Ritter] and I had nothing to do with that. Over the years the press made something out of it that it never was. It was hard for me because we never had an argument in our lives, we never raised voices to each other, we never had a dispute. So I was happy to go on her Internet show and celebrate “Three’s Company.”


So did the Media play a part in the Feud and did they make it worse then what it really seem?

Here is the full interview from the Article: http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/sty...MQL/story.html
‘Three’s Company’ alum sings, dances in local musical

By Christopher Muther | GLOBE STAFF AUGUST 08, 2012
ARTICLE

WHO

Joyce DeWitt

WHAT

DeWitt became a pop culture fixture after her turn in the sitcom “Three’s Company,” in which she played Janet Wood, the brainy brunette who served as the counterpoint to Suzanne Somers’s ditzy Chrissy Snow. After a long absence, she returned to acting, but eschewed television in favor of theater. She’s performing in the North Shore Music Theatre’s “All Shook Up,” beginning Tuesday.


‘I started in the theater when I was 13. . . . I consider the theater my home. That’s where it started, that’s where my heart lies.’


Q. This is a musical that features all Elvis music. So, are you an Elvis fan?

A. I knew his music from the time I was 6 or 7 years old. He had a lot of courage to be making the kind of music he was making at the time. It would have been impossible for me not to notice.

Q. Do you get a chance to sing and swivel your hips around in the show?

A. I don’t do too much hip swiveling. My character is the nemesis trying to restore decency to her town, which means no rock music. I do get to sing and dance.

Q. Do you have experience in the realm of singing?

A. Yes. I started in the theater when I was 13, and I think the first play that I did was a musical. I consider the theater my home. That’s where it started, that’s where my heart lies.

Q. Your home may be the theater, but everyone knows you from “Three’s Company.” Do you still get stopped by people who want to talk about it?

A. I hear it all the time. People tell me it was their weekly family get-together. It’s very sweet. Many times when people want to talk about the show, what they talk about is how their families sat down together to watch.

Q. I was one of those loyal watchers when I was a kid. But at the time the show was on, it was not liked by the critics.

A. It was a mixed bag. There were those who loved it, got it, and understood that we were trying to do a contemporary version of a 16th-century farce. There were those who found it a bit racy, and it’s hysterical now because people ask me, “Why aren’t there wholesome family shows like that anymore?”

Q. I remember thinking it was a bit naughty when I watched as a child.

A. As is typical in classic art, a lot of sex is mentioned, and there’s lots of innuendo everywhere, but no one ever gets any. The game is afoot. There’s lots of misinterpretation and doors slamming. This was a place for people to go for 30 minutes that was totally safe. They knew that no matter what disaster happened, at the end of the episode everything would be fine again.

Q. You stopped acting for a few years after “Three’s Company.” Were you burnt out?

A. There had never been a time in my life that I had not been working and Hollywood’s a very interesting place. I had not intended to go there. I was a theater person, I was headed to New York. When the show was over, I wanted to take a little time to ponder. What I didn’t know was that it would become a 12- to 15-year journey into what I call the art of being human. There came a point when I had traveled around the world and studied with different spiritual teachers looking at the great religions of the world.

Q. After that lovely spiritual talk, I feel guilty because I want to ask you about Mrs. Roper’s caftans and crab apple necklaces.

A. Oh no honey, don’t feel guilty. When you decide you’re going to join a project, it’s all about the gift you’re giving the audience. If you find a way to laugh, that’s a fantastic gift. So the fact that our wonderful costumer would put Audra [Lindley, the actress who played Helen Roper] in these extraordinary caftans and then, later, Don Knotts in ridiculously funny outfits was all part of anything that we were willing to do to make people laugh.

Q. After having such a fun time on the show, it must have felt good to reconcile with Suzanne Somers after not having spoken for 30 years.

A. The word reconcile is hard for me. She battled with the show’s producers over contracts. John [Ritter] and I had nothing to do with that. Over the years the press made something out of it that it never was. It was hard for me because we never had an argument in our lives, we never raised voices to each other, we never had a dispute. So I was happy to go on her Internet show and celebrate “Three’s Company.”

[USATVFAN]

I do think the Media played a part in it and made it more then what it really was.
about the Media: We know the The Media especially Hollywood like a good feud and a Catfight, I think the Media in a way made more out of it then what it was and made it seem worse and then they(Globe, Enquirer, Insider, ET) pitted Joyce and Suzanne against each other more especially in the last 10-15 Years!

[TVFactFan]

I clearly remember Joyce expressing her dislike for Suzanne on the True Hollywood Story

[USATVFAN]

Well Obviously They were never that close and Joyce was not happy(Who would n't be?) about Suzanne not showing up to work and putting the show in hostage and jeopardizing all of their careers. And then Suzanne going to the press and saying things about the show, Producers and John and Joyce. that when Joyce stop talking to her. But the Media did play a part in it and made it worse.

According to John and Joyce it was the producers who told Suzanne that they never wanted to be on the same set as her and they never once went to the Producers and told them. It was the producers own stories. They denied ever saying that.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I clearly remember Joyce expressing her dislike for Suzanne on the True Hollywood Story

That's the interview I remember and boy did she seem mad.

But I imagine the media did cause a lot of it...always bringing it up. To be honest, I always knew that they weren't talking but for years I didn't pay much attention to it. I think it became big news again after John died.

It's great to hear that things are better between them though. They both should be very proud of TC and the joy it gave to so many people over the years.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

That's the interview I remember and boy did she seem mad.

But I imagine the media did cause a lot of it...always bringing it up. To be honest, I always knew that they weren't talking but for years I didn't pay much attention to it. I think it became big news again after John died.

It's great to hear that things are better between them though. They both should be very proud of TC and the joy it gave to so many people over the years.

Exactly don't try to act like you and Suzanne was always cool

[USATVFAN]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Exactly don't try to act like you and Suzanne was always cool

agree.

you may have reunited and things may good between you now but don't forget that things were not always great between you two. In the Book Joyce evens says that she felt Manipulated by Suzanne among other things. Maybe you never did argue but you did stop speaking to each other because you were not happy with Suzanne and her lies.

[Mr. Television]

Reading the rest of that article is interesting. I remember how the critics were always blasting the show. Some called it the dirtiest show on tv. And now it looks quite tame.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Reading the rest of that article is interesting. I remember how the critics were always blasting the show. Some called it the dirtiest show on tv. And now it looks quite tame.

I can see that being the case during that time since no one ever seen anything like it

[Dr. Thong]

It does seem like DeWitt is rewriting history here. While she may never have fought on the set with Somers, she certainly didn't hold back her anger towards her in the media.

And I don't doubt that the producers may have manipulated both sides (Ritter/Dewitt & Somers), for DeWitt to try and whitewash history doesn't cut it with me.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

I wouldn't be surprised if she just said that just to get people to stfu because she's probably sick of hearing this stupid question.