TV's Worst Cast Additions: Cindy Snow - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 03-10-2023, 07:17 PM

Faced with a contract holdout by star Suzanne Somers, the producers thought they could solve things by replacing her with Jenilee Harrison, who joined the hit ABC sitcom in Season 5 as Chrissy’s equally airheaded cousin Cindy Snow.

But the roommate swap didn’t take: Harrison, a former NFL cheerleader with little acting experience, couldn’t keep up with the show’s frantic pace and stuck out like a sore thumb. The show rebounded a season later, though, by bringing in Priscilla Barnes as nurse Terri, making her the third roommate and showing Cindy the door.

https://tvline.com/lists/worst-tv-ch...hrees-company/

TVFactFan · 03-12-2023, 05:29 PM

It was probably because of the type of character she was that made her stick out like a sore thumb. Tall, Clumsy and Goofy

Mr. Television · 03-12-2023, 05:30 PM

She was not that bad and her chemistry with Jack was priceless.

BestTVever · 03-13-2023, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

She was not that bad and her chemistry with Jack was priceless.

I agree. She was stepping into the biggest shoes of the biggest star on the biggest TV show ever. Without having experience she did wonderful. I much prefer season 5 to season 6 or 7. Nothing against Priscilla, its just the show was getting stale. Season 5 had some great scripts. I hated season 6 when Cindy would come for a few lines and leave. I supposed they tried to be nice to her since she was being fired. The story was it had nothing to do with her acting ability. They thought she was too young for all the sexual jokes. They actually cut back on the sexual innuendo stuff until Priscilla was brought in. Once the sex jokes resumed as usual, the ratings improved some. I think the decline of ratings had nothing to do with Cindy but Chrissy missing.

Lyverbe · 03-13-2023, 10:24 PM

IMHO, Suzanne and Jenilee knew how to be funny compared to Priscilla. Priscilla did try her best but I don't believe she had it. Pretty? Yeah, she sure was (like the episode she's in a bikini from beginning to end) but I have always found Jenilee to be funnier.

Duster76 · 03-13-2023, 11:48 PM

Jenilee Harrison's biggest problem was John Ritter! Everything that happened on this series benefitted John at the expense of everyone else. The Ropers were getting over, they had to go. Somers was getting over, she had to go. Somers situation could have been resolved by the production company but that wasn't happening because satisfying Ritter was their priority, he was the star of the show. Harrison did a good job, there is no reason she couldn't have replaced Somers except one, Ritter didn't want it.

Comedy is about contrasts, the Terri character was basically a blond Janet effectively the two characters were interchangeable making it virtually impossible for Barnes to get her character over. Ritter didn't want the competition.

ClarenceAlabama · 03-14-2023, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyverbe

IMHO, Suzanne and Jenilee knew how to be funny compared to Priscilla. Priscilla did try her best but I don't believe she had it. Pretty? Yeah, she sure was (like the episode she's in a bikini from beginning to end) but I have always found Jenilee to be funnier.

I agree with this! Suzanne in seasons 1-3 and Jenilee in season 5 were both very funny.

Jenilee had amazing chemistry with John and good chemistry with the other guys in the cast, but didn't have much with Joyce. The age difference between them probably didn't help. It didn't seem like they were "best friends". Jenilee's chemistry with the rest of the cast made up for it and the episodes were super funny.

The only bad casting Three's Company ever did was Lana, Vikki, and Mr. Bradford.

BestTVever · 03-15-2023, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyverbe

IMHO, Suzanne and Jenilee knew how to be funny compared to Priscilla. Priscilla did try her best but I don't believe she had it. Pretty? Yeah, she sure was (like the episode she's in a bikini from beginning to end) but I have always found Jenilee to be funnier.

Priscilla had never done comedy before. The show had major reservations about that. She did fine but her lines were not always the funny ones. They went the other direction. Instead of a dumb blonde or a clumsy blonde, they went with a smart, professional nurse. Janet was always the serious one. They relied on Jack to be the silly one.

Dianne3 · 03-15-2023, 03:08 PM

Season 5 is one of my favourite seasons.

With Chrissy gone, you no longer had the Chrissy doing something stupid episodes where Jack and Chrissy come to her rescue.

Some of the show's better plots were in season 5.

I don't agree with people blaming Cindy for the ratings. The ratings drop was because Chrissy was gone so abruptly. By the time Terri came on the following year, the audience was both aware what was going on behind the scenes and they had time to get used to a new roommate.

Season 6 was okay, but after Jack's Bistro in Season 7, TC was repeating plots. Since Terri gets credit for the ratings by some viewers, than why the dramatic ratings drop in Season 8? I also did like Terri.

TVShowAddict · 03-15-2023, 07:51 PM

I disagree about Jenilee Harrison being the worst cast addition, that belongs to Priscilla Barnes, no offense to Priscilla, she was dull and boring on the show but to be fair to her, Priscilla really hated being on the show and tried to get out of her contract but producers would not let her get out of her contract because they did not want to look for another replacement

ClarenceAlabama · 03-15-2023, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianne3

Season 5 is one of my favourite seasons.

With Chrissy gone, you no longer had the Chrissy doing something stupid episodes where Jack and Chrissy come to her rescue.

Some of the show's better plots were in season 5.

I don't agree with people blaming Cindy for the ratings. The ratings drop was because Chrissy was gone so abruptly. By the time Terri came on the following year, the audience was both aware what was going on behind the scenes and they had time to get used to a new roommate.

Season 6 was okay, but after Jack's Bistro in Season 7, TC was repeating plots. Since Terri gets credit for the ratings by some viewers, than why the dramatic ratings drop in Season 8? I also did like Terri.

I agree! The Suzanne Somers scandal was happening and some of her fans decided not to watch after she left. The ratings drop was from #2 to #8. They were still a top ten show.

Jenilee did a great job especially under those unfortunate circumstances.

Duster76 · 03-18-2023, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVShowAddict

I disagree about Jenilee Harrison being the worst cast addition, that belongs to Priscilla Barnes, no offense to Priscilla, she was dull and boring on the show but to be fair to her, Priscilla really hated being on the show and tried to get out of her contract but producers would not let her get out of her contract because they did not want to look for another replacement

Priscilla was playing the part the way she was directed to play it. John Ritter wanted the show to be about his character, John was making the producers a lot of money and they bought into that request to keep him happy. Priscilla hated being on the show because she had no way of distinguishing her character from Joyce's character. Essentially the show turned into Jack and the girls, Jack and the landlord, Jack and best friend, Jack and the restaurant. Everyone was there to serve the Jack character.

Babalu · 03-19-2023, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BestTVever

She was stepping into the biggest shoes of the biggest star on the biggest TV show ever.

BestTVever · 03-20-2023, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

Why is that funny? Suzanne was on more magazine covers than any TV star at the time. The show was one of the most popular TV shows at that time. Her fame was the reason why she wanted a bigger paycheck. For her to be fired from a #1 show and replaced with someone with little or no acting experience was shocking. Yet, IMHO it worked fairly well. She had tremendous pressure since there was no replacing Chrissy, yet she developed Cindy fairly well.

TMC · 06-01-2023, 02:19 AM

I'm assuming that the issue with Cindy is that while she and Jack played well off each other (in terms of physical comedy), two klutzes on one show may have been a bit overkill. Also, Cindy's character may have been too young and that in return, likely caused the viewers to dislike Jack's comments toward her. Jennilee Harrison apparently said that when she first met John Ritter, he joked "Who am I supposed to be? Her father?"

03-12-2023, 05:30 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	She was not that bad and her chemistry with Jack was priceless.
	__________________ Sonny

03-10-2023, 07:17 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,179	TV's Worst Cast Additions: Cindy Snow Faced with a contract holdout by star Suzanne Somers, the producers thought they could solve things by replacing her with Jenilee Harrison, who joined the hit ABC sitcom in Season 5 as Chrissy’s equally airheaded cousin Cindy Snow. But the roommate swap didn’t take: Harrison, a former NFL cheerleader with little acting experience, couldn’t keep up with the show’s frantic pace and stuck out like a sore thumb. The show rebounded a season later, though, by bringing in Priscilla Barnes as nurse Terri, making her the third roommate and showing Cindy the door. https://tvline.com/lists/worst-tv-ch...hrees-company/

03-12-2023, 05:29 PM	#2
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,117	It was probably because of the type of character she was that made her stick out like a sore thumb. Tall, Clumsy and Goofy

03-13-2023, 10:24 PM	#5
Lyverbe Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 284	IMHO, Suzanne and Jenilee knew how to be funny compared to Priscilla. Priscilla did try her best but I don't believe she had it. Pretty? Yeah, she sure was (like the episode she's in a bikini from beginning to end) but I have always found Jenilee to be funnier.

03-13-2023, 11:48 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,656	Jenilee Harrison's biggest problem was John Ritter! Everything that happened on this series benefitted John at the expense of everyone else. The Ropers were getting over, they had to go. Somers was getting over, she had to go. Somers situation could have been resolved by the production company but that wasn't happening because satisfying Ritter was their priority, he was the star of the show. Harrison did a good job, there is no reason she couldn't have replaced Somers except one, Ritter didn't want it. Comedy is about contrasts, the Terri character was basically a blond Janet effectively the two characters were interchangeable making it virtually impossible for Barnes to get her character over. Ritter didn't want the competition.

03-15-2023, 03:08 PM	#9
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,060	Season 5 is one of my favourite seasons. With Chrissy gone, you no longer had the Chrissy doing something stupid episodes where Jack and Chrissy come to her rescue. Some of the show's better plots were in season 5. I don't agree with people blaming Cindy for the ratings. The ratings drop was because Chrissy was gone so abruptly. By the time Terri came on the following year, the audience was both aware what was going on behind the scenes and they had time to get used to a new roommate. Season 6 was okay, but after Jack's Bistro in Season 7, TC was repeating plots. Since Terri gets credit for the ratings by some viewers, than why the dramatic ratings drop in Season 8? I also did like Terri.

03-15-2023, 07:51 PM	#10
TVShowAddict Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 12, 2018 Posts: 298	I disagree about Jenilee Harrison being the worst cast addition, that belongs to Priscilla Barnes, no offense to Priscilla, she was dull and boring on the show but to be fair to her, Priscilla really hated being on the show and tried to get out of her contract but producers would not let her get out of her contract because they did not want to look for another replacement

06-01-2023, 02:19 AM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,968	I'm assuming that the issue with Cindy is that while she and Jack played well off each other (in terms of physical comedy), two klutzes on one show may have been a bit overkill. Also, Cindy's character may have been too young and that in return, likely caused the viewers to dislike Jack's comments toward her. Jennilee Harrison apparently said that when she first met John Ritter, he joked "Who am I supposed to be? Her father?"