How much did "Three's Company" change and evolve comedically come 1981

[TMC]

Or more specifically, the middle of Season 5 (1980-81), which was of course, the infamous season where Suzanne Somers was having her contract dispute? Would you say that Three's Company by this point in its run, began to drift away from the "jiggle TV" formula and the more over the top sexual humor (like episodes where Jack was offered a job modeling for an adult magazine or Janet's roommates thinking that she was hiring a man to father her baby) and towards being more of a general farce?

[ClarenceAlabama]

Originally Posted by TMC

Or more specifically, the middle of Season 5 (1980-81), which was of course, the infamous season where Suzanne Somers was having her contract dispute? Would you say that Three's Company by this point in its run, began to drift away from the "jiggle TV" formula and the more over the top sexual humor (like episodes where Jack was offered a job modeling for an adult magazine or Janet's roommates thinking that she was hiring a man to father her baby) and towards being more of a general farce?

The farce humor got really good in season 5. I loved the early seasons, but it's one of the reasons why season 5 is one of my favorites. "Double Trouble" is my favorite episode.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

Or more specifically, the middle of Season 5 (1980-81), which was of course, the infamous season where Suzanne Somers was having her contract dispute? Would you say that Three's Company by this point in its run, began to drift away from the "jiggle TV" formula and the more over the top sexual humor (like episodes where Jack was offered a job modeling for an adult magazine or Janet's roommates thinking that she was hiring a man to father her baby) and towards being more of a general farce?

This following comment probably better explains how Three's Company changed in its final few years:

3. The entire tone of the show shifted in the worst way possible. Three's Company had started out as this super hip show for cool young people into innuendo and slapstick. They all wore hip clothes and were into hip things. They were quirky, had personalities and everything. All of a sudden in the last season, it became a very lame, safe white bread show for the Reagan crowd, who were trying to force us all to return to the days of the Donna Reed Show, where everyone was super WASPY, acted like a Stepford Wife and dressed like senior citizens.

[Fallon97]

Amazing how people see differently. I never viewed the show as Donna Reed, WASPY or stepford wives. It was always a fun, hip show to me, from the beginning to the end.

[BestTVever]

The biggest change that happened post Suzanne Sommers was how the girl roommates slowly started to worship Jack. Jack Jack Jack. Even though Ritter was cast as the main character the first 4 seasons it did not seem that way with the girls being the center of many scripts. Sommers actually turned out to be the big star. In season 6 and definitely in season 7 the show revolved around Jack's character. The girls never evolved. They had the same jobs and were a supporting role on the show. The girls still were the center of a few scripts but Jack was always involved. IMHO it was far better when they were all equal in the earlier seasons. I know they were working up to the spin off of Ritter but Janet and Terri always fawning over Jack to make sure Jack has enough money, make sure Jack's restaurant is perfect, making sure Jack is happy and rested, making sure Jack does not have unnecessary operations. Jack Jack Jack.

[TMC]

Here is a precise breakdown of how much, why, and in what ways the comedy evolved.