recent article on Joyce Dewitt - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

M4cong · 11-23-2003, 03:18 AM

Here is an interesting article on Joyce Dewitt that I came across. Notice that it is pretty recent......May 2003

DeWitt recalls odyssey after 'Three's Company'
By LUAINE LEE
Scripps Howard News Service
May 06, 2003

- She may have been the sensible girl on one of TV's most popular sitcoms, but Joyce DeWitt was at heart a rebel searching for a cause. For now she's happy to lend her good name and influence to NBC's "Behind the Camera: the Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company," airing May 12.

DeWitt didn't want to risk the show-runners depicting only the "challenging" times on ABC's "Three's Company," which ran from 1977-84. So she reluctantly agreed to help set the record straight about the wrangling that went on behind the scenes between the producers, co-stars and the network.

Passing on lunch in favor of black tea in the NBC executive dining room, a still-upbeat DeWitt says, "I realized my job here was to be the voice for all the people that I loved here, loved dearly, all the people who put that show together, to represent their voices so that in the end the film would reflect - would at least have resonance with - what they remembered as their experience."

What they did or did not remember is not nearly as interesting as what happened to DeWitt, 54, after the show faltered. She says her passion for acting - a force that propelled her from the time she was 4 - deserted her. That's when she began a 12-year exploration of different countries, religions, cultures, philosophies - and of herself.

"I had an extraordinary time in my life where doors were open to me, indeed because of the notoriety 'Three's Company' had placed in my life," she says, her tiny hands cupping her chin. "So when I wanted a particular philosophy or genre of thought, people at the top were as curious about me as I was about them. So it opened doors very quickly. . ."

What had happened had soured her on her profession. "I had encountered behavior in the professional arena that I found really disappointing, and it didn't fit with the way that I'd been brought up. If you're a fair and honest person then you'll be treated fair and honestly. If you speak the truth, the truth will be spoken to you. I found that to be not necessarily true in Hollywood."

When she was a kid she constantly mutinied against the conservative restrictions of her father who thought she'd get over her idea of performing.

"My roommate from college and I came home shortly before we graduated and my father - who I've only known to cry twice in my life - cried when he talked to her because he couldn't believe I didn't grow out of it.

"It's only because my dad, his thing is safety and security for his children and particularly for his daughters. They are to be cared for, protected - in prison, quite frankly - but in his terms protected."

When she first ventured to Hollywood she wasn't prepared.

"I ran out of gas every week when I first moved out here because I never had to put gas in the car. Every Friday my father would take the cars, each one he would check the oil, fill them with gas, paid the insurance. All I did was turn it on. My mother hasn't been in a grocery store in her life, my father does all the grocery shopping. My dad is an amazing human being. He's this very simple man who is a real pillar."

Her intent was to go to New York and become a stage actor. But what she found in Los Angeles proved intoxicating

"When I got here life unfolded. I was a girl from the mid-West, a very protected upbringing. I was in trouble all my life because I was a true rebel who was suddenly in L.A. in the early '70s. And L.A. in the early '70s was an amazing place to be. It was a land of personal freedom. Nobody cared what you were choosing to be as long as it wasn't infringing on their freedom. You could be who you were, and you could live your life wide open and it was a great coming-out party for me."

DeWitt, who lives in Santa Fe, is single.

"I've been divorced twice but never married. I spent my 20s with one man assuming we would live and die together; my 30s with a different man, half of my 40s separating from that one because we were still in love. In both cases I thought we would be together all our lives.

"I'm attached to the concept of marriage so when I partner with someone it's the same for me, and it was for them. . . For me I've never been attached to the concept of marriage but I am a one-man girl. Burned my bra when I was 2. I was a rebel when I was born."

Janet Tripper · 11-23-2003, 12:30 PM

THX! for the article

I don't understand how she could of been divorced twice but never married

!?!?

thx again

ilovethreescompany · 11-23-2003, 01:33 PM

Hm...Perhaps the relationships felt like marriage to her, since she had thought that she and her significant other would be together forever.

M4cong · 11-23-2003, 06:11 PM

common law marriage, I guess.

grade4 · 11-23-2003, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by M4cong
Burned my bra when I was 2.

Huh??

M4cong · 11-24-2003, 03:48 AM

What are you saying Huh to?? The fact that Joyce burned her bra at age 2 or when I said common law marriage???

grade4 · 11-24-2003, 07:17 PM

the burning her bra thingamajig

swedeace · 11-24-2003, 10:06 PM

Cool that Joyce now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico! I live just 45 minutes south of that city!! So close to me!

M4cong · 11-25-2003, 01:38 AM

Yea---the burning the bra made me stop and think too. Kinda crazy. It surprises me that she is such a rebel. I bet she is really fun to be around. Sure would be neat to get to know her. She would be a fun friend.

Frischman_Fan · 11-25-2003, 01:06 PM

What exactly does DeWitt mean by burning her bra at age 2?? Is it an expression??

M4cong · 11-25-2003, 04:57 PM

I took it as an expression. i think it was an exaggeration (did I spell that right?), because she mentioned after that .....that she was born a rebel.

DetectiveGriffin · 11-25-2003, 11:22 PM

when she was 2, LOL? shes just being silly if thats not a typo that was suposed to be 12.

For the youngsers,
Way back when - in the good old days, I think, young women would set their bras on fire to show that they were liberated and they didnt need any of societys bossy attitude. It was a popular thing to do whenever there was a newscrew around so everybody could see what an inspired "in your face" choice you were making.

I perfer just to use my bra as a sling shot --- no political reason, just to be a pain in the hiney.

grade4 · 11-25-2003, 11:28 PM

: Thank you!!!!

11-23-2003, 03:18 AM	#1
M4cong LOVEABLE Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 227	recent article on Joyce Dewitt Here is an interesting article on Joyce Dewitt that I came across. Notice that it is pretty recent......May 2003 DeWitt recalls odyssey after 'Three's Company' By LUAINE LEE Scripps Howard News Service May 06, 2003 - She may have been the sensible girl on one of TV's most popular sitcoms, but Joyce DeWitt was at heart a rebel searching for a cause. For now she's happy to lend her good name and influence to NBC's "Behind the Camera: the Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company," airing May 12. DeWitt didn't want to risk the show-runners depicting only the "challenging" times on ABC's "Three's Company," which ran from 1977-84. So she reluctantly agreed to help set the record straight about the wrangling that went on behind the scenes between the producers, co-stars and the network. Passing on lunch in favor of black tea in the NBC executive dining room, a still-upbeat DeWitt says, "I realized my job here was to be the voice for all the people that I loved here, loved dearly, all the people who put that show together, to represent their voices so that in the end the film would reflect - would at least have resonance with - what they remembered as their experience." What they did or did not remember is not nearly as interesting as what happened to DeWitt, 54, after the show faltered. She says her passion for acting - a force that propelled her from the time she was 4 - deserted her. That's when she began a 12-year exploration of different countries, religions, cultures, philosophies - and of herself. "I had an extraordinary time in my life where doors were open to me, indeed because of the notoriety 'Three's Company' had placed in my life," she says, her tiny hands cupping her chin. "So when I wanted a particular philosophy or genre of thought, people at the top were as curious about me as I was about them. So it opened doors very quickly. . ." What had happened had soured her on her profession. "I had encountered behavior in the professional arena that I found really disappointing, and it didn't fit with the way that I'd been brought up. If you're a fair and honest person then you'll be treated fair and honestly. If you speak the truth, the truth will be spoken to you. I found that to be not necessarily true in Hollywood." When she was a kid she constantly mutinied against the conservative restrictions of her father who thought she'd get over her idea of performing. "My roommate from college and I came home shortly before we graduated and my father - who I've only known to cry twice in my life - cried when he talked to her because he couldn't believe I didn't grow out of it. "It's only because my dad, his thing is safety and security for his children and particularly for his daughters. They are to be cared for, protected - in prison, quite frankly - but in his terms protected." When she first ventured to Hollywood she wasn't prepared. "I ran out of gas every week when I first moved out here because I never had to put gas in the car. Every Friday my father would take the cars, each one he would check the oil, fill them with gas, paid the insurance. All I did was turn it on. My mother hasn't been in a grocery store in her life, my father does all the grocery shopping. My dad is an amazing human being. He's this very simple man who is a real pillar." Her intent was to go to New York and become a stage actor. But what she found in Los Angeles proved intoxicating "When I got here life unfolded. I was a girl from the mid-West, a very protected upbringing. I was in trouble all my life because I was a true rebel who was suddenly in L.A. in the early '70s. And L.A. in the early '70s was an amazing place to be. It was a land of personal freedom. Nobody cared what you were choosing to be as long as it wasn't infringing on their freedom. You could be who you were, and you could live your life wide open and it was a great coming-out party for me." DeWitt, who lives in Santa Fe, is single. "I've been divorced twice but never married. I spent my 20s with one man assuming we would live and die together; my 30s with a different man, half of my 40s separating from that one because we were still in love. In both cases I thought we would be together all our lives. "I'm attached to the concept of marriage so when I partner with someone it's the same for me, and it was for them. . . For me I've never been attached to the concept of marriage but I am a one-man girl. Burned my bra when I was 2. I was a rebel when I was born."

11-23-2003, 01:33 PM	#3
ilovethreescompany Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 25, 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 251	Hm...Perhaps the relationships felt like marriage to her, since she had thought that she and her significant other would be together forever.
	__________________ Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

11-25-2003, 01:06 PM	#10
Frischman_Fan Who luvs nerds?! I DO!!! Senior Member Join Date: Sep 19, 2003 Location: In the back of Rigby's grocery store. Posts: 1,178	What exactly does DeWitt mean by burning her bra at age 2?? Is it an expression??
	__________________ I have a radio in my car!!!

11-23-2003, 12:30 PM	#2
Janet Tripper Mr. & Mrs. Tripper<3 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 03, 2003 Location: Next door to Mr. and Mrs. Tripper <3 Posts: 2,530	THX! for the article I don't understand how she could of been divorced twice but never married !?!? thx again

11-23-2003, 06:11 PM	#4
M4cong LOVEABLE Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 227	common law marriage, I guess.

11-24-2003, 03:48 AM	#6
M4cong LOVEABLE Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 227	What are you saying Huh to?? The fact that Joyce burned her bra at age 2 or when I said common law marriage???

11-24-2003, 07:17 PM	#7
grade4 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 03, 2003 Posts: 1,451	the burning her bra thingamajig

11-24-2003, 10:06 PM	#8
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	Cool that Joyce now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico! I live just 45 minutes south of that city!! So close to me!

11-25-2003, 01:38 AM	#9
M4cong LOVEABLE Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 227	Yea---the burning the bra made me stop and think too. Kinda crazy. It surprises me that she is such a rebel. I bet she is really fun to be around. Sure would be neat to get to know her. She would be a fun friend.

11-25-2003, 04:57 PM	#11
M4cong LOVEABLE Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: USA Posts: 227	I took it as an expression. i think it was an exaggeration (did I spell that right?), because she mentioned after that .....that she was born a rebel.

11-25-2003, 11:22 PM	#12
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	when she was 2, LOL? shes just being silly if thats not a typo that was suposed to be 12. For the youngsers, Way back when - in the good old days, I think, young women would set their bras on fire to show that they were liberated and they didnt need any of societys bossy attitude. It was a popular thing to do whenever there was a newscrew around so everybody could see what an inspired "in your face" choice you were making. I perfer just to use my bra as a sling shot --- no political reason, just to be a pain in the hiney.

11-25-2003, 11:28 PM	#13
grade4 Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 03, 2003 Posts: 1,451	: Thank you!!!!