Decades may have passed since Three’s Company graced our screens, but its laughter still echoes in our hearts.
With unforgettable characters and side-splitting misunderstandings, this classic sitcom revolutionized the genre. Now, Joyce DeWitt reveals what really made the show a timeless treasure…
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From the hilarious antics of three single roommates to the unforgettable performances of John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, Three’s Company remains a beloved staple of American television. It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the series finale aired on ABC, yet its charm and humor still resonate today.
To illustrate how long ago Three’s Company became a hit, I just watched the intro. Seeing the shots from Santa Monica Pier during the show’s prime reminds me of how much has changed since they filmed there.
Sadly, neither John Ritter nor Suzanne Somers are with us anymore; both were taken from us far too soon. But keeping the spirit of Three’s Company alive is Joyce DeWitt, 75, who shares her vibrant stories and cherished memories from the beloved show.
”The most dear, precious, tender – and utterly unexpected – experiences that have come from working in ‘Three’s Company’ are the many, many adults who have told me that ‘Three’s Company’ was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years – for some, the only safe haven,” Joyce DeWitt told US Weekly.
Joyce DeWitt circa 1978. (Photo by Images Press/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Starring as Janet Wood alongside John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, DeWitt became a television icon and she was such a day brightener for millions.
She appeared in 171 episodes of the show between 1976 and 1984.
“It was such a gift. I mean, it was iconic. But who would have thought it?” Joyce DeWitt told The Spec. “All we were trying to do was make people laugh. When I think about it, the show was really an attempt to do a contemporary version of a 16th-century farce. It was about silliness running wild. I mean, we were talking about serious issues at times, but that was always somewhere underneath.”
“John Ritter used to say, ‘We don’t want people to just laugh but to fall over their couch laughing,’” she added. “The real issue was always the depth of friendship and the love those characters had for each other. That’s what drew people to them.”
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After Three’s Company ended, DeWitt stepped away from the spotlight for over a decade before making her comeback to acting.
Yet, no matter what she has accomplished or plans to do in the future, the vast majority will always connect her with that iconic show. And there’s a very simple reason for that, according to DeWitt.
“It was a ‘time out’ from the oppressive, challenging, difficult circumstances they were navigating in their young lives,” DeWitt says and adds:
“And, oh by the way, they say the characters also did stupid, crazy stuff that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust and support of the characters, one to the other, that made them lifelong fans.”
Public Domain
When you look at unedited photos from the Three’s Company set, the camaraderie among the cast shines through, especially in the images of Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, who played the beloved Chrissy Snow.
Both actresses delivered iconic performances, portraying young women navigating a male-dominated industry. They contributed just as much to the show’s success as John Ritter, and in those early days, their smiles in photos tell a story of friendship and collaboration.
Yet, beneath the laughter, tensions simmered. While Somers was celebrated for her role as “the dumbest blonde in America,” her fight for equal pay created rifts that would grow over time. As she demanded a 500% salary increase — from $30,000 to $150,000 — her relationship with DeWitt became strained. The set, once filled with joy, was now fraught with conflict.
Somers had always viewed the show as a business among serious actors, and she realized that her approach annoyed her co-stars.
Somers was ultimately fired but had to finish the fifth season under strange circumstances. Isolated from her castmates, she filmed her scenes through bizarre phone calls, escorted by security. The tension escalated, leading to a heartbreaking split between Somers and DeWitt.
For over 30 years, they didn’t speak, a silence that seemed hard to reconcile when you viewed their early years together.
”They painted me as she’s trying to ruin the show,” Somers said in 2020. “So, I never talked to anybody on that show ever again. Ever again.”
Some speculated that DeWitt’s rivalry contributed to Somers’ exit, but it was ultimately the salary negotiations that drove a wedge between them.
Their differing circumstances — Somers as a single mother needing financial security versus DeWitt’s focus on her craft — further complicated their relationship.
“We had very different approaches to our careers,” DeWitt said of the relationship between her and Somers following the show. “We had very different needs. I did not have a child that I was supporting on my own. I didn’t have a business head, so I didn’t understand someone who did.”
However, in a beautiful twist, the two finally reunited in February 2012 on Somers’ talk show, Breaking Through. It was clear that they had buried the hatchet.
The former co-stars shared a heartfelt hug, and their open conversation about the past offered a glimpse of healing.
DeWitt expressed her deep respect for Somers’s accomplishments, saying, “You went up against ruthlessness, and it came down, but what you’ve gone on to do is immeasurable.” This moment highlighted the strength of their journey and the power of reconciliation. The two actresses remained friends until Somers’s tragic passing in 2023.
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In the interview with US Weekly, DeWitt spoke fondly of her late co-stars, paying tribute to their lasting impact. Reflecting on Somers, who passed away from breast cancer, DeWitt described her as ”absolutely wonderful.”
She also honored Ritter, who died in 2003 during heart surgery, calling him ”a true gift.”
As we revisit the photos from Three’s Company, we are transported back to a different, happier time—one brimming with laughter, friendship, and unforgettable moments. These images from the set not only celebrate the joy the cast brought to our screens but also highlight the enduring legacy they have left behind.
Public Domain
RIP John Ritter and Suzanne Somers – gone but never forgotten!
The health issues of Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck is one of the lucky few who has made it big in Hollywood. He is very talented and lucky to have made it this far in the business. While many people dream of working in Hollywood, very few truly make it. Tom Selleck is one of the prominent outliers.
For this talent, being chosen to play the lead in Magnum P. I. was a huge break. He received five Emmy nominations for the enormously popular show, and in 1985 he even won one.
Prior to being well-known, he had a few small appearances in TV shows and motion pictures. V. programs, took part in The Dating Game, and made appearances in commercials. Though he now calls the episode “humiliating and unpleasant,” it’s clear that it did not stop him from reaching his objectives.
Magnum P. Me and My Friends is Tom Selleck’s best-known composition. His career did not start off well; he was turned down for jobs and expelled from talent programs.
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Despite this, he persisted, and in the end, he succeeded. Selleck says that his success is due to the fact that he didn’t find a respectable job until he was 35 years old. He consequently became an actor that audiences were willing to recognize as a leading guy.
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Tom Selleck has stated that he would have given up acting completely if Magnum P. I. hadn’t been employed. He revealed this in an interview, stating that just as he was about to give up on his acting career, the job chance presented itself. Lastly, I would want to express my gratitude to Magnum P. Selleck for being able to carry on with his job in his passion.
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One more reason for Selleck’s popularity is that he portrayed Frank Reagan in the TV show Blue Bloods. It has been decided to renew the show for a thirteenth season, and he has been playing this part since 2010.
Selleck admits that completing the majority of his stunts over the years has damaged his body and injured his back. Additionally, his physical fitness has declined. He still contributes significantly to Blue Bloods and is one of its main stars in spite of this.
Work in film stunts requires taking chances. You do, however, spend a lot of time inactively. For instance, after performing a combat scene, you might need to take a few minutes to sit in your chair.
This could be hard on your body if you’re not with someone to keep you warm and limber. Eventually, all that erratic movement might wear you out.
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The actor is dedicated to maintaining his health and puts in a lot of effort on his property in Ventura, California. He also wants to share with his daughter his intense love of horses.
It’s amazing that Selleck and Jillie Mack are still together after 35 years of marriage. Because he always puts his family first, Selleck has a close bond with them.
It took a while to get off the train, according to Selleck’s 2012 story of leaving Magnum to raise a family. But he did not forget to highlight how the ranch had helped him find life’s balance.
His wife continued, “We both felt it was the best place for our daughter to grow up in.” We send our warmest regards to Tom Selleck.
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