While Three’s Company made audiences laugh for eight successful seasons, life behind the cameras was not always as cheerful as it seemed. The sitcom, famous for its playful misunderstandings and slapstick humor, was also marked by tension, contract disputes, and cast changes that surprised fans at the time.
The most publicized conflict came in 1980, when Suzanne Somers, who played the bubbly Chrissy Snow, demanded a major salary increase. At the height of the show’s popularity, Somers was earning far less than her male co-star John Ritter, despite her role being central to the series’ success. When negotiations turned sour, Somers was written out of most of season five and eventually left the show altogether. Her absence forced the writers to bring in new characters, including Cindy Snow (Jenilee Harrison) and later Terri Alden (Priscilla Barnes).
Tensions extended beyond pay disputes. Co-stars often recalled that the atmosphere on set shifted after Somers’ exit, with Ritter and Joyce DeWitt caught in the middle of media speculation. While the show continued to perform well in ratings, the behind-the-scenes changes shaped the way fans viewed the series in later years.
Despite these challenges, Ritter’s comedic brilliance held the show together until its finale in 1984. His ability to carry the humor while new characters rotated in and out kept viewers loyal, and his Emmy-winning performance as Jack Tripper ensured the sitcom’s place in television history.
In hindsight, the behind-the-scenes drama has become part of the Three’s Company story, reminding fans that even the funniest shows can have complicated realities. Yet, none of it diminishes the legacy of the sitcom’s laughter, nor the affection audiences still hold for the characters who once made misunderstandings so endlessly entertaining.
