It was a heartfelt idea rooted in nostalgia — and a tribute to the magic that once was. Before her passing in 2023, Suzanne Somers revealed that she had pitched a reboot of Three’s Company, the beloved sitcom that launched her to stardom. But despite her excitement, the project never got off the ground — in part because one key person didn’t want to be involved.
Speaking on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast in April 2022, Somers shared that she had imagined a reboot where her iconic character, Chrissy Snow, had ended up marrying Jack Tripper, played by the late John Ritter. The twist? Their fictional son would be played by none other than Ritter’s real-life son, actor Jason Ritter.
“I had suggested a show where you would imagine that Chrissy Snow and Jack Tripper eventually got married and they had a child,” Somers explained. “I had suggested this to Jason’s people and that the show would be me and Jason, but that John would appear as a hologram — because it’d be like he was back and alive.”
The concept was both a creative reunion and a tribute — with Somers hoping to digitally revive John Ritter, who passed away in 2003 at the age of 54. However, the plan came to a halt when Jason Ritter declined to participate.
“Jason doesn’t want to do anything reminiscent of what his father did,” Somers said. She expressed disappointment but also understanding. “Suzanne Somers and John Ritter’s son, Jason — that’s a marketer’s dream,” she added. “But Suzanne Somers and Fred Schmoe is not a marketer’s dream, you know what I mean?”
A Missed Opportunity for a TV Return
The potential reboot marked a rare moment when Somers felt genuinely excited about returning to sitcoms. She hadn’t appeared in one since Step by Step ended in 1998. “That was the last time I got kinda turned on by thinking about doing a series again,” she said.
Three’s Company, which aired from 1977 to 1984, followed the comedic misadventures of three roommates — Chrissy, Janet (Joyce DeWitt), and Jack — as they navigated life, love, and plenty of misunderstandings in a Santa Monica apartment. The show became an instant hit, thanks in large part to the cast’s undeniable chemistry.
Somers’ idea for the reboot wasn’t just a business move — it was also deeply personal. During her stint on Dancing With the Stars in 2015, she paid tribute to Ritter with a touching performance set on a replica of the original Three’s Company set. Wearing Chrissy’s signature pigtails, she dedicated the routine to her late co-star. “This one’s for you, John,” she said in a pre-recorded segment. “It’s the dance that Chrissy and John never got to have.”
A Legacy That Lives On
While the reboot never came to life, the idea reflects just how deeply Somers valued her time on Three’s Company — and how much she cherished her bond with Ritter. Though her departure from the show in the early ’80s was marked by controversy, Somers eventually reconciled with her former castmates before her death.
In the end, her reboot pitch stands as a poignant “what if” — a glimpse into a version of television history that might have brought back the warmth, wit, and wonder of Three’s Company for a new generation.
