Three's Company Makes Its Debut: 1977 Marks the Premiere of This Iconic Sitcom
Fast-forward to March 15, 1977. The TV world was lit up by ABC's top-rated shows Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Charlie's Angels, and Baretta, along with a couple of movie nights. ABC was ready to add two more long-running hits to its roster: Three's Company and Eight is Enough.
The family genre was hot on competitors CBS and NBC thanks to period pieces like The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. ABC wanted a piece of the action, but with a modern twist. They went for a family dramedy about a loving family with eight kids dealing with day-to-day life in Sacramento, California.
Three's Company and Eight Is Enough were instant hits in their abbreviated first seasons, but Three's Company took the spotlight, finishing third overall after Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. The fuss was all about the comedy of that time being dominated by Norman Lear's shows, discussing taboo topics like racism, antisemitism, homosexuality, women's liberation, and more. But Three's Company shook things up, featuring two single women (Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt) sharing an apartment with a single man (John Ritter), with Ritter's character, Jack Tripper, pretending to be gay to avoid conflicts with the cantankerous landlord, Norman Fell.
Unlike Norman Lear's shows, however, Three's Company wasn't about topical humor. Each episode was more like a 'comedy of errors' until the cast finally realized their errors and returned to normal life. Case in point: Mr. Roper eavesdropping on the trio, believing Chrissy was pregnant, only to find out she was just talking about a wart on her finger.
While John Ritter originally played the kindly Reverend Matthew Fordwick on The Waltons, his role in Three's Company was a significant career change. Richard Thomas, who played John Jr. on The Waltons, remembered encouraging Ritter to take the risk, seeing it as a great stepping stone from his previous roles.
There was controversy surrounding Three's Company as well, including Suzanne Somers requesting a salary increase to match other male TV stars and being fired as a result. The character was replaced by Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes, and the so-called "magic" was lost, despite the cast changes. Three's Company remained in the top 10 through season seven, but ratings softened in the final eighth season, resulting in the spinoff Three's a Crowd.
Forty-eight years later, Three's Company is tame in comparison to today's content, and some might find the anti-gay humor against John Ritter's character awkward. Nevertheless, the humor behind Three's Company was a mix of silliness and sexual innuendos, making it easy to see why the show became such a hit.
You can stream Three's Company on Pluto TV now.
- Despite the controversy surrounding Suzanne Somers' salary and subsequent dismissal, Three's Company remained in the top 10 for seven seasons, showing a promising outlook on ABC.
- John Ritter, known for his role as the Reverend Matthew Fordwick on The Waltons, demonstrates his versatility in his role on Three's Company, where he played Jack Tripper, dealing with the taboo topic of pretending to be gay.
- As menopause became more of a focal point in media, Suzanne Somers, one of the stars of Three's Company, explored the topic in her later work, further extending her impact on both television and women's issues.
