Three's Company starring Suzanne Somers, John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt

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This week we lost Suzanne Summers born
Suzanne Marie Mahoney on October sixteenth, nineteen

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forty six, in San Bruno,
California. She rose to fame for her

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roles in television and her entrepreneurial endeavors. Suzanne Summers began her career as a

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model before transitioning into acting. Her
breakthrough came in the early nineteen seventies when

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she was cast as Chrissy Snow in
the popular TV series Three's Company. Her

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portrayal of the endearingly naive and bubbly
Crissy made her a household name and a

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beloved figure on the show. She
became an iconic part of the show's success.

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Following her success on Three's Company,
Suzanne Summers continued to work in television,

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including roles in Step by Step in
other series. She was also known

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for her work in various TV movies
and guest appearances. Apart from her acting

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career, Suzanne wrote numerous books on
health, fitness, and well being,

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including the best selling Thigh Master Exercise
System. Throughout her life, Suzanne Summers

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faced personal challenges and health issues,
including a battle with breast cancer, I'm

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Journey, Joe Mitchell, and in
this episode, a look back at Three's

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Company, the iconic American sitcom that
aired from nineteen seventy seven to nineteen eighty

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four. Set in a beachside apartment
in Santa Monica, California, the show

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revolved around the comedic misadventures of three
roommates, Janet Wood, Chrissy Snow,

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and Jack Tripper. As a young
audience member, I was immediately drawn to

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the show's light hearted humor and relatable
characters. John Ritter portrayed the lovable and

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clumsy Jack Tripper, a culinary student
who pretends to be gay to secure a

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place in the apartment shared by Janet
and Chrissy. Suzanne Summers brought Chrissy Snow

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to life, the bubbly and slightly
ditzy blonde with a heart of gold.

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Joyce DeWitt played Janet Wood, the
intelligent and level headed roommate who often found

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herself caught in the middle of Jack
and Chrissy's comedic shenanigans. The chemistry between

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these three actors was undeniably one of
the show show's greatest strengths. Their impeccable

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comedic timing and ability to play off
each other's energy created a dynamic that audiences

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couldn't resist. As the show progressed, additional characters were introduced, including Landlord's

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Mister Roper played by Norman Fell and
later Mister Furley played by Don Nototts.

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These characters added another layer of humor
and contributed to the show's overall success.

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Like many long running sitcoms, Three's
Company experienced cast changes throughout its run.

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One of the most notable changes occurred
when Suzanne Summers, who portrayed Chrissy Snow,

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left the show after a contract dispute. This departure had a significant impact

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on the dynamics of the show,
as Chrissy was a beloved character and played

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a crucial role in the comedic balance. The writers had to find a way

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to fill the void left by Summer's
departure, ultimately introducing Cindy Snow, Chrissy's

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cousin, played by Jenellie Harrison.
While Cindy brought her own brand of humor

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to the show, the absence of
Chrissy was palpable. The chemistry among the

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original trio was difficult to replicate,
and the show experienced a slight decline in

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ratings during this period. However,
the remaining cast members, including John Ritter

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and Joyce de Witt, continued to
deliver stellar performances, ensuring that Three's Company

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remained a fan favorite. With the
Chrissy character not quite working, Priscilla Barnes

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was introduced as Terry Alden Terry becomes
the new roommate in season six. Her

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character was more sophisticated and less naive
than Chrissy, bringing a different dynamic to

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the show. Three's Company is renowned
for its hilarious episodes and inventive storylines.

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From misunderstandings and mistaken identities to elaborate
schemes and romantic entanglements, the show never

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failed to keep audiences entertained. One
unforgettable episode is the Parties over where Jack

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pretends to be a famous chef in
order to impress an attractive food critic.

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The ensuing chaos and Jack's hilarious attempts
to maintain his charade had viewers in stitches.

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The episode A Man about the House
is where it all began. The

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show's premise is established when Jack Tripper, a culinary student, moves into an

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apartment with two women, Janetwood and
Chrissy Snow to save on rent. The

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episode is filled with comedic moments as
they try to keep their arrangement a secret

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from their conservative landlord, mister Roper. In Roper's niece, Mister Roper's niece,

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who happens to be an attractive blonde, comes to visit. This leads

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to a series of misunderstandings and mix
ups as mister Roper suspects Jack of making

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advances towards her. Hilarity ensues in
and Mother makes four. Jack's mother comes

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to visit and the trio must hide
their unconventional living arrangement from her. As

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expected, the characters become entangled in
a web of lies, leading to uproarious

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situations. Another memorable storyline is the
Jax Bistro arc where Jack fulfills his dream

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of opening a restaurant. The challenges
he faces along the way, from navigating

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the world of business to dealing with
an eccentric staff, provided ample comedic material

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and paved the way to a sequel
series. Behind the laughter and on screen

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Antics Three's company had its fair share
of behind the scenes secrets in trivia.

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For instance, did you know that
John Ritter's physical comedy skills were honed during

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his time at the university of Southern
California, where he studied theater. His

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ability to execute slapstick humor with precision
and timing was a testament to his talent

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and dedication. Additionally, the show's
creators, Johnny Mortimer and Brian Cook,

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based Three's Company on a British sitcom
called Man About the House. They adapted

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the concept for an American audience,
introducing unique elements and characters that resonated with

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viewers. Even after its final episode
aired in nineteen eighty four, Three's Company's

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legacy continues to endure. The show's
impact on the television landscape cannot be overstated.

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It broke barriers by addressing topics such
as sexuality and relationships with humor and

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sensitivity, saving the way for future
sitcoms to tackle similar themes. Three's Company

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also introduced the concept of the misunderstanding
comedy, which became a popular trope in

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sitcoms for years to come. Furthermore, the show's success spawned a myriad of

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merchandise, from t shirts and posters
to board games and collectibles. Three's Company's

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popularity led to several spinoffs and adaptations. One such spinoff was The Ropers,

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which focused on the lives of mister
Roper and his wife Helen after they moved

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away from the Beachside apartment complex.
The spinoff captured the same comedic spirit as

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its predecessor, but unfortunately did not
achieve the same level of success. Threes

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a Crowd was a television sitcom that
aired from nineteen eighty four to nineteen eighty

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five. The show followed the character
Jack Tripper played by John Ritter, as

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he had moved on from his previous
roommates Janet and Terry and was now living

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with his girlfriend Vicky Bradford portrayed by
Mary Caterret. Jack was still managing his

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bastres, and the series revolved around
the comedic situations and misunderstandings that arose in

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their relationship and work life. The
premise of Three's a Crowd essentially continued the

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format of its predecessor, but focused
on the challenges and humorous scenarios that arose

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from Jack and Vicki's romantic relationship and
cohabitation. While it had its moments,

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Threes a Crowd didn't achieve the same
level of popularity as Three's Company and was

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relatively short lived, lasting only one
season. In the realm of sitcoms,

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Three's Company stands tall as a beloved
and timeless series. Its unforgettable cast,

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hilarious episodes, and behind the scenes
secrets have captivated audiences for decades. The

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show's impact on popular culture and the
television landscape cannot be overstated. From its

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humble beginnings in a Santa Monica apartment
to its lasting legacy, Three's Company will

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forever hold a special place in the
hearts of comedy enthusiasts around the world.

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Until next time, I'm Journey,
Joe Mitchell and I I will be watching

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TV in the basement