It’s been years since *Three’s Company* was on TV, but the laughs it brought us are still fresh in our minds.
With its memorable characters and hilarious mix-ups, this classic show changed the world of sitcoms forever. Now, Joyce DeWitt shares what truly made *Three’s Company* a show we’ll never forget…
From the funny adventures of three single roommates to the unforgettable acting of John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, *Three’s Company* is still a favorite on American TV. It’s hard to believe that 40 years have passed since the final episode aired on ABC, yet the show’s charm and humor continue to entertain us.
To show just how long it’s been, I recently watched the intro. The scenes at Santa Monica Pier remind me of how much has changed since the show was filmed.
Sadly, both John Ritter and Suzanne Somers have passed away, leaving us far too soon. But Joyce DeWitt, now 75, keeps the spirit of *Three’s Company* alive by sharing her stories and memories of 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*.
Playing Janet Wood alongside John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, Joyce DeWitt became a TV star and brought joy to millions of viewers.
She appeared in 171 episodes of *Three’s Company* from 1976 to 1984.
“It was such a gift. I mean, it was iconic. But who would have thought it?” Joyce DeWitt told *The Spec*. “All we wanted to do was make people laugh. When I think about it, the show was really like a modern version of a 16th-century comedy. It was all about crazy fun. We talked about serious issues sometimes, but that was always in the background.”
“John Ritter used to say, ‘We don’t want people to just laugh but to fall over their couch laughing,’” she added. “But in the end, it was about the deep friendship and love the characters had for each other. That’s what made people love them.”
After *Three’s Company* ended, Joyce DeWitt took a break from the spotlight for over ten years before returning to acting.
No matter what she has done or plans to do in the future, most people will always remember her for that iconic show. And according to DeWitt, there’s a simple reason for this.
“It was a ‘time out’ from the tough, stressful situations young people were dealing with in their lives,” DeWitt explains, adding:
“And, of course, they say the characters did silly, crazy things that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust, and support between the characters that made fans stay with the show for life.”
In unedited photos from the *Three’s Company* set, the close bond between the cast is clear, especially in the pictures of Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, who played the much-loved Chrissy Snow.
Both actresses gave memorable performances, portraying young women making their way in a male-dominated world. Their contributions were just as important to the show’s success as John Ritter’s, and in those early days, their smiles in the photos show a sense of friendship and teamwork.
But beneath the laughter, tensions were brewing. While Somers was praised for her role as “the dumbest blonde in America,” her push for equal pay led to growing conflicts. She demanded a 500% salary increase, from $30,000 to $150,000, which put a strain on her relationship with DeWitt. What was once a joyful set became a place of tension and disagreements.
Suzanne Somers always saw *Three’s Company* as a serious business and took her role as an actor very seriously, but she knew this approach bothered her co-stars.
Eventually, Somers was fired but still had to finish the fifth season under strange conditions. She was kept apart from the cast, filming her scenes through odd phone calls while escorted by security. The tension grew, leading to a painful break between Somers and Joyce DeWitt.
For over 30 years, they didn’t speak, a long silence that felt difficult to understand when you looked back at their early friendship on the show.
“They painted me as if I was trying to ruin the show,” Suzanne Somers said in 2020. “So, I never talked to anyone on that show ever again. Ever again.”
Some people thought that Joyce DeWitt’s rivalry played a role in Somers’ departure, but it was really the salary negotiations that caused the rift between them.
Their different situations made things more complicated — Somers was a single mother who needed financial security, while DeWitt was more focused on her acting. This added to the strain on their relationship.
“We had very different approaches to our careers,” Joyce DeWitt said about her relationship with Suzanne Somers after the show. “We had very different needs. I didn’t have a child to support on my own. I didn’t have a business mindset, so I didn’t understand someone who did.”
But in a wonderful turn of events, the two finally reunited in February 2012 on Somers’ talk show, *Breaking Through*. It was clear they had made peace.
The former co-stars shared a heartfelt hug, and their open conversation about the past showed signs of healing.
DeWitt expressed her deep admiration for Somers, saying, “You went up against ruthlessness, and it came down, but what you’ve gone on to do is immeasurable.” This touching moment highlighted the strength of their journey and the power of forgiveness. The two actresses remained friends until Somers’s sad passing in 2023.
In an interview with *US Weekly*, Joyce DeWitt spoke warmly about her late co-stars, honoring the lasting impact they made. Reflecting on Suzanne Somers, who passed away from breast cancer, DeWitt described her as “absolutely wonderful.”
She also paid tribute to John Ritter, who died in 2003 during heart surgery, calling him “a true gift.”
Looking back at the photos from *Three’s Company*, we are reminded of a different, happier time—one filled with laughter, friendship, and unforgettable memories. These images not only capture the joy the cast brought to TV screens but also highlight the lasting legacy they have left behind.
Emotional reaction of the pilot when he realized why birds were flying next to the plane
In the midst of a routine flight, Jason, a seasoned pilot, encountered a startling disruption that shook his world. A sudden barrage of loud bangs on the plane’s windows left him bewildered, grappling with the unknown source of this disturbance.
Casting his gaze across the horizon, Jason was met with a chilling sight, an enormous flock of birds not merely trailing the aircraft but actively assaulting it.
Frantically attempting to fend off the avian onslaught without jeopardizing the engine, Jason found himself in a precarious situation. Despite his efforts, the birds grew more aggressive, compelling Jason to reassure the uneasy passengers that he had control over the situation.
As the feathered assailants drew nearer, coordinating their attacks on the jet, Jason sought assistance from flight control. To exacerbate the predicament, the control tower remained eerily silent, leaving Jason struggling to maintain command of the aircraft as the avian horde extended beyond the city limits.
The situation escalated when attempting to return to the airport resulted in an even fiercer onslaught by the birds, causing the jet’s engine to fail and initiating a rapid descent.
In a daring move born of desperation, Jason opted for a water landing, a maneuver he had never executed before. Despite the turbulent landing, everyone aboard survived the ordeal.
Upon disembarkation, chaos ensued among the passengers. Despite the staff’s attempts to maintain order, some insisted on disembarking first, inviting further bird attacks. While rescue operations commenced, tugboats were dispatched to extract the plane from the water.
The persistent swarm of birds thwarted the rescue team’s attempts to approach, prompting Jason to propose creating disruptive noises to momentarily disorient the birds and facilitate towing the jet ashore.
A subsequent investigation, prompted by the arrival of law enforcement, uncovered a shocking revelation: a suspected passenger was implicated in the illegal trade of exotic birds. These trafficked birds had disrupted the flock, causing mayhem in the skies.
Justice prevailed when the implicated passenger was apprehended, bringing a sense of relief to Jason and the entire crew. Overwhelmed with gratitude that no lives were lost, Jason shed tears of relief.
His quick thinking not only averted tragedy but also exposed and halted a sinister trade that imperiled both human safety and the unwitting creatures caught up in this airborne spectacle.
This harrowing experience served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable challenges confronting aviation professionals. It underscored the vital role of pilots like Jason, who, in the face of unprecedented adversity, remained resolute in ensuring the safety of all on board.
The remarkable tale of courage and resilience against the odds stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and our capacity to surmount even the most extraordinary challenges.
Thanks to Jason’s swift actions, the illicit enterprise responsible for the aberrant bird behavior was dismantled, bringing an end to a dark chapter in aviation history.
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