{"id":41221,"date":"2026-02-18T18:09:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=41221"},"modified":"2026-02-18T18:09:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:09:21","slug":"forgotten-threes-company-episode-sparks-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news-vm.com\/?p=41221","title":{"rendered":"Forgotten Three\u2019s Company episode sparks debate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Forgotten Three\u2019s Company episode sparks debate<\/h1>\n
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Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0remains a beloved classic for many, the chemistry between its cast was pure gold. Sadly, we\u2019ve lost two of its stars \u2014 John Ritter and Suzanne Somers \u2014 but their unforgettable performances continue to live on through reruns and iconic clips.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently, one particular clip has gone viral, stirring up emotions in fans all over again. But why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0thrived on misunderstandings and slapstick humor, with its simple yet hilarious premise: two beautiful 20-something women, played by Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, and one bumbling man, played by\u00a0John Ritter, living platonically in an apartment in Santa Monica. To keep their nosy landlords off their backs, Jack (Ritter) pretended to be gay, creating endless comedic situations filled with innuendo and misunderstandings.<\/p>\n

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From 1977 to 1983,\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0was a top-ten hit, loved by both critics and audiences. It\u2019s hard to believe, but now, 40 years after the show wrapped up, it still has the power to stir up emotions.<\/p>\n

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And it\u2019s one particular scene from Season 5 that has been getting a ton of attention lately \u2014 sparking conversation and dividing opinions. What is it about this episode that\u2019s got everyone talking? Well, you\u2019ll have to stick around to find out\u2026<\/p>\n

A Crowded Romance<\/h2>\n

\u201dA Crowded Romance\u201d was the fifth episode of\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0Season 5 and the 83rd overall episode of the series. Written by Mark Tuttle and directed by Dave Powers, it originally aired on December 2, 1980, on ABC.<\/p>\n

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To summarize the episode, Larry (Richard Kline) meets a girl who he thinks is \u201cthe one,\u201d so he asks Janet (Joyce DeWitt)\u00a0to send her some flowers.<\/p>\n

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Janet then asks Jack (John Ritter) to deliver them. After Jack meets her, he agrees with Larry that she\u2019s the one. But things take a twist when Jack and Larry end up dating her, both unaware that the other is also pursuing her.<\/p>\n

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The situation gets even more complicated when Larry takes her to a new job that Jack has gotten. Drama, miscommunication, and hilarious misunderstandings follow as the love triangle unfolds.<\/p>\n

What makes the episode so special?<\/h2>\n

So, what\u2019s the deal with this episode? First of all, it turns out this particular\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0episode actually has a pretty interesting backstory. It was the first episode to be taped for Season 5, but it wasn\u2019t the first episode that aired.<\/p>\n

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For the real\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0fans, it\u2019s hard to miss that Suzanne Somers isn\u2019t in a single frame of \u201dA Crowded Romance\u201d. But if you\u2019re wondering why\u00a0Suzanne Somers\u00a0wasn\u2019t in it, don\u2019t jump to conclusions about her contract dispute just yet.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s the thing: the 1980 Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA strike happened that summer, which meant no\u00a0\u00a0TV<\/span><\/a>\u00a0shows or movies could be made.<\/p>\n

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Because of that, the production of<\/p>\n

Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0got pushed back from its original start date in July to October. The show ended up premiering in early November, so it was a bit of a scramble.<\/p>\n

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Now, Suzanne had already planned her stage show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for September and October. When it looked like the strike might finally end, the timing of her Vegas gigs clashed with the show\u2019s taping schedule. So, the producers decided to write her out of this episode to avoid any conflicts and moved the episode\u2019s air date to the fifth spot in the season.<\/p>\n

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But here\u2019s the twist: by the time this episode aired, Suzanne\u2019s contract dispute had already begun, which led to her absence in several other episodes that followed. It\u2019s wild to think that this episode actually marks the beginning of her absence from the show, all thanks to the timing of that strike.<\/p>\n

Why was Suzanne Somers fired?<\/h2>\n

To quickly touch on\u00a0Suzanne Somers\u2018 contract dispute, in 1981, the issue of equal pay between men and women wasn\u2019t really a hot topic\u2014or even a topic at all. But Somers was determined to change that. She stirred up trouble when she asked the producers for a 500 percent raise. Instead of the $30,000 she earned weekly, she wanted $150,000, which was equal to her male co-star, John Ritter.<\/p>\n

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Rather than meet her demands, Suzanne Somers was fired.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been playing what I think is one of the best dumb blondes that\u2019s ever been done, but I never got any credit,\u201d she told<\/p>\n

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The New York Times<\/em>\u00a0the same year. \u201cI did it so well that everyone thought I really was a dumb blonde.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nudge \u2013 comedy gold or cringe?<\/h2>\n

Without Suzanne Somers in the episode<\/p>\n

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A Crowded Romance<\/em>, Joyce DeWitt truly took center stage and shone in the spotlight. Sporting her iconic blue shorts and pink blouse, Janet finds herself in one of the many hilarious predicaments that made\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0a fan favorite.<\/p>\n

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This memorable outfit is forever tied to a classic episode that fans still cherish, blending Janet\u2019s playful style with the show\u2019s signature comedic chaos. As always, the chemistry between John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt was undeniable. While the ensemble cast brought plenty of laughs, Jack and Janet were the anchors of the show \u2014<\/p>\n

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Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0wouldn\u2019t have worked without both of them.<\/p>\n

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In this clip from the episode, Janet encourages Jack to do some wake-up exercises. Jack, ever the jokester, quips that he\u2019s already done \u201c20 hair combs and two sets of teeth brushing,\u201d adding that he doesn\u2019t want to \u201covertrain.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In this\u00a0Three\u2019s Company<\/em>\u00a0clip from the episode below, Janet encourages Jack to do some wake-up exercises, but Jack jokes that he already completed some, like \u201d20 hair combs and two sets of teeth brushing,\u201d and doesn\u2019t want to \u201dovertrain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seconds later, Jack gives Janet a playful nudge on the backside, leading her to react with, \u201dI hate when you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

This scene, while comedic at the time, would likely not make it past today\u2019s standards. Some viewers, particularly on TikTok, have reacted strongly to the gesture, highlighting a shift in what is considered appropriate humor.<\/p>\n

Pushed the boundaries<\/h2>\n

One\u00a0TikTok user\u00a0commented, \u201cI haven\u2019t watched this since I was a kid, never realized how inappropriate Jack was!\u00a0\"\ud83e\udd23\"\u201d. Another user responded, \u201cIt was funny stupid humor! Unfortunately gone today\u00a0\"\ud83d\ude14\",\u201d reflecting nostalgia for a time when such moments seemed more acceptable in TV comedy.<\/p>\n

However, others are less forgiving, with one comment reading, \u201cA full on predator,\u201d emphasizing the more critical view that such jokes.<\/p>\n

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