Though it may seem like yesterday, given its decades in syndication, the goofy comedy “Three’s Company” premiered on ABC 40 years ago, on March 15, 1977.
It starred John Ritter as Jack Tripper, Joyce DeWitt as Janet Wood and Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow. The plot, which seems tame by today’s TV standards, concerned a man sharing an apartment, and a platonic relationship, with two beautiful women.
The show thrived on double entendre and misunderstandings. Jack pretended to be gay in order to please landlord Mr. Roper (Norman Fell), and Chrissy seemed to be confused about pretty much everything that happened in that California apartment.
Here are five things about this early “jiggle-show” situation comedy.
• “Three’s Company” was based on a British sitcom, “Man About the House.”
• The catchy, “Come and knock on our door …” theme song was written by Joe Raposo, who also wrote the “Sesame Street” theme song and Kermit the Frog’s ballad “(It’s Not That Easy) Bein’ Green.”
• The first failed “Three’s Company” pilot episode featured different actresses as John Ritter’s two housemates. Ritter’s character was called David Bell. Valerie Curtin played Jenny and Suzanne Zenor was Samantha. David was a filmmaker, and Jenny and Samantha were actresses. The Ropers, however, were already being played by series regulars Audra Lindley and Fell, who left the series in 1979 for a spin-off, “The Ropers.” DeWitt joined the project during a second failed pilot. It was the third filmed pilot that finally aired 40 years ago.
• Billy Crystal auditioned to play Jack Tripper, but was cast in another ABC show, “Soap.” Loni Anderson, who later booked “WKRP in Cincinnati,” auditioned for the role of Chrissy.
• The toddler who runs up to DeWitt’s character at the zoo in the opening credits of seasons 6 through 8 (after Somers had left the show) was John Ritter’s son, Jason. He wandered into the shot, during which DeWitt was petting a goat, and the producers decided to keep him in the opening. Jason Ritter is an actor in his own right, having appeared on such recent TV shows as “Parenthood” and “Girls.”
