Not at all. Contractually they had some weird things that hampered her ability to negotiate once she became the breakout star. I am actually old enough to have watched the show. John Ritter was able to negotiate a much larger salary and get top star billing, though to be truthful I don’t remember him in anything other than a guest gig on Mash that and being Tex Ritter’s son. Suzanne Somers really was the breakout. I didn’t watch for John RItter, I wasn’t crazy about his pratfall schtick, even as a kid. Everyone loved Chrissy Snow, Suzanne’s bubbly character. Joyce DeWitt was cute, but completely forgettable.
Sommer’s hubby was her manager, at the 4-year mark of the contract, they decided to try and renegotiate. They felt her contribution to the show was part of what made it a hit (I agree). I understand that the contracts always called for Ritter to be the “star” and earn more. Sommers and DeWitt were in a tandem contract. Their salaries were linked forever more. What one got the other got for the life of the show.
After wading through a ton of old material it appears these were the salaries at the 4th season mark:
John Ritter $50,000 an episode
Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt $30,000 per episode
Don Knotts $1,250 per episode
Somers and DeWitt started at $3,500 per episode for the first year of their contract. That rate was increased to $30,000 over the first four years. When Somers made her pay demands, her husband/manager’s opening negotiation was for $150,000 per episode and a 10% share of the show. The show countered with a $5000 per episode increase to $35,000 per episode. Talks broke down before they got much further. The studio accused Somers of doing a sick out for three weeks. Somers claimed she had broken ribs. The studio in retaliation locked her out of the studio and parred her role down to a 1-minute monologue each week. Somers went on the talk show circuit to air her grievances, shortly thereafter she was fired and replaced.
Knotts was brought in to replace the Roper’s as the new landlord when they left for their own show. His skimpy salary was raised over time (as they had done with Sommers and DeWitt). During Sommer’s attempted negotiation Ritter and DeWitt held a grudge against her refusing to talk to her unless they were doing a scene. They also excluded her from cast lunches. Prior to her husband’s attempts to renegotiate her salary, the cast had gotten along fine.
Knotts had suffered a similar fate on the Andy Griffith show and had tried unsuccessfully over several seasons to get a salary increase for his portrayal of Barney Fife. Even though they were friends, Griffith wouldn’t budge and Knotts quit the show over the conflict. During Sommers salary fight, Knotts was her one lone supporter on set. He continued to be friendly and speak to her when no one else would. He also made sure to be available to have lunch with her so she would not feel so alone.
I think Sommers was not the one who behave badly on the set. She had a right to negotiate a higher salary. Her co-workers could have done the same. Instead, they sided with management and shut her out in an unprofessional and unkind manner. Whether out of jealousy (i.e., acknowledging she really was the breakout) or because they feared she would cause the shows cancellation I don’t know. The fact that a seasoned TV performer like Knotts sided with her tells me she was in the right.
