There’s a universe in which ‘70s sitcom Three’s Company didn’t invite horny viewers to “come and knock on our door.” And even if they did, they probably wouldn’t have recognized John Ritter’s roommates if either of them answered. Entertainment publicist Danny Deraney recently shared the opening credits from the original pilot of Three’s Company, and it’s like a bizarro-world version of the popular sitcom. Only a few elements remain the same — mainly Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as the Ropers, the meddlesome and undersexed landlords, respectively. The rest looks familiar yet strange. The theme song has the same bouncy melody, but a cheerful “doo-doo-doo-doo-doo” replaces lyrics that promised “where the kisses are hers and hers and his, three’s company too.”
There’s breakout star John Ritter, but he’s “David” instead of the familiar Jack Tripper. As for Chrissy and Janet? Both the characters and actresses have been replaced with comedy doppelgangers. Instead of Joyce DeWitt, there’s Valerie Curtin (cousin of SNL’s Jane) as Jenny. Replacing Suzanne Somers is the similarly named Suzanne Zenor as Samantha. And the producers completely cheaped out on the credits, superimposing actors’ faces over a static image of a Southern California apartment complex. A surprising name was behind this original pilot — Larry Gelbart, hot off the award-winning M*A*S*H. Gelbart’s Emmy-winning serio-sitcom about the Korean War was in another universe of sophistication from the jiggle comedy of Three’s Company, which is why he wanted nothing to do with the lowbrow concept.
But ABC head honcho Fred Silverman called in a favor and Gelbart penned a script in with Jack, er, David as a filmmaker, Jenny a DMV employee and Samantha an aspiring actress. The pilot associated with this opening credit sequence nearly made it onto ABC’s schedule but was passed over for another show at the last minute. CBS swooped in with a cry of, “We’ll take it!” A nervous ABC agreed to add Three’s Company to their mid-season schedule, but only with a mostly new cast. The new pilot marked a tonal shift to an all-out sex farce, full of tight T-shirts, innuendo and bawdy misunderstandings. DeWitt was in, but the part of Chrissy went to an actress named Susan (that name again!) Lanier. ABC liked this pilot better, with the exception of Lanier. Based on her recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Somers was brought in for a third pilot — the one that finally landed a Tuesday night timeslot.
The result? The highest-rated midseason show in history, at least to that point. Sometimes, the third time’s the charm. The tight T-shirts didn’t hurt either. Imagine stumbling across a hidden VHS tape tucked away in an old Hollywood archive. You pop it in and suddenly, you’re watching Three’s Company—but wait, something’s…off. The faces are unfamiliar. The jokes are slightly different. Welcome to the version that never aired. In the golden era of American sitcoms, Three’s Company was king. But few know that before the beloved trio of Jack, Janet, and Chrissy took the small screen by storm, there was an entirely different cast and vibe. This lost footage, which recently surfaced, has fans and TV historians buzzing. Let’s take a deep dive into this long-buried piece of television history.
The Backstory of ‘Three’s Company’
Inspired by the Brits
The original idea for Three’s Company wasn’t American at all. It was adapted from a British sitcom called Man About the House. The concept? A man shares an apartment with two women but has to pretend to be gay to appease the conservative landlord.
A Rocky Start in Development Hell
Before the magic of John Ritter and company, producers tried several combinations of actors and even different tones for the show. Test audiences weren’t always impressed. Networks hesitated. The pilot was shot—and then shelved.
The Unseen Pilot: What Was Different?
The Cast You’ve Never Heard Of
The most jarring change? The original cast. John Ritter was there, but instead of Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, we had Valerie Curtin and Suzanne Zenor. Their chemistry was offbeat—and clearly not what the network was hoping for.
A Different Janet and Chrissy
Janet was played more uptight, and Chrissy lacked the bubbly charm we all came to adore. Their personalities felt forced, almost like sitcom caricatures, and it showed in the audience’s reaction.
Why the Original Version Was Never Aired
Bad Chemistry Sinks Ships
When you’re selling comedy, chemistry is your secret sauce. And this pilot? It was dry toast. Network execs felt the actors didn’t click. That lack of spark sealed the episode’s fate.
Audience Testing: The Final Nail
Test audiences didn’t laugh. They didn’t care. And worst of all—they didn’t ask for more. In TV land, that’s a death sentence.
Who Found the Lost Footage?
An Archivist’s Discovery
An NBC archivist, digging through tapes for a retrospective, found the unlabeled reel. It was old, dusty, and nearly damaged beyond repair—but what played on it was TV gold.
Restoring the Tape for Modern Audiences
The footage was digitized, cleaned up, and now clips are circulating among diehard fans. Some are calling it the “Rosetta Stone” of sitcom evolution.
What the Footage Tells Us About Sitcom Evolution
Casting is Everything
Seeing the old cast fumble through iconic lines makes one thing crystal clear: casting makes or breaks a show. Imagine Friends without Jennifer Aniston—just wouldn’t work.
Timing and Culture Matter
The humor in the original version felt flat, almost outdated, even in its time. The revised version aligned better with what 1970s America was craving—sex appeal, slapstick, and a dash of rebellion.
Fan Reactions to the Unreleased Episode
Mixed Feelings from Diehards
Some fans were thrilled to get new content. Others? Not so much. “It felt like a weird alternate universe,” one Redditor wrote. Still, most agree—it’s a fascinating peek behind the curtain.
A Treasure for TV Historians
Television scholars are analyzing the episode like it’s a missing Shakespeare play. It offers rare insight into how shows are molded over time.
Hollywood’s History of Hidden Pilots
‘Seinfeld’ Had a Rough Start Too
Did you know the original Seinfeld pilot didn’t include Elaine? Networks almost passed on it. Lucky for us, they didn’t.
Other Shows with Buried Beginnings
From The Big Bang Theory to The Office, many hit shows had first versions that were drastically different—and often terrible.
Will the Unreleased Pilot Ever Air?
Rights, Royalties, and Red Tape
Airing the full episode officially would require jumping through hoops—contracts, residuals, and estate permissions. For now, it remains underground.
Bootlegs and Streaming Hopes
Though not officially released, clips are leaking online. Some fans hope for a streaming debut as part of a Three’s Company anniversary special.
What This Means for the Future of TV Nostalgia
Unearthing the Past is Big Business
From director’s cuts to “lost episodes,” fans are eating up nostalgia. Studios are noticing—and digging deep into their archives.
Could More Lost Pilots Surface?
Absolutely. Networks are sitting on vaults of forgotten footage. This could be the start of a new trend: vintage TV archaeology.
Conclusion: The ‘Three’s Company’ That Almost Was
In the ever-spinning wheel of television history, few moments are as tantalizing as discovering what could have been. The unaired version of Three’s Company reminds us how fragile success can be—how a casting change, a line tweak, or a re-edit can change everything. It’s a love letter to the art of trial and error in entertainment. And for fans, it’s a chance to see the show from a whole new angle.
So next time you hear that laugh track? Just remember—it could have sounded very different.
