Three's Company: Season 06 (1981)

Now that the problems with former series regular Suzanne Somers were behind them, the producers and stars of Three's Company moved into the series' sixth season with renewed confidence and a sense of relaxation. Back on the job were John Ritter as aspiring chef Jack Tripper, Joyce DeWitt as his (platonic) florist roommate Janet Wood, and Don Knotts as their neurotic landlord, Ralph Furley. The position of third roommate, formerly the province of Suzanne Somers as Chrissy Snow, had been effectively filled throughout season five by Jenilee Harrison as Chrissy's klutzy cousin Cindy Snow. But because Cindy hadn't completely clicked with viewers, the producers opted to develop a new character as her replacement: Priscilla Barnes as Terri Alden, a vivacious, level-headed nurse who was completely unlike the ditzy Chrissy or her airheaded cousin. While Cindy moved out of the apartment, she had not totally left the series; it was explained that she was attending UCLA, the better to allow her a few occasional drop-ins as a guest star. In the middle of the season, there was concerted effort to retain both Priscilla Barnes and Jenilee Harrison on a full-time basis, by contriving to have Jack and Janet hire Cindy as their maid. But when this didn't work out story-wise, the decision was made to write Cindy out entirely, with an episode depicting to a bitter argument between herself and Janet (thereby sorely annoying Joyce DeWitt, who liked Harrison and felt that argument was completely out of character for both actresses). Season six of Three's Company concluded with a one-hour best-of clip special, hosted by Lucille Ball. The series itself regained much of the ratings ground it had lost during the previous season, moving up from eighth to fourth place. ~ Rovi