Suzanne Somers Movies
Though best known for portraying rather ditzy blondes in television series such as Three's Company and Step by Step, there is much more to Suzanne Somers than meets the eye. In addition to acting, Somers has found success as an author, poet, entrepreneur, spokeswoman, nightclub performer and talkshow hostess. The daughter of a secretary and high school athletic coach, Somers briefly attended a private Catholic School until she was expelled for passing notes to her friends. Following graduation from public school, Somers attended Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. Marrying and divorcing early, Somers had a child to support, so she sought out modelling and acting work, with a few stints as a cocktail waitress. TV bit roles and fleeting appearances in such San Francisco-based films as Bullitt (1968) led to a decorative girl-friday job on a TV game show hosted by Alan Hamel, whom she eventually married. Always just on the brink of stardom, Somers took whatever job came along, gaining a measure of attention as the mysterious "blonde in the car" in the 1973 film American Graffiti (a role later expanded for the film's reissue after Somers became famous). One audition struck gold in 1977 when Somers was cast as the dumbest of dumb blondes Chrissy on the ABC sitcom Three's Company where Somers scored a hit with viewers. This being the Fonzie/Farrah Fawcett Majors era of TV idolatry, Somers was suddenly catapulted into sex-symbol status, with one of her "pin-up" photos selling 500,000 copies. This sudden fame led Somers to insist upon a salary raise - but the producers weren't prepared to pay $100,000 weekly for an actress previously receiving $30,000, nor did they want to give her a percentage of profits. Somers tried to break her contract, but was held to it by the producers, who forced her into what was virtually an extra role, limiting her weekly appearance to one minute, physically separated from her co-stars. Somers was off the show by 1980, and up until 1986 rarely appeared on television. Instead, Somers found success headlining a Las Vegas show where she pulled down $100,000 for each performance. The comeback began with a 1986 syndicated situation comedy, She's the Sheriff, which lasted two years. In the '90s, Somers began marketing exercise equipment products such as the Thighmaster and Buttmaster, via television infomercials. The products' success have made Somers a millionaire...again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Bobby Farrelly and brother Peter Farrelly continue exploring outrageous premises with this comedy directed by their first assistant director J.B. Rogers. In this wacky spin on the boy-meets-girl tale, Gilly Noble (Chris Klein) enters a sexually charged, passionate love affair with girl of his dreams Jo Wingfield (Heather Graham). After a happy time together, they soon realize that they are brother and sister and quickly break it off. Jo begins a new life elsewhere and Gilly is left heartbroken -- until he learns that Jo is not actually his sister; the incest suggestion was in fact a lie begun by a meddlesome third party. As Gilly travels to meet up with his beloved, he finds out that Jo is engaged to be married to another man; he must put a stop to it, even while everyone still believes he is Jo's sibling and is committing an unnatural act. Say It Isn't So also features Sally Field, Orlando Jones, and Farrelly stalwarts Richard Jenkins and Lin Shaye. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Klein, Heather Graham, (more)
- 1999
The fact that Tippi Hedren is cast as the grandmother of the protagonist is hardly the only Hitchcock reference in the made-for-cable thriller The Darklings. While bedridden with a case of mono, teenager C.J. (Ryan DeBoer) glances out his window, and sees--or thinks he sees--next-door neighbor Clayton Shepherd (Timothy Busfield) murdering his wife Emily (Suzanne Somers). Of course, when the authorities are summoned, there is no evidence of any murder--and in fact there's no body. Further developments suggest that C.J. was simply imagining things, but he refuses to accept this explanation. In league with his youthful pals Jessie (Meghan Ory) and Josh (Ben Johnson), C.J. is determined to bend and even break the law to prove that Shepherd is a killer. Martin Sheen also stars in this delightful blend of TV-style teen angst, light humor and dastardly deeds. The Darklings premiered February 14, 1999 on the Fox Family channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Famous for her perpetually peppy Three's Company character, Chrissie Snow, Suzanne Somers overcame many difficult hurdles on the path to stardom. Intimate Portrait: Suzanne Somers explores the actress' life. Born in 1946, Somers spent her beginning years wetting her bed almost nightly due to anxiety brought on by her father's alcohol addiction. Years later, a therapist suggested that Somers' suffered from severely low self-esteem. Judging by her bio, though, Somers has always had strength and courage in great abundance. She has raised a son, acted in movies and television, performed an award-winning one-woman show in Las Vegas, and written a best-selling memoir. Ed Begley Jr. narrates the Lifetime video, which features interviews with the actress' family and friends, including husband Alan Hamel, son Bruce Somers, Dick Clark, Barry Manilow, mother Marion, and sister Maureen. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
- 1997
- PG13
In this made-for-television movie, the pressure of having an alcoholic mother and a needy pregnant best friend proves too much for a caring young teen. As a result she begins losing her grip on everything. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Somers
A courageous canine protects his family from dastardly criminals. Hal Holbrook and Rue McClanahan star. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hal Holbrook, Rue McClanahan, (more)
- 1996
Actress Suzanne Somers has become nearly as well-known for her popular fitness products and diet books as she is for her work on television, and this home video package offers a two-tier approach to weight loss and physical fitness. On tape one, Somers guides viewers through her daily exercise regimen which she calls "Somersize," while tape two shows how to cook food that tastes good and is good for you. The package also includes a set of recipe cards featuring further information on the dishes Somers demonstrates onscreen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Aspiring TV journalist Sally McCormick (Suzanne Somers) can't get anyone to hire her--and the reason, she concludes, is that she is simply too chubby for the small screen. Although her boyfriend Andrew Burns (William Katt) tells her that eventually her talent will be judged separate from her weight, Sally would give anything to be thin; in fact, she would even sell her soul. Enter Seymour Kecker (Dabney Coleman), a somewhat diabolical spokesman for a popular weight-loss product. Entering into the standard Faustlike deal with Seymour, portly Sally becomes a sylphlike "Size Six" literally overnight, and before long she is anchoring the news at top-rated WPKV-TV. Of course, there's a price to be paid for this success--and the devilish Seymour intends to be paid in full! Produced for the Lifetime cable network, Devil's Food debuted September 2, 1996, originally shown in tandem with Devil's Diet, a documentary about the famous "full-figured" women of history. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) is the perfect suburban housewife and mother. She likes to cook, her home is immaculately clean, she's always well-groomed and cheerful, and she loves her husband Eugene (Sam Waterston) and her two children, Misty (Ricki Lake) and Chip (Matthew Lillard). There's just one problem with Beverly -- if you do anything to make someone in her family feel bad, you're dead meat on a stick. While she does a great job of hiding it, Beverly has a vicious and vengeful streak, and when she's not making obscene prank calls to the neighbors or bribing her garbagemen to save embarrassing items from her neighbors' trash, she's mowing down whoever would be so rude as to make her husband go into his office on a Saturday, break up with her daughter, or suggest that her son watches too many horror movies. Taking John Waters back to R-rated territory after the relatively sedate Hairspray and Cry Baby, Serial Mom captures a comfortable middle ground between Hollywood professionalism and Waters' subversive sense of humor, and Kathleen Turner has a field day as the sweet-on-the-outside, evil-on-the-inside Beverly. The supporting cast includes such Waters favorites as Patty Hearst, Traci Lords, Mink Stole, and Susan Lowe; Joan Rivers and Suzanne Somers appear as themselves, and all-female grunge-metal band L7 plays the all-female grunge-metal band Camel Toe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, (more)
- 1994
DJ (Candace Cameron) begins to have serious doubts about her future with Steve (Scott Weinger), esepcially during a mountain-climbing expedition with her friend Kimmy (Andrea Barber) and Kimmy's new beau Keanu (Brian Evans). Back at home, the family vows to get even with Joey (David Coulier) when he pulls one prank too many. . .but Joey may already be way ahead of them. Sitcom diva Suzane Sommers appears as herself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A romance with a touch of mysticism, this fantasy/drama follows a travel magazine journalist (Suzanne Somers) into the desert on a search for an alleged healer named Ceiro (John Vargas). She succeeds in locating him and the interview begins. However, it isn't long before a potent tea and a strange dust have her happily sharing his bed. This turn of events sits poorly with Ceiro's girlfriend Rayna (Julie Carmen), a powerful mystic herself. A little investigation reveals the Ceiro is really an ancient Brazilian sorcerer and that he thinks the reporter is his lost soul mate. To be with her always, he tries forcing her into the spirit realm. When she refuses, he uses magic to harm her husband and family and then curses Rayna with death. Before she dies, however, she makes sure that Ceiro's days of evil mayhem are numbered. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Late-night talk show anniversary specials are always a treat for fans, though Larry's (Garry Shandling) dwindling interest in the traditional highlight show finds him attempting to find ways to pass the time. As rumors of a film role for Larry flood the office with speculation, our host decides to instead focus on the possibility of penning a book. Guest stars include Anita Barone, Suzanne Somers, Richard Frank, Les Lannom, and Joan Embery. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
TV journalist (and recovering alcoholic) Marcy Singer (Suzanne Somers) is promised an Exclusive by anonymous phone an caller. Singer is advised to show up at a well-known bar at an appointed time. Once she's arrived, she finds six corpses awaiting her. Investigating, Singer follows the trail of evidence to an unexpected-and all-too-close-source. Joe Cortese and Michael Nouri co-star in this made-for-TV melodrama. Exclusive originally aired October 4, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Somers, Michael Nouri, (more)
- 1991
A gentle remonstration to those who avoid any TV movie with the name Suzanne Somers attached to it: Do not pass up Ms. Somers' Keeping Secrets. The actress plays herself in this painful retelling of her formative years as a member of a dysfunctional family. Ms. Somers' father, played by Ken Kercheval, is a chronic alcoholic, but it is expected--no, demanded--of the other children that this family problem be kept secret from the world. The long-ranging ramifications of her bitter childhood include the failure of Somers's first marriage, one arrest, inclinations towards suicide, and a crippling inability to control any aspect of her own life or career. Even the foreknowledge of Suzanne Somers' eventual recovery and success does not dull the edge of this compelling (albeit uneven) film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
"A good man is hard to find. A rich man is worth the effort." This advertising tagline could just as easily have been applied to Gold Diggers of 1933 or How To Marry a Millionaire as to the made-for-TV Rich Men, Single Women. Three attractive women of a certain age decide to pool their resources and land wealthy husbands. The first step is to convince their victims-er, potential soulmates-that they are "the women of their dreams." Suzanne Somers, Heather Locklear and Deborah Adair star as the Gold-diggers of 1990, who, according to one reviewer, "could set feminism back 20 years." Concocted by Aaron Spelling and Douglas S. Cramer-the folks who inflicted The Love Boat on an unwary nation--Rich Men, Single Women premiered January 29, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Based on the novel by Jackie Collins, the steamy ABC TV minseries Hollywood Wives began its three-evening run on February 17, 1985. Advertised with the teaser "If you think nothing can shock you anymore," part one got things up and running by introducing the central players, among them Elaine Conti (Candice Bergen), the ruthlessly ambitious wife of B-list movie star Ross Conti (Steve Forrest), and the promiscuous Gina Germaine (Suzanne Somers), who hopes to emerge from her famous hubby's shadow by pursuing her own screen career. The most realistic aspect of the series is the fact that the actors playing the male stars and producers are all considerably older than the women portraying their "trophy" wives. In part two of the miniseries, Elaine continues wheeling and dealing to advance the career of her husband, a fading matinee idol. Meanwhile, the craven Gina tries to sleep her way into a major role in the latest epic directed by Neil Gray (Anthony Hopkins). And Karen Lancaster (Mary Crosby), a second-generation celebrity, embarks upon a romantic misadventure that may have consequence for her celebrated father and mother -- not to mention nominal heroine Elaine. In the miniseries' third and final part, Elaine throws a huge Hollywood party to advance the career of her aging movie-star husband Ross. The site of the party is the home of established film favorite George Lancaster (Robert Stack), whose daughter, Karen (Mary Crosby), has made no secret of her intention to steal Elaine's hubby away from her. Frances Bergen, real-life mother of star Candice Bergen, is seen as George Lancaster's missus, Pamela. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Released in Brazil as Alem Da Paixao, Happily Ever After is all about ostensibly happy housewife Regina Duarte. She has a dream one night in which she dances with a woman who "morphs" into a gorgeous hunk of man. While musing on this dream, Duarte hits a handsome young pedestrian with her car. Guess who that pedestrian looks like? Their affair gets off to a bad start when he robs her, but she trails him to a transvestite club. Enchanted by her dream come true, Duarte refuses to acknowledge the fact that her new bisexual lover is a male prostitute, stealing everything she owns to support his drug habit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Regina Duarte, Paul Castelli, (more)
- 1980
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In this variety show featuring Three's Company star John Ritter, an all-star cast including Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers, Howard Hesseman, and Vincent Price perform a hodgepodge of hilarious comedy sketches. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ritter
- 1980
- PG
Flawed and problematic, this romantic comedy is about Abigail Adams (Suzanne Somers), a sexy, talented, and dedicated lawyer, her new client Prof. Roger Keller (Donald Sutherland), and their fight to save baby seals from slaughter. The issue was a hot one, but the film as a whole does not rise to the occasion. The good professor manages to get the attention of Washington brass, and the good lawyer manages to get the attention of the professor, so the battle against the corporate devil (Lawrence Z. Dane) in charge of the mayhem begins. And the battle of the sexes is played out against that backdrop. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Suzanne Somers, (more)
