Three's Company: Season 05  (1980)

Theatrical Release Information:
Three's Company: Season 05

Although Three's Company was still one of America's most popular sitcoms during its fifth season, there was little reason to celebrate on the set of the program. Having incurred a lot of negative publicity because of her salary hassles with the series' producers, Suzanne Somers (Chrissy Snow) found herself persona non grata with her co-stars, John Ritter (Jack Tripper) and Joyce DeWitt (Janet Wood). This feeling carried over to the production staff, who saw to it that the appearances of Somers' character, Chrissy, would progressively diminish throughout the first half of the season. In one episode, all of Chrissy's dialogue was rewritten and given to Don Knotts, in the role of landlord Ralph Furley. And in other instances, Chrissy was shown communicating with roommates Jack and Janet via telephone so that the three stars would not have to appear together in the same scene. After a mere nine appearances, Suzanne Somers was gone for good, and it was "explained" that Chrissy had decided to move "out of town." Ironically, the last episode in which Somers appeared, "And Baby Makes Four," also represents a one-shot return of former series regulars Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as Stanley and Helen Roper. Still, the title of the show remained Three's Company, necessitating a third character as Chrissy's replacement. The first candidate for this position was Jenilee Harrison as Chrissy's klutzy cousin Cindy Snow. Cindy remained on the series throughout all of season five and part of season six, when she herself was succeeded by a new roommate, Terri Alden (Priscilla Barnes). Another defecting character this season was Dean Travers (William Pearson), head of the cooking school where Jack Tripper was studying to be a master chef. Travers' exit was borne not of backstage resentment but of necessity; having graduated, Jack was now ready to take his place in the professional culinary world, and would within the next two seasons open up his own restaurant. ~ All Movie Guide