Believe it or not, in today's TV landscape where anything goes, a sitcom about a guy faking being gay just to share an apartment with two single women caused a massive stir back in 1977. The National Religious Broadcasters spokesperson voiced strong concerns: “We’re deeply troubled by the gratuitous, excessive, and perverted sexuality that’s being portrayed on our screens.”

But for the stars of Three’s Company, the show was all about the laughs, the jiggles, and the giggles that catapulted them to the top of the ratings. As John Ritter, who played the lovably goofy Jack Tripper, put it: “We were so young, so full of energy, and so excited about the show that it made us laugh. Sure, it was sexy, but it was also pretty moral. Those three roommates? They were loyal, compassionate, and, most of the time, considerate good friends.”

The Magic Behind the Laughter

The chemistry between John, Suzanne Somers (as ditzy Chrissy Snow), and Joyce DeWitt (as levelheaded Janet Wood) made Three’s Company the most-watched midseason replacement in TV history. “Almost half the people in America who were watching TV were tuned into Three’s Company,” Suzanne marvels to Closer. “We’ll never see that kind of audience again.”

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Behind the Scenes: Not Always Smooth Sailing

While the on-screen chemistry was electric, things weren’t always so smooth off-screen. In 1980, Suzanne Somers held out for a higher salary, and after a series of awkward episodes where she was filmed separately from her co-stars, ABC fired her. “Her management, better known as her husband, Alan Hamel, played the wrong hand during negotiations,” explained Richard Kline, who played the womanizing neighbor Larry. “That was unfortunate.”

To fill the void, Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes were brought in as replacement roommates for the show’s final seasons, but the original magic was hard to recapture. “Suzanne was an integral part of the chemistry,” Richard recalls. “By the end, we were barely able to cross the finish line.” John reprised his role in a spinoff, Three’s a Crowd, but it was canceled after just one season in 1985.

Remembering John Ritter

His co-stars remember John Ritter with immense affection. “John was a great friend, an extraordinarily talented actor, and incredibly gifted at comedy,” Joyce says. “I miss his presence, his smile, and the gift that he was.” Richard adds, “From the moment John and I met, we hit it off. We hung out, hit the club scene along the Sunset Strip, and had a blast. His passing was and remains a huge loss to me.”

Reconnecting Through the Years

Some cast members have kept in touch over the years. “I guest-starred on Step by Step with Suzanne, and it was a wonderful reunion,” Richard shares. “And I see Joyce and Priscilla when we do Comic Con and autograph shows. They’re all amazing!”

Four decades later, the stars of Three’s Company still hold a special place in fans’ hearts. “People hug me and start crying when they meet me,” Joyce says. “It happens all the time!”