A forgotten episode of Three’s Company sparks debate
The series Three’s Company—known in Latin America as Apartamento para tres and in Spain as the same—remains a beloved classic for many.
The chemistry between its cast was pure gold. Sadly, we have lost two of its stars, John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, but their unforgettable performances live on through reruns and iconic clips.
Recently, one particular clip has gone viral again, stirring emotions among fans. But why?
Three’s Company thrived on misunderstandings and playful humor, built around a simple yet hilarious premise: two attractive young women—played by Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers—and a clumsy man, played by John Ritter, sharing an apartment in Santa Monica.
To keep nosy landlords away, Jack (Ritter) pretended to be gay, creating endless comedic situations filled with innuendo and confusion.
From 1977 to 1983, the show was a major success, loved by both critics and audiences. Hard to believe, but more than 40 years later, it still sparks strong reactions.
Recently, one specific scene from season five has captured attention, igniting debate and dividing opinions.
What is it about this episode that has everyone talking? You’ll have to keep reading to find out…
A crowded romance
“A Crowded Romance” was the fifth episode of season five and the 83rd episode of the series. Written by Mark Tuttle and directed by Dave Powers, it originally aired on December 2, 1980, on ABC.
In the episode, Larry (Richard Kline) meets a woman he believes is “the one” and asks Janet (Joyce DeWitt) to send her flowers.
Janet then asks Jack (John Ritter) to deliver them. After meeting her, Jack agrees with Larry—but things take a turn when both men end up dating her, unaware of each other’s involvement.
The situation grows even more complicated when Larry introduces her to a new job that Jack had just secured.
What follows is a mix of drama, miscommunication, and hilarious misunderstandings as the love triangle unfolds.
What makes this episode so special?
This episode has an interesting backstory. Although it was the first episode filmed for season five, it wasn’t the first one aired.
True fans will quickly notice that Suzanne Somers does not appear in this episode at all. However, the reason isn’t immediately what many assume regarding her contract dispute.
The real explanation lies in timing. During the summer of 1980, the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA strike halted film and television production.
As a result, Three’s Company was delayed from its original July start date to October.
Meanwhile, Suzanne Somers had already scheduled performances at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for September and October. When production resumed, her schedule conflicted with filming, so producers decided to exclude her from this episode and air it later in the season.
Here’s the twist: by the time the episode aired, Somers’ contract dispute had already begun, leading to her absence from several subsequent episodes.
In hindsight, this episode quietly marks the beginning of her departure from the show.
Why was Suzanne Somers fired?
In 1981, equal pay in Hollywood was not widely discussed. But Suzanne Somers challenged that norm.
She requested a 500% salary increase—from $30,000 per week to $150,000—matching her co-star John Ritter.
Instead of agreeing, the producers let her go. Somers later told The New York Times:
“I was playing what I believe was one of the best dumb blondes ever created, but I never got credit for it. I did it so well that people thought I really was one.”
The elbow: comedy gold or cringe?
With Somers absent, Joyce DeWitt truly took center stage in this episode. Wearing her iconic blue shorts and pink blouse, Janet finds herself in yet another comedic situation that fans still remember.
In one scene, Janet encourages Jack to do some exercises. Jack jokes that he’s already done “20 hairdos and two tooth brushings,” adding that he doesn’t want to “overtrain.”
Moments later, he playfully elbows Janet on the backside, prompting her to respond, “I hate when you do that.”
While the moment was comedic at the time, it has sparked debate among modern viewers. On platforms like TikTok, reactions have been mixed.
Some see it as harmless humor, while others view it as inappropriate by today’s standards.
One user commented:
“I haven’t seen this since I was a kid—I never realized how inappropriate Jack was!”
Another replied:
“It was just silly humor! Sadly, that kind of comedy doesn’t exist anymore.”
Others were more critical, with one calling it “straight-up predatory,” highlighting how perspectives have changed.
Changing times
In the past, many sitcoms—especially from the ’70s and ’80s—pushed boundaries with suggestive humor and gender-based jokes. Three’s Company was no exception.
Today, evolving views on gender equality and respect have reshaped how audiences interpret such scenes. What was once seen as harmless fun may now be viewed as reinforcing outdated stereotypes.
Same haircut?
Beyond the controversy, fans noticed another amusing detail: Jack and Janet appear to have almost identical hairstyles. And once you see it, it’s hard to ignore.
Joyce DeWitt’s hair has long been a topic of discussion among fans. Many loved her mid-series look—sleek, full, and stylish—while opinions on her later hairstyles remain divided.
Her early haircut was even compared to the famous “Dorothy Hamill cut,” inspired by Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill.
The magic behind the hairstyle
DeWitt’s iconic look was crafted by New York stylist Harry King, who created layered cuts that gave her hair a light, voluminous feel.
The result was a hairstyle that looked effortless yet required careful shaping and maintenance.
A supposed blooper
Sharp-eyed fans also pointed out what they believed to be a filming mistake—what looked like the top of a set wall visible in one scene.
However, others clarified that it wasn’t a mistake at all, but rather part of the set’s retro design—something that might seem odd today but fit perfectly with the show’s style.
The ’60s Icon Who Lost Love And Endured Tragedy: Her Photos At 86
Connie Francis stands as one of the most influential and successful female vocalists in American music history—a performer whose unmistakable voice helped define the sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
With timeless classics such as “Who’s Sorry Now?”, “Stupid Cupid,” “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own,” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” she became an international sensation, captivating audiences around the world with her emotional delivery and remarkable vocal versatility.
Behind the glamour, however, was a life marked by extraordinary triumphs, heartbreaking loss, and an unwavering determination to survive challenges that would have broken many others.
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, Connie showed musical talent from an early age. Recognizing her potential, her father became the driving force behind her career.
Fiercely ambitious and deeply determined to see his daughter succeed, he encouraged—and often pressured—her to perform from childhood.
Under his strict guidance, Connie appeared in talent competitions, television programs, and live performances while still very young.
Although his relentless efforts ultimately helped launch one of the most successful careers in popular music, they also created enormous emotional pressure.
Connie would later acknowledge that the discipline and expectations placed upon her during her formative years shaped both her incredible work ethic and many of the personal struggles she experienced later in life.
Her breakthrough arrived in 1958 with “Who’s Sorry Now?” At first, the song attracted little attention, but after legendary television host Dick Clark played it on American Bandstand, everything changed.
Almost overnight, Connie Francis became a household name.
The record climbed the charts not only in the United States but across Europe and beyond, transforming her into one of the world's first truly international female pop stars.
Over the following years, she dominated radio with a remarkable string of hit records, sold millions of albums, and performed in multiple languages, building an enormous global fan base that stretched far beyond English-speaking audiences.
While her professional life appeared glamorous, her personal life was often filled with heartbreak. One of the deepest emotional wounds came from her romance with fellow singer Bobby Darin.
Their relationship blossomed during the early years of their careers, and the pair reportedly envisioned a future together.
However, Connie's father strongly disapproved of the relationship and ultimately intervened, preventing the romance from continuing.
The separation devastated both young performers. Bobby Darin eventually moved on and married actress Sandra Dee, while Connie would later describe losing him as one of the greatest heartbreaks of her life.
Years afterward, she admitted that she often wondered how different her life might have been had they been allowed to remain together.
As the years passed, the tragedies continued to mount. In 1974, Connie became the victim of a horrific assault following a performance, an event that profoundly affected her emotionally and psychologically.
The traumatic experience left lasting scars and dramatically altered her confidence and sense of security.
Determined that others should not endure similar suffering without support, she later became an outspoken advocate for victims' rights, helping raise awareness about crime victims and encouraging improvements in victim assistance programs throughout the United States.
Not long afterward, another devastating blow struck when her beloved younger brother, George Franconero Jr., was murdered.
His death shattered the family and plunged Connie into overwhelming grief. Losing someone so close while still coping with previous trauma compounded her emotional struggles and made everyday life increasingly difficult.
The combination of public pressure, personal loss, and unresolved trauma gradually took a severe toll on her mental health.
During these painful years, Connie faced profound depression and experienced periods of emotional crisis.
She openly discussed her struggles with mental illness, including a suicide attempt, choosing to speak honestly about experiences that were rarely discussed publicly at the time.
Her willingness to share her story helped reduce stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged countless others to seek treatment and support. Rather than hiding her pain, Connie transformed it into a source of compassion for people facing similar battles.
As if those challenges were not enough, Connie also endured a devastating setback to the very gift that had made her famous—her voice.
Following nasal surgery intended to improve her breathing, complications temporarily robbed her of her ability to sing.
For an artist whose identity and livelihood depended upon her voice, the experience was emotionally crushing.
The fear that she might never perform again left her questioning whether her extraordinary career had reached its end.
Through months of rehabilitation, patience, and determination, she gradually regained her vocal abilities, demonstrating once again the remarkable resilience that had become a defining characteristic of her life.
Despite enduring repeated personal tragedies, Connie refused to let hardship define her legacy.
Throughout the years, she found strength in several enduring sources: her deep religious faith, the love she shared with her adopted son Joey, and the unwavering support of generations of devoted fans who continued to celebrate her music long after her chart-topping years had passed.
Their encouragement reminded her that her voice—and her story—continued to matter.
Professionally, Connie Francis achieved accomplishments that remain extraordinary by any standard.
She sold more than 80 million records worldwide, recorded songs in numerous languages, and became one of the first female solo artists to enjoy sustained international superstardom.
Her influence reached far beyond America, making her one of the most recognizable voices of her era.
Even decades after her biggest hits, her recordings continue to be rediscovered by new generations of listeners who appreciate the sincerity, warmth, and emotional depth she brought to every performance.
Today, at 87 years old, Connie Francis is remembered not only as a legendary singer but also as a symbol of perseverance.
Living a quiet life in Florida after retiring from the spotlight, she remains an enduring inspiration to fans around the world.
Her extraordinary journey serves as a reminder that fame does not shield anyone from heartbreak, loss, or personal struggle, but it also demonstrates the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
Through unimaginable challenges, Connie continued to move forward with courage, dignity, and hope.
Her legacy extends far beyond the millions of records she sold or the timeless songs she recorded.
It lives on in her advocacy for victims' rights, her openness about mental health, and her willingness to transform personal pain into compassion for others.
Connie Francis is remembered not simply because she possessed one of the most recognizable voices of the twentieth century, but because she showed the world that true strength is measured not by the absence of suffering, but by the courage to keep singing after life has tested you again and again.
