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Suzanne Somers rebuilt her career with parts like this one in "Hollywood Wives" in 1985. Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088536/ (May be subject to copyright) |
All I could think was, “She isn’t Chrissy Snow anymore.”
Although Suzanne Somers is best known for that role as the cute, ditzy blonde in “Three’s Company”, as the 1980s went along she had been banished from the show, rose from the ashes, and branched out.
The best example is the role of Gina Germaine in “Hollywood Wives”, but Suzanne Somers really began to experience a complete re-birth in the 1980s and beyond.
When I heard today that she had died, I thought back to that time where she was such a big part of “Three’s Company”, then was just gone.
Exile
Suzanne Somers had become one of the most popular performers on television with her role as Chrissy Snow in “Three’s Company”.
Suzanne Somers had become one of the most popular performers on television with her role as Chrissy Snow in “Three’s Company”.
Then she asked for more money as the fifth season started in 1980. After she rejected the network’s contract offer, she was essentially banished from the show. Jenilee Harrison had been hired ostensibly to replace her. Somers did appear in every episode to finish out her contract, but it was a 60-second appearance at the end of each episode when she phoned the other characters. In fact, Somers taped those spots in a room by herself.
She was then fired, and consigned to the trash heap of television.
Branching out
Suzanne Somers had to rebuild her career, and did a number of things. In 1984, she appeared nude in “Playboy” magazine, although still smarting from a previous appearance. The magazine had published old photos taken at a time in her life when she needed money to pay some medical bills for her son. Now, she figured another appearance would re-establish her career.
Suzanne Somers had to rebuild her career, and did a number of things. In 1984, she appeared nude in “Playboy” magazine, although still smarting from a previous appearance. The magazine had published old photos taken at a time in her life when she needed money to pay some medical bills for her son. Now, she figured another appearance would re-establish her career.
She started performing live in Las Vegas, first at the MGM Grand before it burned down, then the Las Vegas Hilton. Somers also performed for U.S. servicemen overseas.
TV Time
The Internet Movie Data Base reveals Suzanne Somers did very little television work in the 1980s after “Three’s Company”. In fact, there are two entries.
The Internet Movie Data Base reveals Suzanne Somers did very little television work in the 1980s after “Three’s Company”. In fact, there are two entries.
One is her appearance in 1985 in the miniseries “Hollywood Wives” as Gina Germaine, where she was absolutely awesome, shattering any typecasting that could have been left over from her “Three’s Company” days. In “Three’s Company”, she played the innocent daughter of a preacher. Gina Germaine is the exact opposite. Sexy, manipulative, and willing to do anything to get what she wants. In the miniseries she wants to move away from the sexy movies she was making into a more serious project.
The other entry was a sitcom called “She’s the Sheriff” which ran for two seasons, from 1987 to 1989, for a total of 44 episodes. It was her actual return to series television after “Three’s Company”.
The years after
Suzanne Somers made a rather complete comeback in the years after. She became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster”, and wrote a number of books. She had a successful seven-year run on the sitcom “Step by Step”, starring opposite Patrick Duffy, from 1991 to 1998 for a total of 160 episodes. Somers also performed on Broadway, hosted various talk shows on television and online, and did much more.
Suzanne Somers made a rather complete comeback in the years after. She became the spokesperson for the “Thighmaster”, and wrote a number of books. She had a successful seven-year run on the sitcom “Step by Step”, starring opposite Patrick Duffy, from 1991 to 1998 for a total of 160 episodes. Somers also performed on Broadway, hosted various talk shows on television and online, and did much more.
Parting thoughts
A few years ago, I saw a docudrama about “Three’s Company” where an actress played Suzanne Somers. It showed how she had been treated at the end of her tenure on “Three’s Company”, then her miraculous comeback through singing in Las Vegas, promoting the “Thighmaster”, and re-emerging on television.
A few years ago, I saw a docudrama about “Three’s Company” where an actress played Suzanne Somers. It showed how she had been treated at the end of her tenure on “Three’s Company”, then her miraculous comeback through singing in Las Vegas, promoting the “Thighmaster”, and re-emerging on television.
I was always so impressed with her resilience, and the fact she became more attractive as she got older. One of the hallmarks of her career after “Three’s Company” was her health. She always seemed to be the picture of health, through diet and exercise, so it was a cruel irony that it was breast cancer that finally got her.
It was the end of a career that started so well, cratered, but then came back better than ever.
Still, her comeback, through hard work and determination, is nothing short of miraculous.
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