Three’s Company remains a cherished sitcom for countless fans, and much of its success came from the effortless chemistry among the cast. Sadly, two of its most recognizable stars — John Ritter and Suzanne Somers — are no longer with us, but their performances continue to endure through reruns and iconic clips.
Recently, one specific clip has resurfaced and gone viral, reigniting strong reactions from viewers. So what is it about this moment that has everyone talking again?
At its peak, Three’s Company thrived on misunderstandings and physical comedy, built around a simple but wildly effective setup: two attractive women in their twenties — played by Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers — share an apartment in Santa Monica with a well-meaning, clumsy man, played by John Ritter. To keep their nosy landlords satisfied, Jack (Ritter) pretends to be gay, setting off a constant chain of innuendo, mistaken assumptions, and escalating comedic chaos.
From 1977 to 1983, the show was a consistent top-ten hit, winning over critics and audiences alike. It’s striking to realize that even now, 40 years after the series ended, it can still spark debate and emotion.
And lately, one particular scene from Season 5 has been drawing fresh attention — prompting discussion, nostalgia, and mixed opinions. What makes this episode so controversial and so memorable? To understand that, it helps to look at the story behind it.
A Crowded Romance
“A Crowded Romance” was the fifth episode of Three’s Company Season 5 and the 83rd episode overall. 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 could be “the one,” and he asks Janet (Joyce DeWitt) to send her flowers.
Janet then asks Jack (John Ritter) to deliver them. After Jack meets the woman, he agrees with Larry — she seems special. The twist comes when both Jack and Larry start dating her, each unaware that the other is also pursuing her.
The complications grow when Larry takes her to a new job Jack has just landed. From there, the love triangle spirals into the kind of miscommunication, awkward timing, and classic misunderstandings that defined the show’s humor.
What makes the episode so special?
So why has this episode in particular become such a talking point? For one thing, it has an unusual behind-the-scenes history. It was the first episode taped for Season 5, even though it was not the first one that aired.
Longtime fans also immediately notice something else: Suzanne Somers does not appear in a single frame of “A Crowded Romance.” If that raises questions, it is worth noting that her absence here was not initially the result of her later contract dispute.
The key factor was the 1980 Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA strike, which took place that summer and halted film and television production.
Because of the strike, production on Three’s Company was delayed, pushed from its original July start to October. The series premiered in early November, and the compressed schedule created significant pressure.
By that point, Suzanne Somers already had her stage show scheduled at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for September and October. When it became clear the strike could end, her Las Vegas commitments overlapped with the taping schedule. To avoid conflicts, the producers wrote her out of this episode and positioned its broadcast as the fifth episode of the season.
The timing adds an unexpected layer: by the time “A Crowded Romance” finally aired, Suzanne Somers’ contract dispute had already begun, leading to her absence in several additional episodes afterward. In hindsight, this episode effectively marks the start of her on-screen absence — driven initially by the strike and then intensified by what followed.
Why was Suzanne Somers fired?
To briefly address Suzanne Somers’ contract dispute: in 1981, equal pay between men and women was not widely discussed the way it is today. Somers, however, pushed the issue in a way that drew immediate attention when she requested a 500 percent raise. Instead of her reported weekly pay of $30,000, she asked for $150,000 — matching her male co-star, John Ritter.
The producers did not meet her demand, and Suzanne Somers was fired.
“I’ve been playing what I think is one of the best dumb blondes that’s ever been done, but I never got any credit,” she told The New York Times that same year. “I did it so well that everyone thought I really was a dumb blonde.”
The nudge – comedy gold or cringe?
With Suzanne Somers absent from “A Crowded Romance,” Joyce DeWitt takes center stage and carries much of the episode’s energy. Wearing her iconic blue shorts and pink blouse, Janet ends up in one of the familiar comedic situations that helped make Three’s Company so popular.
That outfit remains closely associated with an episode fans still remember, combining Janet’s playful look with the show’s trademark chaos. As always, the chemistry between John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt is a major strength. While the ensemble delivered plenty of laughs, Jack and Janet anchored the series — and Three’s Company would not have worked without both of them.
In the viral clip, Janet urges Jack to do some wake-up exercises. Jack, in classic fashion, jokes that he has already completed “20 hair combs and two sets of teeth brushing,” and adds that he does not want to “overtrain.”
Moments later, Jack gives Janet a playful nudge on the backside, and she reacts by saying, “I hate when you do that.”
At the time, the scene was intended as quick comedy. Today, many viewers feel it would not pass modern standards, and the moment has triggered strong reactions — especially among those encountering the clip on TikTok — reflecting how ideas about appropriate humor have changed.
Pushed the boundaries
TikTok responses capture that divide. One user wrote, “I haven’t watched this since I was a kid, never realized how inappropriate Jack was!” Another replied, “It was funny stupid humor! Unfortunately gone today,” expressing nostalgia for a different era of sitcom comedy.
Others have been far more critical, with one commenter calling Jack “a full on predator,” underscoring how sharply some viewers now interpret jokes that were once treated as harmless.
Many sitcoms from the 1970s and 1980s regularly tested boundaries in the way they portrayed men, women, and relationships. Suggestive humor, physical gags, and gender-based jokes were common, and Three’s Company was no exception.
But cultural expectations have changed. With greater focus on women’s rights, workplace respect, and gender equality, audiences often view older comedic moments through a very different lens. What once played as harmless slapstick is now frequently criticized for normalizing stereotypes and dismissive behavior.
Did Jack and Janet share a hairdresser?
The viral clip has sparked discussion beyond Jack’s gesture. Another detail — far less controversial — has also caught fans’ attention: Jack and Janet appear to have the exact same haircut. Once you notice it, it is difficult to unsee.
Joyce DeWitt’s hairstyle throughout the series has long been a recurring topic among viewers online. Many fans remember Janet’s hair in the middle seasons (4/5/6) as especially flattering, praising its full, sleek appearance. But opinions split when it comes to her later looks. Some disliked the longer styles in the later years, while others remain loyal to her earlier, more iconic cuts.
Janet’s first-season hairstyle was even compared at times to the famous “Dorothy Hamill haircut,” a style popularized by Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill and closely associated with the 1970s wedge-cut fashion moment.
One fan summed up their fascination by writing: “I just have to say that Janet (Joyce DeWitt) had the best hair. It was so thick and shiny and beautiful like a little girl. But I wonder how her hair got really thin and curly during the beginning of Three’s Company. Then it went back to straight and thick. What was up with that??”
The magic behind Joyce DeWitt’s hair
DeWitt’s evolving hair did not go unnoticed, and her look reportedly inspired plenty of women to head to salons hoping to recreate the same perky, spiky style.
So what was behind the signature cut? It was shaped by New York freelancer Harry King, who created it by cutting short, even layers around her head to keep it light and airy. According to AP, he left slightly more thickness and length at the neck, helping frame her face with balance. The result was a wash-and-wear style that naturally fell into place and needed only consistent trims to stay soft and shaped.
Bloop or Nope? The “Set Top” debate
For fans who enjoy spotting production slip-ups, “A Crowded Romance” offers a detail that some viewers have labeled a blooper — though it may not be one at all.
“Anyone else notice that you can see the top of the set when he talks about the job?” one viewer asked, pointing to something easy to miss unless you are watching closely.
On-set slip-ups do happen, whether it is equipment creeping into frame or backstage items accidentally appearing. In this case, however, many fans argue it is not an error. What some viewers believed was the top of the set is, according to others, simply part of the décor — a retro design detail that may look odd today but fits the era and style of the show.
Whether you are revisiting Janet’s iconic hair, laughing at Jack’s antics, or debating whether his “playful” gesture crossed a line, one thing is clear: Three’s Company still has the ability to get people talking decades later.
Do you have a favorite blooper, fun fact, or piece of trivia about the series? And do you think Jack went too far with that cheeky nudge? Share your thoughts in the comments, and tag a friend who would enjoy the nostalgia.
