Suzanne Somers is best known for rising to fame when she appeared on the classic TV comedy sitcom, “Three’s Company.” However, most know that her run was short-lived, marred by a pay dispute that led to her inadvertent exit.
Somers starred beside the late John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt. She lasted until the fifth season although her appearance was sparse. This was largely due to a pay dispute, allegedly a result of her husband’s (Alan Hamel) doing.
She demanded a hefty pay raise from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, not to mention a 10% ownership of the show’s profits.
ABC denied Somers the raise in salary and she ended up refusing to appear in certain episodes and often made excuses for her not to appear. The rest followed and Somers was terminated and a legal battle between her and the network followed.
The whole issue affected the relationship of the actress. It appears that there was a dark prank played on her in one of the episodes where Somers did her cameo, courtesy of the great “Three’s Company collector, @threescompanycollection.
Most notable among her cameo was the seventeenth episode of season 5 of “Three’s Company.” Titled “Dying to Meet You,” Jack (Ritter) faked his death to avoid being killed by a jealous boyfriend of a girl he was flirting with.
When the episode wrapped, the crew allegedly revealed the coffin with a blonde side ponytail sticking out. Somers is best known for a very distinctive side ponytail.
Other cast members such as Ritter and DeWitt as well as Jennilee Harrison and Richard Kline confirmed the story when they appeared on the podcast of Priscilla Barnes, the one who was Somers’ final replacement in the series.
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