It’s been 40 years since America last “knocked on the door” of “Three’s Company” and the sitcom’s leading lady, Joyce DeWitt, is reminiscing on what made the show such a success. DeWitt played Janet Wood on the show—which ran for eight seasons from 1977 to 1984—and credits its success to the storyline and how it resonated with viewers. “The most dear, precious, tender—and utterly unexpected—experiences that have come from working in Three’s Company are the many, many adults who have told me that Three’s Company was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years—for some, the only safe haven,” she said.
“Three’s Company” followed the hijinks of Janet Wood (DeWitt), Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), and Jack Tripper (John Ritter) after the two women decided to offer him a room in their apartment. Ritter passed during heart surgery at the age of 54 in 2003, while Somers died from breast cancer in 2023 at the age of 76. DeWitt spoke highly of her co-stars calling Ritter a “true gift” and Somers “absolutely wonderful.
” Together, the show won a number of awards including a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice, and while it became an instant hit at the time, a substantial fan base still exists today. The show aired its final episode in 1984, but DeWitt noted that over the past four decades she’s received and enjoyed “countless letters and spontaneous conversations” with fans, who she believes found “comfort�.