Come and Knock on Our Door: A Hers and Hers and His Guide to "Three's Company" (Paperback)

by Chris Mann (Author) "The year was 1977, and America was shaking its booty..." (more)
Key Phrases: tape date, number one show, series finale, John Ritter, Suzanne Somers, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The no-holds-barred complete story of the #1 hit '70s sitcom. Find out what really happened both behind and in front of the cameras.

Come and Knock on Our Door delivers all the titillation and travails of the breakthrough coed roommate farce that launched John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers to stardom in 1977. On-screen, the trio's dilemmas were always just zany misunderstandings riddled with pratfalls and double entendres and resolved with hugs and kisses. But behind the scenes, the real-life tensions of fame and controversy plus personal, financial, and creative conflicts threatened to end the love and laughter.

With interviews from over sixty actors, producers, directors, and crew members, Chris Mann uncovers the good, the bad, and the ugly that occurred on the set-- from the fun and friendships to the feuding and falling-outs. For the first time ever, John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt break their silence about the eroding relations and bitter breakup with their onetime pal and original costar, Suzanne Somers and some of the show's top execs tell their sides of the story behind her big money demands and missed work, the public outcry, and her eventual firing. Joyce DeWitt also reveals her secret struggles with the show's producers and explains why she turned her back on Hollywood when John Ritter spun off alone in Three's a Crowd-- and what she's been doing ever since. Jenilee Harrison tells what it was like to replace Suzanne Somers during the contract dispute. Norman Fell, Don Knotts, Richard Kline, and Ann Wedgeworth disclose the ups and downs of TV's looniest landlords and tenants. And the late Audra Lindley, in her final interview, describes what she looks for in a muu-muu. So Come and Knock on Our Door, We've Been Waiting for You.


About the Author
Growing up in Oklahoma in the '70s and '80s, Chris Mann learned about peace, love, and misunderstanding by watching Three's Company. An art director and writer living in Los Angeles, he now sees life as one big double entendre.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312168039
• ISBN-13: 978-0312168032
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #630,448 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come And Knock On Our Door RULES, February 13, 2000

By	J. Abercrombi (Honolulu) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

OK, maybe my opinion is biased because: I am a HUGE Three's Company fan, also a big Suzanne Somers fan and I luv just about all sitcoms from the 70's and 80's and luv books about TV shows in general. But I have to admit that COME AND KNOCK ON OUR DOOR was the very best book I ever read about any TV show. I felt like I was on the set of THREE'S COMPANY. The author (lemme just take this time to say that Chris Mann is a genius) captured every element of the show: from the early days, to The Ropers, to the rise and fall of Chrissy, then comes Chrissy's cousin, then Teri and finally Three's A Crowd! This book even has a complete guide at the back of the book with a detailed listing of every show that even includes the dates that the shows were broadcast. Also includes tons of exclusive pictures of the cast and interviews with just about everyone who was on the show, even Lana! There is also a very touching tribute to Mrs. Roper and the book includes one of her last interviews. It also has one of Mr. Roper's last interviews too! So if you love THREE'S COMPANY like I do then you gotta read this book because it is just the best. And even if you don't love THREE'S COMPANY you have to read the book because you will become a fan once you read it! Also, if you want even more info on THREE'S COMPANY then I strongly recommend the book AFTER THE FALL by Suzanne Sommers.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Open The Door, It's Good, March 15, 2003

By	K. Johnson (US/Asia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a great take on one of the funniest shows of the 70s and early 80s. You can look at "Three's Company" and consider it to be the first widely acclaimed and loved comedy that was "all about nothing." That's one of the reasons why this show (and Seinfeld) were so popular. Great writing, characters, and actors, that allow a comedic escape from the mundane routine and sincerity of our daily lives.

All episodes of TC, "Three's a Crowd" and "The Roper's" are listed in the book. Providing biographies of the actors and actresses, author Chris Mann goes on to uncover the behind the scenes history of the many aspects of Jack, Janet & Chrissy. The disagreement and fall out with the producers of the show and Suzanne Somers is covered without taking sides. The politics and animosity. The producers did engage in a legalistic smear campaign against Somers and tried to degrade and humiliate her as much as possible before giving her the axe. TC was not to be same again without here. Her departure had an effect on the show and Somers' 2 replacements, Jennille Harrison and Priscilla Barnes (the latter refused to be interviewed for the book) are also described in this book.

Like all television sit-coms that run a long time it becomes difficult for the writers to stay fresh, and as the show came to an end after 8 seasons, the producers were already planning a spin-off off of "Three's Company." Instead of being forthright and honest to the cast about the killing of the show and the spinoff with Jack Tripper ("Three's a Crowd" that bombed immediately), the producers and John Ritter were deceptive and crafty.

Joyce DeWitt (among others) discusses bad relations with the producers involving intimidation, arrogance, and treatment so inconsiderate she never did return to television. I love the show but sure don't like the industry from which it comes.

"Talk about hers and hers and his, Three's Company too."

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Ritter was a comic genius, December 23, 2003

By A Customer

This book proves three things:

1... Suzanne Somers is one of the biggest liars on this planet.

2... Joyce DeWitt loves pain, and loves to relive pain, and loves to share her pain with you as she's reliving it.

3... John Ritter was one of the greatest comedic talents in TV history, and possessed a fiercely strong sense of humor which obviously helped him survive the behind-the-scene madness that caused Suzanne and Joyce to lose what few marbles they started out with.

Thanks for sharing, Chris Mann! You've rocked MY world!