Suzanne Somers says ThighMaster saved her after being fired: 'I'm still standing'
19.05.2022 - 09:27
/ foxnews.com
Sitcom star Suzanne Somers is a firm believer in second acts. After four seasons on ABC’s Emmy-winning TV show "Three’s Company," the actress was fired in 1980 after she asked for a pay raise from $30,000 an episode to $150,000, which was on par with her co-star, John Ritter. Despite being adored across America as bubbly blonde Chrissy Snow, Somers was kicked to the curb.
"At that time, the men were making 10 to 15 times more than I was," the 75-year-old told Fox News Digital. "And I was on the No. 1 show.
It just seemed wrong because I was clearly being underpaid. And it’s not like I stopped the show. My contract was up.
We had a meeting with the lawyers [at ABC] … But, by then, they had already decided. Suzanne Somers, seen here in 1979, played Chrissy Snow in "Three's Company." (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) "I was waiting at home — and remember, this was a time before cell phones, so it felt like an eternity," Somers recalled. "It was a gray day.
And the front door opened in a way that you knew bad news was coming. It was really slow. And I heard my husband going up the stairs really slowly.
I met him at the landing. "He looked at me, shook his head, and said, ‘You’re out. You were gone within the first five minutes when I walked into the meeting.' … Now, I was out of work and labeled ‘trouble’ only because I wanted to be paid fairly for doing my job." Despite being hailed as America’s sweetheart, being on 55 national magazine covers and recognized as a Johnny Carson favorite, the press turned against Somers after she said the network made an example out of her for wanting a pay raise. She went into a deep depression at home.