An Evening With John Ritter

THREE’S COMPANY AND FOR ONE NIGHT - ME!!

“A CAMPING WE WILL GO” (AIRED NOVEMBER 6, 1979)

What a treat! I was invited to CBS Television City in Los Angeles to see a taping of the classic series Three’s Company. Though the show appeared on ABC, I guess CBS had the better production facility, or maybe they just had a cheaper studio rental fee. I’d get to see the extraordinary talents and physical acting brilliance of John Ritter first-hand.

My friend’s mother arrived at the studio before me and actually met John Ritter on the way in. She told me he was super friendly, took an interest in her, and was as relaxed as could be. He posed for a picture. She would show it off for years.

It was Friday evening, September 14, 1979 and this was the beginning of the show’s fourth season. This episode would be shot about six weeks in advance. The series was already a bonafide hit. The legendary actor Don Knotts (The Andy Griffith Show) had been added to the cast. This was sure to be a night to remember.

The set was remarkably constructed, some of it familiar. On the far left there was a single booth from the Regal Beagle, their regular hangout, used only for the first scene. Look to the right or the left and the rest of the familiar restaurant was no where in sight. Packed away in the back of the soundstage perhaps.

“A Camping We Will Go” was co-written by Michael S. Baser and Kim Weiskopf. Larry, played by series regular Richard Kline, has access to a cabin in the woods and his only real aim is for a special weekend with his lady friend. But everyone finds a way to wreak havoc in an out of control wilderness weekend. Jack Tripper (played by Ritter) is simply in desperate need for some overdue rest. It’s the eighth episode of the season and the 61st episode of the series.

The show opened with Kline (the actor) sitting in the restaurant with Louise Williams (the guest star). The close up gave the tv audience the appearance of a huge pub. In reality it was a tiny part of a larger than usually needed set. To the far right was the familiar Three’s Company living room. It would be shot with a wide-angle lens and it was far smaller than I’d expected. In between was a large, impressive, well-designed forest with large trees, a green carpet for a lawn (that accidentally slid in one scene), a hammock, some convincing shrubs, all against a meticulously painted backdrop.

One of the producers came out on cue. He got us all settled in. He put us all in a good mood with a short no doubt pre-tested, oft-used warmup. He remarked about how hard they worked on the set and then assured us that we were gonna “love this episode”. As I recall there were about ten rows of seats that stretched nearly the full length of the set. It was by no means a small soundstage.

Dave Powers was the director. Everyone was well prepared. Very quickly and on time we were rolling. The show ran so efficiently it nearly kept up with real time. The cast which also starred Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers was impeccable. The entire cast including guest stars and semi regulars were well cast and well rehearsed.

John Ritter was extraordinary. His physical comedy was executed to perfection. He required no re-takes at all. Never even a missed line. His falls were all as if they were carefully choreographed. If you get a chance to see this episode (it’s free on you tube) check out his hammock scene. It’s John at his best. All of it is first-take stuff. Not only was he immensely likable as an actor, but agile, even athletic.

The absolute funniest moment of the night came when a scene ended with him stuck in a sleeping bag. He called for help. Everyone pretended not to notice. Even the audience seemed to be playing along. He got the whole studio, crew and all, laughing. If it didn’t make it as part of the outtakes it’s a loss! I could see there he had something special. A genuine warmth!

Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt worked off each other well. They had some mutual friends in the front row. They went out a couple times to make sure their friends were having a good time. Too good maybe! When the director called them back for the final scene they were laughing so much they had trouble getting through it. That scene actually never aired. A new scene was re-shot in its place in post production.

If you want to know what John Ritter was like when the camera wasn’t rolling, he was nice or even nicer, fun or even funnier, kind or even kinder, than you could imagine. Some television stars, like Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, and definitely John Ritter hold a special place in our hearts. We literally invited them into “our living rooms” each week. In fact, we never asked them to leave. I think many of us miss him and his wonderfully positive nature — still!

If you see the episode, and you listen carefully, you’ll hear me in the background. I’m laughing, and clapping with huge appreciation.