Chrissy Snow
Encyclopedia
Christmas "Chrissy" Noelle Snow was a fictional character
on the sitcom
Three's Company
. Chrissy was played by Suzanne Somers
.
In the original unaired pilot to Three's Company, the character that became Chrissy (then called Samantha) was portrayed by Susanne Zenor
. Zenor was not picked for the second filming, so actress Susan Lanier
took over the role of Chrissy. Finally, for the final product, Somers won the audience.
, the eldest child of Reverend Luther Snow (Peter Mark Richman) and his wife (Priscilla Morrill
). In one episode, she explains that she was named "Christmas" because her father was a big fan of Bing Crosby
. In another episode, she states that her name is due to having been born in December. However, in "Roper's Niece", Janet states that Chrissy's birth was "not until January". Yet, in another episode, (Season 4, Ep 9: Chrissy's Hospitality) Chrissy falls and hits her head. She ends up in the hospital and explains to the nurse that her father named her Christmas because "she was the best present he ever got".
She was born into a very religious family and always loved her family traditions, such as Christmas
with all her relatives. Every Sunday the Snow clan would go to church to hear her father preach. She always loved her family and friends, and upon moving to Santa Monica
she ensured she would be back.
where she got a job as a typist. She found an apartment, owned and operated by Stanley
and Helen Roper
, which she would share with two other women, Janet Wood
and Eleanor Garvey.
In the pilot
, a pregnant Eleanor got married in a reception in the apartment, but went into labor just as she was cutting the cake. After Eleanor had her baby and moved away, Janet and Chrissy were left to hunt for a new roommate. In their bathtub, they found a man who was passed out and who upon waking claimed that he was a friend of one of the party guests. They decided to select the man, Jack Tripper
, as their new roommate instead of other, less desirable candidates, such as a pompous, nasal voiced woman, Patricia, nicknamed "Pattikins".
, although Cindy was more klutzy and less dim.
s. She was also leered at by many men on the series, even though she was rarely interested in anything other than love. Her roommate Janet remarked that Chrissy totally fell apart at the littlest hint of "sweet talk." In another instance, Chrissy was picked up by a police officer, who believed she was a prostitute, despite her innocent and good intentions.
moved into the apartment with Jack and Janet for the remainder of the season. Upon the arrival of Terri Alden
in season six, references to Chrissy vanished, only referred to once later on, when the roommates were being interviewed, as "the other girl" Janet was living with when she met Jack. From what it is implied Chrissy moved back home and never kept in contact with her old roommates again.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
. Chrissy was played by Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers
Suzanne Somers is an American actress, author, singer and businesswoman, known for her television roles as Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Lambert on Step by Step....
.
In the original unaired pilot to Three's Company, the character that became Chrissy (then called Samantha) was portrayed by Susanne Zenor
Susanne Zenor
Susanne Zenor is an American actress best known for the role of Margo Anderman Horton on Days of our Lives.Zenor's career began in 1970 with the movie The Moonshine War in which she portrayed Miley Mitchell. Zenor appeared in the Woody Allen movie Play It Again, Sam in which her name was listed...
. Zenor was not picked for the second filming, so actress Susan Lanier
Susan Lanier
Susan Lanier-Bramlett is an American film, television actress and entertainer.Born as Susan Jean Engledow in Dallas, Texas to Gene and Dorothy Lanier Engledow, she moved to New York City to pursue an acting career in 1967 where she attended New York University...
took over the role of Chrissy. Finally, for the final product, Somers won the audience.
Childhood
Chrissy was born in FresnoFresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, the eldest child of Reverend Luther Snow (Peter Mark Richman) and his wife (Priscilla Morrill
Priscilla Morrill
Priscilla Morrill was an American actress best known for her television performance as Lou Grant's wife on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.-Career:...
). In one episode, she explains that she was named "Christmas" because her father was a big fan of Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
. In another episode, she states that her name is due to having been born in December. However, in "Roper's Niece", Janet states that Chrissy's birth was "not until January". Yet, in another episode, (Season 4, Ep 9: Chrissy's Hospitality) Chrissy falls and hits her head. She ends up in the hospital and explains to the nurse that her father named her Christmas because "she was the best present he ever got".
She was born into a very religious family and always loved her family traditions, such as Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
with all her relatives. Every Sunday the Snow clan would go to church to hear her father preach. She always loved her family and friends, and upon moving to Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
she ensured she would be back.
Arrival in Los Angeles
As an adult, Chrissy decided to move to Los Angeles, settling in Santa MonicaSanta Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
where she got a job as a typist. She found an apartment, owned and operated by Stanley
Stanley Roper
Stanley Roper is the name of a fictional character from the sitcom Three's Company and its spinoff The Ropers.-Background:In Three's Company, Stanley Roper owns and manages the apartment building in Santa Monica that is home to Jack Tripper, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow. He has a love-hate...
and Helen Roper
Helen Roper
Helen Roper is a character on the situation comedy series, Three's Company and its later spin-off series The Ropers. In both shows, she is played by Audra Lindley....
, which she would share with two other women, Janet Wood
Janet Wood
Janet Wood is a fictional character on the television sitcom Three's Company played by Joyce DeWitt.-Fictional character biography:Janet and Chrissy shared an apartment in Santa Monica, California, and needed a third roommate to pay the rent after their old roommate, Eleanor, got married and moved...
and Eleanor Garvey.
In the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
, a pregnant Eleanor got married in a reception in the apartment, but went into labor just as she was cutting the cake. After Eleanor had her baby and moved away, Janet and Chrissy were left to hunt for a new roommate. In their bathtub, they found a man who was passed out and who upon waking claimed that he was a friend of one of the party guests. They decided to select the man, Jack Tripper
Jack Tripper
Jack Tripper is a fictional character on the sitcoms Three's Company and Three's a Crowd, based upon the character, Robin Tripp, of Man About the House and Robin's Nest. Jack was played by the late John Ritter.-Introduction:...
, as their new roommate instead of other, less desirable candidates, such as a pompous, nasal voiced woman, Patricia, nicknamed "Pattikins".
Character
Chrissy's personality was an exaggerated characterization of the "dumb blonde" stereotype, as evidenced by her repeated confusion and misunderstandings, malapropisms and girlish behaviour, being both quick to laugh (often at her own jokes) and quick to cry (in an exaggerated loud fashion). Chrissy's behaviour was reflected somewhat in her cousin (and eventual replacement) Cindy SnowCindy Snow
Cindy Snow is a fictional character on the 1977-1984 sitcom Three's Company, portrayed by Jenilee Harrison during the show's fifth and sixth seasons . The cousin of the character Chrissy Snow, Cindy was phased out to make way for Chrissy's permanent replacement Terri Alden...
, although Cindy was more klutzy and less dim.
Romance
Chrissy was very innocent (likely due to her small town religious upbringing), and she frequently and unknowingly would utter suggestive double entendreDouble entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s. She was also leered at by many men on the series, even though she was rarely interested in anything other than love. Her roommate Janet remarked that Chrissy totally fell apart at the littlest hint of "sweet talk." In another instance, Chrissy was picked up by a police officer, who believed she was a prostitute, despite her innocent and good intentions.
Departure
Somers was eventually axed from the series in the fifth season after a bitter and highly publicized salary dispute with the producers. On the series, it was written in that Chrissy went back to Fresno to care for her ill mother. For a short while (and to finish off Somers' contract), Chrissy continued to appear on the show for brief sequences wherein she would call Janet or Jack from Fresno and speak to them over the telephone. Soon after, her cousin CindyCindy Snow
Cindy Snow is a fictional character on the 1977-1984 sitcom Three's Company, portrayed by Jenilee Harrison during the show's fifth and sixth seasons . The cousin of the character Chrissy Snow, Cindy was phased out to make way for Chrissy's permanent replacement Terri Alden...
moved into the apartment with Jack and Janet for the remainder of the season. Upon the arrival of Terri Alden
Terri Alden
Terri Alden is a major fictional character during the final three seasons of the sitcom Three's Company, born in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She is played by Priscilla Barnes and is the third "token blonde" on the show ; however, she works as a registered nurse and is portrayed as far less "ditzy"...
in season six, references to Chrissy vanished, only referred to once later on, when the roommates were being interviewed, as "the other girl" Janet was living with when she met Jack. From what it is implied Chrissy moved back home and never kept in contact with her old roommates again.