.gif)
Phyllis (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Phyllis is an American television sitcom
that aired on CBS
from September 11, 1975 to March 13, 1977.
Created by Ed Weinberger and Stan Daniels
. it was the second spin-off series from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
(the first being Rhoda
). The show starred Cloris Leachman
as Phyllis Lindstrom
, who was previously Mary Richards
' landlady on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In the new series, Phyllis and her daughter Bess Lindstrom moved from Minneapolis to San Francisco, after the death of her husband, Dr. Lars Lindstrom. It was revealed that San Francisco was Phyllis and Lars's original hometown, prior to their moving to Minneapolis, and that his mother and stepfather still resided there.
) move in with Lars' mother, the scatterbrained Audrey Dexter (Jane Rose), and stepfather, Judge Jonathan Dexter (Henry Jones
). Phyllis takes a job as an assistant in a photographic studio. The owner, Julie Erskine, was played by the actress Barbara Colby
who was murdered after three episodes of Phyllis had been filmed, and the part was then assumed by Liz Torres
. Much of the first season's humor stemmed from Phyllis' attempts to fit into the job market, after having lived for many years as the spoiled wife of a rich dermatologist. Actor Richard Schaal
(who was married to actress Valerie Harper
, the star of Rhoda at the time) was cast as Leo Heatherton, a well-meaning but bumbling photographer who worked with Phyllis and Julie at the studio. Elderly actress Judith Lowry
guest starred in an early episode ("Leaving Home") as Jonathan's mother, Sally Dexter. Her appearance was so well-received by viewers that by the end of the first year, Lowry became a regular on the show and her character of Mother Dexter also joined the household.
Aired between two popular shows, Rhoda
and All In The Family
, on Monday nights, Phyllis instantly became a top ten hit. Cloris Leachman won a Golden Globe Award
for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and was nominated for an Emmy Award
for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series. The sitcom was the sixth highest-rated television series for the 1975-1976 television season (at the time ranking higher than both Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show).
The series premise was reworked somewhat for season 2. Erskine Photography and the characters Julie Erskine (Liz Torres) and Leo Heatherton (Richard Schaal) were dropped from the show, with the explanation that Julie had married suddenly, sold the photography studio, and moved away, putting Phyllis out of a job. Leachman, Gerritsen, Jones, Rose, and Lowry remained with the show.
In the second season premiere Phyllis was immediately hired as an assistant to a San Francisco City Supervisor. Carmine Carridi played Phyllis' boss, and John Lawlor
was Leonard Marsh, an inept politician who worked in the same office. Garn Stephens was Harriet Hastings, Leonard's secretary and Phyllis' rival (she and Phyllis would become friends toward the end of the season). Ratings began to drop. Rhoda was also going through a format change at the time, which may have also affected Phyllis’ ratings. During this time, both shows' chief competition, NBC
's Little House on the Prairie
, flourished.
In a late 1976 episode, Jonathan's cranky and outspoken Mother Dexter (Judith Lowry
), Phyllis' main nemesis, married Arthur Lanson (Burt Mustin
); both Lowry and Mustin died within a month of the episode's airing. CBS moved both Rhoda and Phyllis to Sunday nights at 8:00 P.M. and 8:30 P.M., respectively. During this time, actress Jane Rose (who played Audrey Dexter) took ill. These events put Phyllis' home life in flux, which necessitated more new story lines. Daughter Bess's role became more prominent and she found romance with Mark Valenti (played by Craig Wasson
), the nephew of Phyllis' boss, and they later married.
By the end of the 1976-1977 season, the ratings for Rhoda had improved but Phyllis was still faltering. As a result, Rhoda was renewed for an additional season (it would ultimately be canceled in December, 1978), but Phyllis was dropped by CBS in the spring of 1977, finishing in 40th place that season. The stigma of the deaths of several cast members during the show's run, as well as the ill health of actress Jane Rose are also said to have been factors in the show's cancellation. The final episode ("And Baby Makes Six") had Bess announcing that she and Mark were expecting their first child. This installment aired Sunday, March 13, 1977. The same week, on Saturday, March 19, Cloris Leachman made her last appearance as Phyllis Lindstrom on the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
containing the first two episodes of Phyllis was released by MTM Home Video
; the cassette has long been out of print and Phyllis has not been released on DVD
.
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...
that aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from September 11, 1975 to March 13, 1977.
Created by Ed Weinberger and Stan Daniels
Stan Daniels
Stanley Edwin Daniels was a Canadian-American screenwriter, producer and director, who won eight Emmy Awards for his work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi.-Early life:...
. it was the second spin-off series from The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
(the first being Rhoda
Rhoda
Rhoda is an American television sitcom, starring Valerie Harper, which ran for five seasons, from 1974 to 1978 airing in 109 episodes. The show was a spin-off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, in which Harper between the years 1970 and 1974 had played the role of Rhoda Morgenstern, a spunky,...
). The show starred Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
as Phyllis Lindstrom
Phyllis Lindstrom
Phyllis Lindstrom is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off, Phyllis, portrayed by Cloris Leachman.-The Mary Tyler Moore Show:...
, who was previously Mary Richards
Mary Richards
Mary Richards, portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore, is the main character of the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show.-Family:Mary Richards, born in Roseburg, Minnesota, is the daughter of Walter and Dottie Richards...
' landlady on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In the new series, Phyllis and her daughter Bess Lindstrom moved from Minneapolis to San Francisco, after the death of her husband, Dr. Lars Lindstrom. It was revealed that San Francisco was Phyllis and Lars's original hometown, prior to their moving to Minneapolis, and that his mother and stepfather still resided there.
Synopsis and Production
Being left penniless after the death of her husband Lars, Phyllis and her daughter Bess (Lisa GerritsenLisa Gerritsen
Lisa Gerritsen is an American former child actor, later a computer systems consultant/networking specialist, and more recently, possibly, as an independent relocation coordinator and facilities project manager. She currently lives with her husband John Rustan and son in Northern California...
) move in with Lars' mother, the scatterbrained Audrey Dexter (Jane Rose), and stepfather, Judge Jonathan Dexter (Henry Jones
Henry Jones (actor)
Henry Burk Jones was an American actor of stage, film and television.Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Helen and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk...
). Phyllis takes a job as an assistant in a photographic studio. The owner, Julie Erskine, was played by the actress Barbara Colby
Barbara Colby
-Early career:Born in New York City on July 2, 1940, she started her acting career in the theater. Following a solid performance in Six Characters in Search of an Author in 1964, she moved to Broadway with a debut in The Devils the following year...
who was murdered after three episodes of Phyllis had been filmed, and the part was then assumed by Liz Torres
Liz Torres
Elizabeth "Liz" Torres is an actress, singer, and comedienne of Puerto Rican descent.-Early years:Torres was born in the Bronx borough of New York City where her parents had settled after moving from Puerto Rico. There she received her primary and secondary education...
. Much of the first season's humor stemmed from Phyllis' attempts to fit into the job market, after having lived for many years as the spoiled wife of a rich dermatologist. Actor Richard Schaal
Richard Schaal
Richard Schaal is an American television actor.He was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978. His daughter is actress Wendy Schaal by his first marriage to Lois née Treacy....
(who was married to actress Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
, the star of Rhoda at the time) was cast as Leo Heatherton, a well-meaning but bumbling photographer who worked with Phyllis and Julie at the studio. Elderly actress Judith Lowry
Judith Lowry
Judith Lowry was an American actress.Born as Judith Ives in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Lowry labored in occasional bit parts in film and television from the 1940s until she began to get more substantial roles in her eighties. Ms. Lowry also had an uncredited role in Valley of the Dolls as Aunt Amy...
guest starred in an early episode ("Leaving Home") as Jonathan's mother, Sally Dexter. Her appearance was so well-received by viewers that by the end of the first year, Lowry became a regular on the show and her character of Mother Dexter also joined the household.
Aired between two popular shows, Rhoda
Rhoda
Rhoda is an American television sitcom, starring Valerie Harper, which ran for five seasons, from 1974 to 1978 airing in 109 episodes. The show was a spin-off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, in which Harper between the years 1970 and 1974 had played the role of Rhoda Morgenstern, a spunky,...
and All In The Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
, on Monday nights, Phyllis instantly became a top ten hit. Cloris Leachman won a Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and was nominated for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series. The sitcom was the sixth highest-rated television series for the 1975-1976 television season (at the time ranking higher than both Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show).
The series premise was reworked somewhat for season 2. Erskine Photography and the characters Julie Erskine (Liz Torres) and Leo Heatherton (Richard Schaal) were dropped from the show, with the explanation that Julie had married suddenly, sold the photography studio, and moved away, putting Phyllis out of a job. Leachman, Gerritsen, Jones, Rose, and Lowry remained with the show.
In the second season premiere Phyllis was immediately hired as an assistant to a San Francisco City Supervisor. Carmine Carridi played Phyllis' boss, and John Lawlor
John Lawlor
John Lawlor is an American actor. His best known roles are Supervisor Leonard Marsh on the television series Phyllis from 1976–1977, and later of Headmaster Steven Bradley on the television series The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1980....
was Leonard Marsh, an inept politician who worked in the same office. Garn Stephens was Harriet Hastings, Leonard's secretary and Phyllis' rival (she and Phyllis would become friends toward the end of the season). Ratings began to drop. Rhoda was also going through a format change at the time, which may have also affected Phyllis’ ratings. During this time, both shows' chief competition, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Little House is a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was published originally between 1932 and 1943, with four additional books published posthumously, in 1962, 1971, 1974 and 2006.-History:...
, flourished.
In a late 1976 episode, Jonathan's cranky and outspoken Mother Dexter (Judith Lowry
Judith Lowry
Judith Lowry was an American actress.Born as Judith Ives in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Lowry labored in occasional bit parts in film and television from the 1940s until she began to get more substantial roles in her eighties. Ms. Lowry also had an uncredited role in Valley of the Dolls as Aunt Amy...
), Phyllis' main nemesis, married Arthur Lanson (Burt Mustin
Burt Mustin
Burton Hill "Burt" Mustin was an American character actor.-Early life:Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to W. I. and Sadie Mustin, Mustin was a 1903 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College , earning his degree in civil engineering...
); both Lowry and Mustin died within a month of the episode's airing. CBS moved both Rhoda and Phyllis to Sunday nights at 8:00 P.M. and 8:30 P.M., respectively. During this time, actress Jane Rose (who played Audrey Dexter) took ill. These events put Phyllis' home life in flux, which necessitated more new story lines. Daughter Bess's role became more prominent and she found romance with Mark Valenti (played by Craig Wasson
Craig Wasson
-Career:Wasson's first feature film was the 1977 suspense thriller Rollercoaster. In 1978, he appeared in two films about the Vietnam war: first as a private in The Boys in Company C and then as a corporal in Go Tell the Spartans. In 1982, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of...
), the nephew of Phyllis' boss, and they later married.
By the end of the 1976-1977 season, the ratings for Rhoda had improved but Phyllis was still faltering. As a result, Rhoda was renewed for an additional season (it would ultimately be canceled in December, 1978), but Phyllis was dropped by CBS in the spring of 1977, finishing in 40th place that season. The stigma of the deaths of several cast members during the show's run, as well as the ill health of actress Jane Rose are also said to have been factors in the show's cancellation. The final episode ("And Baby Makes Six") had Bess announcing that she and Mark were expecting their first child. This installment aired Sunday, March 13, 1977. The same week, on Saturday, March 19, Cloris Leachman made her last appearance as Phyllis Lindstrom on the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Cast
- Cloris LeachmanCloris LeachmanCloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
- Phyllis LindstromPhyllis LindstromPhyllis Lindstrom is a fictional character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off, Phyllis, portrayed by Cloris Leachman.-The Mary Tyler Moore Show:... - Henry JonesHenry Jones (actor)Henry Burk Jones was an American actor of stage, film and television.Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Helen and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk...
- Judge Jonathan Dexter - Jane Rose - Audrey Dexter
- Lisa GerritsenLisa GerritsenLisa Gerritsen is an American former child actor, later a computer systems consultant/networking specialist, and more recently, possibly, as an independent relocation coordinator and facilities project manager. She currently lives with her husband John Rustan and son in Northern California...
- Bess Lindstrom - Judith LowryJudith LowryJudith Lowry was an American actress.Born as Judith Ives in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Lowry labored in occasional bit parts in film and television from the 1940s until she began to get more substantial roles in her eighties. Ms. Lowry also had an uncredited role in Valley of the Dolls as Aunt Amy...
- Sally "Mother" Dexter - Barbara ColbyBarbara Colby-Early career:Born in New York City on July 2, 1940, she started her acting career in the theater. Following a solid performance in Six Characters in Search of an Author in 1964, she moved to Broadway with a debut in The Devils the following year...
- Julie Erskine #1 (1975) - Liz TorresLiz TorresElizabeth "Liz" Torres is an actress, singer, and comedienne of Puerto Rican descent.-Early years:Torres was born in the Bronx borough of New York City where her parents had settled after moving from Puerto Rico. There she received her primary and secondary education...
- Julie Erskine #2 (1975–1976) - Richard SchaalRichard SchaalRichard Schaal is an American television actor.He was married to actress Valerie Harper from 1964 to 1978. His daughter is actress Wendy Schaal by his first marriage to Lois née Treacy....
- Leo Heatherton (1975–1976) - Carmine CaridiCarmine CaridiCarmine Caridi is an American television and film actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of roles over the past 30 years. He lives in West Hollywood.- Career :...
- Dan Valenti (1976–1977) - John LawlorJohn LawlorJohn Lawlor is an American actor. His best known roles are Supervisor Leonard Marsh on the television series Phyllis from 1976–1977, and later of Headmaster Steven Bradley on the television series The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1980....
- Leonard Marsh (1976–1977) - Garn Stephens - Harriet Hastings (1976–1977)
- Burt MustinBurt MustinBurton Hill "Burt" Mustin was an American character actor.-Early life:Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to W. I. and Sadie Mustin, Mustin was a 1903 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College , earning his degree in civil engineering...
- Arthur Lanson (1976) - Craig WassonCraig Wasson-Career:Wasson's first feature film was the 1977 suspense thriller Rollercoaster. In 1978, he appeared in two films about the Vietnam war: first as a private in The Boys in Company C and then as a corporal in Go Tell the Spartans. In 1982, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of...
- Mark Valenti (1977)
Season 1 (1975-76)
- Pilot (September 11, 1975)
- Bess, Is You A Woman Now? (September 18, 1975)
- Up for Grabs (September 22, 1975)
- Leaving Home (September 23, 1975)
- The First Day (September 30, 1975)
- Phyllis Takes Piano Lessons (October 7, 1975)
- Phyllis' Garage Sale (October 14, 1975)
- The First Date (October 27, 1975)
- All Together Now (October 30, 1975)
- Audrey Leaves Jonathan (November 6, 1975)
- Phyllis Opens Julie's Heart (November 17, 1975)
- So Lonely I Could Cry (November 24, 1975)
- Phyllis and the Little People (December 1, 1975)
- There's No Business Like No Business (December 8, 1975)
- Paging Dr. Lindstrom (December 22, 1975)
- The $17,623,419.53 Man (January 5, 1976)
- Honor Thy Mother Dexter (January 12, 1976)
- Phyllis in Love (January 19, 1976)
- Crazy Mama (January 26, 1976)
- A Man, A Woman and Another Woman (February 2, 1976)
- Leo's Suicide (February 9, 1976)
- Sonny Boy (February 16, 1976)
- Widows, Merry and Otherwise (February 23, 1976)
- The Triangle (March 1, 1976)
Season 2 (1976-77)
- The New Job (September 20, 1976)
- You're Not Getting Any Better, Just Older (September 27, 1976)
- Speech 1A (October 4, 1976)
- Off the Bench (October 11, 1976)
- Boss or Buddy, or Both, or Neither (October 18, 1976)
- Phyllis Cries Wolf (October 25, 1976)
- Out of the Closet (November 1, 1976)
- The Wrong Box (November 8, 1976)
- Phyllis and the Jumper (November 15, 1976)
- Mother Dexter Cohabitates (November 22, 1976)
- Mother Dexter's Wedding (December 6, 1976)
- Bess Airs Her Views (December 20, 1976)
- The Christmas Party (December 27, 1976)
- Phyllis Runs the Office (January 3, 1977)
- The Threat (January 10, 1977)
- Taking A Chance on Chance (January 16, 1977)
- Leonard and the Bribe (January 23, 1977)
- Broken-Hearted Bess (January 30, 1977)
- I Am Beautiful (February 6, 1977)
- Dan's Ex (February 13, 1977)
- Audrey's New Life (February 20, 1977)
- The Elopement (February 27, 1977)
- The Apartment (March 6, 1977)
- And Baby Makes Six (March 13, 1977)
Opening credits and theme song
The opening credits to Phyllis parody other TV series opening credits of the period, specifically The Mary Tyler Moore Show, by depicting the character in a variety of local settings while the theme song plays. In addition to scenes shot on location in San Francisco, various scenes from her appearances in The Mary Tyler Moore Show are shown. The theme song parodies spectacular Broadway musical numbers, such as Jerry Herman's title songs to "Hello Dolly" and "Mame." In keeping with the sour disposition of the character, the song resolves with a deprecating line in a minor key, as Phyllis--who has been smiling broadly at the foregoing flattering hyperbole--makes an ugly face at the camera:- Lyrics:
- Who makes the fog surrounding the Golden Gate simply disappear?
- Phyllis... Phyllis...
- Who makes the warning bells on the cable cars play, "The Gang's All Here"?
- Phyllis... Phyllis...
- Who charms the crabs on Fisherman's Wharf right out of their shells?
- Who lights the lamps of Chinatown just by walking in view? Who?
- Phyllis! Phyllis! Phyllis...
- ...it sure isn't you.
Mary Tyler Moore Show tie-ins
- Mary Tyler MooreMary Tyler MooreMary Tyler Moore is an American actress, primarily known for her roles in television sitcoms. Moore is best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show , in which she starred as Mary Richards, a 30-something single woman who worked as a local news producer in Minneapolis, and for her earlier role as...
guest starred as Mary Richards on two episodes of Phyllis: "The First Day" and "You're Not Getting Any Better, Just Older", in which Mary visits Phyllis in San Francisco. - In 1977, Cloris Leachman also appeared as Phyllis Lindstrom on the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (March 19, 1977), the same week that the final episode of Phyllis aired.
Syndication
- During the 1990s, Phyllis was aired on Nick At NiteNick at NiteNick at Nite is the nighttime Cable network that broadcasts over the channel space of Nickelodeon on Sundays from 8.p.m.-7.am., Monday through Fridays from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. and Saturdays from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. . Though it shares channel space with Nickelodeon, A.C. Nielsen Co...
alongside Rhoda and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Eventually, all three shows were moved to sister-network TV LandTV LandTV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
for a short while before simply disappearing altogether.
- In January 2010, ALN began airing the series. The show is again shown alongside Rhoda in syndication. This time, however, the network stopped showing The Mary Tyler Moore Show when it added Rhoda and Phyllis to its lineup. The show was removed from the lineup in September 2010.
VHS release
In July 1992, a VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
containing the first two episodes of Phyllis was released by MTM Home Video
MTM Enterprises
MTM Enterprises was an American independent production company established in 1969 by Mary Tyler Moore and her then-husband Grant Tinker to produce The Mary Tyler Moore Show for CBS...
; the cassette has long been out of print and Phyllis has not been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.