I am looking for any episodes of "The Pruitts Of Southampton" 1966-67 ABC

Phyliss Diller stars as Phyliss Pruitt a Long Island socialite who has to make he transition from luxuary to poverty when she learns she owes millions in back taxes. Also stars Reginald Gardiner as 81 yr old Uncle Ned,Grady Sutton as Sturgis the butler,Pam Freeman as her daughter Stephanie, Lisa Loring as her daughter Suzie,John Astin as Rudy Pruitt,Marty Ingels as Norman Krump and Gypsy Rose Lee as Regina. David Levy (Addams Family) was executive producer and theme song sung by Miss Diller was written by Vic Mizzy (Addams Family). In midseason the format was changed and the show retitled; Jan 13,67 Phyliss Diller Show premiered and the Pruitt mansion was now a boarding house.

I saw a clip from this series and it looks hilarious. Would love to get all 31 episodes of this series. Does anyone out there remember this series and if so what did they think of it?

Please e-mail me if anyone has this show and hopefully we can work out a trade.

Thanks!
Todd

...who had two episodes of the series on videocassette: one episode of "THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON" from December 1966, and "THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW" from March 1967- there was a different theme and title sequence for the latter, but it was the same show, "tweaked" slightly- with original commercials {the primary sponsor was Liggett & Myers' L&M cigarettes}. Unfortunately, my collector friend passed away two years ago, and his tapes vanished with him. :crying:

I could see why ABC cancelled the show: Phyllis Diller could not carry a situation comedy as "the star". She tried, but there were too many changes-
Gypsy Rose Lee left in mid-season, Marty Ingels and John Astin came aboard in January with Richard Deacon, and.....you'd have a better chance seeing Red Buttons in "THE DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFE", which was on the season before Phyllis' series, from the same company, Filmways.

.....you'd have a better chance seeing Red Buttons in "THE DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFE", which was on the season before Phyllis' series, from the same company, Filmways.

THE DOUBLE LIFE OF HENRY PHYFE: That's one I'd just love to see get a DVD release.

Hi TV Knowledge Fan!

Great to hear from you again! Thanks so much for the info..I have been lucky and managed to get those two episodes you mentioned #17 "Phyllis Queen Of The Road" and #23 "How To Rob A Millionaire" as well as the pilot episode "Phyllis Goes Broke". I would really love to find MORE episodes of this funny series. I actually like her in the starring role as Phyllis Pruitt...and thought the episodes that I have seen have been quite funny..similar to the crazy antics that Lucy used to get into! Though its hard to tell from just a couple of episodes, I think the first version of the series was the funnier one before they made the mansion into a "hotel" though I do like John Astin. If you are at all interested in watching the episodes I have , drop me a line and I'll send them out to you...picture quality is of couse not the greatest but still better than nothing at all right (wink!) Do you actually remember watching this series at one time? I ask because I wonder if it was ever available in syndication? If it was then maybe somebody out there might have more episodes! (I can dream can't I?)
Anyways...thanks again for the info!

Hi, First time post. I'm planning to see Phyllis Diller at a booksigning this weekend and got so excited when I read about "The Pruitts of Southampton" I had to see if a copy existed. Cherisland, do you think I might be able to get a copy of yours?

THANKS

Nichols, how did the booksigning go?
Cherisland --I love the avitar and name! I always loved Cher! I am old enough to have seen her with Sonny, when they were first stars, in the early 1960s. I loved their 1970s show, and I saw her "last" concert at the Hollywood Bowl last year.
As for Phyllis Diller, I loved that show when it was on originally. I was mad that it got canceled. It was hilarious. Two favorite bits from the series:
Phyllis is hired as a secretary by a man whose wife is jealous of his young attractive secretaries ( these were the days when Phyllis did a lot of self-depracating jokes on her looks --before she got her first face lift --something that made headlines! It was HUGE news, and a trivia question on game shows. ). But Phyllis can't type nor take shorthand --so she buys a tape recorder, and makes nonsense "symbols" in her notebook. Meanwhile, the tape recorder, hidden in her hair, is a problem when the reel-to-reel tape spools catch her hair, and she's in pain!
Another --she wanted to be a model and was in a photo booth getting a "model portfolio" taken --in a PHOTO BOOTH! It is an outdoors one, and this cab driver thinks she looks hot and sexy, and he's goggling at her, telling his dispatcher that he's not going anywhere, because he just overheard her say that her next costume will be "only a towel" wrapped around her! :happyface :wave:

Nichols, how did the booksigning go?
Cherisland --I love the avitar and name! I always loved Cher! I am old enough to have seen her with Sonny, when they were first stars, in the early 1960s. I loved their 1970s show, and I saw her "last" concert at the Hollywood Bowl last year.
As for Phyllis Diller, I loved that show when it was on originally. I was mad that it got canceled. It was hilarious. Two favorite bits from the series:
Phyllis is hired as a secretary by a man whose wife is jealous of his young attractive secretaries ( these were the days when Phyllis did a lot of self-depracating jokes on her looks --before she got her first face lift --something that made headlines! It was HUGE news, and a trivia question on game shows. ). But Phyllis can't type nor take shorthand --so she buys a tape recorder, and makes nonsense "symbols" in her notebook. Meanwhile, the tape recorder, hidden in her hair, is a problem when the reel-to-reel tape spools catch her hair, and she's in pain!
Another --she wanted to be a model and was in a photo booth getting a "model portfolio" taken --in a PHOTO BOOTH! It is an outdoors one, and this cab driver thinks she looks hot and sexy, and he's goggling at her, telling his dispatcher that he's not going anywhere, because he just overheard her say that her next costume will be "only a towel" wrapped around her! :happyface :wave:

Hi EmpressDR!

First off thanks for the kind compliments on my avatar...yes, I too, am a huge Cherfan...since I was a kid in the 70's and remember seeing her for the 1st time on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour....have been a fan ever since. I have seen her solo in concert several times but would have loved to have seen her with Sonny. "Cherisland" is actually a combination of , of course, Cher's name and one of my all-time favorite songs she has sung, a beautiful ballad called "Island" from her Allman & Woman album with Gregg.

But onto Pruitt's....I am jealous that you were actually able to watch all of this series (Lucky you!)....from the few I have seen it is HILARIOUS and the two episodes you describe sound awesome! I really wish they would put this series onto DVD or at least show it somewhere - anywhere , in syndication. It is apparently an extremely hard show to come by and aside from the 3 eps I have managed to find, i am not sure if anymore are even out there anywhere. I would LOVE to see MORE!!

Wish I knew which studio held the rights to this series....I really think it was a "sleeper" hit of the 60's that just wasn't given it's proper recognition and appreciation. I wonder how Phyllis feels about the series today...I think it is up there right along the likes of a "Lucy Show" type comedy with all the crazy predicaments she got herself into... she should be proud that she made it.

Hiding a tape recorder in her hair is hilarious, yet I can't help thinking that her initial plan was brilliant to combat her lack of knowing shorthand. Thanks so much for "Chering" this info with us EmpressDR!!

And "Nichols", I too am curious as to how the booksigning went with Phyllis...did you get any photos or a chance to talk with her?

Happy 2007 everyone!

Pruitts is owned by MGM, which is currently in a distribution deal with Fox. Considering what a bad studio Fox is at old TV releases, you can forget ever seeing it come out. The show ran in the videotaping era on a cable network in England so that would be your best bet, trying to find someone in that country who recorded them all.

I got this off You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL3vX-62z1k

And copied down the lyrics:

Pruitts of Southampton opening
TITLE OVER XLS OF MANSION, WITH OFF-SCREEN SOUND OF PHYLLIS' TRADEMARK LAUGHTER: "Ahh-ha-ha-ha!"

[ she begins one of four entrances in a new outfit, on her grand staircase --this a long, silk peach dress with a train ]

singing:

Phyllis: "Howd'you do, Howd'you do, Howd'you do, my dear. What a lovely surprise, nice to see you dear."
[ enters in a tangerine dress, and tall flowered white hat ]

Reginald Gardiner: "All the bills have been long overdue, my dear." [ hands her a sheaf of bills ]

Phyllis: "File them under I.O.U. [ tears them up, and tosses them into the air ]
[ Re-enters wearing a sparkly dress ] "Howd'you do, Howd'you do, Hello! It's you! Love my dress, love my jewels, aren't they MARVE-Y-POO?!"

Young blonde girl [Pam Freeman? ]: "They belong to the Internal Revenue."

Phyllis: "And they got us eating stew!" [ or shoe? ]

Chorus: "The Pruitts of Southampton live like the richest folk
But what the folk don't know is that the Pruitts are flat broke!"
[ Phyllis frolicks on staircase in a marve-y-poo dress --then we see her cleaning with a mop in maid's garb ]

Phyllis: [ wearing new striped dress ] "Howd'you do, Howd'you do, Howd'you do, my dear."

Reginald Gardiner: 'We are out of champagne, and I'm stuck, my dear."

Phyllis: "Ask the butler to lend you a buck, my dear. Howd'you do, Howd'you do, Howd'you do!"

By Vic Mizzy of Addams Family fame

"The Pruitts" was based on House Party (1954), by Patrick Dennis, published under the pseudonym Virginia Rowans --his real name was Edward "Pat" Tanner, author of Auntie Mame.

What fun! Makes me want to see the show even more!

Also reminded me that my dad used to disapprove, because the rich people wanted to skip out on paying their bills. But Lucy Carmichael was always trying to goof off and get out of working. That was a standard sitcom plotline in those days.


:happyface :rofl:

But watching this again reminded me of why I liked the show so much. I liked Phyllis Diller --anything she did, I enjoyed. The sight of her skipping so happily on that staircase --comparing her to Lucy, whom I also loved, I see that whereas Lucy got into comical mishaps too, Lucy would do her trademark wail, and be sad --Phyllis would be nonchalant, for as long as possible, then go into a hilarious way of getting out of it. Phyllis was known for that laugh, and her body movements were that of skipping around like that, in a way you wouldn't see a "dignified" woman act --just that was fun to watch. She looked like she was having fun. Too many woman in the 1960s had to act like "ladies," which constricted their movements. I liked it if a woman dared to be different.
Phyllis had a childlike physical quality about her.
Lucy was not so --she was a woman getting into scrapes, but I didn't sense that playfulness.

Of course, she didn't skip around all the time --her usual movements I think were exaggerated sashaying around to appear rich, rich, rich --so funny. So maybe she was taking the lady-like attitude, and mocking it, making it her own funny thing. That was what Phyllis did in her stand-up act, hoist her cigarette holder aloft, looking fine, except that shock of hair, to funny effect.


I loved the movie she did with Bob Denver: "Did You Hear The One About The Traveling Saleslady," it was hilarious.

"Welcome to Shangri-la!" she said, as a love potion worked on two men at once for her. Not childlike then --but so fun and surreal.

Everyone has different tastes. Personally, I could never stand Phyllis Diller. I found her grating and annoying so I don't think I ever watched the show. Ridiculous premise to begin with. She owes the IRS millions but they'll let her keep her mansion and pretend she's not broke. Huh?

yeah, but thats what makes it so funny...here's this rich lady who has always had other people do everything for her and now, she is faced with having to do things herself and she really doesn't have a clue as to what she is doing. In the pilot she tries cooking a turkey or goose unknowingly in the dishwasher which she thinks is the oven! It's silly comedy...but thats what makes it so much fun....course as you say, liking Phyllis has alot to do with it too...prior to seeing these few eps I wouldn't say I was a big fan of hers one way or the other...I remember seeing her on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and Get Smart , but when I saw her in this series, I thought she was hilarious. You would have to like that sort of 60's comedy though (from a time that will never be able to be recaptured)...sort of Lucy but yet not as EmpressDr explains, or maybe Beverly Hillbillies type humor.She was always getting herself into these ridiculous hair-brained situations but that was what made the show so funny. I admit the premise doesn't make too much sense...why the IRS would want her to continue the illusion of being rich when she was flat broke, but that sets the stage for all the comedy. I'd really love to see more of this show and from what you say it doesn't sound too promising that Fox will release this "lost" oldie.
Thanks also for the info on ownership of the show..I'm going to try and see if I can find someone in England who might have caught some of these episodes from when it aired in syndication there..though I have been searching now for about a year with no luck.
Most people have never heard of this show.

And thanks EmpressDR for the YOUTUBE info....for me, the Tv.Party website was one of the first places I went to when i googled the title that got me curious about the show.....i even love the theme song when she is singing "Howd'you do" which anyone can listen to off of the TV.Party website - check it out (see: www.tvparty.com/pruittes.html ) there is also a video clip of the turkey being prepared and cooked.

but I agree that the show is not for everyone...otherwise it wouldn't have been cancelled after only 1 season.

Personally however I would love to see all 31 episodes of this funny series.

Everyone has different tastes. Personally, I could never stand Phyllis Diller. I found her grating and annoying so I don't think I ever watched the show. Ridiculous premise to begin with. She owes the IRS millions but they'll let her keep her mansion and pretend she's not broke. Huh?


Actually, Ben Casey, your namesake show was probably not too realistic, either. It DID make me wonder why the IRS wanted to keep it under wraps, but it must've been explained somewhere in the series. But series having nonsensical plotlines have been a staple for years. Check out the Good Times threads for WHY Thelma turned down a free scholarship, just because she didn't like/approve of ONE sorority at a school. The live studio audience didn't agree with her decision, either. Or the Evans family just giving up on buying a house because ONE neighborhood turned them down, despite their securing a loan. The question is WHY didn't they just search for another house, somewhere else? Sitcoms often don't make sense --but I guess there's a difference if the plotline of one episode confuses instead of the premise of the series. My guess is it WAS explained about the Pruitts more than once, but it may have been as elusive to grasp as some of the TV audience not being able to figure out the premise of the late game/reality show "The Mole" no matter how many times Anderson Cooper tried to simplify it. Some people will NOT listen.

And Cherisland, thank you for your comments and the link --I think I saw that before, but couldn't hear the theme song, because I hadn't high-speed cable before. The Realplayer made me unload my current player in exchange for that one, and I worry --when I uploaded a new version of Internet Explorer from Yahoo, I am stuck with idiot ads anytime I use it, so I will unload that one!
The turkey in the dishwasher sounds funny! But actually, that can be done, and during the 1973 energy crisis, many people cooked fish in their dishwasher to save energy. I guess problems happened when the aluminum foil burst or leaked on dishes, or let in soapy water. BLEAH.
And cans of stew can be cooked on a car/truck radiator --although you have problems if you forget it, and it bursts!

..., that is, BOTH versions ["THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON" (1966)/"THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW" (1967)] were produced by Diller's "PhilDil Productions" in association with Filmways. After a long series of mergers and acquisitions over the years, the majority of the Filmways TV shows (with the exception of "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" and "PETTICOAT JUNCTION") are now owned by SONY {after their purchase of MGM/UA}...and they're just not interested, much less aware of the combined 26 episodes, to consider releasing them on DVD. In their corporate eyes, only a "TV fanatic" would consider a DVD release of Phyllis' show! [Sad, but true.]

:tv:

..., that is, BOTH versions ["THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON" (1966)/"THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW" (1967)] were produced by Diller's "PhilDil Productions" in association with Filmways. After a long series of mergers and acquisitions over the years, the majority of the Filmways TV shows (with the exception of "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES" and "PETTICOAT JUNCTION") are now owned by SONY {after their purchase of MGM/UA}...and they're just not interested, much less aware of the combined 26 episodes, to consider releasing them on DVD. In their corporate eyes, only a "TV fanatic" would consider a DVD release of Phyllis' show! [Sad, but true.]

:tv:

well now, that's VERY disappointing news.....I guess the hunt continues for other means of acquiring episodes ...you mention 26 episodes but I thought there were 30 eps. Here is what I thought there is (a friend was kind enough to help out with some of the episode synopsis from their original TV GUIDE listings):
1 Phyllis Goes Broke During a party, an IRS agent arrives to inform the Pruitts that they are $10 million in debt and that their possessions now belong to the United States government. But they are going to allow the Pruitts to maintain the illusion that they are wealthy, rather than risk a stock-market collapse with the news that they are bankrupt. Phyllis is forced to let the entire staff go and stand by as her priceless art is taken from their home. It isn't long before Phyllis comes up with a scheme to pay off the IRS – by marrying a wealthy general who's been pursuing her for years. The General is overjoyed, but in the end, of course, her plan backfires. (taken from tv.com) 9/6/1966 (**note: the pilot also had a son Perry and a different actress playing the daughter***)

2 Phyllis, the Milkmaid
Phyllis has her hands full when Uncle Ned brings home a lovely Guernsey cow he won at the county fair. 9/13/1966

3 Phyllis Beats the Rap The Pruitts feel the pinch when they get the repair bill for their Rolls – so Phyllis heads for a pawnshop with some of the household items. 9/20/1966

4 Phyllis Takes a Letter In order to make more money,Phyllis goes to work as secretary for a man who gives plenty of dictation - and has a very jealous wife. As Phyllis does not know how to take dictation she thinks she is being clever by hiding a tape recorder in her hair. 9/27/1966 (**NOTE:EMPRESS-this must be one of the episodes you were talking about...would love to see this!)

5 Phyllis, the Cookie Tycoon The Pruitts love the immense cookie that Phyllis baked, so she thinks there’s money to be made in dough. 10/4/1966

6 Phyllis Fires the Butler Sturgis, the Pruitt’s butler, has been offered a well-paying job by Phyllis’ social rival. 10/11/1966

7 Phyllis Saves the Day Cold, cold times have fallen upon the Pruitt mansion: Phyllis must ask the Government to fix the conked-out oil furnace. 10/18/1966

8 Phyllis Goes Commercial Phyllis gets her dander up when rival Regina Wentworth ruins her chance to make 1000 dollars in a TV cheese commercial. 10/25/1966

9 Phyllis Entertains Royalty The poverty stricken Pruitts undertake an expensive diplomatic mission: entertaining the visiting Shah of Talat. 11/1/1966

10 Phyllis, the Upstairs Girl When a snobbish neighbour asks the Pruitts for a $200 charity donation Phyllis and Uncle Ned are faced with a desperate decision: Find jobs or risk exposure as paupers. 11/15/1966

11 Phyllis, the General Stealer Phyllis opens a campaign to capture General Cannon (and his money) when she learns that another woman has laid siege to the wealthy old soldier. 11/22/1966

12 Phyllis, the Dress Maker Phyllis doesn’t have a penny to her name, but she has pride – and enough determination to see that daughter Stephanie gets to wear the snazziest gown at Regina Wentworth’s society ball. 11/29/1966

13 Phyllis Goes Arty Phyllis swipes a museum art treasure, convinced that it’s rightfully Pruitt property. It’s all a mistake (as she soon discovers), so the wacky aristocrat sets out to sneak the masterpiece back into the well-guarded museum. 12/6/1966

14 Santa Was a Lady Penniless Phyllis, overcome by the spirit of Christmas, has to rustle up the holiday dinner she promised to 50 orphans. 12/13/1966

15 The Hubcap Caper Phyllis turns private eye to lift a curse from the house of Pruitt. Someone has stolen the family good-luck charms, the Rolls Royce hubcaps. (taken from tv.com) 12/20/1966

16 Phyllis, Queen of the Road Madcap Phyllis hobnobs with hobos to squeeze a few bucks out of Uncle Sam by arousing public sympathy for her thoroughly embarrassing poverty. 12/27/1966

17 My Brother Harvey Phyllis takes a fast flyer into show biz to get a hillbilly show on the road. The mountaineers are coming out of the Pruitt woodwork, thanks to Phyllis’s talent-scouting brother Harvey. 1/3/1967

18 Little Miss Fixit (hereafter shows title becomes “The Phyllis Diller Show”):
Phyllis and her poverty-stricken family move in to this new time spot. The Pruitt mansion needs a quick repair job for a picture spread in a home magazine. Mr. Krump, Southampton’s new repair man, is soon conned into spending a night at the Pruitts’, where he’s plunged into a frantic fix-it campaign. 1/13/1967

19 Learn to Be a Millonaire Madcap Phyllis takes on a repair job at the library. She’s trying to help Mr. Krump, the fix-it man, who’s been immobilized by a disastrous deal with the Pruitts. Bob Hope makes a brief appearance as a library patron.1/20/1967

20 The Ghost of Pruitt Mansion - When author Vernon Bradley (Billy DeWolfe), has car troubles, Phyllis convinces him to stay on at the mansion as a paying guest while he is writing about haunted castles. He turns out to be more than Phyllis bargained for when he causes nothing but trouble at the mansion causing Krump to retaliate. 1/27/1967

21 Portrait of Krump A flaming feud threatens to deprive Phyllis of her only source of income. Handyman Krump and star boarder Bradley are at each other’s throats, and it’s up to the mad matron to effect a truce. 2/3/1967

22 How to Rob a Millionaire. An Internal Revenue agent helps Phyllis locate a secret room in the Pruitt mansion, where they're soon awash in a tide of champagne, romance, and burglars. 2/10/1967


23 Nobody Here But Us Chickens Phyllis has more than the usual quota of clucks in her odd brood: 1500 cackling hens and a deadbeat relative are all under the Pruitt roof for the same reason – money 2/17/1967

24 Phyllis the Bat Girl Phyllis thinks her money woes may be finally coming to an end when a movie director casts her in his latest movie. Unfortunately when she signed up for the role, she forgot to ask him what kind of movie she was appearing in. (taken from tv.com)2/24/1967


25 Marry a Million - Convinced that a rich young man loves Steffi, delighted Rudy rushes the lad’s father over to meet Phyllis. Oh Dad, poor dad: He’s met instead by a lunatic artist and a wild model called Oona Poonga. 3/3/1967

26 Goddess of Love Pandemonium reigns at the Pruitt pad when Bradley’s model is caught sending short-wave messages to a submarine. Phyllis, Bradley and Krump are certain that the girl is a spy. 3/10/1967

27 My Sister-in-Law Phyllis - Tax man Baldwin, a battle-scarred veteran of the Pruitts’ war on poverty, is again trapped in one of their insane money-making operations.This time Phyllis and Rudy scheme to get money to finance a "pizza making machine" with disasterous results. 3/17/1967

28 Krump, the Playboy- A spoiled young heiress is playing up to Krump for fun and profit: Her dad just might give her anything to jilt the handyman 3/24/1967

29 Phyllis the Beauty Queen Phyllis treats a shaggy lawn and a beauty salon patron with the same gay abandon, and spectacular results. 3/31/1967

30 The House is Not a Zoo Phyllis is put through a series of crazy charades by guest star Louis Nye in an attempt to try and stop a fortune hunting woman who's after the Pruitt mansion. This is the FINAL episode of the series. Guest Cast Louis Nye....Bertie Barbara Morrison...Mrs. Stuyvesant 4/7/1967

If anyone has anymore info regarding episode airings and listings please let me know as I would one day like to have this guide complete.

Thanks. :)

Thanks for the great episode guide, Cherisland! :heart:


1 Phyllis Goes Broke During a party, an IRS agent arrives to inform the Pruitts that they are $10 million in debt and that their possessions now belong to the United States government. But they are going to allow the Pruitts to maintain the illusion that they are wealthy, rather than risk a stock-market collapse with the news that they are bankrupt. Phyllis is forced to let the entire staff go and stand by as her priceless art is taken from their home. It isn't long before Phyllis comes up with a scheme to pay off the IRS – by marrying a wealthy general who's been pursuing her for years. The General is overjoyed, but in the end, of course, her plan backfires. (taken from tv.com) 9/6/1966

AH! There's the reason!
I remember the scene where all the servants go downstairs with suitcases in hand. But I wonder if the show didn't show that scene with a brief recap, in front of more than one episode in order to elucidate the reason for the Pruitts to maintain an image of being rich?


3 Phyllis Beats the Rap The Pruitts feel the pinch when they get the repair bill for their Rolls – so Phyllis heads for a pawnshop with some of the household items. 9/20/1966

I faintly recall her at a pawnshop.

4 Phyllis Takes a Letter In order to make more money,Phyllis goes to work as secretary for a man who gives plenty of dictation - and has a very jealous wife. As Phyllis does not know how to take dictation she thinks she is being clever by hiding a tape recorder in her hair. 9/27/1966 (**NOTE:EMPRESS-this must be one of the episodes you were talking about...would love to see this!)

YES! O, The JOY!

7 Phyllis Saves the Day Cold, cold times have fallen upon the Pruitt mansion: Phyllis must ask the Government to fix the conked-out oil furnace. 10/18/1966

I faintly recall this one!

8 Phyllis Goes Commercial Phyllis gets her dander up when rival Regina Wentworth ruins her chance to make 1000 dollars in a TV cheese commercial. 10/25/1966

Regina played by Gypsy Rose Lee? I read her son's autobiography. He revealed that Gypsy had selected Otto Preminger to be the father of her child, instead of her husband. She was seeking intelligent, artistic genes. Her son discussed everything in her life, including her role in this show--but I can't recall it. But I will try to locate a library copy of his book to see.


10 Phyllis, the Upstairs Girl When a snobbish neighbour asks the Pruitts for a $200 charity donation Phyllis and Uncle Ned are faced with a desperate decision: Find jobs or risk exposure as paupers. 11/15/1966

I wonder if this was where she was in the photo booth, trying to get a model's portfolio?


13 Phyllis Goes Arty Phyllis swipes a museum art treasure, convinced that it’s rightfully Pruitt property. It’s all a mistake (as she soon discovers), so the wacky aristocrat sets out to sneak the masterpiece back into the well-guarded museum. 12/6/1966

That plot was used in quite a few other sitcoms/comedies.


14 Santa Was a Lady Penniless Phyllis, overcome by the spirit of Christmas, has to rustle up the holiday dinner she promised to 50 orphans. 12/13/1966

I faintly recall Phyllis dressed up as Santa Claus. I HOPE so! That is a funny image! :santa: :santa2:


17 My Brother Harvey Phyllis takes a fast flyer into show biz to get a hillbilly show on the road. The mountaineers are coming out of the Pruitt woodwork, thanks to Phyllis’s talent-scouting brother Harvey. 1/3/1967

Too bad the Beverly Hillbillies don't make a crossover, here! They COULD have, since both are Filmways productions! I recall always thinking that they ought to! Because the Beverly Hillbillies were rich folk who lived like they were poor, while the Pruitts were now-poor folk living like they were rich. Let's see, though --was The Pruitts on ABC, instead of CBS? So that's one reason why no crossovers.



24 Phyllis the Bat Girl Phyllis thinks her money woes may be finally coming to an end when a movie director casts her in his latest movie. Unfortunately when she signed up for the role, she forgot to ask him what kind of movie she was appearing in. (taken from tv.com)2/24/1967

:batman:
I bet there's a bit where Phyllis thinks it's a nude scene she has to worry about! Sounds like they have her dressed in a superhero costume! Or maybe it's a horror flick!


30 The House is Not a Zoo Phyllis is put through a series of crazy charades by guest star Louis Nye in an attempt to try and stop a fortune hunting woman who's after the Pruitt mansion. This is the FINAL episode of the series. Guest Cast Louis Nye....Bertie Barbara Morrison...Mrs. Stuyvesant 4/7/1967

I was really enjoying Louis Nye at the time, because he starred in a funny anti-litterbug commercial, as a man who had to pick up trash with a stick.
In fact I'd love to see that ad on You Tube!
Shortly after doing the ad, Louis was on The Dating Game with two other comedians! He was chosen! However, as none of the comedians on the show were "eligible bachelors" he was replaced by a young sexy guy to go on the date with the girl. Louie raises eyes and hands skyward, and walks off. The girl seemed to have liked him, though!

:eyes: :stooges:

....the description involving the "secret room" and "burglars" IS the plot of "How To Rob A Millionaire" {#22, 2/10/67}, while the scheme involving the "pizza making machine" is the core of "My Sister-In-Law Phyllis" {#27, 3/17/67}. As for the fact that 30 episodes WERE produced that season [17 of "THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON", 13 of "THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW"], you're right about that- and I apologize for allowing you to believe otherwise. Unfortunately, that fact still won't convince SONY to release the series on DVD...unless you have a company like Shout Factory that's game enough to
take it on as well.

:tv:

...As for the fact that 30 episodes WERE produced that season [17 of "THE PRUITTS OF SOUTHAMPTON", 13 of "THE PHYLLIS DILLER SHOW"], you're right about that- and I apologize for allowing you to believe otherwise. Unfortunately, that fact still won't convince SONY to release the series on DVD...unless you have a company like Shout Factory that's game enough to
take it on as well.

:tv:


How many shows will fit onto one DVD? Of course, there's the possibility of extras --interviews, etc. --but is a problem with the deseased actors, unless older interviews at the time can be dug up.

Where there's a will, there's a way. Sony might not be interested, but I can foresee an interest in it --if it is taken on by someone who works at Sony who likes the show.

glad you enjoyed the episode guide Empress (interesting tidbit about Gyspy Rose Lee)....it just makes me wish all the more I could watch all these episodes.

and thanks for the eps info TV Knowledge Fan..are you sure about the "pizza making machine" eps being eps #27. "My Sister-In-Law Phyllis"? This is actually one of the eps I have so I am going to rewatch it again just to make sure.

What a great idea if someone like Shout Factory were willing to take on the task of releasing this series on DVD....they do exceptional work on stuff they have put out (so far have loved what they've done with the first two seasons of That Girl and their Best Of - HERE'S LUCY set is incredible with all the amazing bonus features...one of my all-time fave tv DVD sets released) and bonus materials, like interviews - especially with Diller, & Astin , bloopers and behind the scenes stuff (if any exist?) would be great!

...after having read the descriptions of all 30 episodes, #27 is the only one that could have centered around the "pizza making machine" scheme. I remember seeing it in my late friend's video collection, and I could never discover the actual title of that episode so I could label it on his tape. Now that I know...it's too late.

:(

thanks for the info Tv Knowledge Fan. I'm still trying to find someone in the UK who might have recorded these episodes when it was in syndication over there in the 80's.

MGM is being distributed by Fox.

I actually sent Shout Factory an e-mail suggesting they consider this show as a possible DVD release but never heard any response back from them. I'm sure they get tons of e-mails with this kinda stuff. They would have been a great company to release this series as their reputation for high quality TV DVD box sets speaks for itself. I guess it couldn't hurt to send Fox an e-mail as well...nothing really to lose by it.

Its hard to believe that only 3 eps of this series have managed to survive either on VHS, DVD or 16mm print among collectors...there has to be more...but even with the internet I seem to be at a loss in finding anything.

I'm still hoping to find episodes from this series in ANY format. It aired in syndication over in Britain back in the 80's so I am thinking that someone must have recorded some of those episodes at the time. I've tried posting on UK sites but have had no luck....where did this show disappear to? :confused:

Also looking for an episode synopsis for #20 "The Ghost Of Pruitt Mansion" if anyone has ever seen this episode and vaguely remembers what it is about...could you please give me a rough episode synopsis on it?

Thanks.

Okay people, I know there are fans of this series out there.

There is a thread on the Shout Factory website requesting that this series be released onto DVD (which is a GREAT idea!), but it needs much more fan backing, support and posts to let Shout Factory know that there is seriously alot of fans out there that want this series released.

Please go to this link and add your support for the "Pruitt's Of Southampton" to be released onto DVD:

http://www.shoutfactory.com/community/134/thread.aspx

It's a new post but so far aside from my own support there is only two more postings....all fans of this series please take a moment and add your feelings to the Shout Factory post about trying to get all 30 episodes of this series released onto DVD. Shout Factory also has a reputation of doing an excellent job on DVd releases so this is certainly a good venue to appeal to.

Thanks. :)

I have never seen the Pruitts of Southampton but it sounds really interesting. One title that I have been looking for forever though is "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady" which was made in 1968 with Phyllis Diller. No body on the collectors circuits has it. Even though I did some research and apparently it was shown frequently on tv in the 80's. So somebody out there has to have an old vhs of it or something.

I heard recently that Phyllis Diller, has withheld her rights to the Pruitts of Southampton. So until she either dies, or decides to sell her rights. The show will most likely never see a dvd release. So for now the only chance you have to see it is to try to obtain the few episodes that are floating around.

I heard recently that Phyllis Diller, has withheld her rights to the Pruitts of Southampton. So until she either dies, or decides to sell her rights. The show will most likely never see a dvd release. So for now the only chance you have to see it is to try to obtain the few episodes that are floating around.


oh that is bad news. I am surprised that she would not want to see this series released onto DVD. In interviews I've read, she has never given the impression that she did not like the show. If anything I always got the impression that she wished this show had been given more of a chance by the networks in scheduling and promotion. Where did you get this information from?

I would certainly love to see more than the 3 eps I know of that exist in trading circles. It really IS a funny show. If what you read is true, I wonder why she would not want this series to be released on DVD? Will this also affect any future syndication airings as well?

On a side-line from your previous post, I have not seen "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady" , but would like to. If I ever come across it, I will let you know.

oh that is bad news. I am surprised that she would not want to see this series released onto DVD. In interviews I've read, she has never given the impression that she did not like the show. If anything I always got the impression that she wished this show had been given more of a chance by the networks in scheduling and promotion. Where did you get this information from?

I would certainly love to see more than the 3 eps I know of that exist in trading circles. It really IS a funny show. If what you read is true, I wonder why she would not want this series to be released on DVD? Will this also affect any future syndication airings as well?

On a side-line from your previous post, I have not seen "Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady" , but would like to. If I ever come across it, I will let you know.

I obtained a great print of did you hear the one about the traveling saleslady a couple days ago from a trader in Australia actually. I read it on a tv site, also at one time someone had asked her on a radio show a few years back to sing the theme of Pruitts of southampton which she replied with something to the lines of "no" and quickly changing the subject. So we will have to wait and see what happens. But you know with Doris Day, she bowed out of the publicity completely. But with the fifth season of the doris day show she will be doing commentaries on a few episodes. So who knows maybe phyllis will change her mind on the pruitts and a release will come out. Hopefully before she dies but you know even though she is 90 she is still very active, driving. So she might be around for a lot longer.

I obtained a great print of did you hear the one about the traveling saleslady a couple days ago from a trader in Australia actually. I read it on a tv site, also at one time someone had asked her on a radio show a few years back to sing the theme of Pruitts of southampton which she replied with something to the lines of "no" and quickly changing the subject. So we will have to wait and see what happens. But you know with Doris Day, she bowed out of the publicity completely. But with the fifth season of the doris day show she will be doing commentaries on a few episodes. So who knows maybe phyllis will change her mind on the pruitts and a release will come out. Hopefully before she dies but you know even though she is 90 she is still very active, driving. So she might be around for a lot longer.


She probably gets asked that alot to sing that theme song, so it's not so surprising that she would have said "no". I am still optimistic that if this series were to see release that she would want to have some sort of active role in it's special features - whether that be commentaries, bloopers or just past reflections on the series where she could share some stories behind the scenes so to speak. The fact that she IS still quite active is encouraging. I wonder if anyone has even aproached her about this kind of a project?

The Doris Day Show is a great example of how a series should be done when being released onto DVD. I have the first 3 seasons and intend to get the final 2. Shout Factory has done a wonderful job in releasing this. Each season has alot of bonus features including cast commentaries, bloopers,and bonus Doris stuff. I would love for Pruitt's to get this kind of treatment upon release.

Course at this point, I would just be happy to see this series resurface..somewhere...anywhere....whether that is in syndication or official DVD release. I hope Ms. Diller realizes that alot of her fans out there would LOVE to see this series again, not to mention all the "new fans" that would come about as a result of this series being released.

It's hard to believe, with all the collectors out there, that there only seems to be 3 eps in circulation. If the series did indeed air in syndication back in the 80's over in Britain, some-one must have recorded more episodes. Its just a matter of trying to find these people. I have placed "ads" on many different sites hoping to possibly find more episodes , but have had no luck. Even Ebay seems to offer the same 3 episodes occasionally up for auction. I keep hoping a 16mm print might show up someday.

Glad to hear that you were able to obtain a print of that movie from some-one in Australia. I wonder if Pruitt's has ever aired in syndication there?

Still waiting and hoping that this show will make it out onto DVD. On You Tube, clips from the show seem to be extremely popular, bringing fond memories to many and the desire to have this show available for new and old fans to watch and enjoy.

Has anyone heard anything about the present status of this series or is it just stuck out in "limbo"?

on TVparty.com, the guy who runs the site says he was interviewing Phyliss Diller once; and when he asked her about this series she said "Oh, that thing"! and made it clear from her tone that she'd rather not talk about it.

So, maybe she had a bad experience with it?

This series has to be one of the most obscure and hard to find ones that are out there. In all my years of tv trading (about 24 yrs) I have only managed to come across 3 episodes of this series and to the best of my knowledge, these 3 seem to be the only ones in existence. I know this series was syndicated in the mid 80's in Britain, but I have posted on UK boards with no replies other than people's fond remembrance of the series.
I still keep hoping that one day by miracle, this show might make it onto DVD. The humor was very much in that 60's style vain...sort of a combination reverse Beverly Hillbillies combined with Lucy. Phyllis was always getting herself into these crazy predicaments all for the sole reason of hoping to make it rich again. The episode guide for this series describes each episode and they all sound HILARIOUS!
Because of it's age (over 42 years ago) very few younger people (if any) are even aware that it existed, however I can't help thinking that those people who are fans of 60's sitcoms would really enjoy this series.
It's main claim to fame unfortunately, is being one of the all-time worst tv shows ever made...a claim I think is unwarranted. Like many good shows that have been cancelled prematurely, it was more due to competition on alternate networks that did in it's demise. Ms. Diller was definitely "hot property" back then as even after this series was cancelled, she was brought back in a different series (Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show) the very next year which also failed but was more of a variety type format.
I keep hoping a 16mm print will surface on ebay....if it did I know there would be alot of people bidding on it, simply because it is SO rare and next to impossible to find.
I have read mixed versions on Ms.Diller's feelings towards this series....some say she would like to forget it, others have her looking back more fondly on it. I think if she does have any ill feelings about that series, it is because of the behind the scenes problems she experienced while filming it. The actual episodes themselves I would like to think she should be proud of as they even today hold up well against time.
Anyways....I like to occasionally bring this post back into the limelight and keep hoping that maybe one day someone with influence and clout might actually be able to help this series back either into syndication or onto DVD.
Nostalgia is BIG these days...and this series deserves to be out there and available for all her fans to see, and also to make make many new ones!
:)

Hello Pruitt Fans,
I've just uploaded a Pruiits episode a few weeks ago. I do know someone who may have more episodes, but they are on vacation till August.
Bobby

uploaded where?

Although it may be impossible to find many episodes on the tape trading circuit, I believe the entire series -- or at least the vast majority of it -- is held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive, so at least they exist somewhere. I would guess other prints are sitting pretty in a vault, collecting dust.

"I believe the entire series -- or at least the vast majority of it -- is held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive, so at least they exist somewhere. "

tvobscurities, is the UCLA Film & TELEVISION Archive open to the general public for access to these prints? If so, someday I would love to travel to LA to just to get a chance to watch these in their library. It's good to know that , as you say, the majority of these episodes are indeed archived should a studio ever wish to release them onto DVD or back into syndication. Thanks for the info!

in the meantime, the search continues....

(ps...have updated and completed the episode guide on page 1)

I am not actually sure if UCLA's Film & Television Archive is open to the public and not just scholars and researchers. You can check out their Individual Access page here (http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/access/individualviewing.html) and contact them for further information.

I am not actually sure if UCLA's Film & Television Archive is open to the public and not just scholars and researchers. You can check out their Individual Access page here (http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/access/individualviewing.html) and contact them for further information.


Thanks for the link and the info! :)

I do know that one of the independent DVD companies tried to license this from Fox but it fell through because they wanted a ridiculous amount of money. For something that might sell a couple of thousand copies if they're lucky.

I do know that one of the independent DVD companies tried to license this from Fox but it fell through because they wanted a ridiculous amount of money. For something that might sell a couple of thousand copies if they're lucky.

This really ticks me off. If the studios can't make some obscene amount of money, they'd rather just let the property rot in a vault. Then they make absolutely nothing, and the fans get the shaft...again.

Good job studio execs.

I do know that one of the independent DVD companies tried to license this from Fox but it fell through because they wanted a ridiculous amount of money. For something that might sell a couple of thousand copies if they're lucky.
Do you happen to know which independent DVD company was thinking about releasing this? Perhaps if fans e-mailed them with encouragement and let them know that there is actually people out there that would love to see this series released. I keep hoping Shout factory might take this project under their wing, but I know that is a long shot.

It is wonderful news that "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster" is being encouraged for release and has a website with the backing of non other than Leonard Stern!
I have never watched this series but based on the website it sounds like another pretty funny series and I do really like John Astin (who of course was also in the 2nd half of "Pruitt's" when it was revamped along with his Dicken's/Fenster co-star Marty Ingels.) so have cast my vote on their site for it's hopeful DVD release.

www.imdickenshesfenster.com

If I was more computer savvy, I would love to create something similar for "Pruitt's" with a webpage where fans could campaign to get this officially released.

Wow it's been 3 years (well, almost) and I am still trying to find more episodes from this series. It is hard to believe that only 3 seem to exist. This show aired in syndication in the UK back in the 80's so someone must have episodes of this?

Still looking for episodes from this apparently "lost" series which starred the incredible Phyliss Diller. I already have the pilot first episode, "Phyllis, Queen of the Road" and a pizza pie making eps that I do not know the title of. Does anyone have any of the remaining 27 episodes in any format?
With the sad passing of Ms. Diller, this series should be released on DVD as a lasting tribute to her many comedic talents. In addition this series is a great time capsule of that zany time that uniquely existed in the 1960's. It is encouraging that other "rare" sitcoms from the 60's and 70's have found their way onto DVD - My Living Doll, I'm Dickens...He's Fenster, so there is still hope that "the Pruitt's Of Southampton" may one day find its way onto DVD.

She probably gets asked that alot to sing that theme song, so it's not so surprising that she would have said "no". I am still optimistic that if this series were to see release that she would want to have some sort of active role in it's special features - whether that be commentaries, bloopers or just past reflections on the series where she could share some stories behind the scenes so to speak. The fact that she IS still quite active is encouraging. I wonder if anyone has even aproached her about this kind of a project?

The Doris Day Show is a great example of how a series should be done when being released onto DVD. I have the first 3 seasons and intend to get the final 2. Shout Factory has done a wonderful job in releasing this. Each season has alot of bonus features including cast commentaries, bloopers,and bonus Doris stuff. I would love for Pruitt's to get this kind of treatment upon release.

The Doris Day Show was released by M.P.I. Home Ent., not Shout! Factory. MPI did a great job with TDDS and quite a few other classic sit-coms. It would be great if THEY could get the rights to TPOS/TPDS.

The Doris Day Show was released by M.P.I. Home Ent., not Shout! Factory. MPI did a great job with TDDS and quite a few other classic sit-coms. It would be great if THEY could get the rights to TPOS/TPDS.


Thanks for the correction...big error on my part from back in 2007. Since then I have gotten the entire Doris Day series on DVD from MPI (as well as her specials) and agree that they did a great job on the series - the bonus material was outstanding. They also did an incredible job with the "Here's Lucy" series as well! It would be wonderful if MPI, Shout! Factory, or any studio were to finally get the rights to release Pruitt's Of Southampton on DVD!

Thanks for the correction...big error on my part from back in 2007. Since then I have gotten the entire Doris Day series on DVD from MPI (as well as her specials) and agree that they did a great job on the series - the bonus material was outstanding. They also did an incredible job with the "Here's Lucy" series as well! It would be wonderful if MPI, Shout! Factory, or any studio were to finally get the rights to release Pruitt's Of Southampton on DVD!
You have inspired me to change one of my choices for top 10 "one hit wonders" I would like on DVD, to The Pruitts of Southampton! I'm curious to see this show.

If One-Season-Wonders like, I'm Dickens, He's Fenster and My Living Doll, both released this past year, can find their way to DVD releases, why not TPOS?

You have inspired me to change one of my choices for top 10 "one hit wonders" I would like on DVD, to The Pruitts of Southampton! I'm curious to see this show.

If One-Season-Wonders like, I'm Dickens, He's Fenster and My Living Doll, both released this past year, can find their way to DVD releases, why not TPOS?

I'll tell you why not. Because those 2 are independently owned and Pruitts is owned by a major studio (MGM).

I'll tell you why not. Because those 2 are independently owned and Pruitts is owned by a major studio (MGM).

Oh No! :mad: And MGM is affliated with FOX, which won't release any of their classic shows.

Hello I just obtained the episode "My Sister-in-Law Phyllis" today. There are a few other episodes on the DVD. The rest look like shows you already have. Send me a PM.