I have a question. Cloris Leachman was suggested by Charlotte Rae or they hired her because they wanted to?

Charlotte recommended Cloris Leachman. They know one another for decades, were sorority sisters, and were roommates after college.

I'm watching season 8 again. Beverly Ann was funny, she sure isn't Mrs. Garrett but she is a great replacement. And I forgot how funny season 8 was, better than six and seven

Ironically, John Lawlor (aka Mr. Bradley) was in Cloris Leachman's show for a season called "Phyllis" a couple of years before Facts of Life came on.

Ironically, John Lawlor (aka Mr. Bradley) was in Cloris Leachman's show for a season called "Phyllis" a couple of years before Facts of Life came on.

The TV industry was so much smaller, then. As you and I remember, we didn't have 1,000 channels back then. With only three networks, nearly everyone was appearing on everyone else's shows. Everyone seemingly knew everyone else, and there were connections everywhere.

I found it interesting that Dorothy Loudon, who appeared on the FOL knock-off series Dorothy, sang with Charlotte on several albums.

I'm watching season 8 again. Beverly Ann was funny, she sure isn't Mrs. Garrett but she is a great replacement. And I forgot how funny season 8 was, better than six and seven


I agree with you that season 8 was definitely better than 7 (GEORGE and ANDY surely irritated the hell out of me!) but not because of BEVERLY ANN (she was another irritating character): it was the friendship between JO and BLAIR that did it for me after MRS G left the show.
The close relationship between 'rich bitch with the heart of gold' and 'streetwise Bronx girl' was what kept the show going and nothing else.... And definitely not 'nonsense' new added actors lol!:p

The TV industry was so much smaller, then. As you and I remember, we didn't have 1,000 channels back then. With only three networks, nearly everyone was appearing on everyone else's shows. Everyone seemingly knew everyone else, and there were connections everywhere.

Yup, I remember you saying this when I shared on here a couple of years ago that I saw 3 or 4 "Facts of Life" guest stars on a "Munsters" 1980s TV movie, lol.

Yup, I remember you saying this when I shared on here a couple of years ago that I saw 3 or 4 "Facts of Life" guest stars on a "Munsters" 1980s TV movie, lol.

Yep! I just saw Jack Riley as a travel agent on One Day at a Time. I was like, "I'm glad Mr. Crocker found work after getting canned from his headmaster position at Eastland! It must have been difficult to find work, because he dyed his hair and changed his last name to Gonagin." :lol:

When you only have three networks, there's going to be a huge amount of crossover guest appearances between shows, because each network only aired about 25-30 prime time shows per week. Now, there are 1,000 TV channels (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_pay_television_channels) and hundreds of streaming services.

Yep! I just saw Jack Riley as a travel agent on One Day at a Time. I was like, "I'm glad Mr. Crocker found work after getting canned from his headmaster position at Eastland! It must have been difficult to find work, because he dyed his hair and changed his last name to Gonagin." :lol:

:rofl:

I wonder how Cloris Leachman is doing now a days? It would have been nice to have her interviewed for the new documentary if she was up to it.

Charlotte Rae was also good friends with Paul Lynde. He went to Northwestern with her and Cloris Leachman.

So Cloris Leachman and Charlotte Rae were already friends? No wonder they had such great chemistry as sisters. And I thought Cloris Leachman did a good job as Beverly Ann.

So Cloris Leachman and Charlotte Rae were already friends? No wonder they had such great chemistry as sisters. And I thought Cloris Leachman did a good job as Beverly Ann.

They went to college together and then roomed together after they graduated. They also were friends with Paul Lynde.

It’s up for debate whether Paul Lynne adopted his speech pattern from Charlotte Rae or his other friend, Alice Ghostley.

If you like Cloris Leachman, you should do yourself a favor and check out a sitcom no one remembers: "The Ellen Show" from 2001.

Cloris plays Ellen DeGeneres's dotty mom, and she is SO funny (well, just about the whole cast is). Ellen plays Ellen Richmond, an L.A. woman whose ".com" business went belly-up and she ends up moving back home to her quirky small town and moving back in with mom and sis.

I saw it in a used bookstore and thought, "Ellen? Cloris? Jim Gafigan? This is worth checking out" and it sure was. It's only 18 episodes, but they are 18 very good and very funny episodes.

Highly recommended! :nod:

If you like Cloris Leachman, you should do yourself a favor and check out a sitcom no one remembers: "The Ellen Show" from 2001.

Cloris plays Ellen DeGeneres's dotty mom, and she is SO funny (well, just about the whole cast is). Ellen plays Ellen Richmond, an L.A. woman whose ".com" business went belly-up and she ends up moving back home to her quirky small town and moving back in with mom and sis.

I saw it in a used bookstore and thought, "Ellen? Cloris? Jim Gafigan? This is worth checking out" and it sure was. It's only 18 episodes, but they are 18 very good and very funny episodes.

Highly recommended! :nod:

I have a vague recollection of that show. Wasn't there a stick up her ass sister to Ellen's character? I don't remember Cloris Leachman but I remember that uptight sister for some reason.

If you like Cloris Leachman, you should do yourself a favor and check out a sitcom no one remembers: "The Ellen Show" from 2001.

Cloris plays Ellen DeGeneres's dotty mom, and she is SO funny (well, just about the whole cast is). Ellen plays Ellen Richmond, an L.A. woman whose ".com" business went belly-up and she ends up moving back home to her quirky small town and moving back in with mom and sis.

I saw it in a used bookstore and thought, "Ellen? Cloris? Jim Gafigan? This is worth checking out" and it sure was. It's only 18 episodes, but they are 18 very good and very funny episodes.

Highly recommended! :nod:

Wow I like all those actors, sounds like maybe I should check it out. I enjoyed her original sitcom.

I have a vague recollection of that show. Wasn't there a stick up her ass sister to Ellen's character? I don't remember Cloris Leachman but I remember that uptight sister for some reason.

:lol:

I guess so, but I don't think of her as that way. I think because of how sheltered she is. She was also really funny too though!

There is so much wordplay and misunderstood meanings in this show---I love it!

And it's a way for you, cfr, to enjoy middle-aged short-haired Cloris Leachman on a sitcom! :lol:


Wow I like all those actors, sounds like maybe I should check it out. I enjoyed her original sitcom.

Yup! It's also got Martin Mull ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Roseanne") as the principal of the school. Jim Gafigan (sp) plays a sweet/innocent teacher who was an old classmate of Ellen's.

I've been re-watching my DVDs, and am enjoying the laughs again and again! :lol:

:lol:

I guess so, but I don't think of her as that way. I think because of how sheltered she is. She was also really funny too though!

There is so much wordplay and misunderstood meanings in this show---I love it!

And it's a way for you, cfr, to enjoy middle-aged short-haired Cloris Leachman on a sitcom! :lol:



I love her on MTM so i'm sure i'll like her on this show too. It's just on FOL she's an unwelcome spiky haired ogre to me. :lol:

I went to the Ellen show Wiki page and more is coming back to me on this. I remember her character moves back to her hometown and has to adjust to that. I think I liked it...I know I watched it because I remember it.

I also see it premiered 9/24/01 and last episode 1/11/02....what a TERRIBLE time for a new sitcom to air since this was immediately after 9/11 and the aftermath. Surely the show was a victim to that.

There's an episode where Ellen sits on the Hollywood sign in this right? I have an image in my head of that. :lol:

:lol:

I guess so, but I don't think of her as that way. I think because of how sheltered she is. She was also really funny too though!

There is so much wordplay and misunderstood meanings in this show---I love it!

And it's a way for you, cfr, to enjoy middle-aged short-haired Cloris Leachman on a sitcom! :lol:




Yup! It's also got Martin Mull ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Roseanne") as the principal of the school. Jim Gafigan (sp) plays a sweet/innocent teacher who was an old classmate of Ellen's.

I've been re-watching my DVDs, and am enjoying the laughs again and again! :lol:

Haha you attributed my quote on the bottom to the wrong author bud. ;)

I love her on MTM so i'm sure i'll like her on this show too. It's just on FOL she's an unwelcome spiky haired ogre to me. :lol:

Tell us how you really feel cfr! :lol:


I went to the Ellen show Wiki page and more is coming back to me on this. I remember her character moves back to her hometown and has to adjust to that. I think I liked it...I know I watched it because I remember it.

I'd hope you liked it, because it's so good! It's a great prescription for laughter at a great price!


I also see it premiered 9/24/01 and last episode 1/11/02....what a TERRIBLE time for a new sitcom to air since this was immediately after 9/11 and the aftermath. Surely the show was a victim to that.

Yeah, that couldn't have been easy. Carol Burnett and her variety show's cast did a reunion that fall, and it did HUGE in the ratings, sweeping the country. Vicki says she thinks that's because the country just really needed to laugh. To have that outlet. But that's one special of a comedy company reunion---I think you're right it must have been very hard for a brand new weekly sitcom to do really well.

I wonder if they had held off until January, if they could have, if it would have fared any better?

Also, as much as I love this little series, I don't think calling it "The Ellen Show" really helped sell it. Especially now since there was "Ellen" and then her talk show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", one little thing called "The Ellen Show" can really get lost in the shuffle! lol


There's an episode where Ellen sits on the Hollywood sign in this right? I have an image in my head of that. :lol:

That would be "Ellen", my friend. She actually lived in L.A. for the duration of that one, whereas "The Ellen Show" only has her in L.A. in the pilot's opening teaser scene, lol.

Haha you attributed my quote on the bottom to the wrong author bud. ;)

Lorsie, I have no idea what you're talking about.

;) ;) ;)

Wow I like all those actors

And they like you too Lorsie! :wave:

(I'm getting "punchy" now at this hour! :lol: :crazy:)

And they like you too Lorsie! :wave:

(I'm getting "punchy" now at this hour! :lol: :crazy:)

:rofl: late night Eights!

:rofl: late night Eights!

I'm gonna get to bed before Mrs. Garrett grounds me! :rofl:

I'm gonna get to bed before Mrs. Garrett grounds me! :rofl:

Miss Mahoney is in bed at 10:45!

Tell us how you really feel cfr! :lol:




I'd hope you liked it, because it's so good! It's a great prescription for laughter at a great price!




Yeah, that couldn't have been easy. Carol Burnett and her variety show's cast did a reunion that fall, and it did HUGE in the ratings, sweeping the country. Vicki says she thinks that's because the country just really needed to laugh. To have that outlet. But that's one special of a comedy company reunion---I think you're right it must have been very hard for a brand new weekly sitcom to do really well.

I wonder if they had held off until January, if they could have, if it would have fared any better?

Also, as much as I love this little series, I don't think calling it "The Ellen Show" really helped sell it. Especially now since there was "Ellen" and then her talk show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", one little thing called "The Ellen Show" can really get lost in the shuffle! lol




That would be "Ellen", my friend. She actually lived in L.A. for the duration of that one, whereas "The Ellen Show" only has her in L.A. in the pilot's opening teaser scene, lol.


Ok, no insult to Ellen, but those 2 shows of hers just kind of blend in my mind I guess. I don't think she worked enough to differentiate both shows from each other. Especially with her lazy titling. She's not the most creative when thinking up names for shows....With generic titles like "Ellen", & "The Ellen Show", someone should've told her to try a little more creativity there! :lol:

And isn't her current talk show called...."Ellen"? :eek:

Cloris also had her own show called Phyllis. During the second season they had John Lawlor on a part time basis. You can see these episodes on YouTube.

I'm gonna get to bed before Mrs. Garrett grounds me! :rofl:


That's right: don't let MRS G ground you like she did with her girls, and please don't go calling her 'LANDLADY' either!:lol::lol::lol:

Ok, no insult to Ellen, but those 2 shows of hers just kind of blend in my mind I guess. I don't think she worked enough to differentiate both shows from each other. Especially with her lazy titling. She's not the most creative when thinking up names for shows....With generic titles like "Ellen", & "The Ellen Show", someone should've told her to try a little more creativity there! :lol:

And isn't her current talk show called...."Ellen"? :eek:
To be fair, her first show was called "These Friends of Mine" in its first season til they renamed it Ellen.

Ok, no insult to Ellen, but those 2 shows of hers just kind of blend in my mind I guess. I don't think she worked enough to differentiate both shows from each other.

Hmm, but I don't see where that confused blending could occur, since one show was in hip Los Angeles where she owned a bookstore, and the other had her a school counselor in a quirky small town with odd small town folk, lol. :)


Especially with her lazy titling.

Now THAT I'll give you! :lol: (but see below)


She's not the most creative when thinking up names for shows....With generic titles like "Ellen", & "The Ellen Show", someone should've told her to try a little more creativity there! :lol:

And isn't her current talk show called...."Ellen"? :eek:

Well, I don't know how much creative input Ellen herself had on the shows. TES was created by Carol Leifer and Mitchell Hurwitz, so I don't know if they did the title, or what. Or who titled her first show---WHICH, was actually first called "These Friends of Mine" in early '94, but then "Friends" debuted in the fall and was huge.

And yup, her talk show is technically "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", or I think was, but then has/is been referred to as "The Ellen Show", which is the name of that 2nd sitcom, but is commonly by people just called "Ellen", which is the name of the 1ST sitcom. :lol: :crazy:

They went to college together and then roomed together after they graduated. They also were friends with Paul Lynde.

Cool. So they knew Uncle Arthur from "Bewitched." :D