Cloris Leachman Gives Insight As To Why 'Phyllis' Failed As A Spin off - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-17-2011, 11:10 PM

Leachman: "When we did 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' everybody knew who they were … and we all related very specifically to the rest of the cast and were determined and defined by the rest of the cast, so that when I had a spinoff called 'Phyllis,' they had the worst time trying to write a script for me because, who was I? I wasn't who I was without Mary and Rhoda and Ed and everyone. Each week, I'd say, 'Who am I this week?' It was very tricky."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,7683849.story

Marvo301 · 06-17-2011, 11:35 PM

This is why spinning off supporting characters is so tricky and so seldom successful. Supporting characters are usually defined by their relationship to the main characters they are supporting. Take them away from those main characters and suddenly they become unknown characters that the writers don't know how to write for.

scotsguy · 06-18-2011, 05:42 AM

The main thing they did with Phyllis sadly in the spinoff,Phyllis was make her, far less intelligent.

I did like the spinoff Phyllis but the character was the foil for characters like Mother Dexter,although I preferred season1 to season2 of Phyllis,the character of Phyllis was more like her MTM days in the 2nd season.

Coffeecup · 10-02-2011, 06:28 PM

I just finished reading an autobiography of Cloris and she explained several things that had impact on the show. One Barbara Colby's death, the actress who played Mother Dexter died, and Burt Mustin who played Mothers boyfriend died all during the shows run. As I recall Mother Dexters role was hilarious. In her old age the gal had funny lines

scotsguy · 10-03-2011, 05:57 AM

I loved Mother Dexter and her wedding in the 2nd season was both funny and touching.

Yes the death of Judith Lowry and Bert Munstin was a big blow to the show as was Barbara Colby's murder,I did like the fact they brought in Mark and finally give Bess something to do by eloping,marrying Mark and by the last episode Bess was pregnant.

Coffeecup · 10-03-2011, 02:04 PM

scotsguy: Are you in Scotland?

scotsguy · 10-03-2011, 04:34 PM

Hi coffeecup,yes I am in Scotland.

I had to buy season7 of TMTMS to see all the show.

Although cable showed the MTMS they stopped abruptly after a few epiosdes into season6.

Rhoda has been shown several times on cable here,even when Phyllis was shown here they missed out the 2 part Mother Dexter's Wedding.

Thank goodness for US friends who over the years have sent me Phyllis episodes.

ThomasE · 10-03-2011, 05:41 PM

Well, at least she was honest. I think I liked season one over season two. Like Angie, they tried to revamp the show and it didn't work. Find one thing and stick to it, if you ask me.

scotsguy · 10-04-2011, 10:14 AM

Richard Schaal quitting after season 1 because he felt the character of Leo wasn't in the show enough,probably caused the writers to drop the photo studio setting.

Richard Schaal did direct Phyllis in season2,the episode "Phyllis And The Jumper".

Family Ties Forever! · 10-12-2011, 03:50 AM

It seems that there were a handful of spin-offs from TMTMS, including Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant. There may be others I'm not aware of. The only spin-off of TMTMS that I have seen is the first three seasons of Rhoda. I have never seen Phyllis or Lou Grant spin-offs. I wonder what they were like. Perhaps one day they will come to dvd and those of us who haven't seen the shows can.

scotsguy · 10-12-2011, 05:34 PM

Few episodes of Phyllis on youtube.

comedyfreak · 10-14-2011, 09:39 AM

If I remember correctly Lou Grant was a dramedy and he had a comic foil in the owner of the newspaper he ran.

06-17-2011, 11:10 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Cloris Leachman Gives Insight As To Why 'Phyllis' Failed As A Spin off Leachman: "When we did 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' everybody knew who they were … and we all related very specifically to the rest of the cast and were determined and defined by the rest of the cast, so that when I had a spinoff called 'Phyllis,' they had the worst time trying to write a script for me because, who was I? I wasn't who I was without Mary and Rhoda and Ed and everyone. Each week, I'd say, 'Who am I this week?' It was very tricky." http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,7683849.story
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06-17-2011, 11:35 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	This is why spinning off supporting characters is so tricky and so seldom successful. Supporting characters are usually defined by their relationship to the main characters they are supporting. Take them away from those main characters and suddenly they become unknown characters that the writers don't know how to write for.
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10-03-2011, 04:34 PM	#7
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Hi coffeecup,yes I am in Scotland. I had to buy season7 of TMTMS to see all the show. Although cable showed the MTMS they stopped abruptly after a few epiosdes into season6. Rhoda has been shown several times on cable here,even when Phyllis was shown here they missed out the 2 part Mother Dexter's Wedding. Thank goodness for US friends who over the years have sent me Phyllis episodes.
	Last edited by scotsguy; 09-13-2013 at 05:43 AM.

10-03-2011, 05:41 PM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Well, at least she was honest. I think I liked season one over season two. Like Angie, they tried to revamp the show and it didn't work. Find one thing and stick to it, if you ask me.
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10-04-2011, 10:14 AM	#9
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Richard Schaal quitting after season 1 because he felt the character of Leo wasn't in the show enough,probably caused the writers to drop the photo studio setting. Richard Schaal did direct Phyllis in season2,the episode "Phyllis And The Jumper".
	Last edited by scotsguy; 09-13-2013 at 05:44 AM.

06-18-2011, 05:42 AM	#3
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	The main thing they did with Phyllis sadly in the spinoff,Phyllis was make her, far less intelligent. I did like the spinoff Phyllis but the character was the foil for characters like Mother Dexter,although I preferred season1 to season2 of Phyllis,the character of Phyllis was more like her MTM days in the 2nd season.

10-02-2011, 06:28 PM	#4
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,176	I just finished reading an autobiography of Cloris and she explained several things that had impact on the show. One Barbara Colby's death, the actress who played Mother Dexter died, and Burt Mustin who played Mothers boyfriend died all during the shows run. As I recall Mother Dexters role was hilarious. In her old age the gal had funny lines

10-03-2011, 05:57 AM	#5
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I loved Mother Dexter and her wedding in the 2nd season was both funny and touching. Yes the death of Judith Lowry and Bert Munstin was a big blow to the show as was Barbara Colby's murder,I did like the fact they brought in Mark and finally give Bess something to do by eloping,marrying Mark and by the last episode Bess was pregnant.

10-03-2011, 02:04 PM	#6
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,176	scotsguy: Are you in Scotland?

10-12-2011, 03:50 AM	#10
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,215	It seems that there were a handful of spin-offs from TMTMS, including Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant. There may be others I'm not aware of. The only spin-off of TMTMS that I have seen is the first three seasons of Rhoda. I have never seen Phyllis or Lou Grant spin-offs. I wonder what they were like. Perhaps one day they will come to dvd and those of us who haven't seen the shows can.
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10-12-2011, 05:34 PM	#11
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Few episodes of Phyllis on youtube.

10-14-2011, 09:39 AM	#12
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	If I remember correctly Lou Grant was a dramedy and he had a comic foil in the owner of the newspaper he ran.
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