Did Mary ever cross over to PHYLLIS

[drew8804]

In watching episodes of RHODA back when it was on N@N, I remember seeing Mary crossover to RHODA a few times, but I dont remember ever seeing Mary cross over to PHYLLIS. I have seen moore (hehe) episodes of RHODA then I have of PHYLLIS so Im just curious if anyone knows. Im guessing that Mary probably did not cross over?

[ThomasE]

To answer you question, yes she did. There have been two episodes in which Mary was seen on Phyllis. The first was from season one. Mary did not go to San Fran. to visit her but Phyllis sent Mary a letter which Mary began reading from her apt in the opening scene and was seen finishing the letter in the closing of the show.

The next ep she was in was from season two in which she goes to SanFrancisco at the spur of the moment because Phyllis tells her to. Phyllis was trying to prove a point that she had at least one friend who would go out of their way for her. Phyllis neglected to successfully contact Mary saying that it was just a test and when Mary came and Phyllis began to fear that Mary would be enraged for making such a goof ball mistake, she told Mary that she was pregnant.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

To answer you question, yes she did. There have been two episodes in which Mary was seen on Phyllis. The first was from season one. Mary did not go to San Fran. to visit her but Phyllis sent Mary a letter which Mary began reading from her apt in the opening scene and was seen finishing the letter in the closing of the show.

The next ep she was in was from season two in which she goes to SanFrancisco at the spur of the moment because Phyllis tells her to. Phyllis was trying to prove a point that she had at least one friend who would go out of their way for her. Phyllis neglected to successfully contact Mary saying that it was just a test and when Mary came and Phyllis began to fear that Mary would be enraged for making such a goof ball mistake, she told Mary that she was pregnant.

I sshould have asked for those 2 eps of Phyllis that Mary appeared in because the 2 eps I watched were A$$!!!!!!!!!!-LOL

[treky]

I agree! "Phyliss" was AWFUL! I remember liking it back when it was on, but watching an episode back when N@N used to show it, and I turned it off after 10 minutes, it was so bad.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by treky

I agree! "Phyliss" was AWFUL! I remember liking it back when it was on, but watching an episode back when N@N used to show it, and I turned it off after 10 minutes, it was so bad.

Phyllis was on the N@N schedule???? PLease tell me it was part of a short-lived marathon?-lol

[treky]

yes, it was part of a short-lived marathon. It was about 10 years ago, they used to have a block of shows on Sunday night that they called "The woman of NICK AT NITE". They used to show "That Girl", "Rhoda", "Phyllis" & "The Betty White show". They didn't keep any of them on for very long, though, with the exeption of "Rhoda".

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by treky

yes, it was part of a short-lived marathon. It was about 10 years ago, they used to have a block of shows on Sunday night that they called "The woman of NICK AT NITE". They used to show "That Girl", "Rhoda", "Phyllis" & "The Betty White show". They didn't keep any of them on for very long, though, with the exeption of "Rhoda".

OK I knew it had to be something like that because Phyllis was too short-lived to be on the N@N schedule

[CeeBO]

"Phllis" had several very poor episodes, no doubt...they are as bad as anything I have ever seen on tv. BUT...it also had several hysterical episdoes, such as "Up For Grabs" and "So Lonely I Could Cry", that are wonderful, and true television classics. Indeed, the two shows that have Mary Richards crossover are also quite good, especially "You're Not Getting Better, Just Older" in wich mary finally tells Phyllis off!

Don't be too quick to dismiss the spin-off. "Phyllis got higher Neilson ratings than "MTMS" or "Rhoda" in it's first year, and it deserved it! It was the number six show of the 75-76 season. It was such a hit, it garnered special mention in the film "Network".

"Phyllis" was part of the regular lineup on N@N for several months EVERY night, and not just the sunday feature mentioned. It was only filmed for two seasons, so after that healthy run on Nick, it was eventually replaced with "Happy Days". A few months later, it reappeared on "TV Land".

There is a market for all of the MTM produced shows on dvd. "Phyllis" may take awhile, but it will come. It is remarkable not only for it's success, but also for it's almost text-book examples of how "NOT" to mess with a tv shows success!

Dubiously, "Phyllis" lost three cast members to death in it's two year run. Although she only appeared in three episodes before her murder, the death of Barbara Colby affected the show's run significantly, in my opinion. The chemistry between herself, Leachman and Richard Schaal was pure magic. The first season's script quality suffered terribley towards the last few ep's, and the artings slid. It was decided that a change of job was in order for "Phyllis", but what they really needed to do was develop the characters they had further. Phyllis herslf was altered considerabley, and it was a HUGE mistake. A talented cast was ultimately wasted. It's a shame. Judith Lowry's passing signaled the shows rapid decline into some truly weak shows.

There are some real diamonds among the rust. I feel the exact same way about "Rhoda", wich had episodes every bit as good...and as bad...as "Phyllis".

BTW, Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler-Moore and Valerie Harper were all nominated for Best Actress In A Comedy Emmies for their 1975-1976 seasons. Mary won. Leachman won the Golden Globe Award for "Phyllis".

Best,
Christopher

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by CeeBO

"Phllis" had several very poor episodes, no doubt...they are as bad as anything I have ever seen on tv. BUT...it also had several hysterical episdoes, such as "Up For Grabs" and "So Lonely I Could Cry", that are wonderful, and true television classics. Indeed, the two shows that have Mary Richards crossover are also quite good, especially "You're Not Getting Better, Just Older" in wich mary finally tells Phyllis off!

Don't be too quick to dismiss the spin-off. "Phyllis got higher Neilson ratings than "MTMS" or "Rhoda" in it's first year, and it deserved it! It was the number six show of the 75-76 season. It was such a hit, it garnered special mention in the film "Network".

"Phyllis" was part of the regular lineup on N@N for several months EVERY night, and not just the sunday feature mentioned. It was only filmed for two seasons, so after that healthy run on Nick, it was eventually replaced with "Happy Days". A few months later, it reappeared on "TV Land".

There is a market for all of the MTM produced shows on dvd. "Phyllis" may take awhile, but it will come. It is remarkable not only for it's success, but also for it's almost text-book examples of how "NOT" to mess with a tv shows success!

Dubiously, "Phyllis" lost three cast members to death in it's two year run. Although she only appeared in three episodes before her murder, the death of Barbara Colby affected the show's run significantly, in my opinion. The chemistry between herself, Leachman and Richard Schaal was pure magic. The first season's script quality suffered terribley towards the last few ep's, and the artings slid. It was decided that a change of job was in order for "Phyllis", but what they really needed to do was develop the characters they had further. Phyllis herslf was altered considerabley, and it was a HUGE mistake. A talented cast was ultimately wasted. It's a shame. Judith Lowry's passing signaled the shows rapid decline into some truly weak shows.

There are some real diamonds among the rust. I feel the exact same way about "Rhoda", wich had episodes every bit as good...and as bad...as "Phyllis".

BTW, Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler-Moore and Valerie Harper were all nominated for Best Actress In A Comedy Emmies for their 1975-1976 seasons. Mary won. Leachman won the Golden Globe Award for "Phyllis".

Best,
Christopher

Yeah i was surprised the show finished it's first season ranked number 7 but I think it was because of the night it aired. Monday Night on CBS and it aired in between Rhoda and Maude

[CeeBO]

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

Yeah i was surprised the show finished it's first season ranked number 7 but I think it was because of the night it aired. Monday Night on CBS and it aired in between Rhoda and Maude

"Phyllis" finished number 6 for the 75-76 season.

It's too easy to credit a shows success to it's time slot, although "Phyllis" certainly had an envianble one. The show was quite good it's first season. The first three episodes with Barbara Colby were stellar. Some of the jokes first used on "Phyllis" were recycled in shows I saw much later, and recognized. This is not uncommon I know, but worth noting. There were several very good ep's that first year, and like I said, as the quality of them began to go down, so did the ratings.

Please do NOT forget that despite the superb time slot, "Phyllis" still trounced "MTMS", and "Rhoda" in the ratings...wich was it's lead in show, and still quite popular at the time.

The following year both "Rhoda" and "Phyllis" were done in by their lead characters being watered down to pale immatations of their original glory; poorly conceived scripts; and most of all, by that GREAT slayer of competative dragons: "Little House On The Prarie"! Only "Rhoda" was hooked up to life support and given another go. It's too bad "Phyllis" wasn't renewed for a third season. A simple alteration or two to Phyllis herself (and some decent scripts), her show could have been saved. However, it is interesting and ironic to note, that if "Phyllis" had lasted, it would have lost yet another cast member to death...dear Jane Rose died of cancer about a year after the cancellation.

I tell you what, I think that MTM Productions really missed the boat by not having cross-over phone converstaions between it's leading ladies on thier shows. Imagine how the audiences would have shown up just to see what Mary/Rhoda and Phyllis had to say to each other! That would have helped keep the characters in perspective, too. Has anyone else noticed that in "The Last Show" of MTMS that when Cloris and Valerie guested that...POW!...they were Rhoda and Phyllis again...as they were meant to be!

Christopher

[treky]

There was an episode of "Rhoda" where she was talking to Mary on the phone in one scene. And, also on "The Mary Tyler Moore show" there was an episode where they showed Mary talking to Rhoda on the phone.

[CeeBO]

You're right. And the first time Mary appered on "Phyllis", she read her letter, and then they showed her calling Phyl at the end. But what I was thinking of was a semi-regular kind of thing, where the women filled each other in on what was going on in their lives. HUGE potential for jokes and intertwoven plot threads! Imagine how Phyllis and Rhoda could have interacted, how catty they could have been with each other, and how their relationship might have developed. Just two to three minutes of such a "guest spot" would keep people tuned in. I'm certain it would have been a ratings boost for each show. And might have kept Rhoda and Phyllis more true...ya know what I mean?

I LOVED "The Last Show" of MTMS when they acted as thought hey hadn't spoken since the wedding. HYSTERICAL! I could see Phyllis and Rhoda not speaking for a long while. But would Mary NOT have mentioned to Rhoda that Lars had died?!! I don't think so! Cute moment, but completely unbelievable.

Christopher

[CeeBO]

I nearly forgot that after it's run as a daily (or should I say nightly) fetaure on N@N (two times an evening mon thru sat, and once on sunday...complete series was shown in it's entirety about three times), "Phyllis" was shown on sundays for several months. This was long after "The Women Of Nick At Nite" marathon was completed. As I said, it was later shown on TV Land.

[treky]

it was on TV LAND? I don't remember. When? It must have been before we got that channel, in feb. of 2000.

[CeeBO]

It was shown on saturday mornings.