Early Impressions of PHYLLIS/Turmoil on the Set - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LittleRickyII · 02-17-2010, 11:40 PM

Thanks again "wayman" for cluing me in about Google News. I came across several bits in the press from 1975 revealing a very positive reception to Phyllis. This article states that preview audiences had a very favorable impression of the series and believed Phyllis it would be the biggest new hit of the season. And it was, at least among the batch of shows that premiered in the fall. Phyllis wound up in 6th place for the season, but a couple mid-season replacements -- The Bionic Woman and Laverne & Shirley -- would do a little better, placing 5th and 3rd, respectively. Also the mini-series, Rich Man, Poor Man, which aired that spring, wound up in 2nd place.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...ra+colby&hl=en

There was more turmoil on the set of Phyllis that I was aware of. Besides the sudden deaths of three cast members, there were difficulties in the first season with Richard Schaal, who was threatening to leave the series if his role on the show wasn't enlarged and his character allowed to develop. I would surmise that his discontent in his role was one of the factors leading to the cast changes the next season. It looks like he probably had no plans to return for the second season.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...ra+colby&hl=en

OOliver · 02-18-2010, 06:25 PM

Can you clue us in as well about Google News? I think it's a great tool to find some old articles on favorite celebrities! So, please, if you don't mind...

BTW, when Richard Schaal was having trouble on the "Phyllis" show (1976), I think this is when he and Valerie Harper split up as well.

scotsguy · 02-18-2010, 07:34 PM

Interesting about Richard Schaal,he did direct Phyllis in season2.
I always thought it was an in joke replacing Leo from season1 with Leonard in season2,seemed to be the same character.
The Leo character did seem to not really relate with the rest of the cast as season1 went on.

LittleRickyII · 02-18-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

Can you clue us in as well about Google News? I think it's a great tool to find some old articles on favorite celebrities! So, please, if you don't mind...

Sure. Here's what you do. Pretend you're looking for articles on Phyllis. First go to this site: http://news.google.com

Now, in the box at the top next to the words "Google News," type in your search terms. In this example, I'll type in the following: Phyllis Cloris Leachman

Now click on "Search News"

When the results come up, they'll probably be some pretty recent articles. But if you look over to the left, you'll see the following date ranges where "Phyllis Cloris Leachman" applies:

Past hour
Past day
Past week
Past month
1990-1992
1985-1987
1977-1978
1976
1975
Archives

Click on one of these date ranges. For this example, I'm going to click on 1975. Now you'll get back results just for the year 1975.

For a more specific range, at this point click on "Advanced Archive Search." Here, you can specify a very specific date range you want to look at in the following format MM/DD/YYYY.

And away you go! I hope this helps. One word of warning: some publications require that you pay a charge to actually see their article. Most are free, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

BTW, when Richard Schaal was having trouble on the "Phyllis" show (1976), I think this is when he and Valerie Harper split up as well.

That could be. The divorce was final in 1978, I don't know exactly when they split. But I find it interesting how close in time their divorce was to Rhoda and Joe's divorce on Rhoda.

OOliver · 02-19-2010, 02:34 PM

Thanks so much, my friend! I betcha this is addictive! I'm going to have fun this weekend...LOL!

catlover79 · 02-19-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

BTW, when Richard Schaal was having trouble on the "Phyllis" show (1976), I think this is when he and Valerie Harper split up as well.

Which may explain why her acting was so convincing on Rhoda when she and Joe broke up.

LittleRickyII · 02-19-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOliver

Thanks so much, my friend! I betcha this is addictive! I'm going to have fun this weekend...LOL!

LittleRickyII · 02-19-2010, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Which may explain why her acting was so convincing on Rhoda when she and Joe broke up.

And those scenes where she and Joe are punching one another with those . . . whatever those things are . . . the director was saying, "Valerie, just pretend he's Richard."

LittleRickyII · 02-19-2010, 10:37 PM

Here are a couple more articles about Phyllis from around the time of its debut. Clearly, it was very well-received at the start.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...leachman&hl=en

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...leachman&hl=en

scotsguy · 02-20-2010, 06:26 PM

Thanks for posting this "Ricky",I did notice Richard Schaal did direct an episode of Phyllis,season2,so he was true to his word about quitting the role of Leo but coming back to the show,in another capacity.
I recently saw the last episode of season1 "The Triangle",blink and you missed the photo studio,a sign it was on the way out.

LittleRickyII · 02-21-2010, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Thanks for posting this "Ricky",I did notice Richard Schaal did direct an episode of Phyllis,season2,so he was true to his word about quitting the role of Leo but coming back to the show,in another capacity.

I didn't realize he was involved at all in the second season until you, or someone, mentioned that here. I guess good relations were maintained even though the role disappeared. And again, that might have been his decision because he didn't sound happy at all with what the writers were giving him in that role.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I recently saw the last episode of season1 "The Triangle",blink and you missed the photo studio,a sign it was on the way out.

What are you saying, that the work setting was barely used in that final episode of season 1?

scotsguy · 02-21-2010, 06:36 AM

Yes Liz Torres has hardly any dialogue in that episode at all.
Maybe with Richard Schall quitting as Leo,they thought: "Right,lets dump the photo studio".
I think Leo was played by too old an Actor,if it has been someone younger,who Phyllis didn't like,he could have dated Bess,like Mark did and married Bess in season2.

LittleRickyII · 02-21-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Yes Liz Torres has hardly any dialogue in that episode at all.
Maybe with Richard Schall quitting as Leo,they thought: "Right,lets dump the photo studio".
I think Leo was played by too old an Actor,if it has been someone younger,who Phyllis didn't like,he could have dated Bess,like Mark did and married Bess in season2.

Speaking of Liz Torres, she went on to co-star with Richard Schall's by-then ex-wife, Valerie Harper, in the 1990 series, City. These days, Liz Torres looks nothing like she did back in her days on Phyllis. Valerie Harper, on the other hand, hasn't changed that much at all.

scotsguy · 02-21-2010, 11:59 AM

Yes,Liz has put on a lot of weight,I've seen pics.
Richard Schaal's daughter Wendy,was on Rhoda,you know the episode in season3,when Rhoda sees Joe with a girl and its all awkward,thats Wendy.

LittleRickyII · 02-21-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

Yes,Liz has put on a lot of weight,I've seen pics.
Richard Schaal's daughter Wendy,was on Rhoda,you know the episode in season3,when Rhoda sees Joe with a girl and its all awkward,thats Wendy.

That scene sounds awkward, given what was about to happen to Valerie and Wendy's father a year or so later!

02-17-2010, 11:40 PM	#1
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Early Impressions of PHYLLIS/Turmoil on the Set Thanks again "wayman" for cluing me in about Google News. I came across several bits in the press from 1975 revealing a very positive reception to Phyllis. This article states that preview audiences had a very favorable impression of the series and believed Phyllis it would be the biggest new hit of the season. And it was, at least among the batch of shows that premiered in the fall. Phyllis wound up in 6th place for the season, but a couple mid-season replacements -- The Bionic Woman and Laverne & Shirley -- would do a little better, placing 5th and 3rd, respectively. Also the mini-series, Rich Man, Poor Man, which aired that spring, wound up in 2nd place. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...ra+colby&hl=en There was more turmoil on the set of Phyllis that I was aware of. Besides the sudden deaths of three cast members, there were difficulties in the first season with Richard Schaal, who was threatening to leave the series if his role on the show wasn't enlarged and his character allowed to develop. I would surmise that his discontent in his role was one of the factors leading to the cast changes the next season. It looks like he probably had no plans to return for the second season. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...ra+colby&hl=en

02-18-2010, 06:25 PM	#2
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Can you clue us in as well about Google News? I think it's a great tool to find some old articles on favorite celebrities! So, please, if you don't mind... BTW, when Richard Schaal was having trouble on the "Phyllis" show (1976), I think this is when he and Valerie Harper split up as well.

02-18-2010, 07:34 PM	#3
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Interesting about Richard Schaal,he did direct Phyllis in season2. I always thought it was an in joke replacing Leo from season1 with Leonard in season2,seemed to be the same character. The Leo character did seem to not really relate with the rest of the cast as season1 went on.

02-19-2010, 02:34 PM	#5
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Thanks so much, my friend! I betcha this is addictive! I'm going to have fun this weekend...LOL!

02-19-2010, 10:37 PM	#9
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Here are a couple more articles about Phyllis from around the time of its debut. Clearly, it was very well-received at the start. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...leachman&hl=en http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...leachman&hl=en

02-20-2010, 06:26 PM	#10
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Thanks for posting this "Ricky",I did notice Richard Schaal did direct an episode of Phyllis,season2,so he was true to his word about quitting the role of Leo but coming back to the show,in another capacity. I recently saw the last episode of season1 "The Triangle",blink and you missed the photo studio,a sign it was on the way out.

02-21-2010, 06:36 AM	#12
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Yes Liz Torres has hardly any dialogue in that episode at all. Maybe with Richard Schall quitting as Leo,they thought: "Right,lets dump the photo studio". I think Leo was played by too old an Actor,if it has been someone younger,who Phyllis didn't like,he could have dated Bess,like Mark did and married Bess in season2.

02-21-2010, 11:59 AM	#14
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Yes,Liz has put on a lot of weight,I've seen pics. Richard Schaal's daughter Wendy,was on Rhoda,you know the episode in season3,when Rhoda sees Joe with a girl and its all awkward,thats Wendy.