Phyllis Stephens-Good Mother? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

DemandYourPickle · 08-27-2010, 07:40 AM

How do you all feel about Mrs. Stephens as a mother (and as a mother-in-law)? I personally don't think she was that great...but how do you all feel?

catlover79 · 08-27-2010, 01:25 PM

Mrs. Stephens was just scary - plain and simple.

At least Endora was fun!

Larry Tate · 08-27-2010, 03:11 PM

I know her character good be annoying & even infuriating at the time, but that was what the show & the character called for on Bewitched.

It was superbly done by the very underrated Malbel Anderson who in her own way in her role was just as Brilliant as Alice Pierce was in hers & that is really saying something.

At her inner core though Mrs. Stephens meant well & truly loved her family a great deal, especially her precious Darr Darr

Larry Tate

Quote:

Originally Posted by DemandYourPickle

How do you all feel about Mrs. Stephens as a mother (and as a mother-in-law)? I personally don't think she was that great...but how do you all feel?

catlover79 · 08-27-2010, 03:16 PM

Mabel Albertson was indeed a terrific actress. She had the annoying mother part down pat (not only on Bewitched, but on That Girl and The Andy Griffith Show as well). In real-life, she was the mother-in-law of Cloris Leachman!

MickeyMac · 08-27-2010, 03:41 PM

She was an annoying busy body. The time when Serena turned her into a cat she so had it coming.

DemandYourPickle · 08-28-2010, 06:54 AM

Haha...these answers are funny! Sure, I feel the same way about Mrs. Stephens. She was very rude to Serena in that episode. She's pretty bad...can you imagine what it was like for Darrin and Frank to live with her?! Dun, dun, DUUUUNNNN!!! Lol.

comedyfreak · 08-28-2010, 08:47 AM

She could be annoying but I loved the "Frank, I'm getting a sick headache". She also had her reactions down pat just like Alice Pearce.

novarrofan · 09-03-2010, 05:28 AM

I agree Catlover, Mabel Albertson was a wonderful actress and I always enjoy her appearances as Phyllis. I especially love her catty confrontations with Endora. Those two worked off each other so well. I also liked the fact that she played Phyllis right through the series run (or at least up until the tapering off of the supporting characters appearances in the tired last season)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Mabel Albertson was indeed a terrific actress. She had the annoying mother part down pat (not only on Bewitched, but on That Girl and The Andy Griffith Show as well). In real-life, she was the mother-in-law of Cloris Leachman!

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novarrofan

I agree Catlover, Mabel Albertson was a wonderful actress and I always enjoy her appearances as Phyllis. I especially love her catty confrontations with Endora. Those two worked off each other so well. I also liked the fact that she played Phyllis right through the series run (or at least up until the tapering off of the supporting characters appearances in the tired last season)

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Great acting seemed to run in the Albertson family. After all, Mabel's brother Jack won an Oscar (for The Subject Was Roses) and went on to co-star in Chico and the Man. And yes, Phyllis' and Endora's confrontations were gold - especially when Endora would flirt with Frank.

novarrofan · 09-03-2010, 08:13 PM

Yes Mabel had a taleted family for sure. I love the story Bernard Fox told about Mabel ripping loose on the piano with all the old show tunes at the Bewitched Christmas parties (how I would have loved to be at one of those!!!) Regarding Endora's flirting with Frank. The gem of an episode for that is season threes "It's Wishcraft" I always find it interesting how Endora's interactions with Frank really varied according to which actor was playing Frank. She was always really flirty with Frank when played by Robert F. Simon but was more reserved when Roy Roberts played the role. Interesting pattern there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Great acting seemed to run in the Albertson family. After all, Mabel's brother Jack won an Oscar (for The Subject Was Roses) and went on to co-star in Chico and the Man. And yes, Phyllis' and Endora's confrontations were gold - especially when Endora would flirt with Frank.

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by novarrofan

Yes Mabel had a taleted family for sure. I love the story Bernard Fox told about Mabel ripping loose on the piano with all the old show tunes at the Bewitched Christmas parties (how I would have loved to be at one of those!!!) Regarding Endora's flirting with Frank. The gem of an episode for that is season threes "It's Wishcraft" I always find it interesting how Endora's interactions with Frank really varied according to which actor was playing Frank. She was always really flirty with Frank when played by Robert F. Simon but was more reserved when Roy Roberts played the role. Interesting pattern there.

Yeah, I never did understand that last part.

Rezny@gmail.com · 09-03-2010, 10:57 PM

And also,in the Dick York as Darrin years when he learned of his mother's unexpected visits,he almost always had something else to do.In one episode,at the breakfast table,upon learning from Samantha of her unexpected visits,he said hurredly,and kissing Samantha and Tabitha goodbye,"Ooh,look at the time!It's late.Bye,dear.Bye Tabitha",and then leaves to go to the office.In the Dick Sargent as Darrin episodes,did he act the same way?Yes,or No,please.

novarrofan · 09-03-2010, 11:18 PM

One of my favourite Phyllis episodes is "Samantha's Super Maid" when Phyllis thinks Samantha should have a maid. Dick York cetainly got out of the house to play golf quick that time but in the black and white years I think he was fairly nice towards his mother as was Dick Sargent later on. I'm always amazed in "Super Maid" when it is Nellie Burt as Ameilia who decides she will work for the family rather than Darrin and Samantha deciding they would offer her the job. Recruitment was done quite dfferently in the 1960's by the look!!

Also on the point of whether Phyllis was a good mother/Grandmother, I believe she was, she was always worrying about Darrin eating properly and was giving Samantha recipes in many episodes and she frequently was bringing toys, dolls and nurses kits to Tabitha and later Adam. I'd say she was a definite good person, she might have interfered a bit but I wouldn't have minded her as my mother/Grandmother.
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Quote:

Originally Posted by rrezny@usnetizen

And also,in the Dick York as Darrin years when he learned of his mother's unexpected visits,he almost always had something else to do.In one episode,at the breakfast table,upon learning from Samantha of her unexpected visits,he said hurredly,and kissing Samantha and Tabitha goodbye,"Ooh,look at the time!It's late.Bye,dear.Bye Tabitha",and then leaves to go to the office.In the Dick Sargent as Darrin episodes,did he act the same way?Yes,or No,please.

catlover79 · 09-03-2010, 11:51 PM

Yeah, I'd rather have Phyllis as a grandmother and not a mother-in-law!!

Rezny@gmail.com · 09-04-2010, 05:08 PM

And,in the Dick York episodes(the black and white ones,anyway),she was REALLY nice to Aunt Clara.As was Darrin,throughout all the episodes Dick York was in.But when Dick Sargent took over as Darrin,was she as nice to Esmeralda as she was to Aunt Clara?(I know Darrin(Dick Sargent) wasn't)Or did she and Esmeralda ever meet?

08-27-2010, 07:40 AM	#1
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	Phyllis Stephens-Good Mother? How do you all feel about Mrs. Stephens as a mother (and as a mother-in-law)? I personally don't think she was that great...but how do you all feel?

08-27-2010, 01:25 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Mrs. Stephens was just scary - plain and simple. At least Endora was fun!
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08-28-2010, 08:47 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	She could be annoying but I loved the "Frank, I'm getting a sick headache". She also had her reactions down pat just like Alice Pearce.
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08-27-2010, 03:16 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Mabel Albertson was indeed a terrific actress. She had the annoying mother part down pat (not only on Bewitched, but on That Girl and The Andy Griffith Show as well). In real-life, she was the mother-in-law of Cloris Leachman!

08-27-2010, 03:41 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	She was an annoying busy body. The time when Serena turned her into a cat she so had it coming.

08-28-2010, 06:54 AM	#6
DemandYourPickle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2010 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 184	Haha...these answers are funny! Sure, I feel the same way about Mrs. Stephens. She was very rude to Serena in that episode. She's pretty bad...can you imagine what it was like for Darrin and Frank to live with her?! Dun, dun, DUUUUNNNN!!! Lol.

09-03-2010, 10:57 PM	#12
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	And also,in the Dick York as Darrin years when he learned of his mother's unexpected visits,he almost always had something else to do.In one episode,at the breakfast table,upon learning from Samantha of her unexpected visits,he said hurredly,and kissing Samantha and Tabitha goodbye,"Ooh,look at the time!It's late.Bye,dear.Bye Tabitha",and then leaves to go to the office.In the Dick Sargent as Darrin episodes,did he act the same way?Yes,or No,please.

09-03-2010, 11:51 PM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yeah, I'd rather have Phyllis as a grandmother and not a mother-in-law!!

09-04-2010, 05:08 PM	#15
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	And,in the Dick York episodes(the black and white ones,anyway),she was REALLY nice to Aunt Clara.As was Darrin,throughout all the episodes Dick York was in.But when Dick Sargent took over as Darrin,was she as nice to Esmeralda as she was to Aunt Clara?(I know Darrin(Dick Sargent) wasn't)Or did she and Esmeralda ever meet?