Something I Don't Understand About 'Phyllis?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-28-2011, 02:06 AM

If Phyllis was such an unlikeable character, how did she land her own spin-off. Was it MTM enterprises choice or CBS's choice to create this show???

catlover79 · 09-28-2011, 07:18 PM

I have no idea. No one will dispute what a talent Cloris Leachman is, but Phyllis just wasn't a strong enough character to head up a show. She was best in small doses.

scotsguy · 09-28-2011, 07:37 PM

That is a very good question,I always think its strange that Cloris had been

winding down her appearances as Phyllis on MTM to about three episodes a

season,then she did the two part spot on Rhoda and got some tremendous

laughs.(as she always did on MTM)

I guess the smash hit of Rhoda maybe made the network think they could repeat it with a Phyllis spinoff.

I've seen interviews online with James L Brooks and he said he didn't have anything to do with the Phyllis spinoff,said it was Stan Daniels and Ed Weinberger.

Dianne3 · 09-28-2011, 08:03 PM

I didn't get the Phyllis spin-off either.

She wasn't on that often in Season 3 and 4.

There was not a lot of back story on Phyllis like there was with Rhoda and Lars was never seen.

Since I have not seen this show, when did Lars die?

Brian Damage · 09-29-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianne3

Since I have not seen this show, when did Lars die?

I think he died before the spin off...I think???

Brian Damage · 09-29-2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotsguy

I've seen interviews online with James L Brooks and he said he didn't have anything to do with the Phyllis spinoff,said it was Stan Daniels and Ed Weinberger.

Interesting that nobody wanted to fess up for this show!

catlover79 · 09-29-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I think he died before the spin off...I think???

Yes, he died (off-screen, of course) before the spinoff. Phyllis and Bess moved to Lars' hometown of San Francisco to get a fresh start.

scotsguy · 09-30-2011, 06:27 AM

I think the kiss of death for Phyllis was putting her in that boring office in

the 2nd season and the very unfunny Leonard in season2.

They could have had Phyllis as an estate agent or as a evening class teacher,shame they webt fior the office and the ratings nose dived.

Dianne3 · 10-01-2011, 03:50 PM

The reason I know that Lars had died was because it was mentioned on MTM"S finale.

Then wouldn't have both Mary and Rhoda known he had died almost 2 years earlier? I guess this was a blooper.

scotsguy · 10-02-2011, 09:14 AM

Yes Dianne,the fact Rhoda didn't know Lars was dead,annoyed me too.

I can see Phyllis not asking Mary about Rhoda but Rhoda would ask how

Phyllis was doing,Lars dying and Phyllis and Bess moving to San Francisco
would have been big news!

Heres the Phyllis pilot when we find out Lars has died:

http://youtu.be/b6MEWa1FIi4

Part2 :http://youtu.be/Iw5xFv4is0A

Part3 :http://youtu.be/qgr5O2GlUbo

Retro4Life · 10-02-2011, 02:05 PM

Maybe they wanted a vehicle for Leachman, who was obviously able to carry a show by herself, and they already had the Phyllis character so they used it to wrap a show for Leachman around?

It is puzzling that such an irritating character ended up with her own show. Honestly, I thought it was pretty good for what it was but I don't know how far they could have gone with it without changing Phyllis' character (which would have seemed like a cop out). I kind of liked the fact that the cast was mostly middle aged over above, as it made it unique in the sitcom landscape.

scotsguy · 10-02-2011, 03:20 PM

I think Phyllis was a likeable character but she was liked in a comedic way

because although Phyllis was selfish,opinated and very intelligent as Mary pointed out,underneath it all she was a mass of insecurities.

I do agree,she was changed for the Phyllis spinoff,made less eccentric,less intelligent and less outrageous.

I love Mother Dexter but in some ways,Phyllis became the straight person to

her and Mother Dexter could alwys put Phyllis in her place,a bit like Rhoda

did on TMTMS.

09-28-2011, 02:06 AM	#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	Something I Don't Understand About 'Phyllis?' If Phyllis was such an unlikeable character, how did she land her own spin-off. Was it MTM enterprises choice or CBS's choice to create this show???
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09-28-2011, 07:18 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I have no idea. No one will dispute what a talent Cloris Leachman is, but Phyllis just wasn't a strong enough character to head up a show. She was best in small doses.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-30-2011, 06:27 AM	#8
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I think the kiss of death for Phyllis was putting her in that boring office in the 2nd season and the very unfunny Leonard in season2. They could have had Phyllis as an estate agent or as a evening class teacher,shame they webt fior the office and the ratings nose dived.
	Last edited by scotsguy; 10-02-2011 at 09:17 AM.

10-02-2011, 02:05 PM	#11
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	Maybe they wanted a vehicle for Leachman, who was obviously able to carry a show by herself, and they already had the Phyllis character so they used it to wrap a show for Leachman around? It is puzzling that such an irritating character ended up with her own show. Honestly, I thought it was pretty good for what it was but I don't know how far they could have gone with it without changing Phyllis' character (which would have seemed like a cop out). I kind of liked the fact that the cast was mostly middle aged over above, as it made it unique in the sitcom landscape.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

09-28-2011, 07:37 PM	#3
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	That is a very good question,I always think its strange that Cloris had been winding down her appearances as Phyllis on MTM to about three episodes a season,then she did the two part spot on Rhoda and got some tremendous laughs.(as she always did on MTM) I guess the smash hit of Rhoda maybe made the network think they could repeat it with a Phyllis spinoff. I've seen interviews online with James L Brooks and he said he didn't have anything to do with the Phyllis spinoff,said it was Stan Daniels and Ed Weinberger.

09-28-2011, 08:03 PM	#4
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,056	I didn't get the Phyllis spin-off either. She wasn't on that often in Season 3 and 4. There was not a lot of back story on Phyllis like there was with Rhoda and Lars was never seen. Since I have not seen this show, when did Lars die?

10-01-2011, 03:50 PM	#9
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,056	The reason I know that Lars had died was because it was mentioned on MTM"S finale. Then wouldn't have both Mary and Rhoda known he had died almost 2 years earlier? I guess this was a blooper.

10-02-2011, 09:14 AM	#10
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	Yes Dianne,the fact Rhoda didn't know Lars was dead,annoyed me too. I can see Phyllis not asking Mary about Rhoda but Rhoda would ask how Phyllis was doing,Lars dying and Phyllis and Bess moving to San Francisco would have been big news! Heres the Phyllis pilot when we find out Lars has died: http://youtu.be/b6MEWa1FIi4 Part2 :http://youtu.be/Iw5xFv4is0A Part3 :http://youtu.be/qgr5O2GlUbo

10-02-2011, 03:20 PM	#12
scotsguy Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 25, 2002 Location: Edinburgh,Scotland Posts: 696	I think Phyllis was a likeable character but she was liked in a comedic way because although Phyllis was selfish,opinated and very intelligent as Mary pointed out,underneath it all she was a mass of insecurities. I do agree,she was changed for the Phyllis spinoff,made less eccentric,less intelligent and less outrageous. I love Mother Dexter but in some ways,Phyllis became the straight person to her and Mother Dexter could alwys put Phyllis in her place,a bit like Rhoda did on TMTMS.