Who remembers “The Debbie Reynolds Show”? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmo · 08-04-2019, 01:27 PM

A one-season wonder supposedly canceled because Debbie Reynolds didn’t like tobacco companies advertising on the show. I’m not sure how well it did in the ratings.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SkVgD_F-5PQ

James28 · 09-06-2019, 01:30 PM

A successful show canceled because of its star not wanting cigarette companies advertising on it? Wow, it's no wonder why cigarette advertising on TV was banned soon after The Debbie Reynolds Show was cancelled.

Schmo · 09-06-2019, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

A successful show canceled because of its star not wanting cigarette companies advertising on it? Wow, it's no wonder why cigarette advertising on TV was banned soon after The Debbie Reynolds Show was cancelled.

I don’t know how successful it was. If it was in the Top Ten, the network may have been willing to work with Reynolds.

Coffeecup · 09-08-2019, 06:05 PM

I remember the Debbie Reynold show which was shown around ?? 1968 and it starred Tom Bosley. Can't remember the set up. Was she married to Tom. Could be. I haven't seen the show since it first aired.

Schmo · 04-10-2021, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

I remember the Debbie Reynold show which was shown around ?? 1968 and it starred Tom Bosley. Can't remember the set up. Was she married to Tom. Could be. I haven't seen the show since it first aired.

Don Chastain played the husband. Bosley played the husband’s boss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Debbie_Reynolds_Show

Bosley talks about the show. However, there is a dispute over how many episodes were made. Wikipedia claims 26, but Bosley said 17.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSC6k8QpPdk

Coffeecup · 04-10-2021, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

A successful show canceled because of its star not wanting cigarette companies advertising on it? Wow, it's no wonder why cigarette advertising on TV was banned soon after The Debbie Reynolds Show was cancelled.

I find that a tad funny for the name Reynolds was a name of tobacco company TJ Reynolds. May she should have pushed for Reynolds Wrap to advertise

Duster76 · 04-10-2021, 08:22 PM

The show was an I Love Lucy wannabe. Debbie wanted to be a newspaper writer like her husband . She had her various schemes her Ethel in all this was her sister, who was married to Tom Bosley who of course was her Fred.

I actually liked the show, but it's easy to understand why it wasn't a hit.

Schmo · 04-11-2021, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

The show was an I Love Lucy wannabe. Debbie wanted to be a newspaper writer like her husband . She had her various schemes her Ethel in all this was her sister, who was married to Tom Bosley who of course was her Fred.

I actually liked the show, but it's easy to understand why it wasn't a hit.

Do you think if the show was a hit, the network would have found a sponsor favorable to Debbie?

Duster76 · 04-11-2021, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

Do you think if the show was a hit, the network would have found a sponsor favorable to Debbie?

The series ran during the 1969-70 TV season. In April of 1970 legislation was signed into law by President Nixon that banned cigarette advertising beginning January of 71, so effectively it would have been a nonissue for the 70-71 season had the series been renewed.

Schmo · 04-11-2021, 08:28 PM

My guess is Debbie was trying to reinvent herself. The movie musical genre that made her famous had declined in popularity. And she was in her late 30s - too old to play fresh-faced girls next door. And her second husband was blowing her money on gambling and bad investments.

Duster76 · 04-11-2021, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

My guess is Debbie was trying to reinvent herself. The movie musical genre that made her famous had declined in popularity. And she was in her late 30s - too old to play fresh-faced girls next door. And her second husband was blowing her money on gambling and bad investments.

I agree, her movie career at this point was basically over. Big name movie stars had tried their hand in TV by the late 60's (Jimmy Stewart, Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby, Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred Mac Murray just to name a few) so the move made perfect sense.

Cbalducc · 09-17-2021, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

I agree, her movie career at this point was basically over. Big name movie stars had tried their hand in TV by the late 60's (Jimmy Stewart, Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby, Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred Mac Murray just to name a few) so the move made perfect sense.

Not all of them were able to pull it off successfully.

08-04-2019, 01:27 PM	#1
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	Who remembers “The Debbie Reynolds Show”? A one-season wonder supposedly canceled because Debbie Reynolds didn’t like tobacco companies advertising on the show. I’m not sure how well it did in the ratings. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SkVgD_F-5PQ

09-06-2019, 01:30 PM	#2
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,967	A successful show canceled because of its star not wanting cigarette companies advertising on it? Wow, it's no wonder why cigarette advertising on TV was banned soon after The Debbie Reynolds Show was cancelled.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

09-08-2019, 06:05 PM	#4
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,176	I remember the Debbie Reynold show which was shown around ?? 1968 and it starred Tom Bosley. Can't remember the set up. Was she married to Tom. Could be. I haven't seen the show since it first aired.

04-10-2021, 08:22 PM	#7
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	The show was an I Love Lucy wannabe. Debbie wanted to be a newspaper writer like her husband . She had her various schemes her Ethel in all this was her sister, who was married to Tom Bosley who of course was her Fred. I actually liked the show, but it's easy to understand why it wasn't a hit.

04-11-2021, 08:28 PM	#10
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	My guess is Debbie was trying to reinvent herself. The movie musical genre that made her famous had declined in popularity. And she was in her late 30s - too old to play fresh-faced girls next door. And her second husband was blowing her money on gambling and bad investments.