Phyllis S1E1 Pilot

[@constantreader7944]

This show was so far ahead of its time. RIP Cloris. What a great comedian.

[@softwater88]

✝️🕯🙏🌹🕊

[@jv-ep2tc]

AGREED!!

[@clivepapayanis3121]

And a great talented actress. R.I.P. indeed

[@clivepapayanis3121]

This pilot is absolutely brilliantly witty...as was the rest of the series.... think Shaw... and Coward...transported to the 70s. I know now why enjoyed so much then Thanks!

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

I'm guessing this show was liked very much by people aged 40 to 60 back in 1976 it likely appealed to an older demographic and that's probably why they didn't want to continue this series

[@amyishere67]

Who’s here after she passed away?

[@randysills4418]

It makes me sad that they are all gone now except the actress who played the daughter. Some of this mood is from Covid...no doubt!

[@jasonbertalotto2355]

@@randysills4418 Lisa Gerritsen and Liz Torres are still alive

[@cristinacrescenzo]

Yep I’m here

[@totisantiago1]

I am Here!

[@mrblueeyes7889]

You just broke the news to me.....RIP

[@michaelgenzale7537]

I used to watch this show from1975 till 77 when it was on the air I was 8 when it premiered. 70s was a great era for tv and music, I miss it

[@edgardagosto1917]

michael genzale And 8track tapes

[@lorimiller4301]

I was 9. It was an amazingly creative time. Full of hope and promise. Something got lost in the 80s though.

[@ijustwanttocommentfugoogle3839]

@@lorimiller4301 No, it was the 90s.

[@TheCoolestPetinTown]

My favorite show from MTM is "The Bob Newhart Show."

[@chaswr]

Same here. 8 at the time too.

[@hibob418]

One Sunday morning about 10 years ago, my sister and I stopped into this great little coffee place on Sunset, it was really interesting -Tracey Ullman and Chastity Bono were already in the joint and then Cloris Leachman breezed in the door, saw this kind of funky cowboy hat my sister was wearing and said to her, "Can I see your hat for a minute cowgirl?" And she went into a minute-long improv that ended up with the 2 of us dying rather melodramatically on the floor from a mock gunfight. She sat down with us for a minute and then was gone - with her coffee. Never forget that.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

About 20 years ago strolling in the NYC theatre district late afternoon on West 44th Street, in front of one I saw Cloris standing casually talking and laughing with someone.

[@daisy3601]

Thats great, what an experience!

[@pathough2100]

That’s awesome!

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

That sounds EXACTLY like her. She was brilliantly eccentric and could play literally any part. I met her one time at a hotel when I was doing a job, and so was she. She was a very "no holds barred" person, and actress - always performing! She entertained all for the joy of entertaining. Her greatest gift was making great memories for people, on and off stage.

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

@@JudgeJulieLit I used to live sort of near her in Brentwood near UCLA, she had a condo on Barrington Ave. I'd see her at the dog park sometimes, but most often, she could be found talking to strangers on the sidewalk. She never made a spectacle as some diva stars do. She usually dressed in very casual clothes. She'd say hi to people she didn't even know and would always return a "hello" from someone who recognized her - I think she got a lot of her characterizations from random people whom she encountered.

[@AnthonyWilliams-li5mz]

RIP Cloris Leachman. One and only Phyliss

[@Alusnovalotus]

I love her as an actress. Just not for this show

[@tjames9698]

What CL said in the never-seen Barbara Colby tribute: “As some of you may know, shortly after we filmed tonight’s episode last July, Barbara Colby who has played the part of Julie was tragically killed. She was a superb actress and one of the most joyful and giving people I have ever known. We could have “written out” the character Julie…but this would not have fooled you, and more importantly it would not have fooled us. And so beginning next week, the part of Julie will be played by another actress. It was not easy to replace Barbara Colby as an actress, and it is impossible to replace her as a person.”

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

She said this on the air? How sad - but appropriate. I think Liz Torres did well with the part. She has always been a very good actress, and even today she's still popular in her old age, just as Cloris was. Barbara undoubtedly got the role because of her two fine performances as Sherry the reformed hooker on Mary's show.

[@wildman0228]

@@BenjiOrthopedic - The network chose not to air it.

[@psychedelic.dreamer]

​@@BenjiOrthopedic Cloris was in a movie with Barbara as well called "A Brand New Life". Barbara's part was small but good.

[@aileen694]

This is great, randomly absurd humour, my favourite kind. And that damm "T for 2" whistling scene, perfect timing by Cloris. And the Audrey character, played perfectly! Thank you :))

[@britboyrugby]

It’s a shame this show did not get more than two seasons.

[@misterhot9163]

Well there were many factors, the first was the tragic (and still unsolved) murder of Barbara Colby. The second were the deaths of Judith Lowry and Burt Mustin. All were stellar in making the show great, which sadly couldn’t recover.

[@travisjames1437]

The real-life deaths of Barbara Colby and Judith Lowry really hurt the show.

[@travisjames1437]

@@misterhot9163 The actress that played Audrey was ill in real-life, too, and died in what would have been the third season (if they had had one). Another death.

[@williamvanspanje1271]

@@travisjames1437 the actress that played Audrey died in 1979. The 3rd season was going to be 1977-78. She was in a show called Coed Fever that was canceled after 1 show after a disasterous post Super Bowl ratings.

[@dampergoldenrod4156]

She was at her Peak around 1976 when this showed was aired at age 49 years old

[@drel1793]

This is a great show. The writing and development is brilliant. The Characters are very good.

[@chrisovideo4040]

Brilliant! Needs to be on DVD.

[@dethledr]

Cloris is amazingly talented. Loved her in everything she did. RIP, Cloris.

[@annbroene2974]

I'm glad I found your channel I have been searching for all the spin offs of Mary Tyler Moore show. Clovis was such a great actress. ❤❤!

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

Cloris Leachman and Henry Jones worked together at least once before this on an episode of "Night Gallery" in 1971 called "You Can't Get Help Like That Anymore". I think she remembered him from that, and suggested him for the part of Jonathan on her sitcom. He was a legendary old character actor...his gravelly high-pitched voice and nerdy look was perfect for a number of roles.

[@gwenfluker3436]

He was great in the 1956 movie the Bad Seed as the sneaky slimy Leroy. He should have won an Oscar for his performance.

[@mrwright7414]

Mother Dexter was a riot on this show.

[@frankwells377]

The amazing is you see a sitcom 45 years ago, and you immediately remember the entire theme song lyrics when it starts playing. I remember being disappointed when this was canceled--as I recall the rationale that it didn't do well was that viewers preferred an "unlikeable" character as other than the lead. I loved it and thought she was fantastic, and thought the performances and writing were great.

[@loricook6331]

I agree. I loved this show.

[@HistoryRepeatingTMU]

It actually performed better than MTM show and Rhoda in season one, I think it was ranked 6th for the year end tv ratings. The reason why it was cancelled after the second season wasn’t because viewers didn’t like Phyllis, it was because it became a completely different show. The actress who played Mother Dexter passed away in 1976, the actress who played the original Julie was murdered tragically in 1975, and Jane Rose who played Audrey became ill with cancer and had to have her character get significantly reduced. It was like half the cast was gone by season 2 so they changed Phyllis’ job and added new characters and I guess audiences didn’t respond to them the same way as season 1. Both Rhoda and Phyllis were reworked during the 76-77 season as ratings started to fall, and neither recovered

[@juliananton7800]

I loved Bess. She was a wonderful child actress that I could relate too!

[@jondavis70]

RIP Cloris Leachman ❤️

[@bowtoyoursensei554]

There'll never be another one like her. Great actress; great comedienne. RIP Cloris.

[@jhhone]

That actor played the Priest who gave the eulogy for Chuckles the Clown!

[@michaelgenzale7537]

I guess he moved and changed his profession.

[@fromthesidelines]

John Harkins. Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels later cast him as a sarcastic critic on "TAXI".

[@diedredbollinger]

If I recall correctly, he was also the planetarium manager in Rebel Without A Cause, and in the original Star Trek as the librarian Mr. Atos, among many other roles...film as well as TV, I think...he was in quite a lot! :)

[@charlespeakjr6337]

Ian Wolfe. Don't forget, he also played Hirsch, Mother Carlson's butler on WKRP in Cincinnati. Dude was hilarious as Hell.😂😂

[@diedredbollinger]

@@charlespeakjr6337..ah! His name was Ian Wolfe?! Thanks! :)

[@8thwander26]

RIP to a beautiful and truly talented and amazing woman

[@m1k3ywestley7]

Photographer was Dick Schaal, Valerie Harper's 1st husband.

[@kelsoprincess]

Thank you!!! I love this show! I was 10 when this was on and thought she was the greatest person ever!

[@ivancervi1825]

Marvellous show...Leachman is extraordinary...Jane Rose fantastic!

[@uinisefoochong5917]

Omg all this for a sitcom now I'm obsessed I can't stop watching

[@pjoseph777]

Poor Barbara Colby who was in the first 3 episodes of Phyllis as Julie who owns the photography studio Phyllis gets a job at. Barbara Colby and a friend were shot to death after an acting class in Venice in 1975. The murders have never been solved.

[@erinmefford8041]

Peter Pitula that’s so sad i liked her in this i never knew she was murdered I just discovered this show on KZbin I grew up in the 80’s

[@4021971]

I felt so badly about that when I was a kid. She was so good in the part as Julie. Liz Torres took over for Barbara.

[@JosephRGrych]

Horrible--I remember that.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Wow. She looked familiar. I looked it up. Still unsolved. Probably a show biz hit.

[@markpettis2896]

JosephRGrych Me too I was shocked at the time I told my mom much care for the show she didn’t know who I was talking about RIP both of you great ladies

[@christopherbarnard608]

It's funny how Phyllis' inlaws treated her the same way Phyllis treated Rhoda. 😂😂

[@charlespeakjr6337]

Remember Rhoda's wedding and how Phyllis forgot to pick up Rhoda? I think the way her in-laws treated her was some underlying payback for all the crap she did in Minneapolis.

[@daisy3601]

Karma

[@Dulcimertunes]

I was always envious of Bess’ hair

[@tapper701]

Back then, hair was real, not like current times ...

[@cloudywoods]

She did get her realtor's license in Minneapolis - it would have been fun to see her sell homes in San Francisco!

[@RaymondHng]

She would have had to get a license in California being a different state.

[@ddiamondr1]

Cloris Leachman was such a brilliant actress. She deserved her Emmys for Phyllis and sure did her Oscar for her crushing and heartbreaking role as the broken Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show. I'm glad she lived such a long life and did the Mad About You reboot a couple of years ago. She was a devoted Mom to a large family and was sometimes late to set on MTM because of motherly duties, which she gave priority. So sad to see Barbara Colby here though. She died, with an acting class friend, in a random shooting in a parking lot just a few weeks into this show. Still unsolved. Senseless. She was only 35. She was also funny on MTM in two episodes as the prostitute who shared a jail cell with Mary. Still, it's a pleasure to watch this so many decades later.

[@wandajames6234]

Whatever less perceptive people may have thought, Leachman shows her comic genius in these shows

[@4021971]

I agree. I thought Cloris was the best part of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

[@howardkerr8174]

@@4021971 As good as Cloris/Phyllis is, I think Betty White /Sue Anne Nivens stole the show during her scenes.

[@ThomasFromTN]

"less perceptive"...funny how we throw around personal insults to people we don't know, haven't even met, like we gobble up jelly beans. And you wonder why protest groups have gotten so GOD AWFUL MOTHERFUCKING EVIL.

[@hijodelaisla275]

Agreed, and she didn't have the best material to work with. The writing on MTM was better.

[@daisy3601]

Sounds like a put-down, "less perceptive people".

[@josephcostello695]

Always will remember her in Young Frankenstein

[@Juliaflo]

She also appeared in 'Lassie' many years back.

[@gardenlover9663]

She was great in High Anxiety, too. Mel chose the best actors for his movies. She was hilarious.

[@skullbleu8166]

Thank you very much for posting these! I just don't understand why Lars' mother does not seem to have any reaction to her son's death.

[@chrisovideo4040]

Skull Bleu She is meant to have mourned before their arrival. She is still wearing black. Audrey was quite flighty.

[@robertcringle4865]

I think it might also be a reference to the idea that Swedish people are less emotional.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

@@robertcringle4865 family experience of mine says yes.

[@aileen694]

Skull Bleu, "no reaction" because Lars doesn't really exist! Haaaaaha. He has been mentioned but never materialized on TV.

[@TedaR]

An absolute treasure & master of her craft! RIP ❤ Ty for these .

[@inlovewithmatthew4485]

The actor who played Lars will never die!

[@aviewer390]

He died in 2014

[@cherylcampbell9369]

@@aviewer390 we never saw Lars.

[@southernoregoncatmom6519]

Ha, ha, ha!!!!!!

[@maureenogorman8740]

Very true

[@travisjames1437]

What CL said about BC in the unaired tribute to her: “As some of you may know, shortly after we filmed tonight’s episode last July, Barbara Colby who has played the part of Julie was tragically killed. She was a superb actress and one of the most joyful and giving people I have ever known. We could have “written out” the character Julie…but this would not have fooled you, and more importantly it would not have fooled us. And so beginning next week, the part of Julie will be played by another actress. It was not easy to replace Barbara Colby as an actress, and it is impossible to replace her as a person.”

[@CarinaPiersay]

RIP Cloris. What a great loss.

[@fob1xxl]

Watched this show from the beginning. Always enjoyed her. She was a joy ! RIP pretty lady ! You deserve it ! 💙

[@redled2677]

I never missed this show when it aired in England 1976. I was 12 years old and utterly besotted with Bess. I never experienced such a crush again. Great memories.

[@mjd4502]

Wonderfully written and superbly performed. Sitcoms in the 70s had a far different pedigree than the dross we have now.

[@4021971]

That line Cloris Leachman says to the minister "Oh go suck an egg" was delivered perfectly. I remember when I was a kid they did promotions weeks before the premiere with that line as part of the promo. I still laughed at the line during the airing of the pilot episode and I still laughed now.

[@dgray9020]

Rest in Peace Ms Cloris Leachman.

[@davita4436]

I watched this as a child and remember being scared when she turns to the camera and frowns during the opening credits. But watching it now that 46 years have passed...I am still a little unnerved...

[@daisy3601]

I know what u mean, from other things. The music to Rockford Files used to "scare" me.

[@Sweetbabyvixen]

LMAO! Sorry, but I found this hysterical.

[@daisy3601]

@@Sweetbabyvixen so do I! Laugh on! (Also, "Hazel" makes me uneasy. She has a witch voice.)

[@southernoregoncatmom6519]

That reminds me of the "Charwoman" on The Carpl Burnett Show scaring me as a kid!

[@jdt5976]

Thanks for posting PHYLLIS. Please post more if you have them.

[@Mr50Mark]

Thanks for uploading these, George!!!

[@donlombardo3108]

Watched this with my grandma at 14 Rest In Peace Cloris

[@marcgalvan9653]

such great writing

[@stache1954]

The clothes are fabulous.

[@bookerjones8123]

Cloris Leachman was a brilliant, hilarious actress, a national treasure. The show itself was uneven and never worked completely, but it had funny moments, and mostly it had Leachman; and after all these years I still remember my family cracking up hysterically at that opening scene with the insurance guy.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Even the theme song is a send-up. I forgot about this spin-off.

[@LucysPop]

The old lady Mother Dexter was a riot.

[@Alusnovalotus]

“He wanted filet mignon He had to settle for...” “Hamburger helper?” Lol!

[@LucysPop]

@@Alusnovalotus yes very funny.

[@DucNguyen0131]

The show was developed on the strength of the Family Viewing Hour.

[@EternalLoveAnkh]

Is no one going to comment on the minority quota at 9:18? "What they're looking for is a half-oriental, half-Mexican gay atheist." That is hilarious! RJ

[@nwajules]

Hi George, thank you so much for posting this. I was in grade school and highly influenced by this, and the like. And, even in retrospect, there is some pretty good sitcom writing. ✌🏽

[@greeneyedwarlock882]

Most people don't know that the ONE & ONLY Cloris Leachman won NINE Emmy's. I've never heard of any Actor that's won 9 Emmys. She was absolutely ONE OF A KIND and the world was made a HUGELY better place because of her great talent, decades long, huge animal rights work, being a fantastic Mother and fantastic vegetarianism. THREE CHEERS FOREVER for Cloris Leachman!

[@DebGrin]

The insurance guy in the first scene was the pastor at Chuckles the Clown's funeral.

[@mckavitt13]

I ❤’d her. Miss her terribly. August 2024.

[@howardkerr8174]

The photographer was a high school classmate of Mary, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He took pictures at their reunion, too, but I assumed that he was an amateur. Funny, they " re-cycled " him onto this show as a photographer.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

In the 1990s on the great tv sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, Cloris had a brilliant stint playing Malcolm's mother's Slavic old country peasant mother, still fierce in her traditions such as that a young girl seeking to attract a bridegroom should learn the pyrotechnics of a sword dance. In one episode Cloris's MTM costar Betty White costarred, as a supremely self assured and competent, confident lady of the house sophisticate who long ago had had a romance with Cloris's ex husband (or baby dadda) Viktor. Upon Cloris's once knock at Betty's door to try to visit, remonstrate and vitriol with her, shrewdly coolly Betty feigned all absorption in a magazine, as if she did not hear the doorbell. Cloris may have won an Emmy for that role.

[@deborahklinlger8565]

I always liked Cloris & Valerie & everyone on the MTM show except MTM herself. All RIP 🙏. Cloris always played zany characters!!!!!! U would be remissed if I failed to mention that Cloris had a long & varied acting career before I discovered her years later.

[@MrDarren690]

I'm 20 years old watching Phyllis for the first time... thought her character in MTM (started watching last year) was hilarious... and now on her own show I really like the spine she's growing! You get get that job Phyllis!!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

This is an absolutely fantastic pilot episode. Leachman in her brief period on The Facts of Life - having re-watched those episodes recently - was pretty funny. In the Facts of Life reunion, she makes a very well-timed joke about her pay on the show! She could make fun of herself (The Office), but she was also a great serious actress when she needed to be (The Last Picture Show). I took her work for granted over the years.

[@TheLesterino]

Lars's mother was a horrible person. Why would she tell Phyllis that he was dating someone else and proposed to that person before he proposed to her? And right after she lost him. What a cruel thing to do.

[@johnmurphy2113]

That insurance guy was awesome

[@ImVee10]

That’s Ham Lushbough from The Golden Girls in the first scene! “Maybe some other time, Blanche.”

[@paulnelson7525]

He was also in the Chuckles the Clown episode of MTM.

[@renzo6490]

@@paulnelson7525 - Right ! Funeral director.

[@robertjonas6216]

Good lord, and I thought I was a GG fan!! 😂😂😂

[@TheEwing69]

He was also a security guard in Halloween 2, in 1981. Took a hammer to the forehead. ☹️

[@markbock839]

the guy with the camera was on the episode of mary tyler moore show when they go to the class reunion

[@donnamiller5222]

Love this show RIP Cloris a great talent

[@naturalobserver1322]

Did anyone see Cloris Leachman on raising Hope, funny show👍

[@gpg9516]

Barbara Colby was a hidden gem; she should’ve had a show written for her; her way of delivering a well written line was hilarious.

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Great cast. I looked up several to remind myself.

[@wurdnurd67]

Oh, the SHADE of it all!

[@travisjames1437]

This is what I would have done with the show: 01. Wished Barbara Colby hadn’t died. 02. Not made Audrey so flighty. 03. Improved the writing and jokes a bit. 04. Done some outdoor SF shots.

[@mgrella63]

This episode was Brilliant and hilarious! Too bad so much tragedy surrounded this series! Thats the reason it only lasted 2 seasons.

[@michaelsaks4744]

RIP Phyllis

[@michaeladkins6]

Not until Sheldon Cooper has a lead character been so maligned.

[@stephenfermoyle1498]

great television

[@williamhaggard451]

RIP Cloris Leachman wonderful actress you were be surely missed

[@jensmom604]

Mother Dexter was my favorite character!

[@JosephRGrych]

Phyllis had a brother on one episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, however he was never mentioned again.

[@nickyd.7169]

Yes the gay brother

[@only1moore]

RIP Phyllis😢🙏❤️

[@donr5593]

She was great RIP

[@TWS-pd5dc]

The actress who played Julie initially was a very fine comedienne, Barbara Colby. Tragically, after about 3 episodes she was murdered by 2 scumbags who pulled over in a van, told her and her boyfriend to put up their hands and simply shot both in cold blood. A crime never solved to this day.

[@kennethlindsey8357]

BARBARA COLBY Played a victim in a episode of COLUMBO

[@bigbubba29]

I wish we had seen Lars on screen.

[@lb1798]

I never knew there was a spinoff of Phyllis?!?

[@garycarpenter2980]

I had never seen this pilot before, not that I remember but it's just like Mary and Rhoda they were really great and very funny for single women

[@makinapacal]

I can see why this show only lasted two seasons; although it was funny, the continual shitting on the Phyllis character by just about everyone is annoying and then really unpleasant.

[@travisjames3517]

Had Barbara Colby and Judith Lowry lived, the show would have been WAY better.

[@SK-nd7db]

Yes it would have!! I liked Barbara Colby so much better than Liz Tores!

[@leejanderson2]

Doesn't Julie play also in Mary Tyler Moore a a prositute......when Mary gets arrested for not exposing her resource on a tv story ...she appeared 2 times .0n mTm. P.s. she actually got murdered when she was on the road us show also in July of 75 her and another act up was coming out of an axon class and both were assaulted and both got killed she died right on the spot and the other actor survive just a couple hours later and died it's an interesting story to read .They never found the killers or killer.....rip....×××××× ..thanks JA. .

[@erinmefford8041]

Lea J Anderson yes also I just found out from someone up in the comments that Barbra Colby who played Julie was murdered in 1975 after she was in only 3 episodes of this show and they never found out who shot her

[@leejanderson2]

Thank you I just read about that and I thought that was so sad she didn't have any children or anything but never the last I liked her acting skills... It's so sad when people are gone down before their time. Down. But especially if they may have a career going for themselves got. The person that she was with coming out of a acting theater class got. Died shortly after her but did say they didn't recognize the person that did it before he died... so it's still a Cold Case.. .thank you.!!!!

[@erinmefford8041]

Lea J Anderson you’re welcome

[@buddyboy1309]

The male photographer was also in the mtm show I think. As a date for Mary in the first season I believe

[@wotan10950]

buddy boy That actor is Richard Schaal. He was married in real life to Valerie Harper (Rhoda). He had many small roles in movies, including a Nazi stormtrooper in Slaughterhouse Five.

[@daisycocoa2557]

The writing on this show was spot on.. Surprised utube hasn’t censored it yet.

[@LocoCanada]

She was so gorgeous

[@franktheo2055]

Phyllis Lindstrom - RIP !

[@mitchellmitchell564]

Poor Barbara Colby was murdered after doing on ki y three shows and t hff en she was replaced by LizTorres.

[@kennethlindsey8357]

LARS probably borrowed against the policy. Too pay for PHYLLIS shopping

[@mitch4527]

Good night, Frau Blucher!!

[@minnieciaminniewinston8658]

I remember this show when I was little!!!

[@Dulcimertunes]

The other photographer is Howard/Paul Arnell

[@buddyboy1309]

Love this.

[@viralbuthow000]

RIP Phyllis

[@saltof1]

The mother is so chearful and indifferent, yet she just lost her son?

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Scandinavian cultures aren't known for showing emotions outwardly as much as most other cultures.

[@TheEwing69]

Everyone grieves differently

[@wotan10950]

I remember this show so well. I was in college then, and it was guaranteed to provide many laughs. Very witty and subversive - a precursor to Frasier. I am trying to find the episode where Phyllis wants to show off her wine-tasting skills, after she’s taken a course. It’s not the episode where Phyllis and her colleagues get drunk on the judge’s wine. IIRC, Phyllis is blindfolded, she sniffs the aroma of the wine, tastes a drop, takes a bigger gulp and swirls it around her tongue (you can just imagine Cloris Leachman making an epic of this!). She finally declares, “I’m absolutely certain of it……it’s a RED!” I remember falling down from laughing so hard, but I can’t seem to find it in Season 1.

[@InsertName125]

I wish I was a kid again.