Judith Lowry was in half of the episodes - apparently she was supposed to only appear once as Jonathan's mother but because she was so good, they kept bringing her back. It was the last role she ever played in her life and she was born to play it - she literally waited her whole life to play it!! Her death really marked the end of the series. After she and Burt Mustin died, a month or two apart, that put a big hole in the show. Mother Dexter got married, and then Bess got pregnant, and that was the end of it.
This show was damned from the get-go. First, the actress who originally played Julie was murdered after two episodes; then, when they retooled the show for the second season (this one is the first of those), they chose the very same location and job titles that would apply in the Harvey Milk-Mayor Moscone assassinations of the following year. Bad mojo, Man! It's too bad, it had many funny lines and moments and Cloris was great, not to mention Mother Dexter!
Julie Colby was in the first 3 episodes. Episode 4 they had Liz Torres and did a flashback to day one with Liz to basically re-write the beginning. Apparently for season 2 they decided to do a lot of changes. They must have not been happy with the employment idea and cast. This means Valerie Harper's husband was also suddenly out of work. Seems the magic and stability of the MTM show couldn't be duplicated on Phyllis or Rhoda.
Dick Van Patten & John Ritter 😄 Julie got married?! She wasn't even dating any1, that was a quick hookup, lol. Supervisor Marsh was headmaster on Facts of Life. Dan Valenti was the junkman in season 1.
Sally Dexter used to be "snuck" into the Oval Office by President Warren G. Harding? Now that would surprise Nan B. and make a wonderful sitcom directed by the Duchess (as Mrs W.B.Harding was called).!
Wine list: 😅🍷 That happened to me too! I was a bartender in a dive gay village tavern, though we had a nice sidewalk terrace. One day I had this prim and proper Midwestern soccer mom ask for the wine list too. Only difference is that our two colours of plonk were sold in tiny airline size bottles and for $8 each. Historical context: the episode aired in September 1976. The last show aired in May 1977. In real life, George Moscone was elected mayor in November 1975 for 4 years. Harvey Milk was elected supervisor in November 1977. They were assassinated in November 1978, so during a hypothetical season 4 of Phyllis. One can only imagine if and how the Phyllis show would have dealt with that event. WKRP had a very poignant episode about The Who’s tragic concert in Cincinnati. Comedy is necessary for healing. Laughing at something bad makes you superior to it (quoting Joan Rivers).
This episode wasn't so bad, but when the supporting characters started falling ill, dying or being written out, the entire show collapsed. Too bad they didn't keep John Ritter, he was pretty funny in this one.
When mother Dexter showed up on this ridiculous show,,the rating,s went up,,she was a old hoot with the funniest lines,,to bad she died during a good show.
For some reason, the ratings of Season 2 tanked despite the (wise) change of getting rid of the photography studio and the boring characters of Julie and Leo. Carmine Caridi and John Lawlor were superb and did great with those roles, and Garn Stephens was great too. It was Judith Lowry as Mother Dexter who made the show though - Henry Jones was a legendary film actor by then and was always an enjoyable addition. Sadly, it wasn't enough to keep it going and the plug was pulled after that.
I would have to disagree. MTM is my all time favourite, and for me Rhoda was a great show too with a lot of chemistry between the characters. I’m trying to watch this series but I just can’t get into it like I did with the other two.
Mother Dexter is terrific!
Stole the show in my opinion
Judith Lowry was in half of the episodes - apparently she was supposed to only appear once as Jonathan's mother but because she was so good, they kept bringing her back. It was the last role she ever played in her life and she was born to play it - she literally waited her whole life to play it!! Her death really marked the end of the series. After she and Burt Mustin died, a month or two apart, that put a big hole in the show. Mother Dexter got married, and then Bess got pregnant, and that was the end of it.
This show was damned from the get-go. First, the actress who originally played Julie was murdered after two episodes; then, when they retooled the show for the second season (this one is the first of those), they chose the very same location and job titles that would apply in the Harvey Milk-Mayor Moscone assassinations of the following year. Bad mojo, Man! It's too bad, it had many funny lines and moments and Cloris was great, not to mention Mother Dexter!
Jaymes Guy Thank you for the info. Didn’t know those facts. Sad. Love the show too.
Julie Colby was in the first 3 episodes. Episode 4 they had Liz Torres and did a flashback to day one with Liz to basically re-write the beginning. Apparently for season 2 they decided to do a lot of changes. They must have not been happy with the employment idea and cast. This means Valerie Harper's husband was also suddenly out of work. Seems the magic and stability of the MTM show couldn't be duplicated on Phyllis or Rhoda.
How was she murderd ??
@@MrCraigblaze Shot to death. The bullet perforated her lung when she was hit in the left arm. Murderers were never caught.
@@tjames9698 Yes .I know.. Right to this day. She was estanged from Eithel Murmon's son too.. XD
"maybe the nazi could give Phyllis a job", my gosh, I just love Audrey
Twenty cents for a glass of wine in a bar? Were things really that cheap back in the '70s?
Dick Van Patten & John Ritter 😄
Julie got married?! She wasn't even dating any1, that was a quick hookup, lol.
Supervisor Marsh was headmaster on Facts of Life.
Dan Valenti was the junkman in season 1.
Sally Dexter used to be "snuck" into the Oval Office by President Warren G. Harding? Now that would surprise Nan B. and make a wonderful sitcom directed by the Duchess (as Mrs W.B.Harding was called).!
Wine list: 😅🍷 That happened to me too! I was a bartender in a dive gay village tavern, though we had a nice sidewalk terrace. One day I had this prim and proper Midwestern soccer mom ask for the wine list too. Only difference is that our two colours of plonk were sold in tiny airline size bottles and for $8 each.
Historical context: the episode aired in September 1976. The last show aired in May 1977.
In real life, George Moscone was elected mayor in November 1975 for 4 years. Harvey Milk was elected supervisor in November 1977. They were assassinated in November 1978, so during a hypothetical season 4 of Phyllis.
One can only imagine if and how the Phyllis show would have dealt with that event.
WKRP had a very poignant episode about The Who’s tragic concert in Cincinnati.
Comedy is necessary for healing. Laughing at something bad makes you superior to it (quoting Joan Rivers).
John Ritter!
The actresses who played JULIE was murdered before the Start of the second season.
Huh? Only the original actress who for the first 3 episodes of the first season was sadly murdered. Liz Torres is happily still with us.
@@mjrussell414 That would have been Barbara Colby as the first JULIE.
Cloris Leachman’s new haircut aged her by about ten years.
I never understood why they changed her hair style from when she was on MTM. That hairstyle seem to fit the characters personality.
@@martinbeneteau309 Yes it did..xd
actually, although the hairstyle does age her, the cut was all the rage in 1977 - it was the Dorthey Hamil Short and Sassy haircut.
The should have kept Julie.
@@tjames9698 Wasn't the actress killed ??
This episode wasn't so bad, but when the supporting characters started falling ill, dying or being written out, the entire show collapsed. Too bad they didn't keep John Ritter, he was pretty funny in this one.
Esp Liz Torres & her crazy photographer!
When mother Dexter showed up on this ridiculous show,,the rating,s went up,,she was a old hoot with the funniest lines,,to bad she died during a good show.
For some reason, the ratings of Season 2 tanked despite the (wise) change of getting rid of the photography studio and the boring characters of Julie and Leo. Carmine Caridi and John Lawlor were superb and did great with those roles, and Garn Stephens was great too. It was Judith Lowry as Mother Dexter who made the show though - Henry Jones was a legendary film actor by then and was always an enjoyable addition. Sadly, it wasn't enough to keep it going and the plug was pulled after that.
I don't like the short hairstyle on Phyllis, I liked it better last season.
Agreed
Something was off in hee portrayal of Phyllis with the haircut
john lawlor later went on facts of life .
As did Cloris. She replaced Charlotte Rae's character in the last couple seasons.
Dick Van Patten played Cloris Leachman's ex-husband on The Facts Of Life.
They were also in High Anxiety in 1977.
Dick Van Patten..was the dad on eight is enough..wonder what happened to that show...looked for yourube season...
I can understand why this lasted two seasons
I loved it!
Rest in Peace Ms Cloris Leachman
Love Cloris Leachman ❤
Phyllis dad was an atheist. So was cloris leach man
Better show than mtm or Rhoda..great characters.➡📷
This wasn't half as good as MTM.
I would have to disagree. MTM is my all time favourite, and for me Rhoda was a great show too with a lot of chemistry between the characters. I’m trying to watch this series but I just can’t get into it like I did with the other two.
@@youtubewatcher1698 Season 1 of this show was fabulous!
It's too bad that John Ritter wasn't added to the cast. The cancellation of Phyllis might not have happened at the end of this season.
But then he wouldn't have been on Three's Company.
@@andrewwanner6829 true.