MovieChat Forums > Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Discussion > Did anyone else love Phyllis?

Did anyone else love Phyllis?

posted 8 years ago by alanjobe
13 replies | jump to latest

I'm always surprised at the number of viewers who say they hate Phyllis. To me, she was a riot.

I guess people who loved Rhoda must despise her but to me, Phyllis gave as good as she got.

The highlights for me was of course The Lars Affair, but also when she told that story of not going to the prom. Phyllis tells the story with such emotion that Mary and Rhoda are tearing up with sympathy. And then Phyllis just laughs it off as a great memory. Leachman was amazing in that scene.

[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

I love Phyllis. She is very funny, the perfect supporting character. And I would agree that Phyllis' (Cloris) best hour was "The Lars Affair", followed closely by "My Brother's Keeper". The semi-twist ending to that episode was both genius and subtle and an absolute natural development. Major kudos.

Cloris Leachman is an underrated, near brilliant actress, equally adept at drama and comedy.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

It's the actress we love behind the "unlikable" character. Hard to separate the two, in that case. I thought Rhoda was plain rude to her, when it really wasn't called for.

[–] Shuzzie53 8 years ago

I saw her one-woman show in SF several years ago. Of course it was great. It was in a small theater. So at the end of the show she walks off the stage and goes into the bathroom. I couldn't help but follow her and tell her how much I've enjoyed her through the years.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

I'm surprised she didn't ask you to wait in the other room. Followed her to the bathroom, she must had loved that

[–] txfilmfan 8 years ago

Had an aunt that was a similar character - a bit haughty, a drama queen. She even had some of the same mannerisms (speech patterns, hand movements, carriage). I thought Phyllis was a hoot, because you could see it was all just a facade.

Loved Rhoda too, at least on MTM. when she got her own show, there really wasn't a Phyllis to counter with her. Nancy Walker's Ida was her foil, but the mother/daughter dynamic wasn't the same as Phyllis. Ditto when Chloris Leachman got her own series. Phyllis just wasn't the same old "Phyll"

[–] brendanchenowith 8 years ago

Half the time I wanted to slap Phyllis and yell at her to shut up, but I loved Cloris Leachman's portrayal.

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (516) a year ago

Half the time I wanted to slap Phyllis and yell at her to shut up, but I loved Cloris Leachman's portrayal.

That's my feeling too. Leachman's Phyllis is hilarious, but I'm sure glad she doesn't live next door to me!

[–] onwardsandupwards 8 years ago

Phyllis could certainly be funny when the situation called for it. However, her high and mighty attitude and the fact that she would constantly impose herself on others made the character quite grating.

This of course is no reflection on Cloris Leachman who is a very talented actress and did a fine job playing the role, but for many Phyllis was someone most folks could only take in certain doses. Too much of her could be an overbearing experience.

[–] modica (4169) 3 years ago

Phyllis is my favorite character on MTM.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8391) 3 years ago

Again as I scroll through these comments I want to note
that the comments on IMDB from 5 years ago are so much
more interesting, civil and movie/character oriented than
since MovieChat has taken it over.

I log in and the first thing I saw was on "Better Call Saul"
what women are do-able. The average IQ of people on
MovieChat seems to be about half of what IMDB used to
get - even when they did have all the trolls.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (516) a year ago

You're saying that IMDb had more intelligent trolls? ;)

[–] TrentnQuarantino (8391) a year ago

Not.

[–] [email protected] (5495) 8 months ago

I've been rewatching a number of episodes that feature Phyllis. Cloris Leachman did a great job of making an essentially unlikable, self involved drama queen likable.

In some ways she was the female version of Ted Baxter. She lived in her own world, "planet Phyllis" and everyone just revolved around her needs and wants.

I just watched the episode with John Saxon who played Phyllis's male companion Mike Tedesco who went with her to the theater and ballet. In the episode she says that Lars is okay with it because culturally he is a "pinhead". I think Lars was just happy to get her OUT of the house!

At the end it's revealed that Mike has gone back to his girlfriend and they are getting married.

Phyllis says that she hopes Mike will be as happy in his marriage as Lars is in hers. lol Could she be more self involved?