MovieChat Forums > Phyllis (1975) Discussion > Props to Mother Dexter

Props to Mother Dexter

posted 18 years ago by tay-15
13 replies | jump to latest

Like most of us, I haven't seen this show since it originally ran. Mainly I remember how hilarious Judith Lowry was. She was basically the original cantankerous, off-color grannie -- mimicked many times since, but never as good (just one annoying example -- the "hip" grannie on Mork and Mindy).

One representative joke sticks in my mind and I wish I could remember it better. Phyllis effuses about how nice it would be to go to the park on a glorious, sunny day -- and Mother Dexter cuts her off with "there's dog poop in the grass and hippies in the trees."

[–] molassesonassis 18 years ago

Oh man, I loved Mother Dexter. The M D line I remember was when she was when she was trying to get a cab and told the dispatcher that she was in labor. He asked how long the pains have been going on and shot back “since 1915!” LOL Here’s hoping Phyllis & Rhoda both get the DVD releases.

[–] skiop 18 years ago

I used to watch this in reruns on Nick-at-Nite. I remember it being slightly below the quality of Rhoda, neither of which as good as Mary Tyler Moore. But the quote I always remember is, "the only accident I ever had was you."

[–] kmarshall-1 17 years ago

Actually, Mother Dexter said:"The grass is full of ants, and the trees are full of perverts!"

Another great Mother Dexter moment:
Phyllis: Mother Dexter, underneath it all you really are a nice person.
Mother Dexter: That's right. But don't you tell anyone. Because if you do, I'll break your knees with a baseball bat!

[–] tay-15 17 years ago

Thanks, funny how memory modifies bits like that.

[–] janicep 17 years ago

Judith Lowry was a jewel! Gosh she was funny. I first saw her in the sixties film 'Cold Turkey' where an entire town tries to give up smoking. Her character is stationed as a "border guard" of sorts to keep people from smuggling cigarettes into the town. Someone lies to her and misrepresents himself. forget what he said but her retort "Yeah and I'm an unwed mother!" always cracked me up.

[–] OKCRay 17 years ago

She was also the sleepy Sister Prudence in "The Trouble With Angels".

[–] murph24 16 years ago

Also worth checking out is Lowry's card-playing wardrobe mistress in THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S. Her deadpan expression after watching a would-be chorus girl dancing "stories from the Bible" is laugh-out-loud funny.

[–] virgon035 16 years ago

Judge: Mother, you're living in sin.
Mother Dexter: Not yet, but we're working on it!

What did you do in WWI?
Mother Dexter: I was a hooker.
Judge: Mother!
Mother Dexter: I took the red wire and hooked it on the white anb=d the blue.

[–] HarlowMGM 15 years ago

My favorite bit was when Mary Tyler Moore did her one guest appearance on the show and visited Phyllis for her birthday. Mother Dexter walks in and says "Oh Phyllis, I see all your friends are here."

(PS - I actually liked Elizabeth Kerr on MORK AND MINDY a lot and she was in no way a Mother Dexter type, she was a sweetie, not a sharp-tongued gal. That show went in the tank when they dropped her in the second year.)

[–] rinahammon88 15 years ago

Mother Dexter also did a episode of Maude

[–] HarlowMGM 14 years ago

Actually it wasn't Mother Dexter but Judith Lowry playing another part but very much in the mode she would later use for PHYLLIS, complete with a smart remark against a more conservative woman who was against prematrial sex: "You don't buy a cow before trying the milk!"

[–] mark.waltz 8 years ago

She plays two characters on "Maude"-Aunt Polly, who is dropped off on New Year's Eve by guests of Maude and Walter's, and abandoned, and in a show surrounding Maude's running for state senate, she works at the poll's and attends Maude's election night party. Of course, she's basically the same in both, but oh so funny. I always wanted someone to suggest to Mother Dexter that she dress up as "Granny" from the Tweety Bird/Sylvester cartoons, complete with bird cage and umbrella, and for her to attack the person who said it (Phyllis most likely) with the umbrella and throw the fake bird in the cage at her.

"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."

[–] chasrich-1 7 years ago

Can't recall which "Phyllis" episode it was, or the conversation that took place, but MD calls Phyllis a jackass.