Series regulars or semi-regulars in 'Phyllis' from 1970-1982:
- Cloris Leachman as Phyllis Lindstrom (1975-1977)
- Henry Jones as Judge Jonathan Dexter (1975-1977)
- Jane Rose as Audrey Dexter (1975-1977)
- Judith Lowry as Sally 'Mother' Dexter (1975-1977)
- Lisa Gerritsen as Bess Lindstrom (1975-1977)
- Liz Torres as Julie Erskine (1975-1976)
- Richard Schaal as Leo Heatherton (1975-1976)
- Carmine Caridi as Dan Valenti (1976-1977)
- Garn Stephens as Harriet Hastings (1976-1977)
- John Lawlor as Leonard Marsh (1976-1977)
1970-1982 Episode Guide for 'Phyllis':
(Episodes with dates prior to 1970 aired as reruns.)
Season 1, episode 1
W: Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels D: Jay Sandrich
With Barbara Colby (Julie Erskine), John Harkins (Mr. Carlson), Dee Carroll (Louise), Ian Wolfe (Minister).
Cloris Leachman stars as the newly-widowed Phyllis Lindstrom (the character she created on the Mary Tyler Moore show), who makes the move to San Francisco to begin a new life. In the opening segment, she discovers the responsibilities of supporting herself and daughter Bess. Moving in with Lars' mother and stepfather, she begins a search for work.
Season 1, episode 2
W: Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels D: Jay Sandrich
With Barbara Colby (Julie Erskine), Leigh McCloskey (Donald Ralston).
Phyllis is struck when she believes that her teenage daughter's skiing outing has resulted in her becoming a "fallen woman".
Season 1, episode 3
W: Michael Leeson D: James Burrows
With Barbara Colby (Julie Erskine), John McMartin (Jerome Patterson), James Burrows (Telephone Man).
Phyllis Lindstrom experiences another man's attention for the first time since husband Lars' demise.
Season 1, episode 4
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Louis Guss (Eddy), Iris Adrian (Mrs. Sadowski).
Phyllis achieves instant squalor when she decides to move into her own apartment to avoid fighting with Mother Dexter.
Season 1, episode 5
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Mary Tyler Moore (Mary Richards), Jack Elam (Van Horn).
When the horrible truth about Phyllis' first days on the job is revealed, Mary Richards pays her a visit.
Season 1, episode 6
W: Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels D: James Burrows
With Ruth McDevitt (Miss McDermott), Jina Bee (Margo Griffin), Susan Quick (Margo's Mother).
Phyllis challenges a musical mental block dating back to her childhood when she resumes piano lessons.
Season 1, episode 7
W: Pamela Chais D: James Burrows
With Fred Grandy (Newlywed), Sarah Benoit (Newlywed).
Phyllis Lindstrom's past catches up with her when all her Minneapolis belongings arrive to inundate the Dexter home in San Francisco.
Season 1, episode 8
W: Seth Freeman D: James Burrows
With Tim O'Connor (David), Daniel J. Travanti (Brad), Loni Anderson (Rita), Shirley O'Hara (Lady), Bryan O'Byrne (Waiter).
The widow Lindstrom suffers the first stages of "date fright" when a handsome stranger invites her out to dinner.
Season 1, episode 9
W: Gary Markowitz, John W. Regier D: Joan Darling
With Michael O'Keefe (Tony), Sean Kelly (Chuck), Lynn Tufeld (Rosalind).
Phyllis tries everything from discotheque outings to a marathon encounter session in an effort to draw closer to her daughter.
Season 1, episode 10
W: Michael Leeson D: Mel Shapiro
Phyllis turns marriage counselor when her mother-in-law decides to leave her second husband because of a marital indiscretion he'd committed during World War II.
Season 1, episode 11
W: David Lloyd D: Jay Sandrich
With Tony Roberts (Jerry), Lance Gordon (Himself), Inga Neilsen (Vanessa).
Phyllis tries to restructure her boss's romantic life, with disastrous results.
Season 1, episode 12
W: Valerie Curtin, Mary Kay Place D: Joan Darling
With Stanley Brock (Harvey), Charlotte Rae (Shirley), John Fiedler (Willis Enwright), Nora Denney (President), Cynthina Hoppenfeld (Woman).
Phyllis joins a club for widows and divorcees in an all-out effort to escape from the spirit of loneliness.
Season 1, episode 13
W: Bob Ellison D: James Burrows
With Billy Barty (Mr. Hollis), Sadie Delfino (Mrs. Hollis), Scott Colomby (Warren Hollis), Wynn Irwin (Ernie).
Phyllis has a problem when her daughter announces her intention to marry the son of a midget couple.
Season 1, episode 14
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Jay Sandrich
With Matthew Labyorteaux (Child), David Westberg (Vern), Stephen Pearlman (Tom).
Phyllis' failure to land a commerical record account for her employer's photography company sends the business spinning into bankruptcy.
Season 1, episode 15
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With David Wayne (Andrew Drake).
Phyllis goes "long distance" to speak with her departed husband Lars when a medium conducts a seance in the Dexter home.
Season 1, episode 16
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Eugene Roche (Harry Loomis), Jack Elam (Van Horn), Oliver Givens (Delivery Man), Wil Albert (Mailman).
Phyllis is swept off her feet by a multi-millionaire who asks her to marry him.
Season 1, episode 17
W: Michael Leeson D: Stuart Margolin
With Burt Mustin (Arthur Lanson).
Phyllis fails when she tries to manage the love and business life of feisty mother Dexter.
Season 1, episode 18
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With Marj Dusay (Lana), Clu Gulager (Rex), Jerry Crews (Waiter).
Phyllis falls head-over-heels in love with her tennis partner, who happens to be married.
Season 1, episode 19
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With Vincent Van Patten (Rob).
Phyllis undergoes a severe case of shock when her daughter announces she is leaving home.
Season 1, episode 20
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Joan Darling
With John McMartin (Jerome Patterson), Susan Lanier (Corky), Jay Robinson (Maitre D').
Phyllis winds up in a wacky love triangle when an old family friend she is attracted to is in turn attracted to a teenager.
Season 1, episode 21
W: Michael Leeson D: James Burrows
With Natalie Schafer (Donna Plunkett), Murray Matheson (Charles Plunkett), Charles Parks (Paramedic), Rick Sultan (Paramedic).
Leo Heatherton's hilarious attempt at self-destruction winds up in an unusual resurrection as Phyllis and the Dexters run to the unnecessary rescue.
Season 1, episode 22
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With Dick O'Neill (Julius 'Sonny' Dexter), Richard Foronjy (Cabbie).
Phyllis attempts to restore family tranquility when Jonathan's scheming brother arrives for a visit.
Season 1, episode 23
W: Tony Webster D: James Burrows
With Linda Lavin (Margaret Gatse), Bob Basso (Bob Fletcher), Sy Kramer (Waiter).
Phyllis matches her reaction to widowhood against that of another recent widow -- and comes up short.
Season 1, episode 24
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With Dirk Blocker (Jack), Jerry Houser (Ralph).
When Bess rejects the attentions of a young man, he brings his studious and amorous attentions to bear on her mother.
September 20, 1976: The New Job
Season 2, episode 1
W: Ed Weinberger, Stan Daniels D: Jay Sandrich
With John Ritter (Paul Jameson), Dick Van Patten (Walter), Joe George (Bartender).
The second season opens with Phyllis deciding to make an exciting career change, and she unexpectedly becomes an administrative assistant to a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Season 2, episode 2
W: David Lloyd D: James Burrows
With Mary Tyler Moore (Mary Richards), John Ashton (Taxpayer).
Phyllis throws a birthday party for herself, but doesn't have anyone to invite.
Season 2, episode 3
W: Gary David Goldberg D: James Burrows
With Boyd Bodwell (Billy Joe McCoy), Bob Okazaki (Emcee), Lloyd Kino (Maitre D'), Masumi Moriyama (Waitress).
Phyllis writes her first speech for her boss, but can't find words for Bess.
Season 2, episode 4
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With Larry Storch (Bum), Jack Elam (Van Horn), Priscilla Pointer (Lucille), Betty McGuire (Nora), Whitney Rydbeck (Keats).
Phyllis tries to transform a park bum into a socially acceptable gentleman.
Season 2, episode 5
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Joan Darling
With Val Bisoglio (Tony Lacosta), Roger Bowen (Peterson), Teddy Wilson (Jimmy Carter), Robert Lussier (Barton Hummell), Ross Elliott (Reporter).
Phyllis is put out when her boss pays more attention to the city's garbage problems than he does to her.
Season 2, episode 6
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Doug Rogers
With Terry Kiser (Cameron Ross), Jean Palmerton (Josephine), Angela May (Sherry Bennet).
Phyllis protects her daughter from the clutches of an older man by throwing herself at him.
Season 2, episode 7
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: James Burrows
With Edward Winter (Scott Rhodes), Harry Townes (Bill Rhodes), Doris Singleton (Aunt Fran), Jane Hoffman (Martha Rhodes).
A secretive man announces that he's going to marry Phyllis.
Season 2, episode 8
W: Earl Pomerantz D: James Burrows
With David Ogden Stiers (Mr. Raymond), Boyd Bodwell (Billy Joe McCoy), George Reynolds (Abdul Jamaal Bahaala).
Phyllis invites her friends to a post-funeral funeral when she decides to relocate her late husband.
Season 2, episode 9
W: Bob Ellison D: Richard Schaal
With Jerry Stiller (Burt Hillman), Jon Lormer (Rumsey), Aesop Aquarian (Bass), Gilbert De la Pena (Sam).
Phyllis frantically fights off an amorous, hot-headed suitor.
Season 2, episode 10
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Tony Mordente
With Burt Mustin (Arthur Lanson).
Mother Dexter scandalizes the family by sharing bed and board with an octogenarian.
Season 2, episode 11
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Asaad Kelada
With Madge West (Alice), Marjorie Bennett (Ellen McCormick), Burt Mustin (Arthur Lanson).
Mother Dexter's mysterious disappearance sets the Dexter household on edge, but it's nothing compared to the revelation that she's contemplating marriage.
Season 2, episode 12
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Asaad Kelada
With David White (Dean Armbruster), Ken Sansom (Rawlings), Moosie Drier (Randall Williamson), Myron Natwick (Feiser).
Bess poses nude for the school paper to protest the firing of a teacher who once bared all in a men's magazine, and is expelled from college as a result.
Season 2, episode 13
W: Tom Tenowich D: Harry Mastrogeorge
Leonard's side of the office decides to throw a Christmas party, but Dan makes Phyllis work to the very last minute.
Season 2, episode 14
W: David Lloyd D: Doug Rogers
With Robert Mandan (Larry), John Dennis Johnston (Lester Simmons), Barry Cahill (Doctor), Mel Harris (Weber), Larry Daniels (Kid).
Dan Valenti decides to teach Phyllis proper respect for his duties by letting her play supervisor for a day. When he gets sick, however, Phyllis must take over for real.
Season 2, episode 15
W: Sandy Glass, George Arthur Bloom D: Harry Mastrogeorge
With Maxine Elliott Hicks (Abigail), Merie Earle (Wilma), Bryan Englund (Mailboy).
Supervisor Marsh reveals the basic character of an intrepid coward when his life is threatened.
Season 2, episode 16
W: Earl Pomerantz D: Doug Rogers
With Robert Alda (Buddy Desmond), Al Ruscio (Ed), Joe Lo Presti (Punchy).
Phyllis takes a romantic plunge with a charming professional gambler, only to have her romance come up "snake eyes".
Season 2, episode 17
W: Bob Ellison D: Noam Pitlik
With Don Porter (Jack), Charles Thomas Murphy (Larry), Rhodes Reason (Harris), Martin Garner (Weinglass), Barry Medina (Delivery Boy).
Leonard is offered a $100,000 bribe to change his vote on an important issue.
Season 2, episode 18
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Noam Pitlik
With Craig Wasson (Mark Valenti), Sandra Deel (Saleslady), Mary Betten (Mother), Wendy Schaal (Daughter).
Phyllis' mothering instincts are put to a wild test when her daughter is devastated by an unrequited love affair.
Season 2, episode 19
W: Arthur S. Rabin D: Doug Rogers
With Janice Heiden (Sandra), Joan Carey (Joan).
Phyllis uses all her feminine wiles to transform plain office buddy Harriet Hastings into a femme fatale.
Season 2, episode 20
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Doug Rogers
With Marcia Rodd (Joanne Valenti), Peter Elbling (Waiter), John Reilly (Jake Warren), Maurice Marsac (Maitre D').
Phyllis tries to turn a wrecked marriage into a reconciliation by meddling into her boss' private affairs.
Season 2, episode 21
W: Tom Tenowich D: Doug Rogers
With Morgan Farley (Keith Stone), Hank Brandt (Steven Stone).
Judge Baxter blames Phyllis when, contrary to his wishes, his wife goes to work for an antique dealer.
Season 2, episode 22
W: Laurence Marks D: Doug Rogers
With Craig Wasson (Mark Valenti).
Phyllis' maternal instincts are stretched to the breaking point when her daughter elopes wth the son of a midget couple.
Season 2, episode 23
W: Laurence Marks D: Noam Pitlik
With Craig Wasson (Mark Valenti), Steve Bonino (Charlie), Harry Gold (Steve).
Phyllis steps up her mother-in-law meddling when her daughter and son-in-law move into a rundown one-room apartment.
Season 2, episode 24
W: Glen Charles, Les Charles D: Noam Pitlik
With Craig Wasson (Mark Valenti), Jerry Fogel (Supervisor), Marla Adams (Mrs. Snyder), Walker Edmiston (Bum), Craig Huxley (Red), Harry Gold (Steve), Steve Bonino (Charlie), Jean LeBouvier (Second Woman).
Phyllis reels under a one-two "maternal punch" when her daughter's husband leaves home and Bess follows with the news that she's pregnant. (Last show of the series.)