PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

CYBILL: EDUCATING ZOEY (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about a witty actress named Cybill, who finds herself in one dilemma after another as she contends with aging in the entertainment industry; her two ex-husbands, Ira and Jeff; her daughters, Rachel and Zoey; and her alcohol-loving friend, Maryann.

After a miserable job providing the voice for an automated telephone service, Cybill is introduced by Maryann to boxer Leo McInerny. Maryann has purchased a piece of his boxing contract and now “owns” him. She insists that their relationship is “strictly professional,” although Cybill believes that Maryann has romantic designs on Leo. While there she also meets Audrey Sweeney, Zoey’s guidance counselor. Cybill quickly discovers that Zoey has been lying about Cybill’s profession, claiming that she is still getting acting work and cannot arrive for the school’s annual career day due to a guest appearance at a film festival. She plays along with the deception, claiming that her appearance got cancelled and that she would be happy to visit for the career day. Sean manages to create a diversion to prevent Mrs. Sweeney from bringing up any further discussions about Zoey.

Later, Cybill confronts Zoey about this as Sean sneaks out of the house. Maryann begins a relationship with Leo in spite of her misgivings about his apparent lack of intelligence. Ira finishes a draft of the first chapter of his book and nervously hands it to Cybill to review. She does not read it, and the next day she and Ira appear at Zoey’s school for the career day as part of an “arts panel.” Trouble arises when Cybill and Ira start arguing about the merits of going to college in response to questions from students. They start lobbing personal insults at each other until Zoey storms out in frustration, yelling that she has decided not to go to college. This comes as a shock to both Cybill and Ira, and later they confront her about this. Cybill and Ira continue their argument and blame each other for it, and Zoey is upset that no one has asked her why she decided not to apply for college. Zoey explains that she is unwilling to commit herself to a plan for the rest of her life at such an early age, although neither of her parents are receptive to this explanation. They continue to blame each other and Cybill throws Ira out of the house. Maryann decides to separate from Leo after discovering that boxers are celibate for weeks before their bouts.

Eventually Cybill and Ira try to put their differences aside in an attempt to help Zoey. They reason that if she is not going to college, she must get a job in order to pay rent. However, they become angry when they realize that Zoey took application money from both of them and didn’t inform them. Zoey reveals that she invested the application money and made a profit, agreeing to get a job and start contributing to the household. She effectively lays out her own ground rules, and Ira and Cybill admit that her terms are reasonable. She confides in Sean that she plans to audit classes at UCLA, effectively getting a college education in secret. Sean reveals that he was a test-tube baby and was conceived at the UCLA Medical Center, giving him an “in” to the school. Ira decides to read his pages to Cybill, and she is surprised to find that he has shaved off his beard. She very much approves of Ira’s chapter, but resents the implication that the content is based on their real-life relationship. He admits that he is still in love with her, although Cybill believes that any attempt at a relationship between them is doomed to failure. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: November 30, 1999 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:23:10
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: 121214
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: TV - Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1995-1998
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Chuck Lorre … Executive Producer, Created by
  • Tom Werner … Executive Producer
  • Caryn Mandabach … Executive Producer
  • Marcy Carsey … Executive Producer
  • Cybill Shepherd … Executive Producer
  • Jay Daniel … Executive Producer
  • Howard M. Gould … Executive Producer
  • Russ Woody … Co-Executive Producer
  • Richard Day … Co-Executive Producer
  • Melissa Gelineau … Co-Producer
  • Mike Langworthy … Co-Producer
  • Linda Wallem … Co-Producer
  • Alan Ball … Co-Producer
  • Henry Lange Jr. … Line Producer
  • Elaine Aronsohn … Consulting Producer
  • Andrew D. Weyman … Director
  • Michael Dempsey … Writer
  • Robert Martin … Music by
  • Cybill Shepherd … Cast, Cybill Sheridan
  • Christine Baranski … Cast, Maryann Thorpe
  • Alicia Witt … Cast, Zoey Woodbine
  • Jay Paulson … Cast, Sean
  • Alan Rosenberg … Cast, Ira Woodbine
  • David Ogden Stiers … Cast, Val
  • Tommy Morrison … Cast, Leo
  • Jane Lynch … Cast, Mrs. Sweeney
  • Tim Macaulan … Cast, Waiter
  • Melissa Chan … Cast, Student