PHYLLIS: BESS, IS YOU A WOMAN NOW? (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about smug ex-Minneapolis resident Phyllis Lindstrom, who lives in San Francisco with her daughter, Bess; her mother-in-law, Audrey Dexter; and Judge Jonathan Dexter.
In this episode, Phyllis wakes up uncharacteristically early and chats with her mother, admitting that she is worried about Bess, off on a ski trip for her first weekend away from home without family. She tries to resist the urge to call her, but soon gives in and is stunned to hear a male voice answering the phone in Bess’ hotel room. Phyllis fears that Bess has been intimate with him. At work, Julie attempts to have her car repaired, and a distracted Phyllis provides an odd candle for a romantic photo shoot, much to Leo’s agitation. Julie handles the scene and then asks Phyllis about her problems; when Phyllis explains that Bess may have “become a woman,” Julia advises her to simply ask her daughter directly for the truth. Back at home, Phyllis tries to be rational and considers that she misunderstood the situation. She and Audrey reminisce about their own less-than-perfect wedding nights. Phyllis claims she will know if Bess has “matured” just by looking at her. But when her daughter arrives, she is unsure—until a young man accompanies her into the house.
Bess introduces the boy, Donald, saying that he gave her a lift home from the lodge. Phyllis attempts to interrogate them about the weekend. Jonathan arrives and talks to Donald, discovering that he knows his parents. Once Donald leaves, Phyllis indirectly asks Bess about the trip, but Bess only says that she had the best time of her life, furthering alarming her mother. Phyllis talks with Julie again, saying that things were different when she herself was 17 and worries that she cannot talk to her daughter about sex. When she asks Leo for a male perspective, he becomes overly concerned about the “innocence” of his hypothetical daughter and proves unhelpful. Finally, at home, Phyllis confronts Bess and beats around the bush for a while before finally asking her about the weekend. Afterward, Phyllis happily tells Audrey and Jonathan that her daughter confided in her and that she will maintain her privacy—but then delightedly reveals that nothing happened after all. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: September 15, 1975 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:67059
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1975-1977
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Oscar Mayer products
CREDITS
- Stan Daniels … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer, Theme Music by
- Ed. Weinberger … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Michael Leeson … Producer
- Budd Cherry … Associate Producer
- Jay Sandrich … Director
- James L. Brooks … Based on a character created by
- Allan Burns … Based on a character created by
- Richard DeBenedictis … Music by
- Cloris Leachman … Cast, Phyllis Lindstrom
- Barbara Colby … Cast, Julia
- Henry Jones … Cast, Jonathan
- Jane Rose … Cast, Audrey
- Lisa Gerritsen … Cast, Bess
- Leigh McCloskey … Cast, Donald Ralston
- Richard Schaal … Cast, Leo Heatherton