The fantastic Cloris Leachman gets her own spin-off show (from the wonderful Mary Tyler Moore Show), playing neurotic, self-centered, but likeable Phyllis. It starts out with her going to the life insurance company after the death of her unseen husband, Lars.
It takes a few minutes to get into this episode, as I was not sure how to take the jolly insurance man character at first. It's a little dark humored but turns out well. The episode gets better as it goes, and the supporting cast is pretty solid. Jane Rose is a hoot as Phyllis' mother-in-law ... the wires in her head are not all connected, if you know what I mean. She's sweet and silly.
In general, some of the funny lines are very strong, but there are a few weak ones. Cloris looks beautiful in the first-season episodes, and she is such a strong performer that she makes it all work.
It takes a few minutes to get into this episode, as I was not sure how to take the jolly insurance man character at first. It's a little dark humored but turns out well. The episode gets better as it goes, and the supporting cast is pretty solid. Jane Rose is a hoot as Phyllis' mother-in-law ... the wires in her head are not all connected, if you know what I mean. She's sweet and silly.
In general, some of the funny lines are very strong, but there are a few weak ones. Cloris looks beautiful in the first-season episodes, and she is such a strong performer that she makes it all work.