Phyl & Mikhy

Phyl & Mikhy was a short lived American sitcom on CBS that aired six episodes during the summer of 1980.

Phyl & Mikhy
GenreSitcom
Created byBuddy Arnold
Directed byHal Cooper
Theme music composerRod Parker and Hal Cooper
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerRod Parker and Hal Cooper (as "Elmar Productions")
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseMay 26, 1980 (1980-05-26)

Premise

The premise of the show was a Cold War romance, where, Phyl (Murphy Cross), a 19-year old track star, falls for Mikhy (Rick Lohman), 22 year old Russian decathelete. CBS gave it a six-week test run starting in May 1980.[1][2][3][4]

Phyl is a great athlete, but not a cook, and can only make toast. To save money, the couple move in with Phyl's father Max. Mikhy is unfamiliar with American culture and technology, which actress Murphy Cross has suggested made the show a type of precursor to Perfect Strangers.[5] Character Vladimir Gimenko keeps trying to get Mikhy to return to Russia.[5][6][7][8]

History

According to director Hal Cooper, the show was a very successful summer replacement, but was cut after six episodes, due to the controversy surrounding the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott. The United States withdrew from the Olympics, and Cooper thought the network didn't want a show with a Russian star, so CBS executive Robert A. Daly cancelled it.[9]

The show originally been intended to run as complimentary to the upcoming Olympics, and to have debuted in January 1980. Lohman got the Russian athlete role (which CBS was finding hard to cast) because Marge Glucksman in casting at CBS had seen his audition for Trapper John, M.D., and Lohman was able to do the accent because he had many Ukrainian and Russian relatives. According to Lohman, CBS executive William S. Paley loved the show, and intended to use it as a possible replacement for The Jeffersons, but the Olympic boycott delayed the show's debut.[5] Murphy Cross was brought to the show by Linda Otto, who had been casting director on the 1979 TV movie Torn Between Two Lovers in which Cross had appeared.[5]

The show was recorded in front of a live audience at KTTV studios in Los Angeles.[5] The pilot was made in March 1979, well before the political issues that led to the boycott. The remaining five episodes were shot about six months later.[10]

Primary cast

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal air date
1"The Meet"May 26, 1980 (1980-05-26)
An American track star runs into unusual problems after she marries a Russian defector who is also a track star.
2"Phyl's Birthday Surprise"June 2, 1980 (1980-06-02)
Mikhy is very depressed that he doesn't have enough to buy a birthday present for Phyl and decides to abandon college and his athletic scholarship and take a job.
3"Phyl's Wedding"June 9, 1980 (1980-06-09)
Max fears Phyl and Mikhy's wedding is going to be ruined when a strang uncle he didn't invite shows up at the ceremony.
4"Mikhy's Visitor"June 16, 1980 (1980-06-16)
Mikhy's joy turns into homesickness when he meets his former girlfriend, a beautiful Russian track star who is visiting the United States. (Guest appearances by Mary Woronov and Marian Mercer)
5"One Big Happy Family"June 23, 1980 (1980-06-23)
Mikhy's inexperience with the English language causes him to say some embarrassing things in a nationally televised interview.
6"The Seduction of Mikhail Orlov"June 30, 1980 (1980-06-30)
When an unscrupulous woman photographer snaps Mikhy's picture in the shower and it appears as the centerfold of a woman's magazine, Mikhy is furious and with Vladimir's encouragement, plans to sue.

References
  1. Shales, Tom (26 May 1980) Advance Payment, The Washington Post
  2. (11 June 1980). CBS dominates top ten in weekly rating derby, Sulphur Springs News-Telegram (debut episode was 10th most showed of week)
  3. (20 June 1980). CBS Getting Head Start on next season's Nielsen Ratings, Desert Sun (episode for week ending June 15 was 9th most watched show of week)
  4. (7 July 1980). Viewers prefer watching reruns, Desert Sun(episode airing week ending June 29 was 27th most watched show of week)
  5. Leszczak, Bob. Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide, pp. 127-28 (2016)
  6. /Hoffman, Steve (26 May 1980). Jocky 'Phyl, Mikhy' Not Jocular, Cincinnati Enquirer (a generally negative review of the series; "It may be cute but it isn't funny")
  7. (22 June 1980). 2 Likable Stars in 'Sitcom', Indianapolis Star ("The show offers little that is new or exciting for viewers but as TV sitcoms go, it is pleasant enough, bolstered by the presence of two likable young performers.")
  8. Crosby, Joan (6 July 1980). Phyl became a blonde during hiatus of series, Daily Oklahoman
  9. Hal Cooper Chapter 4, DGA.org, Retrieved 9 September 2020
  10. Kleiner, Dick (8 June 1980). Foreign Affairs to Hurt, The Daily Oklahoman
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