The Ellen Burstyn Show

Its been years since aired and always remembered this show. The scene that comes to mind most is of Elaine playing piano tunes for the family but ends up with her singing Nevada Harry. Had a great cast (but always loved Ellen and quick witted Elaine), and the sophistication of the comedy writing was quite good. I believe the reason this show lasted one year is that people didn't get it--this family's give and take. Perhaps too sophisticated the humor. Mom show took me 6 episodes to understand the humor behind that family, and cant stop watching it. I wouldn't have stopped watching Ellen's show either.

This was a terrific little show, well-made and gently funny, which was doomed from the start. Ellen Burstyn agreed to do a series, but the show was stuck with a terrible lead-in ("Life With Lucy") and a terrible timeslot (on Saturday night), and Burstyn, while a fantastic actress and movie star, wasn't the kind of star likely to draw a large audience from name-ID alone. With Megan Mullally as her daughter (about as far from her "Will & Grace" character as you can get) and Elaine Stritch as her mother, plus one of the cutest child actors ever as her grandson, Burstyn was ably supported in this family sitcom. Unfortunately, no miracle occurred, and the show was cancelled in a matter of weeks.

I think one of the reasons this show didn't get picked up for more episodes and seasons was that it was too smart for it's time. It relied on witty dialog and clever turns of phrase, which likely sailed over the heads of many people. Sorry, but it is true. When you look at the "dumbed-down" fair offered by the plethora of other shows offered in this year - this jewel was obviously cast among the swine. There seems to be more room these days for smart shows - I think of "The Big Bang Theory" as a fine example. Some of the quick dialog on that show will go missed if you aren't a bit of a technical geek, or someone who loves to watch Nova or the Science Channel. But if you do "get it", it is incredibly smart and funny.

Ellen Burstyn (Ellen) and Elaine Stritch (Sydney) made for a terrific show. I still remember one of the best lines I ever heard on TV. Sydney came rushing in and Ellen said to her, "I can't talk now, I'm teaching class." To which Sydney replied in her gravelly voice, "That's silly. You can't teach class. You've either got it or you don't!" That simple exchange between two wonderful actors has kept me giggling for all these years. Elaine Stritch is such a wonderful character, even as herself. And Ellen Burstyn gets better with age. If people would give her the credit she deserves for great comedic timing and theatrical professionalism, and someone would develop a series for her, there is a growing element of the country calling out for quality. Actors like Burstyn, Stritch, et al. would be a marvelous addition to what is becoming what Marshal McLuhan once called the "vast wasteland" of television. The "Ellen Burstyn Show" was creative, well-acted, and uproariously funny in a very subtle sense. I'm surprised studios don't have people begging for shows which make the viewer think. Or would that bee too much to ask? One can't say enough about marvelous actors like Mss. Burstyn and Stritch. There are others too who, unfortunately, are equally ans wonderful, but no one is writing for them. Is there an automatic cut-off of, say, 40? I think Geena Davis proved she could carry a show. Let's get some of that generation on television!

This show had a great cast featuring Oscar Winner Ellen Burstyn with Elaine Stritch playing her mother and Megan Mullaly playing the daughter with a young son. Sadly, the show never caught on to public attention. But with great cast, how could you go wrong? Well, this was the era of nothing but sitcoms and now we have nothing but reality shows and dramas. In the 1980s, New York City tried to bring back comedy shows to prime time. Unfortunately, New York City never accomplished in even a close victory aside it's main rival, Hollywood or Los Angeles. The network lost a good opportunity but not allowing this show to grow and expand. It had a talented cast and the writing could have gotten better in time. Sitcoms take time to develop an audience.