Karen was a poor man's Patsy Stone crossed with a poor man's Suzanne Sugarbaker. She's at least part of the reason for why that name now has negative connotations. Honestly, even the gay waiter played by Tim Macular on this show was less of a stereotype.
I honestly developed a new respect for Cybill after watching this just because I could understand whether it was like trying to make it big in show business after growing up in the South. I loved the episode where her agent died and all his other clients showed up: celebrity impersonators
I met Christina Baranski on a flight to london 6 years ago (I was the crew member in charge that day) and told her the same thing. She was utterly charming.
I wish the show was never cancelled. It was a classic. When it was on cable TV way back around 2011, an entire cable channel was devoted to running every single episode and I watched ALL the episodes. As much as I genuinely like Cybill Sheppherd it was Maryanne who always had a martini in her hand was dressed to the nines - slinging her hilarious, sardonic jokes that made the show - everyone else was just "weak tea" compared to Maryanne! I remember the first time I saw Christine Baranski was when she had a small role in the movie about Claus Von Bulow. She only had about 4 scenes but I knew she was going to become a big star in Hollywood. I did not know she had a long career on Broadway long before she was cast in her big break out role as Maryanne. Of course, the tabloids tried to invent some sort of fictitious "feud" between Christinne Baranski and Cybill Shephered but in fact, they were great friends and it was Cybill Sheperd who pushed the producers to cast Baranski in the role, although many other actresses auditioned.
Cybill Shepherd claimed in her biography that the show was canceled because she wouldn't sleep with the then head of CBS. Wouldn't be a shocker because there are similar complaints about that guy.
It's quite fascinating. I remember really enjoying this show when it first came out. I remember thinking that Christine Baranski stole every single scene she was in with Cybil Shepherd. I remember thinking that Cybil probably started to hate her because it was quite obvious that Christine was better in all ways. (Sometimes the second banana IS better.) That said, watching it now (June 2024), I'm not laughing at all. It just doesn't strike me as funny. But wow, when it first came out, I wrote a spec script for it and almost got an agent. So, it clearly worked at the time. But... it just doesn't hit me now at all.
Legendary producer Chuck Lorre (i.e. Big Bang Theory) said that once Christine Baranski won her best supporting actress Emmy Cybill's attitude changed dramatically... Maryann's part was cut down and some of the punchlines given to Cybill instead ... Of course the show was cancelled soon after.
Ya, it’s pretty obvious that Chuck Lorre is incredibly brilliant with creating sitcoms but not so good at dealing with actors. She’s not the only one he’s had trouble dealing with and thus ended a great show.
@@ionabarker they won't. Not after the way the reboot of her show ended. I'm just waiting for Gary Janetti's NDA to expire so we can hear the real horror stories about her Megan Mullaly. Interesting fact: Megan's first regular sitcom role was a Disney show (from Touchstone) called *The Ellen Burstyn Show* that aired right after the ill-fated *Life with Lucy.* El Ratón is responsible for foisting her on the world, too, just like they stuck us with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
I heard Cybill was such a diva she self sabotaged. Afraid that any costar outshined her and Baranski was good. She had nothing to worry about but she blew it. Allegedly.
Very strange coincidence! Christine Baranski popped into my head earlier today because I'd seen one of her Big Bang Theory episodes (on TV, NOT RU-vid) - and I thought to myself that I really needed to trace back through her career and watch everything because I love her SO much... And then THIS popped up in my feed! I didn't realize she was even in Cybill, it's from a time period where I didn't really watch TV.
My favorite line of Maryann's: "Here, drink this. It makes you not care." Great advice. Ms Baranski had a priceless delivery but generally, she deserved better material.
I`m surprised nobody`s mentioned her in `Bowfinger`, the movie which also starred Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy, made in 1999, just after Cybill. Not `mainstream`, but I found it hilarious.
