''The Debbie Reynolds Show'' is an American

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...

which aired on the NBC

television network A television network or television broadcaster is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, where a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay television providers. Until the mid ...

during the 1969–70 television season. The series was produced by Filmways.

Synopsis

Debbie Reynolds portrayed Debbie Thompson, a housewife married to Jim, a successful sportswriter for the ''Los Angeles Sun''. Jim was portrayed by actor

Don Chastain Don Chastain (September 2, 1935 – August 9, 2002) was an American actor, singer, and screenwriter. He worked in television in Los Angeles and New York and toured the United States and Canada. Early years Chastain was born in Oklahoma Ci ...

; his boss and brother-in-law was played by longtime television actor Tom Bosley. Reynolds' attempts to amuse herself were regarded as being reminiscent of those of

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Gold ...

on '' Here's Lucy''. Creator/producer Jess Oppenheimer was the original producer and co-creator of '' I Love Lucy''. The show also employed Bob Carroll Jr., and Madelyn Davis, two longtime ''Lucy'' writers. NBC was selling advertising time for cigarette commercials against Reynolds' wishes (even though she was assured no cigarette ads would be seen during the program). After Reynolds threatened to quit the show, American Brands (formerly known as American Tobacco) withdrew sponsorship. To make up for NBC's lost ad revenue, Reynolds agreed to give back to the network their guarantee of a second year of airing the program, as well as an NBC-backed film in which she would have starred, and her ownership in a subsequent NBC-produced series.Leszczak, Bob (2012). ''Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide'' (p. 34). McFarland & Co.

Cast

* Debbie Reynolds as Debbie Thompson *

as Jim Thompson * Patricia Smith as Charlotte Landers * Tom Bosley as Bob Landers

Episodes

In popular culture

Monty Python's Flying Circus ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (also known as simply ''Monty Python'') is a British surreal sketch comedy series created by and starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, who became ...

'' spoofed the series in a sketch primarily written by John Cleese and Graham Chapman entitled "The Attila the Hun Show". It pokes fun at ''The Debbie Reynolds Show'' (the opening title sequence in particular, which the Pythons closely parodied), as well as American comedy in general.

References

* Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, '' The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows''

External links

* 1969 American television series debuts 1970 American television series endings 1960s American sitcoms 1970s American sitcoms English-language television shows NBC original programming Television series about marriage Television series by MGM Television Television series by Filmways Television shows set in Los Angeles {{US-comedy-tv-prog-stub