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Lily Tomlin | 05/27/2008 9:32 am

Lily Tomlin: When the 'Murphy Brown' Show Ended, I Cried My Eyes Out

Lily Tomlin

I particularly miss all the shows I was on: “Laugh-In” (absolutely the show that gave me a career and the first producer who “got me” my big break — Bubba, George Schlatter); “Murphy Brown” (I was on two seasons and, when the show ended, I wept more than those who had been on for ten years. I wanted to buy my dressing room so I’d have digs in Burbank and could sleep over whenever I missed Murphy and the gang); “West Wing” (made the world more bearable pretending for four years that Jed Bartlett was our president, and being in that ensemble with those scripts? Thank you, Aaron, for inventing Debbie Fiderer). I miss “Maude” and “Golden Girls” (anything with Bea Arthur); and “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Mary Tyler Moore” (I remember when Carol recognized me in the ladies room at CBS — I was giddy with happiness); “The X Files”; “Everybody Loves Raymond” (I adore Doris Roberts). Dixie Carter and I were in a revue at New York’s Upstairs at the Downstairs in 1966, so when she came on my friend Linda Bloodworth’s show, “Designing Women,” I became a double-big fan of that show.

upstairs downstairs 01.jpg
NYC, 1966, Upstairs at the Downstairs, revue - "Below the Belt"
Lily Tomlin, Richard Blair, Madeline Kahn, Robert Rovin, Dixie Carter

“Six Feet Under” (I miss Frances Conroy and all the dysfunctional Fishers and Rachel Griffiths as Brenda). And I’m thinking, now, of Madeline Kahn and her character Pauline as Cosby’s neighbor. Madeline and Dixie and I were all three in that same revue in 1966. Was there anyone more wonderfully comedic than Madeline? We’d all started out together.

upstairs downstairs 02.jpg
NYC, 1966, Upstairs at the Downstairs, revue - "Below the Belt"
Richard Blair, Dixie Carter, Lily Tomlin

What I’ve been missing, NOW, for just a few months (although it seems like years) is the second season of “Damages.” If it doesn’t come back on soon, I’m going to picket FX.

Click here to read what television shows the other women of wOw miss the most.

39 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

beth willis
Ms. Lily Tomlin, Ms. Lily Tomlin!! Down here….your faithful, ever-lovin’ fans await your instructions. Ms. Lily creates a new persona: Amelia Shakespeare, “real estate doyenne” and her dysfunctional family” living in the city that put the big “D” in dysfuntional, Dallas, Texas. The vehicle is entitled “12 Miles Of Bad Road”and created by Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (“Designing Women”, “Evening Shade”). HBO bailed on the project after six episodes were in the can. One reason given for the rejection by HBO honchos was the “one shockingly glaring weakness: that its ostensible star, TOMLIN, is not given enough to do.” According Fort Worth Star-Telegram (underline)film critic Christopher Kelly, ” ‘12 Miles’ feels as if it’s on the verge of becoming the definitive statement on twenty-first-century-upper-crust Texas life.” What’s not to like? All of this is reported by Mr. Kelly in the current issue of Texas Monthly(underline). We await your instructions, Lily Tomlin. Let us know if we need to start a letter-writing campaign. How about you, Liz Smith? A mention in your column? “You-know-who” will be moving back to Dallas shortly (He’s lost considerable stature over the past 8 years.) Anywho, this show seems to offer something we all need right now, smart satire that probably hits fairly close to home. Please let us know what we can do to at least see this show and you ,Lily, and what appears to be a sterling ensemble cast. I can be reached at 2776. Peace and grace
By beth willis on 05/29/2008 10:09 am
Holland Taylor
Oh, Lily! I always go to the incomparable “Search for Signs….” when I think of you, and all of your own creations you and Jane have bountifully given us…. and then, Lord, here’s this amazing LIST of characters you’ve performed in other people’s work. You are sensational, and unlike anyone else on earth, which is really saying something. As for the list? All great stuff… but I really miss Debbie Fiderer. What a marvelous personality. Thank you for alllllllll.
By Holland Taylor on 05/29/2008 11:59 am
Kate Cassidy
We named our dog “Murphy Brown” because of my love for Candice. She was a wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who loved everyone. She got cancer at 3 and we had to put her down. I am still crying for Murphy Brown and always will….
By Kate Cassidy on 05/29/2008 12:18 pm
Kennedy Wilson
Lily some of my favorite Murphy Brown episodes were with Kay and Murphy going head to head. The fireworks were fantastic and the respect and friendship that seemed to grow between those two strong and fiercely independent characters was just the best. Great writing for great women. I do miss watching, wish the last season would come out on DVD. Its nice to know that you had fun doing it.
By Kennedy Wilson on 05/29/2008 12:34 pm
Rita T
The older I get, the more I realize what great role models I had growing up in the 60s and 70s including all the ones Lily mentioned above. Some of my personal TV faves were Laugh-In, Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie (Mary’s friend), any my all time favorite in the 80s was Designing Women. Those women were so smart and witty and just downright cool … in a southern “lady” kind of way. It was interesting to compare them with the women on Knots Landing … they were all complex characters and so much fun to watch. Now all we seem to get are those awful reality TV shows which, if you think about it, actually have nothing to do with reality!
By Rita T on 05/29/2008 1:22 pm
Josie Sullivan
Dearest Lily, You are one of my all time favorites. Murphy Brown was one of those shows that I stopped everything to see. I too was giddy when you and Vivian recognized me in Columbia Mo. last year (first met at Bob’s in Fla.)! I tried to tell you cryptically that Bob was dying a few days before his death on this site. Lawrence is a wreck! I believe he is going on to work there as a restorer of Bob’s work and he will travel to set up retrospectives. He was dear to all of us! Anyhow, all my love to you and keep up the fantastic work!
By Josie Sullivan on 05/29/2008 7:17 pm
Liza D 08 .... beta
Harveys gone … oh, no … Harvey, Pollack …. and who will be the third?
By Liza D 08 .... beta on 05/29/2008 7:36 pm
nicole beauchemin
After Mrs Landingham died, I was sure no one could fill her place but you came along and created a place of your own and I loved you. Debbie Fiderer was such a fantastic character- exactly what the show needed- and you played her so wonderfully. Thank you.
By nicole beauchemin on 05/31/2008 12:34 am