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Cybill

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This article is about the TV series. For the actress herself, see Cybill Shepherd.
Cybill
GenreSitcom
Created byChuck Lorre
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Nice Work if You Can Get It" by Cybill Shepherd
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes87 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJanuary 2, 1995 (1995-01-02) –
July 13, 1998 (1998-07-13)[1]

Cybill is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, which aired for four seasons and 87 episodes on CBS from January 2, 1995, to July 13, 1998. Starring Cybill Shepherd, the show revolves around the life of Cybill Sheridan, a twice-divorced single mother of two and struggling actress in her 40s who has never gotten her big break in show business. Alicia Witt and Dedee Pfeiffer co-starred as Sheridan's daughters, with Alan Rosenberg and Tom Wopat playing their respective fathers, while Christine Baranski appeared as Cybill's hard-drinking friend Maryann.[2]

The sitcom was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions and YBYL Productions, with Shepherd, Lorre, Howard M. Gould, Jay Daniel, Caryn Mandabach, Marcy Carsey, and Tom Werner serving as the show's original executive producers. Broadcast to critical praise, Cybill was nominated for 12 Emmy Awards throughout its run and awarded the 1996 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Shepherd won a third Golden Globe Award for her performance, while Baranski received an Emmy, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an American Comedy Award. Cybill has been in syndication on the comedy-centric digital subchannel Laff since April 2016, along with other Carsey-Werner Productions series shown on the network.[3]

Plot

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Cybill takes place in Los Angeles and focuses on the character of a somewhat faded actress, Cybill Sheridan (played by Cybill Shepherd), who, because of her age, had been relegated to playing character roles, bit parts, and TV commercials.[4] Also featured are her daughters: headstrong Zoey (Witt) and uptight Rachel (Pfeiffer), two ex-husbands: Ira (Rosenberg) and Jeff (Wopat), and her hard-drinking best friend Maryann (Baranski).

Due to the show's premise, many episodes featured a show-within-a-show format, usually in the cold opens, showing Cybill Sheridan playing a variety of other characters in her various film and TV acting roles.[5]

In her autobiography, Cybill Disobedience, Shepherd stated that the Cybill character was based on herself—or at least what her life as an actress could have been without the successes of The Last Picture Show and Moonlighting. Many of the show's details and situations were mined from her own family, marriages, and experiences.[6]

Cast and characters

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Regular and semi-regular

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  • Cybill Shepherd as Cybill Sheridan[7] – Cybill is a middle aged actress who has had a varied, though mediocre career (which, even in her salad days, seems to have consisted primarily of television commercials, soap operas, and B-movies). She now finds that, due to her age, roles are becoming harder to find and that the quality of roles she is offered is diminishing. Her fortunes seem to vary over the course of the series. Sometimes, she has consistent work and appears to be relatively wealthy, other times, she scrambles to find and keep jobs, and seems to be struggling financially; this inconsistency could be attributed to the nature of her career, as even the most successful actors tend to have their professional ups and downs, both financially and creatively. Cybill is a rather eccentric feminist who practices New Age philosophy, as well as a native Southerner from Memphis, Tennessee. Her loud, public, and honest rantings about female sexuality, her perkiness, bouts of outrage, and hysteria, and her exhibitions of "down-home" Southern behavior often embarrass her two daughters, Zoey and Rachel. Cybill has a civil relationship with her ex-husbands Jeff and Ira, even tolerating their tendency to cling to her. She does sometimes spar, however, with Jeff over his past infidelities, and is quick to remind Ira of how controlling he was when they were married. Cybill's best friend is the wealthy, alcoholic divorcee Maryann Thorpe, whom she supports emotionally and assists in her bitter war with her ex-husband. Cybill has a caustic sense of humor and an acid tongue. Although eccentric and flawed, Cybill's strength and wisdom shines through in her support of her family and friends.[8] (87 episodes)
  • Christine Baranski as Maryann Thorpe[7] – Cybill's best friend is a former receptionist who is now fabulously wealthy due to her divorce settlement with her unfaithful ex-husband, celebrity plastic surgeon Richard Thorpe (an infrequently and never fully seen character, to whom she always refers with a sneer as "Dr. Dick"). Maryann is a bored, bitter alcoholic who often seems unstable and emotionally dependent on Cybill. When she is not stalking her ex-husband and playing elaborate and destructive pranks on him, she spends lavishly, drinks, and pursues younger men. She has a few healthy relationships with men of her own age over the course of the series, including Cybill's ex-husband Ira, but these do not last. She has a son, Justin, who infrequently visits. A passionate environmentalist with excessive liberal beliefs, Justin is at odds with her frivolous and extravagant lifestyle. Maryann's most consistent and healthy relationship is with Cybill. They seem to be endlessly sharing martinis in an upmarket Hollywood restaurant and are accomplices in each other's bad behavior. Maryann seems to spend most of her time at Cybill's house and involving herself in Cybill's family life to alleviate her own boredom. Her caustic tongue vies with Cybill's, but her remarks are more inappropriate, bitter, and cynical. She is, however, a constant support for Cybill at crucial moments. Her first name was Theresa, which her mother called her but she dropped when she moved to Los Angeles. (87 episodes)
  • Alicia Witt as Zoey Woodbine[7] – Cybill's younger daughter, she is a high-school teenager, and is brilliant, rebellious, and more sarcastic than her mother. She is a piano virtuoso (as is Witt) and hopes to attend the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. A self-imposed outcast, she is a vocal advocate of celibacy. She is in an on-again-off-again relationship with Maryann's estranged son. (87 episodes)
  • Alan Rosenberg as Ira Woodbine[7] – Cybill's second husband, Ira is the polar opposite of Cybill's first husband, Jeff. Unassuming and rather neurotic, he is a brilliant writer, though prone to "writer's block". His marriage to Cybill ended because he was unable to stop trying to control her life; even in divorce, he cannot help meddling in her life. For several episodes of the second season he was involved with Maryann. (85 episodes)
  • Dedee Pfeiffer as Rachel Robbins Manning[7] – Cybill's elder daughter, she is uptight and pretentious, and is married to Kevin Manning. She is prone to outbursts of hysteria similar to her mother's, especially during her pregnancies of the first and fourth season. Rachel and Kevin's first child is a boy named William; the second is a girl, Amanda. (Initially a regular but the role became more semi-regular in later seasons) (42 episodes)
  • Tom Wopat as Jeff Robbins[7] – Cybill's first husband, Jeff is a Hollywood stuntman with a roving eye. Though his many indiscretions were the cause of the divorce, Cybill and Jeff still have a good relationship, bound together by their daughter and grandson (and the fact that Jeff lived over Cybill's garage in the early seasons of the show). Jeff is somewhat dim, making him a prime target for Zoey's dry wit, but possesses a good heart. (Initially a regular in first couple of seasons, semi-regular in later seasons) (22 episodes)

Recurring and special guests

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  • Tim Maculan as a waiter and friend of Cybill's.[7] Despite his prominence, the character was never given a name. Appeared in over 50 episodes (the fifth-most appearing cast member with more episodes than some of the semi-regular cast).
  • Peter Krause as Kevin Manning,[7] Rachel's equally uptight husband, an untenured assistant professor from Boston. (Recurring from Season 2 onwards) (23 episodes)
  • Jay Paulson as Sean,[7] Zoe's first boyfriend in Season 2 & 3. (Recurring) (12 episodes)
  • Ray Baker as the second Dr. Richard Thorpe,[7] Maryann's veterinarian boyfriend who is also the namesake of her ex-husband. (Recurring in Seasons 3 & 4) (11 episodes)
  • Jane Kaczmarek as Holly,[7] Ira's girlfriend - and later fiancee - in Season 3. (5 episodes)
  • Linda Wallem appeared in 5 episodes as various characters including Julie, Cybill's co-host on a morning show in 3 episodes.[7] Wallem was also a producer and writer on the show.
  • Mary Page Keller as Julia Bishop,[7] Zoey's piano teacher and Ira's girlfriend. (4 episodes)
  • Kim Murphy as Nina,[7] Zoey's friend and one-time roommate. (4 episodes)
  • Morgan Fairchild as Andrea Thorpe,[7] Cybill's rival and later wife of Maryann's often mentioned but never seen husband, Dr. Dick. She and Cybill have mutual enmity which has resulted in personal humiliations, professional loss, and injury on both sides. (4 episodes)
  • Audra Lindley as Virginia Sheridan,[7] Cybill's mother. (3 episodes and another episode dedicated in her honour)
  • Florence Stanley as Ruth Woodbine,[7] Ira's mother and Zoey's grandmother, who had a friendly relationship with Cybill and once posed as Maryann's mother. (3 episodes)
  • Eileen Heckart as Marge,[7] Maryann's mother. (3 episodes)
  • Dick O'Neill as Roy,[7] Maryann's father. (3 episodes)

Additionally, many prominent actors appeared playing themselves, often humorous or self-deprecating caricatures of their real personas. These included Jonathan Frakes, Joan Van Ark, Dick Van Patten, Burt Reynolds, and Cybill Shepherd's real-life ex-partner, director Peter Bogdanovich.

Episodes

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Main article: List of Cybill episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113January 2, 1995 (1995-01-02)June 15, 1995 (1995-06-15)
224June 17, 1995 (1995-06-17)May 20, 1996 (1996-05-20)
326June 16, 1996 (1996-06-16)May 19, 1997 (1997-05-19)
424June 15, 1997 (1997-06-15)July 13, 1998 (1998-07-13)

Ratings

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Average seasonal ratings

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Season Time slot (ET) Premiere Finale Season
rank 		Viewers
(millions)
1 1994-1995 Monday at 9:30 pm January 2, 1995 May 15, 1995 #22 12.8
2 1995-1996 Sunday at 8:00 pm (Episodes 1-11, 13–16, 18-20)
Monday at 9:30 pm (Episode 12)
Sunday at 8:30 pm (Episode 17, 21-24) 		September 17, 1995 May 20, 1996 #50 [citation needed] 10.0
3 1996-1997 Monday at 9:30 pm (Episodes 1-18)
Monday at 9:00 pm (Episodes 19-26) 		September 16, 1996 May 19, 1997 #30[citation needed] 10.5
4 1997-1998 Monday at 9:00 pm (Episodes 1-12, 18-21)
Wednesday at 8:30 pm (Episodes 13-17)
Monday at 9:30 pm (Episodes 22-24) 		September 15, 1997 July 13, 1998 #50[9] 8.3

Cancellation

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The series got respectable (though never spectacular) ratings throughout most of its run, but was abruptly canceled by CBS at the end of the 1997–98 season after a noticeable ratings decline. The show was actually pulled from the CBS schedule after the April 8, 1998, episode had aired; the remaining new episodes that had already been produced were aired over the summer. Shepherd much later alleged that the cancellation occurred because the network was uncomfortable with Cybill's feminist leanings and frank depiction of female sexuality.[10]

The cancellation was not expected by the show's staff, as the series ends with a cliffhanger and the words "To Be Continued..." on the screen. At the time of its cancellation, the show's ratings were higher than Nash Bridges (1996–2001) and Chicago Hope (1994–2000); those shows continued to air on CBS.[11] In 2018, Shepherd claimed that Les Moonves hit on her during a dinner date, but she refused him. As a result, he soon interfered with the series' concepts and later canceled it.[12]

Awards and nominations

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Cybill was nominated for twelve Emmy Awards throughout its entire run, winning three. Nominated for her performance in each season, Baranski was the only cast member to win an Emmy.[13] Baranski also received an American Comedy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Viewers for Quality Television Award for her portrayal, while Shepherd was awarded the 1996 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.[13] The same year, the sitcom also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, its only win for both the crew and the cast.[13]

Award Year Category Recipients Result Ref.
American Comedy Awards 1996 Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Christine Baranski Won [14]
GLAAD Media Awards 1997 Outstanding TV - Individual Episode "Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan" Nominated [15]
Golden Globe Awards 1996 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Won [16]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Cybill Shepherd Won
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Christine Baranski Nominated
1997 Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Cybill Shepherd Nominated [16]
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Christine Baranski Nominated
Online Film & Television Association Awards 1997 Best Supporting Actress in a Series Christine Baranski Nominated [17]
Best Actress in a Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Nominated
1998 Best Actress in a Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated [18]
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards 1995 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated [19]
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Won [20]
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Garvin Eddy and Rochelle Moser Won [21]
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series Robert Turturice Nominated [22]
1996 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated [23]
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Nominated [24]
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Garvin Eddy and Rochelle Moser Nominated [25]
Outstanding Costume Design for a Series Marion Kirk, Daniel Grant North and Leslie Simmons Potts Won [26]
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Series Or A Special Jerry Clemans, Edward L. Moskowitz and Craig Porter Nominated [27]
1997 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated [28]
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Nominated [29]
1998 Nominated [30]
Satellite Awards 1997 Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy Nominated [31]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Cybill Shepherd Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1996 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski Won [32]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Christine Baranski, Dedee Pfeiffer, Alan Rosenberg, Cybill Shepherd, Alicia Witt and Tom Wopat Nominated
1997 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Serie Christine Baranski Nominated [33]
Viewers for Quality Television Awards 1996 Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Cybill Shepherd Nominated [34]
Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Christine Baranski Won
1997 Nominated [35]

Home media

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Region 1

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On September 16, 2008, First Look Studios released Cybill: The Collector's Edition, Vol. 1, a 2-disc best of DVD.[36]

Region 2

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Anchor Bay Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in the UK.

DVD Name Ep# Release Date
The Complete First Series[37] 13 24 April 2006
The Complete Second Series[38] 24 2 July 2007
The Complete Third Series[39] 26 5 May 2008
The Complete Fourth Series[40] 24 4 August 2008
The Complete Box Set 87 29 September 2008

References

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  1. ^ "BBC - Comedy Guide - Cybill". 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-12-09. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  2. ^ Howard Rosenberg (1995-01-02). "'Cybill' Is a Promising Addition to CBS Lineup - latimes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  3. ^ Broadcasting, Katz. "LAFF Lands Roseanne, That '70s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded For Life and Cybill In Multi-Year Licensing Agreements with Carsey-Werner" (Press release).
  4. ^ "Cybill". EW. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
  5. ^ Ray Loynd (1994-12-29). "Cybill". Variety. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  6. ^ Cybill Disobedience
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. 2004-05-18. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
  8. ^ King, Susan (1995-01-08). "Absolutely 'Cybill' : Shepherd's New Series Is Built Around An Actress Who Could Be Her". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  9. ^ "Final Ratings for '97-'98 TV Season". SFGate.com. 1998-05-25. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  10. ^ Griffin, Nancy (July–August 2004). "Cybill Liberties". AARP Magazine.
  11. ^ "Final Ratings for '97-'98 TV Season". SFGate.com. 1998-05-25. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  12. ^ Deadline.com Cybill Shepherd Says Her ’90s Sitcom Ended Because She Refused Les Moonves’ Advances
  13. ^ a b c "Awards for Cybill (1995)". IMDb. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  14. ^ "American Comedy Awards, USA (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  15. ^ "GLAAD Media Awards (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  16. ^ a b "The 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1996) Winners & Nominees". GoldenGlobes.com. Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  17. ^ "1996-1997: The Season of The Shining". Online Film & Television Association. Wesley Lovell. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  18. ^ "1997-1998: The Season of Merlin". Online Film & Television Association. Wesley Lovell. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  19. ^ "47th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  20. ^ "47th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  21. ^ "47th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  22. ^ "47th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  23. ^ "48th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  24. ^ "48th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  25. ^ "48th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  26. ^ "48th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Costume Design for a Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  27. ^ "48th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Series Or A Special". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  28. ^ "49th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  29. ^ "49th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  30. ^ "50th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  31. ^ "1997 Satellite Awards". Satellite Awards. International Press Academy. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  32. ^ "2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAGAwards.org. Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  33. ^ "3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". SAGAwards.org. Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  34. ^ "Viewers for Quality Television Awards (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  35. ^ "Viewers for Quality Television Awards (1997)". IMDb. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  36. ^ "Cybill: The Collector's Edition Volume 1: Cybill Shepherd, Christine Baranski: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  37. ^ "Cybill - Series 1". April 24, 2006 – via Amazon.
  38. ^ "Cybill - The Complete Second Series". July 2, 2007 – via Amazon.
  39. ^ "Cybill Series 3". May 5, 2008 – via Amazon.
  40. ^ "Cybill - Series 4". August 4, 2008 – via Amazon.
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