- Cybill
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Cybill 
Cybill title cardGenre Sitcom Created by Chuck Lorre Starring Cybill Shepherd
Christine Baranski
Alicia Witt
Dedee Pfeiffer
Tom Wopat
Alan RosenbergTheme music composer George Gershwin
Ira GershwinOpening theme "Nice Work if You Can Get It" sung by Cybill Shepherd Country of origin United States Language(s) English No. of seasons 4 No. of episodes 87 Production Executive producer(s) Marcy Carsey
Jay Daniel
Howard Gould
Chuck Lorre
Caryn Mandabach
Bob Myer
Cybill Shepherd
Tom WernerRunning time 22–24 minutes Production company(s) YBYL Productions
Carsey-Werner ProductionsBroadcast Original channel CBS Picture format 480i (SDTV) Original run January 2, 1995 – July 13, 1998 Cybill is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, which aired on CBS from January 2, 1995 to July 13, 1998. Starring Cybill Shepherd, the series revolves around Cybill Sheridan, a twice-divorced single mother of two and struggling actress in her 40s, who has never gotten her show business breakthrough. Alicia Witt and Dedee Pfeiffer co-starred as Sheridan's daughters, with Alan Rosenberg and Tom Wopat playing their fathers each, while Christine Baranski appeared as Cybill's hard-drinking friend Maryanne.
The sitcom was produced by Carsey-Werner Productions and YBYL Productions, with Shepherd, Lorre, Howard Gould, Jay Daniel, Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner serving as the show's original executive producers. Broadcast to critical praise, Cybill was nominated for twelve 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 SAG and an American Comedy Award.
Contents
Premise
Cybill takes place in Los Angeles, California 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. Also featured are her daughters, headstrong Zoey (Alicia Witt) and uptight Rachel (Dedee Pfeiffer), her two ex-husbands, Ira (Alan Rosenberg) and Jeff (Tom Wopat), and her hard-drinking best friend Maryann (Christine Baranski).
Main cast
- Cybill Shepherd as Cybill Sheridan[1] – Cybill is a middle-ageing actress who has a had a varied and relatively successful career. She now finds that, due to her age, roles are becoming harder to find and that the roles she is offered are changing. Her fortunes seem to vary over the course of the series, sometimes she has consistent work and appears to be relatively wealthy, and at other times she struggles to find and keep jobs, and struggles financially as well. She is a rather eccentric feminist and aging hippy, as well as a native southerner. Her loud, public and honest rantings about female sexuality, her perkiness, bouts of outrage and hysteria, and her exhibitions of southern charm often embarrass her two daughters, Zoey and Rachel. Cybill has a civil relationship with her ex-husbands Jeff and Ira, even tolerating their frequent clinginess. 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 Maryanne Thorpe, whom she supports emotionally and assists in her bitter war with her ex-husband. Cybill's own rival Andrea, has also often been the target of Cybill's own immature pranks and their enmity has resulted in personal humiliations, professional loss and injury on both sides. Cybill has a caustic sense of humour and an acid tongue. Although eccentric and flawed, Cybill's strength and wisdom shines through in her support of her family and friends.
- Christine Baranski as Maryanne Thorpe[1] – Cybill's best friend, she is a former nurse now fabulously wealthy due to her divorce settlement with her unfaithful ex-husband, celebrity plastic surgeon Richard Thorpe. Maryanne 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 who spends time with her occasionally but seems to be at odds with her extravagant lifestyle. Her 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 others' bad behaviour. Maryanne 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 that vies with Cybill, but her remarks are more inappropriate, bitter and cynical. She is, however, a constant support for Cybill at crucial moments.
- Alicia Witt as Zoey Woodbine[1] – Cybill's younger daughter.
- Dedee Pfeiffer as Rachel Blanders[1] – Cybill's elder daughter.
- Alan Rosenberg as Ira Woodbine[1] – Cybill's second husband.
Reception
Awards
Cybill was nominated for twelve Emmy Awards throughout its entire run, winning three. Nominated for her performance in each season, Baranski is the only main cast members to win an Emmy.[2] Baranski also received an American Comedy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Viewers for Quality Television Awardf or her portrayal, while Shepherd was awarded the 1996 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy.[2] 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.[2]
Ratings
The series got respectable ratings throughout its run, but was abruptly canceled by CBS at the end of the 1997-98 season, amid allegations by Shepherd that the network was uncomfortable with Cybill's feminist leanings and frank depiction of female sexuality.[3]
Average seasonal ratings
Season Premiere Finale TV Season Season
rankViewers
(millions)1 January 2, 1995 May 15, 1995 1994-1995 #22 12.8 2 September 17, 1995 May 20, 1996 1995-1996 #50 [4] 10.0 3 September 16, 1996 May 19, 1997 1996-1997 #32[5] 10.5 4 September 15, 1997 July 13, 1998 1997-1998 #50[6] 8.3 Episodes
Episode Listing
Season 1
# Episode title Original airdate 1.01 "Virgin, Mother, Crone" 2 January 1995 1.02 "How Can I Call You My Ex-Husbands If You Won't Go Away?" 9 January 1995 1.03 "As The World Turns to Crap" 16 January 1995 1.04 "Look Who's Stalking" 23 January 1995 1.05 "Starting on the Wrong Foot" 6 February 1995 1.06 "Call Me Irresponsible" 13 February 1995 1.07 "See Jeff Jump, Jump, Jeff, Jump!" 20 February 1995 1.08 "The Curse of Zoey" 27 February 1995 1.09 "The Replacements" 13 March 1995 1.10 "Death and Execs" 20 March 1995 1.11 "The Last Temptation of Cybill" 10 April 1995 1.12 "The Big Sleep-Over" 8 May 1995 1.13 "The Cheese Stands Alone" 15 May 1995 Season 2
# Episode title Original airdate 2.01 "Cybill Discovers the Meaning of Life" 17 September 1995 2.02 "Zing!" 24 September 1995 2.03 "Since I Lost My Baby" 1 October 1995 2.04 "Cybill with an 'S'" 8 October 1995 2.05 "Cybill's Fifteen Minutes" 15 October 1995 2.06 "Nice Work If You Can Get It" 22 October 1995 2.07 "To Sir, with Lust" 24 March 1996 2.08 "They Shoot Turkeys, Don't They?" 19 November 1995 2.09 "Local Hero" 26 November 1995 2.10 "The Odd Couples" 3 December 1995 2.11 "Mourning Has Broken" 17 December 1995 2.12 "The Big Apple Can Bite Me" 7 January 1996 2.13 "Educating Zoey" 14 January 1996 2.14 "Where's Zoey?" 4 February 1996 2.15 "Lowenstein's Lament" 11 February 1996 2.16 "A Who's Who for What's His Name" 18 February 1996 2.17 "Wedding Bell Blues" 25 February 1996 2.18 "Romancing the Crone" 10 March 1996 2.19 "An Officer and a Thespian" 17 March 1996 2.20 "Virgin, Mother, Cheater" 22 April 1996 2.21 "When You're Hot, You're Hot" 29 April 1996 2.22 "Pal Zoey" 6 May 1996 2.23 "Three Women and a Dummy" 13 May 1996 2.24 "Going Out with a Bang" 20 May 1996 Season 3
# Episode title Original airdate 3.01 "Bringing Home the Bacon" 16 September 1996 3.02 "Venice or Bust" 23 September 1996 3.03 "Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan" 30 September 1996 3.04 "It's for You, Mrs. Lincoln" 7 October 1996 3.05 "Cybill, Get Your Gun" 14 October 1996 3.06 "Cybill Does Diary" 21 October 1996 3.07 "Sex, Drugs and Catholicism" 4 November 1996 3.08 "Going to Hell in a Limo: Part 1" 11 November 1996 3.09 "Going to Hell in a Limo: Part 2" 18 November 1996 3.10 "Buffalo Gals" 25 November 1996 3.11 "A Hell of a Christmas" 9 December 1996 3.12 "The Little Drummer Girls" 16 December 1996 3.13 "Bachelor Party" 6 January 1997 3.14 "Little Bo Peep" 20 January 1997 3.15 "In Her Dreams" 3 February 1997 3.16 "Valentine's Day" 10 February 1997 3.17 "Kiss Me, You Fool" 17 February 1997 3.18 "True Confessions" 24 February 1997 3.19 "Name That Tune" 3 March 1997 3.20 "From Boca, with Love" 10 March 1997 3.21 "All of Me" 7 April 1997 3.22 "The Wedding" 21 April 1997 3.23 "The Piano" 28 April 1997 3.24 "There Was an Old Woman" 5 May 1997 3.25 "Mother's Day" 12 May 1997 3.26 "Let's Stalk" 19 May 1997 Season 4
# Episode title Original airdate 4.01 "Regarding Henry" 15 September 1997 4.02 "The Love of Her Life" 22 September 1997 4.03 "The Big, Flouncy Thing" 29 September 1997 4.04 "Some Like It Hot" 6 October 1997 4.05 "Like Family" 13 October 1997 4.06 "Earthquake" 20 October 1997 4.07 "Halloween" 27 October 1997 4.08 "Where's a Harpoon When You Need One?" 3 November 1997 4.09 "How to Get a Head in Show Business" 10 November 1997 4.10 "Grandbaby" 17 November 1997 4.11 "The Golden Years" 1 December 1997 4.12 "Show Me the Minnie" 8 December 1997 4.13 "Bakersfield" 4 March 1998 4.14 "Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady" 11 March 1998 4.15 "Cybill Sheridan's Day Off" 18 March 1998 4.16 "Fine Is Not a Feeling" 25 March 1998 4.17 "Oh Brother!" 1 April 1998 4.18 "Whose Wife Am I, Anyway?" 8 April 1998 4.19 "Dream Date" 8 June 1998 4.20 "Farewell, My Sweet" 15 June 1998 4.21 "Daddy" 22 June 1998 4.22 "Don Gianni" 29 June 1998 4.23 "Cybill in the Morning" 6 July 1998 4.24 "Ka-Boom!" 13 July 1998 Awards and nominations
Year Award Show Category Result Recipient(s) 1995 Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Won Crew Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series Nominated Crew Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Cybill Shepherd Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Won Christine Baranski 1996 American Comedy Award Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series Won Christine Baranski Emmy Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series Nominated Crew Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series Won Crew Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special Nominated Crew Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Cybill Shepherd Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Christine Baranski Golden Globe Awards Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Won Cast and Crew Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Won Cybill Shepherd Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series Nominated Christine Baranski Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated Cast Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Won Christine Baranski Viewers for Quality Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Comedy Series Won Christine Baranski 1997 Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Cybill Shepherd Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Christine Baranski GLAAD Awards Outstanding TV - Individual Episode Nominated Cast and Crew Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Nominated Cybill Shepherd Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series Nominated Christine Baranski Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy Nominated Cybill Shepherd Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy Nominated Cast and Crew Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated Christine Baranski 1998 Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated Christine Baranski Syndication
- In the UK, Cybill is aired on Comedy Central (UK).
- In the United States, Cybill began airing on Lifetime Network in May, 2009.
DVD releases
Region 1
On September 16, 2008, First Look Studios released Cybill the Collectors Edition, Vol. 1, a 2-disc best of DVD.[7]
Region 2
Anchor Bay Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in the UK.
DVD Name Ep# Release Date The Complete First Series 13 24 April 2006 The Complete Second Series 24 2 July 2007 The Complete Third Series 26 5 May 2008 The Complete Fourth Series 24 4 August 2008 The Complete Box Set 87 29 September 2008 References
- ^ a b c d e f "Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. 2004-05-18. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111932/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
- ^ a b c "Awards for Cybill (1995)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111932/awards. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ Griffin, Nancy (July/August 2004). "Cybill Liberties". AARP Magazine. http://www.aarpmagazine.org/entertainment/Articles/a2004-05-19-mag-cybill.html.
- ^ http://fbibler.chez.com/tvstats/recent_data/1995-96.html 1995-1996 TV Season Ratings
- ^ http://fbibler.chez.com/tvstats/recent_data/1996-97.html 1996-1997 TV Season Ratings
- ^ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1998/05/25/DD61876.DTL&type=chart 1997-1998 TV Season Ratings
- ^ Cybill: The Collector's Edition Volume 1
External links
- Cybill at the Internet Movie Database
- Cybill at TV.com
- Cybill at epguides.com
Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy (1990–2009) Cheers (1990) · Brooklyn Bridge (1991) · Roseanne (1992) · Seinfeld (1993) · Frasier & Mad About You (1994) · Cybill (1995) · 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) · Ally McBeal (1997) · Ally McBeal (1998) · Sex and the City (1999) · Sex and the City (2000) · Sex and the City (2001) · Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002) · The Office (UK) (2003) · Desperate Housewives (2004) · Desperate Housewives (2005) · Ugly Betty (2006) · Extras (2007) · 30 Rock (2008) · Glee (2009) ·
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