RIP Phyllis Diller, 95

[CentreHice]

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Archive of American Television Interview

Fascinating interview...a pioneer among female stand-up comics in the television age...along with Joan Rivers and Totie Fields.

Interview conducted in 2000, when Diller was 83. Very intelligent, articulate person.

Never a big fan...but truly appreciate what she did. I recall her many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show when I was a kid.

And she kept performing well into her senior years. A la Rivers, the plastic surgeon was on speed dial. Can't complain when you hit 95.

Interesting that her TV debut was on Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life" in 1957...at the age of 39. She'd been working diligently on her act for 2 years prior.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I most remember Phyllis from when I was growing up. My parents made sure all of us watched all of the greats of comedy and she was one of them.

You'd be able to pick her out of a crowd just on her unique laugh. And she knew how to make others laugh too.

RIP

[CentreHice]

Here's a clip of her sitcom, "The Pruitts of Southampton" (1966-67). Its name was changed to The Phyllis Diller Show. Love the LARK commercial. What tobacco used to get away with....

Funny to see John Astin and Richard Deacon....both of whom had just come off hit series: The Addams Family and The Dick Van Dyke Show respectively.

I recall her show being terrible. Not even the tawdry U.S. sitcom laugh track could convince otherwise.