Seasons & episodes
2 seasons · 48 episodes
Episode 01
Pilot
Phyllis' husband, Lars, suddenly dies only to leave Phyllis and her daughter Bess with no money. Desperate, they move to San Francisco to live with Lars' mother Audrey and her new husband Jonathan Dexter. At a reception for Lars' friends, Phyllis meets her new boss Julie Erskine, owner of Erskine Photography. Phyllis later discovers that Julie dated Lars at the same time he was dating her and he proposed to Julie first.
Episode 02
Bess, Is You a Woman Now?
Bess goes away on a weekend ski trip. Phyllis makes a phone call to Bess' room to see how she is doing only to find someone else answer the phone, a young man. Phyllis is worried that Bess is no longer her innocent daughter.
Episode 03
Up for Grabs
An old friend of Lars is in town to discuss some business with Phyllis. However, he is more interested in Phyllis fpr reasons other than business.
Episode 04
Leaving Home
Mother Dexter is upset that Phyllis and Bess have stolen her guest bedroom, so Phyllis decides to move out on her own. Her new apartment, however, is a total dump.
Episode 05
The First Day
Phyllis writes to her friend Mary Richards to tell her all about her new life and how hard it was when she first started working.
Episode 06
Phyllis Takes Piano Lessons
Phyllis has always regretted that she never finished her piano recital as a child because she froze on stage. She decides to take lessons again, she discovers that she is the only adult in the children's class.
Episode 07
Phyllis' Garage Sale
All of Phyllis' belongings arrive from Minneapolis and clutters the house--literally. Phyllis decides to have a garage sale, but has trouble letting go of her things.
Episode 08
The First Date
Phyllis is going to go on a double date with Julie, for the first time since Lars died and is nervous about getting into the routine again.
Episode 09
All Together Now
Phyllis feels that she does not really ""know"" Bess. First, she tries to go out with Bess to a dance club and when that doesn't work. Then, she gets an insane idea of staying up all night and having them tell all kinds of secrets about themselves.
Episode 10
Audrey Leaves Jonathan
Audrey is upset when she learns that Jonathan had an affair on his first wife while he was in the service. She feels that if he's done it once, he'll do it again. She decides to leave him, only to move next door to Phyllis' room. Jonathan must tell her he loves her because he never has.
Episode 11
Phyllis Opens Julie's Heart
Phyllis must try to comfort Julie after she sees her boyfriend with another woman.
Episode 12
So Lonely I Could Cry
Phyllis finds her self all alone when Bess is gone for the weekend and the Dexter's go on vacation. She must try to entertain herself for the entire weekend with no one else around.
Episode 13
Phyllis and the Little People
Bess announces her plans to marry. Phyllis invites the boy's parents over only to discover that they are little people and must deal with her discomfort throughout the evening.
Episode 14
There's No Business Like No Business
The photo studio is in financial trouble and Phyllis tries to land an account for the company but fails. Jonathan decides to invest some money into the business.
Episode 15
Paging Dr. Lindstrom
Phyllis meets a medium at the studio and discusses the afterlife. Audrey, by chance, meets him and invites him over to have a seance to contact Lars.
Episode 16
The $17,623,419.53 Man
Phyllis meets a wealthy business tycoon named Harry Loomis who proposes to her.
Episode 17
Honor Thy Mother Dexter
Phyllis believes that the reason Sally (Judith Lowry) is so grouchy is because she has nothing to do in life. First Phyllis tries to put her in the workforce by getting her a job at the studio. That was a big mistake. Then, Phyllis tries to fix her up with a date.
Episode 18
Phyllis in Love
Phyllis falls in love with a tennis player who just happens to be married.
Episode 19
Crazy Mama
Bess has finally had it with her mother and feels she has no privacy. Thus, Bess moves out and Phyllis must go after her and convince her to return home.
Episode 20
A Man, a Woman, and Another Woman
Phyllis' old lawyer friend Jerome returns to San Francisco with his new young bride.
Episode 21
Leo's Suicide
Leo gets depressed and takes some of Audrey's pills (which happen to be no more than placebos.)
Episode 22
Sonny Boy
Jonathan's brother comes to visit and Phyllis must become a middleman between sibling rivalry.
Episode 23
Widows, Merry and Otherwise
Audrey's niece, a recent widow, comes to visit, and Phyllis must try to comfort her since she is too a widow.
Episode 24
The Triangle
Bess's old boy boyfriend who falls for Phyllis after he is dumped by Bess.
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