Louise Lasser managed three appearances on Taxi as Alex's ex-wife, Phyllis. I remember this episode and another one in which she had a date with Louie and Alex had to come to her rescue.
This Christmas episode was clearly her first appearance and was a memorable one. Clearly, Phyllis was slated to be a recurring character and branch out the women on the show, of which there were only two, Marilu Henner and Carol Kane.
Whatever the reason, she didn't come back anymore, but her initial appearance was hilarious. All the woe attached to the holidays came out thru this single woman, delivering wonderful dialogue wanting to hide in the taxi and peek out the trunk, then pleading with Alex not to send her out on Christmas so her doorman won't know she has no place to go.
And I always enjoyed her sprawled on that couch eating everything out of Alex' refrigerator, tho the laughter from the audience was sparse.
Then Alex takes Phyllis to Lakta and Simka's Christmas party.
Wonderful episode and clearly Lasser was an underrated talent.
This Christmas episode was clearly her first appearance and was a memorable one. Clearly, Phyllis was slated to be a recurring character and branch out the women on the show, of which there were only two, Marilu Henner and Carol Kane.
Whatever the reason, she didn't come back anymore, but her initial appearance was hilarious. All the woe attached to the holidays came out thru this single woman, delivering wonderful dialogue wanting to hide in the taxi and peek out the trunk, then pleading with Alex not to send her out on Christmas so her doorman won't know she has no place to go.
And I always enjoyed her sprawled on that couch eating everything out of Alex' refrigerator, tho the laughter from the audience was sparse.
Then Alex takes Phyllis to Lakta and Simka's Christmas party.
Wonderful episode and clearly Lasser was an underrated talent.
