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The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd was an NBC/Lifetime dramedy that debuted in 1987. It was created by Jay Tarses and starred Blair Brown in the title role.
Premise
The show depicted the life of Molly Bickford Dodd, a divorced woman living in New York City who had a lifestyle that could be defined as both yuppie and bohemian. Molly seemed to drift from job to job and relationship to relationship. Her ex-husband, a ne'er-do-well jazz musician, still cares for her. In fact, nearly every man she meets (and the occasional woman) adores her. Her warmth and emotional accessibility is the root cause of most of Molly's problems in life.
Production
Unlike the traditional sitcom, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd had story lines that often did not resolve in a single episode.
The show was filmed using a single camera, departing from the three-camera technique common in U.S. sitcoms since the days of I Love Lucy. Using only one camera created a single point of view, as if the viewer were observing the goings-on as Molly's companion.
Tarses wrote and directed many of its episodes (and made a number of cameo appearances).
Broadcasts
NBC first broadcast the show as a summer replacement in 1987 running 13 episodes. It was critically acclaimed and a moderate ratings success (it was featured in the network's then-powerhouse Thursday night lineup), but was not featured in the network's fall schedule.
It was a mid-season replacement for NBC again in spring 1988, with 12 episodes (a season-ending 13th episode was produced by not aired). NBC cancelled the show after its second season.
The Lifetime Television cable network decided to pick the show up, first re-airing the 26 episodes originally produced, then commissioning three more 13-episode seasons for 1989, 1990, and 1991.
Cast
In addition to Brown and Tarses, the cast included Allyn Ann McLerie as Molly's mother, James Greene as her building's elevator operation/doorman, William Converse-Roberts as her ex-husband Fred Dodd, and Maureen Anderman as her best friend Nina. Sandy Faison was a cast member during its run on NBC. Actors David Strathairn and Richard Lawson each appeared in about a third of the episodes (both playing characters who were romantic interests for Molly).
Major recurring roles were held by Victor Garber, Richard Venture (who played Molly's father), George Gaynes, John Pankow, and J. Smith-Cameron.
Now-well-known actors making multiple appearances in guest roles include Nathan Lane and Gina Gershon. Wesley Snipes and Samuel L. Jackson appear in a single episode as guests at a party.
Awards
The show earned Brown five Emmy Award nominations as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, one for each year the show was on. Tarses was also the recipient of multiple nominations.
Influence on other shows
When The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd first appeared, dramedy was a fairly unproven art form. Molly Dodd and its blend of comedy and drama, particularly romantic comedy and melodrama, was an influence on several subsequent programs, particularly Ally McBeal and Sex and the City.
External links and references
- A fan's website for the show, ad-free and very detailed
Comedy-drama television series | NBC network shows | Lifetime network shows | 1980s TV shows in the United States | 1990s TV shows in the United States
"The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd"