How the hell did Georgia Engel carve out such a half-way decent career?

She was runner up for Sophie's Choice.

I kinda like her

Maybe it's not her actual voice? One hopes.

it's her voice.

She gives a mean blow job.

Well, she'd dead now so stop worrying about it.

She's no Jo Ann Worley.

I prefer Joyce Bull Elephant.

Was a 'Minnie Fay' replacement in HELLO, DOLLY! on Broadway. I saw her in summer stock productions of SWEET CHARITY, MY ONE AND ONLY and more recently MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. Good dancer but that voice... friends who have worked with her in theater adore her.

I was 6 yrs-old when MTM premiered but I distinctly remember overhearing my grandmom complaining about her character on the show.

[quote]Her success as a third banana has always alluded me

eluded

She's no Ruth Buzzi

She's no Patti Deutsch.

She can be good in small doses. She was ok initially as Georgette when she was a minor character who would just have a handful of lines in the sporadic episode she was appearing. She was overused once they kind of had her replace Rhoda in the role of Mary's talk-to. Also, the last season they featured her a lot because they were trying to add some depth to Ted. Those moments of character-growth for Ted came off as contrived and false.

I know this show is not popular here, but she was well-used on Everyone Loves Raymond.

Because she is a genuinely gifted comedic actress who has an unmistakable anachronistic quality that is easy to remember and easy to cast.

Apart from being a uniquely gifted comedic actress she was an accomplished dancer and she is extremely easy to work with.

If you don't get it, you are in the distinct minority.

You might not enjoy her work, but you must be able to see how so many others do and have.

Having said that: Being easy to work with is a very useful quality to have in terms of longevity in the business.

What was her singing like?

[quote]She was runner up for Sophie's Choice.

That scene on MTM where she had to choose between Mary Lou and David (Robbie Rist) that almost got her the job.

[quote]Well, she'd dead now so stop worrying about it.

Nope.

And she's no Iola Lucille Boylan.

for r16

She was on only 14 episodes in three years of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and she was nominated for the Emmy for guest star three years in a row, so shaddup OP. She is talented.

"6 yrs-old"

Not only is "years" too much for you to type out, you can't even decide if your phrase is hyphenated or not?

Also for R16.

OP = ELDER MARY!

R22 = ELDER PHYLLIS!

I think she and MTM were in the same dance class and that's how she ended up on the show. Saw her in My One and Only and Drowsy Chaperone on broadway and audience loved her.

She was effective is small doses in the beginning, but when they expanded her role after Rhoda/Phyllis left, she was beyond obnoxious. Why did she accompany Ted everywhere, while we ever hardly saw Lou with Edie or Murray with Marie. Not that I would've wanted to see an equally cringworthy Joyce Bulifant, but that made no sense that Georgette would show up everywhere but not Marie. And there was absolutely no reason for her to appear in the final scene when they were all hugging. That was just ridiculous.

I agree with R15. Viva Georgia!

I bet Ted was relieved to get normal-voiced Nancy Dussault as his wife instead of that baby voice freak.

Hi Georgia!

She was very funny in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Love the Steam Heat clip.

Does anyone else remember the sitcom Good Time Girls? Set in the 40s, featuring Georgia as well as Annie Potts, Lorna Patterson, Peter Scolari and Adrian Zmed. What a piece of shit that was. Made me long for the days of Blanski's Beauties.

I remember the Goodtime Girls. Cute theme, but the show sucked. And why was Georgia third-billed after Annie Potts and Lorna Patterson? Georgia was the only "name" in the cast at that point.

For certain kinds of roles, Georgia Engel was unique and delightful. I don't know why everyone criticizes her voice; I find it amusingly different. Isn't this simply another DataLounge assault on somebody who never did you any harm? Yesterday it was Joyce De Witt. Who's next, Julie Andrews? Carol Burnett? Why don't you people go after someone who deserves it--like that evil bitch trying to destroy Woody Allen in The Jealous Love Rage That Will Never Die?

r35

We've bitched about Louise Lasser plenty.

I often wondered if Georgia ever had bad days on the set where she became difficult to the point of cussing out a cameraman or PA.

She's no Edie McClurg.

Oh you fucker, r36, you beat me to it.

Several years ago there were rumors of Georgia doing a Golden Girls type show with Beth Howland, Alysse Beasley and Didi Conn.

She's no Mitzi Hoag.

She was fantastic in Company.

She was amazing in Everybody Loves Raymond, and deserved every Emmy nomination. I saw her perform in The Drowsy Chaparone and she was a delight.

She's always been wonderful. There were a few memorable scenes when she punctured Ted Baxter's pomposity. Some of the characters were sort of cartoonish: she brought a vulnerability that made people want to protect her, and for her to protect us in return. Because you know she would.

She was and is wonderful. Distinctive, charming and refreshing.

In this surly world we live in, how lovely to have a person like her around to exude sweetness and light. LONG LIVE and LONG PROSPER MISS GEORGIA ENGEL.

She was great on Raymond. She was fine on MTM--they also expanded Betty White's role when Leachman and Harper left.

she's still alive. She's 70 years old.

Loved her as Pat MacDougall. A very edgy role for her. LOL

I loved her in Everybody Loves Raymond. Actually, all the recurring in-laws were good...Katharine Helmond, Robert Culp, Georgia and especially Fred Willard.

[quote]Why did she accompany Ted everywhere, while we ever hardly saw Lou with Edie or Murray with Marie. Not that I would've wanted to see an equally cringworthy Joyce Bulifant, but that made no sense that Georgette would show up everywhere but not Marie. And there was absolutely no reason for her to appear in the final scene when they were all hugging. That was just ridiculous.

Because she was Mary's and Rhoda's friend before she hooked up with Ted. Marie and Edie were not.

The short-lived "Betty White Show" featured Miss Engel, along with John Hillerman ("Magnum")

She's no Nedra Voltz

I have a friend who did theatre with her several decades ago in Hawaii. My friend could do a spot-on imitation of her voice, but didn't handy real dish on her--just that she was very religious. I saw her in Drowsy and thought she was lovely and charming. Jo Anne Worley took over the role--would have LOVED to see her onstage!

She's no Blossom Dearie.

I loved her when she was on Fantasy Island and the Love Boat with Diana Canova.

She should consider cornrows like Bo Derek to reach a younger audience,

Never married. Lez-lez?

That Betty White Show was awful! Thank you for posting it.

She's no Mary Wickes.

I adore her. Her role on ELR was just hilarious.

I have to go look this up now but ...she’s really only 70?

And yes someone else once posted a Betty white show episode on here and not only couldn’t I get thru it but I had to double check I wasn’t watching Public Access the videotape quality was so fucking cheap.

I don't dislike her, but I hate that fake open-mouthed smile of hers.

Many years ago, I saw her on the number 7 train. I was taking the 7 from Fifth Avenue to Queensboro Plaza change for the N to LIC. This was so long ago, after the MTM show went off the air. This might have been early or mid 1980s. The N line might have still been called the RR back then.

I think she missed her stop, because she was completely befuddled when she ended up in Queens on an elevated platform. She got out of the 7 and looked completely lost, just like her MTM character!

Then, I heard her voice and immediately knew it was her. I overheard some people telling her to get on the Manhattan bound N train and get off at 59th Street. She was on her way to Bloomingdales.

Lesbian.

She's no Kaye Ballard.

Too soon?

R61 you’re right. I’ve met her. Had brunch at Vynl. Lovely woman. Sweet. Kind. Without guile. However she was just like her character/persona. I think she knows what she’s selling and sells it well because she knows who she is. Great in Drowsy. Wonderful in Raymond. A nice side dish on MTM. Too often the main course as the show proceeded.

She has a Jack McBrayer smile.