On Thursday, October 11, 2012 3:49:45 PM UTC-4, Scott Brady wrote:
> Actress Beverly Archer, who played Iola Boylan in Mama's Family and Gunnery Sgt. Alva Bricker in Major Dad, has died. Archer died from natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, California on October 1. Ms. Archer was 64.
She was a very recognizable TV face, one of those comedy utility players who could always be depended on to get laughs.
I first became aware of Beverly Archer from her starring role on "We've Got Each Other," an MTM-produced sitcom in the 1977-78 season; it aired on CBS Saturday nights at 8:30 PM Eastern time, in between "The Bob Newhart Show" and "The Jeffersons." (This was the last season in which CBS comedies ruled on Saturdays; "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" had just ended its run, and "The Bob Newhart Show" was in its final season, as was 10 PM anchor "The Carol Burnett Show." By the following season, audiences had migrated to ABC for "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island.")
Oliver Clark, who had just spent three seasons in a recurring role as group therapy patient Mr. Herd on MTM's "The Bob Newhart Show," played a nerdy, wacky inventor who stayed home and did the cooking and cleaning, while his equally nerdy wife (Archer) worked for a photographer (Tom Poston). Joan Van Ark played a fashion model who worked in the studio. Jim Burrows was one of the directors, and Jay Tarses was one of the writers.
I don't recall the show being a comedy classic, but it stood out to me at the time because the leads wore glasses and weren't gorgeous. They were more interested in being funny than looking perfect, and as a kid that made an impact on me. And I've enjoyed seeing both Clark and Archer pop up on TV ever since. Very sad to learn of her passing.
-Tim