The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987)
A beloved late-80s dramedy following a divorced New Yorker through love, reinvention, and the beautiful mess of everyday life.
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd - Series Information
- Original Title: The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
- First Air Year: 1987
- Last Air Year: 1991
- Created by: Jay Tarses
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (36 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 5
- Number of Episodes: 65
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: NBC, Lifetime
- Production Companies: You And Me Kid Productions
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd - Plot
Molly Dodd — a mid-30s, divorced woman living in New York — faces the comedy and drama of a widely changing career, difficulties of apartment living, love life and its consequences, and more.
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Jay Tarses
Main Cast
- Blair Brown
- James Greene
- Allyn Ann McLerie
- William Converse-Roberts
- Richard Lawson
- David Strathairn
- George Gaynes
- Maureen Anderman
- J. Smith-Cameron
- Victor Garber
Writers
- Elaine Arata
- Bob Brush
- Jay Tarses
- Eric Overmyer
- Jeffrey Lane
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd - FAQs
Who plays the lead role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd?
Blair Brown plays Molly Dodd, the show's warm and wonderfully complicated central character. Her performance anchored the series across all five seasons and earned her widespread critical praise, including Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role.
What is The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd about?
The series follows Molly Dodd, a divorced woman in her mid-30s living in New York City, as she navigates a constantly shifting career, the quirks of apartment life, and a complicated romantic landscape. It blends sharp comedy with genuine emotional depth in a way that felt fresh and distinctly human.
Why was The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd cancelled by NBC?
NBC cancelled the show after two seasons despite strong critical support, citing modest ratings. Creator Jay Tarses then moved the series to Lifetime, where it ran for three more seasons — an unusual second life that reflected just how passionately fans and critics had rallied around it.
How many seasons does The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd have?
The series ran for five seasons totalling 65 episodes, plus a small collection of specials. It began on NBC in 1987 and, after being cancelled, found a new home on Lifetime where it continued through 1991.
Did The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd win any awards?
The series earned significant award recognition during its run. Blair Brown received Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and the show was praised by the Television Critics Association. Its innovative blend of comedy and drama made it a perennial awards conversation piece throughout the late 1980s.
What genre is The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd?
The series occupies that rare, comfortable space between drama and comedy — a true dramedy. It handles heartbreak, career uncertainty, and romantic missteps with equal parts wit and sincerity, making it genuinely difficult to pigeonhole and all the more rewarding for it.
What shows are similar to The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd?
Fans of the series often enjoy Sex and the City, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Mozart in the Jungle for their New York settings and sharp female perspectives. And Just Like That… and The Bold Type also capture that mix of romantic complexity and professional reinvention that made Molly Dodd so distinctive.
Who created The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd?
Jay Tarses created the series, and his fingerprints are all over it — from the naturalistic dialogue to the show's refusal to wrap storylines in tidy resolutions. Tarses also appeared on screen in a recurring role as Nick Donatello, adding a personal dimension to the project.
More About The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
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