One of the best network sitcoms to emerge from the 1970s (and it was a crowded field indeed during that remarkable decade!), #The Mary Tyler Moore Show starred the titular actress as Mary Richards, a single, slightly insecure woman in her early thirties... more
One of the best network sitcoms to emerge from the 1970s (and it was a crowded field indeed during that remarkable decade!), #The Mary Tyler Moore Show starred the titular actress as Mary Richards, a single, slightly insecure woman in her early thirties who worked as associate producer for the evening news broadcast at independent Minneapolis station WJM-TV. Mary's boss was irascible-but-lovable producer Lou Grant (Edward Asner); head writer for the newscast was upbeat if somewhat sarcastic Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod); and the WJM anchorman was Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), blessed with dazzling looks, a mellifluous voice, an enormous ego, and a pea-sized intellect. In the early seasons, future #Good Times star John Amos was seen as WJM weatherman Gordy Howard; and beginning in the series' #fourth season, Betty White was added to the cast as Sue Ann Nivens, hostess of the station's "Happy Homemaker" show, whose sugary-sweet demeanor masked a powerful sex drive. When not at the studio, Mary Richards could be found in her small apartment, palling around with her brash, New York-bred neighbor Rhoda Morganstern (Valerie Harper), who worked as a department-store window dresser; and with her landlady, supercilious busybody Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman), who prattled endlessly about her never-seen husband, Lars, and who carried on a battle of wits with the acidulous Rhoda. Seen on a less frequent basis were Phyllis' spoiled daughter, Bess (Lisa Gerritsen); Murray's perky wife, Marie (Joyce Bulifant); and beginning in the #third season, Ted Baxter's soft-spoken but iron-willed girlfriend, Georgette Franklin (Georgia Engel), who eventually married Ted and bore him a daughter.
As #The Mary Tyler Moore Show rolled on, both Valerie Harper and Cloris Leachman departed for their own spin-off series, respectively #Rhoda and #Phyllis. Also, Lou Grant and his wife, Edie (Priscilla Morrill), were divorced, Ted and Georgette adopted an eight-year-old boy named David (Robbie Rist), and Mary moved out of her old apartment and into a high rise -- though she took her trademarked "Big M" wall decoration with her. In the series' now-legendary final episode, the new station manager of WJM-TV decided to fire everyone on the staff -- except, incredibly, for the dimwitted Ted Baxter! Originally telecast by CBS from September 19, 1970, through September 3, 1977, #The Mary Tyler Moore Show was not only the recipient of numerous industry awards, but it also served as the cornerstone for the thriving MTM Productions TV-series factory, which turned out such worthwhile efforts as #Lou Grant, a straight dramatic series starring Ed Asner in a continuation of his #Mary Tyler Moore role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide less
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