The Mary Tyler Moore Show (also known as Mary Tyler Moore as seen in the opening titles) is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977. The program was a television breakthrough, with the first never-married, independent career woman as the central character:
As Mary Richards, a single woman in her thirties, Moore presented a character different from other single TV women of the time. She was not widowed or divorced or seeking a man to support her.
It has also been cited as "one of the most acclaimed television programs ever produced" in US television history. Over a seven-year period, it received high praise from critics and Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series three years in a row (1975, 1976, and 1977). The show continued to be honored long after the final episode aired. In 2003, USA Today called it "one of the best shows ever to air on TV". In 1997, TV Guide selected a Mary Tyler Moore Show episode as the best TV episode ever, and, in 1999, Entertainment Weekly picked Mary's hat toss in the opening credits as television's second greatest moment.
Overview
Mary Richards (Moore) is a single woman who, at age 30, moves to Minneapolis after breaking off an engagement with her boyfriend of two years. She applies for a secretarial job at TV station WJM-TV , only to find it has already been filled. To her surprise, she is offered the position of associate producer for the station's Six O'Clock News (which pays $10 a week less than the job she had originally sought).
At work, she befriends her tough-but-lovable boss Lou Grant (played by Edward Asner); sympathetic, long-suffering newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod); and pompous, dim-witted, and buffoonish anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight). Mary's other acquaintances and friends include upstairs neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), a self-deprecating ex-New Yorker who becomes her best friend; their neurotic, self-involved landlady, Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman); and Phyllis's precocious daughter Bess (Lisa Gerritsen). Characters introduced later are the acerbic, man-hungry host of WJM's cooking program, The Happy Homemaker , Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White); and sweet-natured, soft-spoken Georgette Franklin (Georgia Engel), Ted Baxter's girlfriend and eventual wife.
Cast
Main characters
- Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) When Moore was first approached about the show, she "was unsure and unwilling to commit, fearing any new role might suffer in comparison with her Laura character in The Dick Van Dyke Show , already cemented as one of the most popular parts in US TV history." It was originally planned for Mary to be a divorcée, but because the network was afraid viewers might think that Mary had divorced Rob Petrie, her character's husband on The Dick Van Dyke Show , the premise was changed to that of simply a broken engagement.
- Lou Grant (Edward Asner) Lou Grant is Mary's tough, work-oriented boss whose soft-hearted nature comes through even though he strongly tries to suppress it. He treats Mary like a daughter and always looks out for her. As producer of the news, he is responsible for the news ratings, which makes him despise Ted's mistakes and often criticize him, although it appears that he has a soft spot for Ted too. Following the end of the series, Asner continued to play the same character in the long-running dramatic series Lou Grant . This is one of the few times in TV history that a situation comedy spun off a dramatic series. In 2005, Asner reprised his character, though never identified as Lou Grant, in commercials for Minneapolis–St. Paul ABC affiliate KSTP's Eyewitness News .
- Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), the head copy writer, who saves his quips for Ted Baxter's mangling of his news reports, and Sue Ann Nivens' aggressive, man-hungry attitude. He also has a soft spot for Mary and the two are good friends, able to share their feelings and discuss things with each other. Murray enjoys his work most when he gets to write a big story or when he is able to tease Ted about Ted's many mistakes and his pompous attitude.
- Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), is the vain, pompous, dim-witted news anchor. It is a miracle that he has not been fired, as there has rarely, if ever, been a night where he has broadcast the news without making one, or several, mistakes. His main stumbling blocks are mispronouncing words and reading large words. He also tends to let personal situations get in the way of his job. Despite these downfalls, he is very vain and self-centered and considers himself to be the best news-caster ever. He believes that he is very important - on one occasion he sent a Christmas card to the president and was upset when he didn't receive one back. He also considers himself to be quite a 'ladies-man', although quite the opposite is true. The role was written with Jack Cassidy in mind. However, Cassidy did not feel the part was right for him and turned it down. Cassidy later appeared as a guest star in a 1971 episode as Ted's highly competitive and equally egocentric brother, Hal.
- Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) (1970–74), is Mary's best friend and upstairs neighbor. She is very down on herself and is always worried about her weight. She is also a bit jealous of Mary because of her looks and abilities. She has a very colorful and loud personality, and likes to express herself. She and Phyllis are always at odds and love finding faults with each other, and Rhoda usually comes out the victor in these battles of wit. Harper eventually got her own spinoff series, Rhoda .
- Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman) (1970–75), is Mary's snobbish landlady, wife (and later widow) of Dr. Lars Lindstrom and mother of Bess. She is a busy-body and loves to be in control of things. She is very emotional, and she is also very pushy and finds it very easy to manipulate Mary to get what she wants. She is actively involved in groups and clubs, is a political activist, and is a supporter of Women's Liberation. She also starred in her own spinoff series, Phyllis .
- Georgette Franklin Baxter (Georgia Engel) (1972–77), Ted's sweet-natured but slightly naive girlfriend and eventual wife, she becomes a good friend to Mary.
- Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) (1974–77), host of The Happy Homemaker show. Her superficially ever-cheerful demeanor belies her true, man-chasing nature. She is particularly attracted to Lou Grant (who in no way returns her interest).
Recurring characters
- Gordy Howard (John Amos) (1970–73), the station's weatherman
- Bess Lindstrom (Lisa Gerritsen) (1970–75), Phyllis' precocious daughter
- Lars Lindstrom (1970-1975), Phyllis' never-seen dermatologist husband. The character dies when Phyllis leaves The Mary Tyler Moore Show to start the series Phyllis .
- Ida Morgenstern (Nancy Walker) (1970–73), Rhoda's meddling, domineering mother
- Martin Morgenstern (Harold Gould) (1972–73), Rhoda's father
- Marie Slaughter (Joyce Bulifant) (1971–77), Murray's wife
- Dottie Richards (Nanette Fabray) (1972), Mary's mother
- Walter Richards (Bill Quinn) (1972), Mary's father
- Edie Grant (Priscilla Morrill) (1973–75), Lou's wife. They eventually get divorced.
- Andy Rivers (John Gabriel) (1973–75), the station's sports reporter, and an occasional romantic interest of Mary's
- Flo Meredith (Eileen Heckart) (1975–76), Mary's famous journalist aunt. She and Lou are attracted to each other, but they are not willing to compromise their separate careers to build a serious relationship.
- David Baxter (Robbie Rist) (1976–77), the Baxters' adopted son
- Chuckles the Clown (1970-75), host of WJM's morning children's show. He was played in one episode by Richard Schaal and in another by Mark Gordon, but was otherwise offscreen, and was finally killed off in the memorable Season 6 episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust".
Awards and honors
Emmys
By earning 29 Emmy Awards, the Mary Tyler Moore Show set a record that was not broken until Frasier earned its 30th in 2002, ultimately earning 37 by 2004.
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Edward Asner
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Valerie Harper
- Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series — James L. Brooks & Allan Burns, for episode "Support Your Local Mother"
- Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Jay Sandrich, for episode "Toulouse Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists"
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Edward Asner
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Valerie Harper
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Mary Tyler Moore
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Ted Knight
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Valerie Harper
- Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Jay Sandrich, for episode "It's Whether You Win or Lose"
- Actress of the Year — Series — Mary Tyler Moore
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Mary Tyler Moore
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