The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a landmark TV show that ran for seven seasons, from 1970-1977. It was a ground-breaking show named after it's central character's (Mary Richard) real name of the well-known TV actress Mary Tyler Moore. As arguably the first (and many may say the best) true ensemble cast format of situation comedy television, it became popular not only for it's namesake star but for the entire cast of unique characters. 

Mary Tyler Moore was already a recognizable face by millions of TV households by the time "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" hit the airwaves. As Rob Petrie's (portrayed by namesake star Dick Van Dyke) wife Laura Petrie, she had already charmed audiences as an adorable and funny all-American sweetheart on the sitcom 'The Dick Van Dyke Show" from 1961-1966. For The Mary Tyler Moore Show, created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, this CBS show's premise was unlike any other before. Mary Richards was a single career woman in her thirties and the focus was on her life via her friends and co-workers. While it may seem not so earth-shattering today, it was virtually unheard of before this 1970 debut to have a prime-time TV sitcom where the focus was on an independent woman (not a widow, not a divorcee, not even a housewife minus the husband) who was also NOT demonstrating desperate pursuits of a man in her life, but rather on her career and friendships. Mary Richards was very attractive and she dated but she chose real balance in her life that suited her life and was happy with her choices. Her personality was still as bubbly, approachable and funny as she was known to be from her Laura Petrie days, but now she had her own voice and decisions. 

In the very first episode of the first season - "Love is All Around", aired 9/19/1970- (there was no pilot), Mary Richards is a new transplant to Minneapolis after her fiance rejects her and she shows up for a job interview with her prospective new boss, Mr. Grant (portrayed by Ed Asner). She applies for the secretarial position, which is filled, but is offered the Associate Producer of WJM-TV's Six O'clock News instead. (WJM is an acronym for "Wild" Jack Monroe, the station's owner.) The exchange between the two is a hilarious foreshadowing of their unique working relationship of a cranky, cynical boss meeting a spunky, optimistic woman:

Lou Grant: "You've got spunk." [his face smiles for the very first time]
Mary Richards: "Well, yes." [coyly smiles, almost blushing for the compliment and nods in agreement]
Lou Grant: "I HATE spunk." [his face dramatically turns back to cranky anger] and the uproar of laughter...  

This is also the episode we are introduced to Phyllis, the landlord who rents Mary her apartment, which in addition to her office setting is the other constant mainstay backdrop of the show. Towards the end of the show's run she moves into another apartment. But frankly, I was never a fan of the 2nd place- too dark, small and less homey-feeling. Phyllis, who has a flippant teen daughter named Bess, is portrayed by Cloris Leachman (shows 1970-1975). She's a nosy control-freak and a tad elitist but reflects the current-day activism of women's rights and comes across as sincere in her own way. Phyllis had a never-seen husband named Lars but became a widow after 5 seasons and moved to the west coast to have her own spin-off show called, "Phyllis." She has a somewhat contentious relationship with the upstairs' neighbor, Rhoda. 

Rhoda Morgenstern, portrayed by Valerie Harper (shows 1970-1974), is quite opposite from Mary. Rhoda is an artistic and outgoing free-spirit. She's also sassy, wise-cracking and self-deprecating. They become best friends and we're also introduced to Rhoda's delightfully funny family- her mother Ida (played by Nancy Walker), her younger sister Brenda (played by Julie Kavner) when she gets married in the 4th season and moves to New York City. She also got her own spin-off show, again created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, which ran for 4 seasons (1974-1978). 

Back at the office, Sue Ann Nivens, portrayed ingeniously by Betty White (shows 1973-1977), was an incredibly fun character. She was the host of the station's cooking and homemaking show called The Happy Homemaker. She was drastically different in personality off-camera than in-front. On camera she was the 70's version of Martha Stewart (in a "Stepford Wife" way). Off-camera she was biting in her flinging insults with Murray and her look-down-upon zingers to Mary. But she was also openly flirtatious with Lou Grant, in an aggressive style. The contrast of her two personalities always was played up flawlessly with hilarious dialogue.

Mary's closest co-worker pal is Murray Slaughter, portrayed by Gavin McLeod (later known as "The Love Boat" 's Captain Stubing.) Murray was married, to Marie, with children. I recall a sweet and tearful episode when they adopted a child. He was the lead writer; an overall nice guy and very easy-going but always loved poking fun at Ted. Portrayed in a unique humor style that only Ted Knight could play, Ted Baxter was the overly-confident news anchor. Vain and tremendously daft, he is the constant center of every joke. Ted was known for his laugh and goofy demeanor. Georgette is Ted's sweetly delicate and naive girlfriend then wife, portrayed by Georgia Engel (shows 1972-1977). And Ted Knight got a couple of shows of his own too but not spin-offs. The Ted Knight Show ran for 6 weeks in 1978 (about an escort service) and "Too Close For Comfort" which fared far better for 3 seasons and ended production during rerun syndication due to Knight's illness.       

Ed Asner had a very popular spin-off show titled after his Mary Tyler Moore Show character, "Lou Grant," from the years 1977-1982. He has remained as a VERY actively working and award-winning actor on television and in film ever since. As you can see, with this full cast of talented actors, it's no wonder the show was so highly rated and remains a classic today. The Mary Tyler Moore Show earned 29 Emmy awards, (a record that remained unbroken until 2002 when the show Frazier won 30), 3 Golden Globes, a Peabody award and countless honors and nominations. In 2007, TIME Magazine listed "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" as part of the 17 Shows That Changed TV. And it was voted #11 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

A recognizable signature of the show was both the opening and closing credit sequences. Most notably, when Mary tosses her beret hat in air and at the closing with the kitten's meow instead of the typical lion's roar. By the way, that's a wig Mary wears in the first season- they didn't want her to look too close to Laura Petrie and she magically transitioned to her natural hair starting the 2nd season, without a single reference as to why. They also redid the opening sequence after the 3rd season but kept in that iconic beret toss. 

The Mary Tyler Moore Show truly did change television in both quality of excellence in cast talent and writing but also in social conscience. As a little girl, it was wonderful to see Mary Richards as a role model. I wondered how many other little girls wanted to grow up to become an independent career woman like Mary, as I did. I've always been known for my different accents and voice impressions so my "Oh Rob!" and "Mr. Grant" were well known by my friends. Many even said I had a bit of a resemblance to Mary Tyler Moore which helped all the more. So I was especially delighted a few years ago when my genealogy-hunting aunts discovered that I was indeed related to Mary Tyler Moore. Absolutely made my day!

 *This post is part of Me-TV's Summer of Classic TV Blogathon hosted by the Classic TV Blog Association. Go to http://classic-tv-blog-assoc.blogspot.com) to view more posts in this blogathon. You can also go to http://metvnetwork.com to learn more about Me-TV and view its summer line-up of classic TV shows.