Mary Tyler Moore Show

By Persona Non Grata

First telecast in September, 1970 the Mary Tyler Moore show was part of the urban-career-girl genre first popularized in the late 60s.  After breaking up with a man she had been dating for several years, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) moved into a studio apartment in Minneapolis and found a job as assistant producer of the local television news show on WJM-TV.  Personifying the new independent woman of the decade, Mary was open to marriage to the right man yet content with her life and career.

R.I.P., Chuckles... One of the most amusing and memorable moments in television sitcom history occurred at the funeral of Chuckles the Clown. Courtesy CBS

At WJM-TV she worked for quick-tempered producer, Lou Grant (Edward Asner), who had a soft spot for Mary. Lou was relentlessly pursued by Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) the forty-something star of the Happy Homemaker Show. Anchorman was narcissistic, Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), a not-too-bright, buffoon with an enormous ego and the butt of jokes who who wandered around the newsroom announcing, "Hi, I'm Ted Baxter, the anchor man." 

Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod) was the happily-married, head news-writer and a good friend to Mary. Mary's best friend was her man-crazy upstairs neighbor, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), a department store window dresser, desperately seeking a husband. Landlady, Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman) whose husband Lars (frequently talked about but never seen) owned the building, was a self-absorbed, busybody.

The show spawned a trifecta of popular spinoffs: Rhoda, Lou Grant, and Phyllis.

		Mary Tyler Moore Show on DVD!

Mary Tyler Moore Show is now available on DVD! Get it at Amazon.com! Season One, Season Two

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My favorite MTM show was the one where Lou Grant gets really, really pissed at Ted because of something he said live on the show. Lou told Ted to go into his office and wait for him. Things start happening and Lou forgets that Ted's waiting for him in his office. The day ends, people leave and Ted is still sitting in the office. At the end of the episode, the lights are off in the entire office, Ted opens the door, peeks out, and then closes the door and (as I recall) starts whitstling and just stays in Mr. Grant's office. It was a classic. --Lynn

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