The Mary Tyler Moore Show(CBS)
Premiere: September 19, 1970
End: March 19, 1977
Mary Tyler Moore, fresh out of her role as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, plays Mary Richards, a 30 year old single woman who comes to live in Minneapolis. It is here that she became best friends with Rhoda Morgenstern(Valerie Harper) and Phyllis Lindstrom(Cloris Leachman). She then comes to work at WJM-TV News, where she works under the direction of crusty Lou Grant(Ed Asner). She then makes friends with sarcastic head writer Murray Slaughter(Gavin McLeod) and airhead news anchorman Ted Baxter(Ted Knight). Other people who later joined the cast included romantic cooking-show host Sue Ann Nivens(Betty White) and shy Georgette Franklin(Georgia Engel), who later became Ted's wife.
The first cast, seasons 1-4. Clockwise, from left: Valerie Harper(Rhoda Morgenstern), Ed Asner(Lou Grant), Cloris Leachman(Phyllis Lindstrom), Ted Knight(Ted Baxter), Mary Tyler Moore(Mary Richards), and Gavin MacLeod(Murray Slaughter).
The later cast, seasons 5-7. Bottom, from left to right: Betty White(Sue Ann Nivens), Georgia Engel(Georgette Baxter), Mary Tyler Moore(Mary Richards). Top: Ted Knight, Gavin MacLeod, and Ed Asner.
Best Episodes:
Season 1, Episode 6 "Support Your Local Mother"
When Rhoda's mother Ida pays a visit from New York, Rhoda, tired of her mother's meddling ways, refuses to speak to her. Mary hosts Ida in her apartment, all the while trying to get Rhoda to reconcile with her mother before she goes home.
When Rhoda's mother Ida pays a visit from New York, Rhoda, tired of her mother's meddling ways, refuses to speak to her. Mary hosts Ida in her apartment, all the while trying to get Rhoda to reconcile with her mother before she goes home.
Season 3, Episode 17 "My Brother's Keeper"
When Phyllis' brother Ben visits, Phyllis hopes he will be a good match for Mary, but is dismayed when he hits it off with Rhoda instead. When Phyllis confronts Rhoda, Rhoda matter-of-factly informs Phyllis that they won't be getting married because he isn't her type. When Phyllis asks her to elaborate, she reveals the stunning revelation, or at least it's a revelation to Phyllis: "He's gay!"
When Phyllis' brother Ben visits, Phyllis hopes he will be a good match for Mary, but is dismayed when he hits it off with Rhoda instead. When Phyllis confronts Rhoda, Rhoda matter-of-factly informs Phyllis that they won't be getting married because he isn't her type. When Phyllis asks her to elaborate, she reveals the stunning revelation, or at least it's a revelation to Phyllis: "He's gay!"
Season 4, Episode 1 "The Lars Affair"
Phyllis is stunned-and utterly devastated-to learn her husband Lars is having an affair with Sue Ann Nivens, the network's cooking-show host "The Happy Homemaker". She decides to fight for Lars, and has a showdown with Sue Ann on the set of Sue Ann's show.
Phyllis is stunned-and utterly devastated-to learn her husband Lars is having an affair with Sue Ann Nivens, the network's cooking-show host "The Happy Homemaker". She decides to fight for Lars, and has a showdown with Sue Ann on the set of Sue Ann's show.
Season 6, Episode 7 "Chuckles BItes the Dust"
In the funniest episode of the show ever, the newsroom staff is stunned when the station clown, Chuckles(who replaced Ted as the grand marshal of the circus parade), is killed after an unfortunate accident involving an elephant mistaking him for a peanut. Much to Mary's chagrin, Murray starts making jokes about the incident, and Lou quickly follows suit. Mary chides them all for behaving disrespectfully, even as they arrive at the funeral. But during the minister's eulogy, it is Mary who cannot keep herself from laughing. But when the minster has her stand up and tells her to "Laugh..for Chuckles.", because nothing would have made him happier, she promptly bursts into tears.
In the funniest episode of the show ever, the newsroom staff is stunned when the station clown, Chuckles(who replaced Ted as the grand marshal of the circus parade), is killed after an unfortunate accident involving an elephant mistaking him for a peanut. Much to Mary's chagrin, Murray starts making jokes about the incident, and Lou quickly follows suit. Mary chides them all for behaving disrespectfully, even as they arrive at the funeral. But during the minister's eulogy, it is Mary who cannot keep herself from laughing. But when the minster has her stand up and tells her to "Laugh..for Chuckles.", because nothing would have made him happier, she promptly bursts into tears.
Season 7, Episode 24 "The Last Show"(Series FInale)
New management at WJM leads to major layoffs in the newsroom-everyone gets fired except for Ted. Mary, in particular, is depressed, so Lou flies out Rhoda and Phyllis for a surprise visit. That still does nothing to prepare her for the last day in the newsroom. This all culminates in a final scene where the staff, after sharing a group hug, marches out of the newsroom singing "It's A Long Way To Tipperary", with Mary being the last one out.
New management at WJM leads to major layoffs in the newsroom-everyone gets fired except for Ted. Mary, in particular, is depressed, so Lou flies out Rhoda and Phyllis for a surprise visit. That still does nothing to prepare her for the last day in the newsroom. This all culminates in a final scene where the staff, after sharing a group hug, marches out of the newsroom singing "It's A Long Way To Tipperary", with Mary being the last one out.