The Mary Tyler Moore Show Thread (Love Is All Around)

We’ve been watching S1 of this show… I had never seen it, but I’m obv aware of its rep. You can sure see how later shows are directly in its bloodline, particularly ones set in broadcasting (like Murphy Brown and NewsRadio).

The jokes aren’t quite at a consistent level (yet – I know this is still early), and scenes sometimes end abruptly, in a weird way; but the characters are great and there are some genuine laughs. Ed Asner is just terrific!

The conceit that Rhoda is supposed to be Mary’s “dumpy, frumpy” friend is, uh, pretty funny (if you look at Valerie Harper). She’s also one of the best parts of the show… will have to watch the spinoff, when we get there. (Has any other sitcom had three (3) spin-offs? there must’ve been at least one, right?)

No disrespect to Cloris Leachman (who is cool), but I don’t think we’ll be checking out Phyllis… that character is a drag! (Leachman looks great, though… she’s 10 years older than MTM, but you wouldn’t know it.)

On that note, looking up these actors on Wikipedia, you’re hit by that thing where people “aged differently” back then. Ted Knight is basically my age here(!!) And Asner is like 41, but looks 15 years older.

Has any other sitcom had three (3) spin-offs? there must’ve been at least one, right?

All in the Family had, I believe, something like six or seven, but some of those were spinoffs from spinoffs

Think Phyllis is paired with Beth to soften the blow.

We’ve had this discussion on other threads, about how old the drinking, smoking and bad food made people age faster back in the day, maybe it was in reference to The Wild Bunch.

Think Phyllis is paired with Beth to soften the blow.

We’ve had this discussion on other threads, about how old the drinking, smoking and bad food made people age faster back in the day, maybe it was in reference to The Wild Bunch.

Sorry, some wormhole anomaly caused a bifurcation.

Starts here: The Wild Bunch Poll
Bonus points for Morbs appearances on his flapjack weekend.

re: spinoffs, Happy Days had Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Joanie Loves Chachi, and a bunch more less successful ones

I acknowledge that if I had a head of white hair like Ted Knight did, I would look older (…it is more than that, though).

On the other hand, he sort of still looked the same in the ‘80s… he’s one of those guys who grew into a certain “look” early, and then maintained it.

(Thx, I forgot about Happy Days)

Yeah, Ted Knight and Leslie Nielsen both had that "look" achieved by, seemingly, age 38

👍

It’s interesting how (at least in this first season) the office setting is used fairly sparingly. Most episodes are random stories about Mary—her apartment is robbed; she gets her tonsils out; etc. I get she’s the focus of the show, but I was expecting more office politics!

the fascinating life of the single woman!

i love the apartment stuff, better still the crossovers when work colleagues come over to her apartment etc

Ted Knight’s character is so fuckin weird, I love it…

I haven't seen this show since it showed on Nick at Nite, and though that hardly counts since I was about 12 and probably didn't grasp most of the situations. I started re-watching one a week with the 50th anniversary of the premiere, up to season 4 now. It's been fun watching the show's fashions move decisively into the 70s with this 1973 season. I don't think Rhoda has worn scarves for a bit now, it's all jackets and pantsuits. Also a relief that they let Moore ditch the wigs she had for the first few seasons.

Whenever I watch 60/70s TV, I too always try to guess how old the actors are based on how they look, and am usually surprised when I find out how much younger they are than my guess.

A fun history of the show came out a few years ago called Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted, which I recommend.

My partner also remains skeptical that Murray is meant to be a straight dude.

^right? that's a funny vibe.

I didn't realize he was (later) the Love Boat captain, until my wife pointed it out...

yeah the book is so good! great backstory on writer Treva Silverman for example

Oh yeah, really liked that book.

Ditto.