The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)

About The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. The series tells the story of Mary Richards, a single woman in her thirties, who moves to Minneapolis after a broken engagement and lands a job as an associate producer for a fictional television news program, WJM-TV. The show was a prominent platform for feminist ideals and is remembered as one of television's first programs to realistically portray an independent, working woman.

Making / Production

The show was created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and produced by MTM Enterprises, a production company established by Moore and her then-husband Grant Tinker. It was filmed before a live audience and was groundbreaking for its combination of light-hearted comedic elements with more serious and realistic themes.

Actors

• Mary Tyler Moore - as Mary Richards, she brought an independent and modern woman's perspective to television, not only influencing the show but a generation of women.
• Edward Asner - as Lou Grant, Asner perfectly captured the gruff but caring boss.
• Valerie Harper - as Rhoda Morgenstern, she played Mary's best friend and was admired for bringing depth and relatability to the role.
• Gavin MacLeod - as Murray Slaughter, he successfully balanced being a supportive friend to Mary and a witty co-worker.
• Ted Knight - as Ted Baxter, Knight presented the hilariously pompous TV anchor with a heart of gold.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show was the first to have a lead character who was a single, independent working woman.
• Mary Tyler Moore's character was initially intended to be a divorcée, but network executives thought this would be too controversial.
• The show spun off three other successful sitcoms: Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant.

Awards

The show won 29 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most for any scripted series at the time. Mary Tyler Moore and Edward Asner both won multiple Emmys for their performances, and the series itself won Outstanding Comedy Series three times.

Quotes

• "You've got spunk. I hate spunk." - Lou Grant
• "I'm an experienced woman. I've been around... Well, all right, I might not've been around, but I've been... nearby." - Mary Richards
• "If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to convince that woman that I'm just as good as she thinks I am." - Ted Baxter

Music, Soundtrack

• The theme song "Love Is All Around" was written and performed by Sonny Curtis. It is one of the best-remembered theme songs of the era.