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The Mary Tyler Moore Show
THE SERIES: A high-water mark in series comedy, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was the matrix for countless TV sitcoms to follow, though few approached its overall quality or consistency. Moore, who had grown from an unknown "actress with the three names" to a comedy star on a par with her veteran co-workers at "The Dick Van Dyke Show," headlined her own series in September of 1970.
Moore played Mary Richards, a single "thirtysomething" career woman who came to Minneapolis to start anew after ending a relationship. The series divided its focus between Mary's private life and her career as the assistant producer of the news at TV station WJM. Stories dealt with the travails and triumphs of all aspects of Mary's life, in a sophisticated and relatively realistic fashion.
Foremost among Mary's co-workers was her boss, news producer Lou Grant, played by Edward Asner as a grizzly bear on the outside and teddy bear on the inside.
Sharing Mary's workspace was affable head writer Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), whose favorite sport was verbally deflating the pompous newsroom "star," anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight). Ted's massive ego was in direct proportion to his ineptitude. In later seasons, a new annoyance was added to Mary's cast at the TV station, in the form of Sue Ann Niven (Betty White) who, as the station's "Happy Homemaker," was a cloying precursor to Martha Stewart.
Mary's best friend was Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), a transplanted New Yorker who lived in Mary's apartment house and, like Mary, was a single woman in her thirties. The other major player at the apartment house was flaky landlady Phyllis Lindstrom, played by Cloris Leachman. There was plenty of friction between Rhoda and Phyllis, and Mary frequently served as a buffer for them.
In 1974 Rhoda departed the show for a series of her own, and Phyllis did likewise in 1975. By default, the newsroom loomed larger as the focus of the show, and Mary's co-workers, more than ever before, became her "family."
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show
FINAL EPISODE:
THE STORY: Lou confers on his office phone with Mr. Coleman, WJM-TV's new owner. Coleman has been firing people left and right and now, ominously, wants an evaluation of Ted. Mary and Murray, who are in the office with Lou, realize that offering an honest appraisal of Ted is akin to ordering a pink slip for him.
Lou tactfully suggests that Coleman can judge Ted for himself just by watching the news that evening. Ted enters the office and, from the uncharacteristically kind, sensitive greeting he receives, knows that something is gravely wrong.
The next morning, Coleman summons Lou, Mary, Murray and Ted for a meeting, though Ted is conspicuously absent. Coleman lays it on the line. Because of the low ratings, he has to get rid of everything that's pulling the broadcast down. In walks Ted, family in tow. Ted apologizes for being late then introduces Mr. Coleman to his "dependents," including a dog named "WJM." After Georgette gives a well-rehearsed,Ted-scripted sob story, Coleman asks Ted's family to wait outside while business is discussed. Coleman tells them he has to "decide where the problem is. Is it in front of the camera or behind the camera?" After careful deliberation, he goes with his instincts... and fires everyone except Ted.
The staff returns to the news room, shell-shocked except for a happy, smug Ted. Sue Ann is there and she's also been fired. Mr. Sensitive, Ted, tells them all that despite they're his best friends and they've all lost their jobs, he doesn't feel that bad. He wonders aloud about his lack of sympathetic emotion Is there nothing behind his handsome facade but talent?
Mary clutches a straw and begins to wonder if she was actually fired. Coleman's words, "...I'm letting the rest of you 'guys' go," could conceivably exclude her, since she's not a guy. However, a call to Coleman confirms that he meant her her especially. Mary thanks him for his time, apologizes for bothering him and then, as a very un-Marylike postscript, calls him a little runt. NEXT: GUEST STARS
THE SERIES | FINAL EPISODE | POSTSCRIPT | TRIVIA | TV GUIDE | INFO NEEDED TOP OF PAGE INDEX OF SHOWS The Mary Tyler Moore Show, cont.
Later at Mary's apartment, Lou shows up to deliver a surprise gift to lift her spirits... Mary's old pals, Rhoda and Phyllis. They hug and console Mary. Phyllis is convinced that Mary's firing is a case of sexual harassment and the men were fired just to cover the tracks. She also feels excluded when Rhoda only shows concern for Mary's well-being. Rhoda attempts to smooth Phyllis' ruffled feathers by asking her how things are going, and learns that Phyllis' husband, Lars, has died. Rhoda, shocked: "Why didn't you tell me?" Phyllis: "I was afraid you'd want to come for the funeral."
Mary tries to stop their bickering. Rhoda tells her to stop with the brave front and let her real feelings out. Mary starts bawling in Rhoda's arms while a jealous Phyllis watches. Rhoda sees Phyllis stewing and guides Mary into Phyllis' arms for equal time.
Later, at WJM-TV, Mary, Lou, Sue Ann and Murray watch as Ted concludes the final broadcast on their last day at work. Ted attempts to give his colleagues a touching on-air farewell, saying that what he's feeling for them can be best described in the lyrics of that wonderful old song..."It's a Long Way to Tipperary. It's a Long Way to Go."
Murray remarks, "I'll never forget what Ted said here tonight, but I sure as hell am gonna try."
Mary grows serious and wants to speak, but Lou, fearing an emotional scene, won't let her. Instead he tries to simply say "So long", but his voice cracks and out come the tears. Mary runs and embraces him. Lou tells his friends that he treasures them and, in tears, Murray, Sue Ann, Georgette and Ted join the embrace, a giant group hug. The hug waddles over to Mary's desk for some tissues. Mary breaks up the hug to say what she wanted to say earlier, that everyone there is her family. The hug regroups itself and the tears start again. Murray wonders how they're supposed top leave like this and Mr. Grant responds with a chorus of "It's a Long Way to Tipperary". The others joins in and march out the door. Mary, last in line, pauses to take one last look at the newsroom then turns out the light. NEXT: POSTSCRIPT
THE SERIES | FINAL EPISODE | POSTSCRIPT | TRIVIA | TV GUIDE | INFO NEEDED TOP OF PAGE INDEX OF SHOWS The Mary Tyler Moore Show, cont.
POSTSCRIPT: Before March 19, 1977, high-profile series finales were a rarity on network TV. "The Fugitive" comes to mind, but few others. Most shows departed from the network rosters when they ran out of steam or viewer interest. Never had there been a series that was as highly acclaimed (with 26 Emmy Awards), had spawned as many successful spin-offs, was as highly-rated and creatively viable when the decision was made to call it a day for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Nobody wanted to see it end.
By going voluntarily instead of waiting for the plug to be pulled, the producers had the luxury of completing any unfinished bits of business before Mary flicked the newsroom lights off for good. Thus, we finally got to see Lou and Mary have a date and address the possibility of romance. We saw an episode in which Ted, Murray and Lou each fantasized about what it would be like to be Mary's husband. And, such a high-profile guest star as Johnny Carson was lured out for a rare sitcom appearance.
When the cast was solicited for their off-the-cuff thoughts about how they would like to see the series end, Gavin MacLeod and Ted Knight concocted a Twilight Zone scenario in which Mary stays locked in the newsroom alone forever, her cries for help drowned out by the meowing of the cat from the MTM logo.1
Ed Asner envisioned an ending befitting the show's already-assured classic status, with the cast trooping off to Heaven on the Yellow Brick Road. Alternately, he considered a slightly more plausible ending in which Lou Grant marries Mary. Producer Ed. Weinberger seconded that notion, saying that Lou Grant was "the only man worthy of Mary Richards."
In a 1984 radio interview, MacLeod discussed the wrap-up of the series: "I want to tell you that was the greatest group I ever worked with in my life. Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner and Teddy and Valerie and Cloris and Georgia, Betty White, I mean, it's once in a life time. Jay Sandrich, as we did our last show... he was our resident director, you know...he said, "I want you to all know, you're never going to have this in a career again. This is something very, very special. You just take it. You're going to put it on top of your bureau, or something and say 'okay, The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' and then get on to making a living."2
At this writing, plans are underway for a new series with Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper reprising their roles as Mary Richards and Rhoda Morgenstern.
THE SERIES | FINAL EPISODE | POSTSCRIPT | TRIVIA | TV GUIDE | INFO NEEDED TOP OF PAGE INDEX OF SHOWS
TRIVIA
The original network airing of this show ended with the closing credits playing over Mary introducing the cast to the audience for a final curtain call. The syndicated version features the standard format of clips from the episode.
Mary's boss reappeared in his own dramatic series six months after the final Mary Tyler Moore Show. Lou Grant debuted on 9/20/77.TV GUIDE® LISTING
CLOSE-UP:
THE LAST SHOWA bittersweet conclusion to an Emmy-winning series.
To improve WJM's ratings, the station's new owner fires everyone on the newsroom staff except the likeliest candidate for unemployment, anchorman Ted Baxter.
The bombshell sends the crew off to salvage their careers. Sue Ann tracks down the 31st Armored Division to collect references, while a depressed Mary sits down to update her resume. Her spirits get a surprise lift when old pals Rhoda and Phyllis fly in. But the final parting is inevitable, and so are the long goodbyes.
Ted: Ted Knight. Sue Ann: Betty White. Lou: Edward Asner. Murray: Gavin MacLeod. Georgette: Georgia Engel. Phyllis: Cloris Leachman.Rhoda: Valerie Harper. Frank Coleman: Vincent Gardenia. David: Robbie Rist.
© 1977 Triangle Publications, Inc.
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INFO NEEDED: Please drop us a line if you spot any factual errors, or know of additional information that might be appropriate to include. Please provide documentation, if possible.
In addition, we are looking for a source for episode Neilsen ratings.
Plus, we are interested in contacting anyone connected with the series or final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, for interview purposes.
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LOGO ART CREDIT: PETE MATTHEWS
©1998 Craig Boldman & Pete MatthewsFOOTNOTES 1 TV Guide May 19, 1977 RETURN
2 Interview with Peter Anthony Holder, station CJAD, Montreal Canada, November 18, 1994 (transcript here) RETURN
