Mary Tyler Moore: Season 5

It is rare but once in a great while a television series rises above the others, beyond what is referred to cult classic to the exalted level of being part of what defines popular culture. A series such as this managed to be so unique and creative that it would greatly influence a myriad of others that would follow. One such series that is certain to make every list of such series is ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’. Foe thirty minutes each week between 1970 and 1977 families could put aside the infamous generation gap, forget about the turmoil in the evening news and laugh out loud together. The series was in returns when my daughter was born and my wife and I had found memories of watching this series while trying to get her back to sleep. No matter how often you see these episodes or whatever your current state of mind these episodes are as fresh and wonderful as the first time you saw them. The series would spawn three spin-offs including one that hoped to reunite two of the leads but nothing could ever recreate the magic of this series. Some of the funniest moments in television came from this series. I get to review a lot of TV series but when this set showed up it immediately brought s smile to my face. In its own quiet, gentle fashion the series was cutting edge; defying many of the long standing traditional defining elements of the sit-com format. The genius of the series was how you didn’t realize or care that this was radically different; all that mattered was how much enjoyment it brought. The distribution rights for the series are owned by Fox and they have been steadily releasing the seasons; they are currently up to the fifth so they are getting towards the end. This is a series that is rare for never jumping that proverbial shark

The show was created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns. Both men would go on to continued success with the various spin offs of this series ranging from comedy with ‘Rhoda’ to the dramatic ‘Lou Grant’. This was one of the first of many popular TV series produced by Ms Moore’s company MTM Productions. The logo became famous on its own, a parody of MGM’s roaring lion with a gentler kitten meowing. There is a lot about this series that entered into our collective cultural consciousness. The opening sequence depicted Mary spinning in the street joyfully throwing her hat in the air. At the point in Minneapolis where this shot was film now stands a broze4stature of the famous event.

This series was the definition of the comic ensemble cast. While Moore was the nominal lead and titular character the rest of the cast did much more than just fill supporting roles. There was a synergy created by these extremely talented people. While each had been proven funny on their own when they performed together here the whole greatly exceeded the sum of the parts. What was so revolutionary about this unassuming little series was the central theme. A young career woman approaching thirty is nothing unusual now but thirty years ago the feminist movement had just taken root and society was beginning to change. Most sit-coms depicted women as wives, daughters or perhaps girlfriends; their place defined by the men around them. If shown at work they could be secretaries or assistants, never as being in a position of authority. Then this series hit and all that was changed, Mary was on her own and in charge of her life. The young woman trying to make it in the world had been done before with ‘That Girl’ but her father and boyfriend were always around. Mary had her apartment rented from her friend Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman) usually hung out with her best friend Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) and had a great job in a local television newsroom. She started out as the assistant to the burly editor Lou Grant (Edward Asner) but this season would see Mary promoted to producer, breaking the video glass ceiling. At work she had to deal with the bumbling, incompetent news anchor Ted Baxter brilliant played over the top by the late, great Ted Knight. As a counter point to ted lack of intelligence was the fry, acerbic wit of the news writer Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod. Also in constant attendance was host of a Martha Stewart type show, ‘The Happy homemaker’, Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White). She had a libido that could handle the sixth fleet. Each of the main characters fill their roles so perfectly that as you sit there watching there is a strong sense of understanding that comes across, you know these people; they have popped up in your life. In any given group of people there is always the unknowing butt of every joke like Ted or someone who’s every attempt at throwing a party ends in disaster; a running gag in this series regarding Mary. Watching these episodes again was like getting a visited from some dear friends who have been away far too long. It is something you don’t have to think about, just pick it up, gather friends and family around and enjoy.

Posted 10/26/09