THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW

After seeing the Great White (Betty White that is), on Inside The Actor's Studio last night, I couldn't help think of what seemed to be a much simpler time in my life, the 1970's. 

I was a teenager back then enjoying the likes of everything from Elton John to TAB... and of course Saturday night wouldn't be the same with out The Mary Tyler Moore Show. 

Funny, well written as well as acted was just the beginning.  Loved by the critics and public alike, these characters were your friends and family. 



"Mimsie"



(Below from wikipedia.org)

Created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. The program was a television breakthrough, with the first never-married, independent career woman as the central character: "As Mary Richards, a single woman in her thirties, Moore presented a character different from other single TV women of the time. She was not widowed or divorced or seeking a man to support her."

THE CAST:

List of other characters on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

• Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), a single native Minnesotan moves to Minneapolis in 1970 at age 30 and becomes Associate Producer of WJM-TV's Six O'clock News. Her sincere, kind demeanor often acts as a foil for the personalities of her co-workers and friends.

• Lou Grant (Edward Asner) is the Producer (later Executive Producer) of the news. His tough, work-oriented demeanor does not hide his soft-hearted nature. He is referred to as "Lou" by everyone, including Mary's friends, with the exception of Mary herself, who can rarely bring herself to call him by his first name rather than "Mr. Grant."

• Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), the head writer of the news makes frequent quips for Ted Baxter's mangling of his news copy, and Sue Ann Nivens' aggressive, man-hungry attitude. He is Mary's closest coworker and close friend. Murray is married to Marie, and has several children.

• Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), is the dim-witted, vain, and miserly anchorman of the Six O'Clock News. He frequently makes mistakes and is oblivious to the actual nature of the topics covered on the show, but considers himself to be the country's best news journalist. He is often criticized by others, especially Murray and Lou for his many shortcomings, but is never fired from his position.

• Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) (1970–74), is Mary's best friend and upstairs neighbor. She is very outgoing but also down on herself. She is constantly worried about her weight and seems a bit jealous of Mary. Rhoda and Phyllis are always at odds and love finding faults with each other. After four years, Rhoda moves back to New York for the spinoff series Rhoda.

• Phyllis Lindstrom (Cloris Leachman) (1970–75), is Mary's snobbish friend and neighbor. She is married to an unseen character, Lars, a dermatologist, and has a precocious daughter, Bess. Phyllis is controlling and often arrogant. She is actively involved in groups and clubs, is a political activist and a supporter of Women's Liberation. After five seasons, Phyllis is widowed and moves to San Francisco in the spinoff series Phyllis.

• Georgette Franklin (Georgia Engel) (1972–77) is Ted's sweet-natured but slightly naïve girlfriend and eventual wife.

• Sue Ann Nivens (Betty White) (1973–77), host of WJM's The Happy Homemaker. Her demeanor is superficially cheerful, but she feels free to make frequent judgemental comments towards Mary, personal insults towards Murray, and obvious sexual double entendres, especially to Lou Grant, to whom she is particularly attracted.

• The Mary Tyler Moore Show Online
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show at the Encyclopedia of Television
• Citysearch: The Mary Tyler Moore Show Tour describing locations featured in the series
• The Mary & Rhoda Magazine, with a brief selection of articles about the series
• Mary Tyler Moore at the Internet Movie Database

• Mary Tyler Moore at TV.com