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Rating:  -
Although the show ran throughout the '70s, its appeal is still lasting today, in the story of Mary Richards and her eclectic co-workers in the WJM newsroom...
In the pilot, 30-year-old Mary has just moved to Minneapolis, eager to start a new life as a single careerwoman after her breakup with her fiance. She answers an ad seeking a secretary, and finds herself associate producer of the six o'clock news at WJM. There, she works for Lou Grant, a tough guy with a soft exterior and a ready bottle of booze, and alongside kindhearted news writer Murray and self-centered, idiotic reporter Ted Baxter.
On the home front, Mary decides to rent an apartment in the home of her college friend Phyllis Lindstrom...incurring the wrath of New York native Rhoda Morgenstern, who had her heart set on moving in. Despite their rocky start, the two opposite personalities quickly become best friends, creating the basis for much of the show's humor.
Some of Season 3's episodes center upon visits from Rhoda's stereotypically Jewish mother Ida; Mary's dating adventures; Murray's feelings of mediocrity; and various newsroom mishaps. It's also the first season where Georgia Engel appears as Ted's girlfriend Georgette.
If you've never seen this show, I urge you to give it a try! You'll soon be looking for the rest of the seasons.
Rating: -
In the golden years of Television - indeed in the golden years of Entertainment - quality was important. Performers on TV had honed their skills, during years of endeavour in halls and theatres across the country, perfecting their work. Musicians - of all forms of music - played proper instruments with virtuoso ability. Lyrics could be understood and the musical sound replicated - because it was written down and 'scored'. Actors, musicians, dancers, etc., all had 'great ability'.
Even in this milieu, some performers stood out as exceptional. When thoroughly competent TV directors and skilled television technicians were able to work with these outstanding performers, shows of exceptional quality and were produced.
Mary Tyler Moore had an ability and an aura about her that was rare. The 'situation comedy', a long cherished and much loved TV art-form, seemed to have been made for her and her many skills. Moore's first great TV success was in the Dick Van Dyke Show. Then, when she starred in her own shows, Moore was magnificent.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was produced and directd by consumate experts. Add to this a particularly high standing of casting, which ensured only the best supporting actors,and the Mary Tyler Moore Show was destined to be in the 'Top Flight' of its gendre.
Importantly however, unlike the crass and peurile content of so much 'entertainment' today, the Mary Tyler Moore Show ( and other great shows of the era) contained no gratuitous violence, no explicit sex or nudity, and no foul or blasphemous language. The show was humourous without being coarse and was, truly, a delight to watch.
Rating: -
For the Mary Tyler Moore lovers these TV shows are great. No need to wait to watch this on TV Land. Just pop in a DVD and you're there in Minneapolis, MN at the TV station with many hilarious moments to chuckle at and enjoy. This is good clean fun if you can stand it. :)
Rating: -
These shows don't date. They are as fresh as they were over 30 years ago. These shows deserved all the Emmys they received. A must-see series. I'm glad they are finally releasing them. I would prefer more extra features though. More show commentary would be nice as well.
Rating:  -
Perhaps the four-star rating is stingy, but "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" raised the bar on television itself, so we've come to expect nothing less than excellence from one of the very best shows ever and certainly from one of the best comedy ensembles ever put together. "All in the Family," "M*A*S*H," and "MTM" are among the best shows ever on television. Later seasons, and, perhaps earlier ones should certainly garner the show five-star ratings.
Many of the episodes are indispensible. "Lou's Place," features Lou and Ted, who buy a local pub after the owner dies is vintage MTM. Similarly, for two episodes featuring Ted: One when he is loathe to compete with Gordy as co-anchor, and another when Ted hires an elderly woman agent who enables him to moonlight making money on obnoxious and unflattering commercials. When Rhoda enters a beauty contest in "Rhoda, the Beautiful," and when she takes her own business in "...The Plant Lady," we are given more than our money's worth. (The price of this collection at twenty-four episodes is a bargain, especially if one compares it to other DVD collectibles.) Perhaps the best one is when everything falls apart for Mary just before she goes to an awards' ceremony. Most of the other episodes are merely excellent. Despite some of the references, it is seldom dated, too.
The collection is sometimes marred, however, by mere dramatization. Subjectively, the shows that have more drama than laughs don't quite hit the high bar that they have established for themselves. The big three CBS seventies comedies were classic at going from big laughs to tears, but without laughs, some episodes suffer in quality overall. Particularly the shows with Mary Richard's parents don't work as well.
Despite the picky qualms with a few episodes, this DVD set is a great entertainment value. (The fourth season comes out in June, and it looks great!)
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