TEST RUN REVIEW: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Yet another Test Run Review before the fall season officially starts. Also, as a reminder, I'm taking suggestions for shows to watch. If I can find the pilot, I'll test run review it. Thanks!

Name of Show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Network: CBS (or Hulu)
Day: Saturday
Time: Not sure. . .
Genre: Sitcom
Length: 30 minutes
Year: 1979
Who was born on that day: Nobody famous. tear.

Setting: Minneapolis
Characters (in order of mention/appearance):
Mary Richards: Fresh-eyed, 30 years-old, ready to start her life anew.
Bess: Phyllis's daughter. Can't get anything by her.
Phyllis: New agey mom
Rhoda Morgenstern: "That dumb awful girl" New Yorky and sa-ssy! Left New York because she couldn't find an apt (and Minneapolis was the next logical choice?)
Murray: Womanizery, so over it
Lou Grant: Gruff boss man who drinks at work. . .and in general, really. Ok with breaking most EEOC rules.
Bill: Ex-boyfriend
Locksmith: Takes his job seriously and will not allow Rhoda to get away with breaking into Mary's apt.
Ted Baxter: Newscaster, dumb, narcissistic


Stereotypes:
X Grumpy Old Man
-Sassy non-White Woman
-Funny fat guy
-Hot blonde wife of funny fat guy
-Quirky, far too self-aware early 20's guy/girl
-Emo Teen
X Guy you've seen in that one movie who always has a sarcastic comment
- Fallen star taking what work they can get
X Relatable guy/girl, soon to be tabloid fodder
- High-strung guy/girl whose buttons everyone enjoys pushing
- Cougar
X Brainy brunette
X Precocious kid acting way too mature for their age
X Hot blonde

Basic premise:
Mary Richards has just broken up with her near-fiancee of 2 years. She's moved to Minneapolis and is ready to take the world on with her smile.

Pilot plot:
Mary moves to Minneapolis fresh off her breakup with Bill, a doctor who she helped see through med school. She moves into an apt above Phyllis, but Rhoda thinks it's rightfully hers. We learn that Rhoda is all New Yorky and will lie, cheat, and steal to get what she thinks she deserves. She tells Mary she put in new carpeting, and she totally didn't. The nerve! There's also a whole thing about not calling people "aunt" who aren't your aunt. . .thanks Bess.

Mary goes to interview for a secretarial job (like women do. . .) at a local news station, and after Mr. Grant offers her some liquor (again, like you do), asks lots of personal questions about why she's single and what her religion is, he hires her on as an assistant producer. He is impressed by where she lives, since it's home to some of his favorite saloons (side note: the establishing shot of Mary's apt building doesn't appear to be in the Wild Wild West, but I could have missed it. . .). And, of course, we learn that he hates spunk.

Everything is going so well!

At her new job, we meet Ted Baxter, who can't pronounce Chicago correctly. . .and might have an IQ slightly higher than Forrest Gump. We also meet Murray who likes the ladies but is pretty much over everything else. The dude tells it like it is AND his desk is right next to Mary's. If only someone was around to show this little lady the cold ways of the newsroom. . .

Act 1 Break Pickle: She's just set up her new life in Minneapolis and her ex is about to visit!

Returning to Mary's apt, we see her getting ready for doctor-man's visit. She unbuttons some buttons on her blouse (does thinking about MTM cleavage make anyone else gag a little?), then promptly buttons them back up (thank GOD!) as we hear a knock on the door. What do you know? It's Mr. Grant! And he's drunk! He decides he misses his wife (who's on vacation. . .where can I get that kind of wifing work?) and wants to use her typewriter to bang out a letter. Mary relents (because she's a pushover. . .which she admitted to in Act 1). Anyway, Bill then shows up with flowers, which after reading the card, Mary learns that he stole from a patient. Hey lady, that doesn't break the Hippocratic Oath or anything. . .give the guy a break. They talk things out and she realizes how bad he is at saying "I love you" (all while Mr. Grant is writing and leaving and re-entering), so she breaks up with him. Gosh darnit! She IS gonna make it on her own!

Rhoda stops by and has a locksmith unlock the door so that she can get into the apt. She overheard the whole thing and she and Mary bond over their spectrum of approaches to independence. Hey, they just may be friends after all.


Reaction: For 1970, to see a show about a woman who wants to establish her own life and isn't willing to settle for what scraps a man is willing to throw at her is pretty innovative. I've seen most of the episodes on Nick-at-Nite, and I would say that while the pilot did what it was supposed to do and established backstory and relationship, the episodes that followed were much more compelling. . .especially as we get into their working relationships (sorry, but the parts with Phyllis and Rhoda were always the most boring to me. . . .).

Competing against in my DVR schedule (remember, only two slots!): What shows air on Saturday anymore? That's the death knell for shows, but apparently that wasn't the case in 1970.

Added to schedule?: yep!

Renewed for a 2nd season prediction: I predict that this show will last 7 seasons and will end with one of the most-remembered scenes of all time.

Hey! It's _Laura Petrie________ from _The Dick Van Dyke Show________ !