The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a long-running sitcom that appeared on CBS from 1970-77, one of the most critically-acclaimed shows -- and one of the most beloved -- in television history. Mary Tyler Moore starred as Mary Richards, a 30ish single woman who worked as a news producer at WJM-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her coworkers included the crusty manager Lou Grant (Ed Asner[?]), newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin Macleod[?]) and the buffoonish anchor Ted Baxter (Ted Knight[?]). Mary's neighbors were the self-deprecating Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper[?]) and the insincere landlady Phyllis (Cloris Leachman[?]). Later series regulars included Betty White[?], who played Sue Ann Niven (the randy host of a show called "The Happy Homemaker"); and Georgia Engel[?], who played Georgette, the somewhat dim but remarkably good hearted love interest of Ted Baxter.

Unlike the characters in such earlier sitcoms as "That Girl," the single Mary wasn't rushing into getting married or having kids. Significantly, her neighbors and coworkers served as a nuclear family for her. There were numerous classic episodes of the series, in particular "Chuckles Bites the Dust" in which the WJM staff mourns (and laughs at) the bizarre death of a kiddie show host.

The series ended in 1977. In the final episode, everyone at WJM-TV is fired -- except for the supremely incompetent Ted. The cast tearfully said goodbye to one another.

The show had a number of spinoffs including

• Rhoda
• Phyllis[?]
• Lou Grant