The Mary Tyler Moore Show

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Thanks! I completely didn't know Bewitched had an earlier stint on the network prior to its 1994-2000 run. I do remember TBS airing re-runs for a time though.

For some reason, I thought they aired I Love Lucy longer, but I know they aired some of Lucille Ball's other sitcoms for a time as well.

[alphanguy74]

I always thought seasons 3 and 4 were by far the best. Everyone was in their groove, and although I liked that later seasons.. I really MISSED Rhoda. Val said that the producers told her that if her show failed that Rhoda would move back to Minneapolis, she said she wouldn't have agreed to the spinoff otherwise, it was too much of a chance to take. But Rhoda went for 4 1/2 seasons, so that wasn't too bad. Some characters on Rhoda annoyed me, but Val and Julie Kavner and Nancy Walker really made the show, and I didn't mind Ron Silver and Ray Bucktenica, either. My favorite Mary Moment?

Please register in order to view this content

And Cloris won an emmy for this episode, just about my favorite, and Betty White's first episode. This is why I like season 4... you had Sue Ann, Phyllis, Rhoda, AND Gerogette:

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I always love the part in the Lars affair episode where Mary told Sue Ann off in 25 seconds and jolted out of there.

I don't think Cloris was ever credited as a regular on the show, but most people assume she was.

I know Betty/Sue Ann wasn't even supposed to be a regular, but somehow she caught on and was written in. Betty says that it was great that they wrote the other characters as being amused by Sue Ann, and not annoyed. Because if they were annoyed by her, the audience would hate her.

Phyllis and Rhoda added something different because they were genuinely Mary's friends outside of her professional life. When they left, Mary's personal and professional life became one.

[quartermainefan]

I liked when Ted was going to move into Mary's house and they had to have a big meeting for the lease

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TA1s8YvskZ8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[All My Shadows]

I never understood the hoopla over Chuckles's funeral. I think it's funny, but is it one of the most hilarious moments in TV history? IMO, not by a long shot.

I'm looking forward to the marathon today, but the only thing I'm dreading is seeing how they chop up the theme song and opening sequence.

[JaneAusten]

Gosh I miss this show a lot. I think what I liked a lot about it was yes it was funny but underlying all of it were genuine friendships and relationships unlike a show like Friends where putting people into an apartment together makes them friends. Rhoda and Mary I think were by far my fave female friendship on all of TV and you could actually see the relationship progress and become more balanced over the years as Mary inherited more of Rhodas assertiveness and Rhoda softened. I think when she and Phyllis left what I missed was the separation between Mary's personal and professional life. The writing was still crisp and fresh and characters like Georgette and Sue Ann added a new dynamic but it just wasn't the same because it was all centered around the workplace.

And I know it was a necessary transition but I hated Mary's new apartment and I think Mary did too if I remember correctly. She kind of channeled how I think they knew the viewers would feel about it.

It's kind of amazing how fresh the writing for this show is even still today where shows like All in the Family appear dated because they were almost too topical.

[All My Shadows]

According to the Nick-at-Nite Log, the longest-running shows were:

1. Bewitched (1989-2000)

2. The Donna Reed Show (1985-1994)

3. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1991-2000)

4. Mary Tyler Moore (1992-2000)

5. The Cosby Show (2002-2010)

6. I Love Lucy (1994-2001)

7. Taxi (1994-2001)

8. Mister Ed (1986-1993)

9. My Three Sons (1985-1991)

[alphanguy74]

Yes, Cloris was always billed as "Special guest star". The only thing I found lacking in that scene from the Lars Affair, was that the writers should have worked the phrase "Happy homewrecker" in there someplace. I never found it odd that Cloris was billed as such, because she was only in about half the episodes. As opposed to Heather Locklear on Melrose place being billed as "special guest star" when she appeared in every single episode. that's not a GUEST.

[alphanguy74]

Here's Mary's house as it looks today... it was on the market for 3 1/2 million, don't know if it's sold yet:

[MissLlanviewPA]

Nick at Nite had a tendency to run shows that were both B&W and color separately. The 1989 run of Bewitched was B&W, as was 1994-1998; 1998-2000 was in color (following the "Dueling Darrins" marathon--good lord, I was in third grade! ).

MTM's final curtain call. Includes the original credits over MTM introducing the cast for the final bow, and the syndicated closing credits.

Please register in order to view this content

[SFK]

Believe it or not, I don't think I've ever seen even one full episode of this show. When I was a kid, I actually saw more of Rhoda and Phyllis because those were the shows shown in syndication in my area. I never really got into either. I'm kind of a stranger to the MTM universe. I know Ted best from Caddyshack and Too Close for Comfort. Nickelodeon did air Betty's sitcom for a while, and I don't have too many lasting memories of it.

[All My Shadows]

I didn't realize Ms. Llanview had already posted that list of NAN shows! I don't seem to remember Happy Days being on as late as 2003, though. I'm pretty sure that's some Wikipedia vandalism at work. The Garry Marshall shows were definitely TVLand-only by then.

And of course, Hallmark has slashed the hell out of Mary's iconic theme song and opening It's just a quick shot of the multicolored MARY TYLER MOORE logo that sorta weirdly morphs into the shot of her tossing her hat into the air. Pitiful.

[DRW50]

That type of sh!t is why I don't watch reruns now; I just go to DVD, or Youtube, if anything. I can't take the hackwork. I remember when Bravo was supposed to run St. Elsewhere (<3) uncut and that was hacked too.

[SFK]

Not to go OT, but the treatment of the iconic theme is a point of concern for the upcoming Dallas reboot. If you [!@#$%^&*] with something like that, you don't even deserve the show's loyal fans. I know that sounds "extra", but seriously, you have to show some respect and integrity for an icon. No title card b.s.

[All My Shadows]

As far as I know, they haven't premiered the new arrangement of the Dallas theme yet. The promos and previews use some generic music, but they stated on Twitter that they're working on a new version of the theme.