ill drive it OT for you and say something that is just something one never admits to even if they feel that way... while i loved TBNS, i much prefer Newhart

I haven't really watched Newhart in yeeeeeeeeears. Like, it was on WGN for a while, and I'd tune in every now and then, but it was really my thang circa 2003 on TNN every morning. I love it, but TBNS is just so ridiculously 70s and legitimately hilarious to me. Like...I'm obsessed with Bob's office and want to replicate it as much as possible in my own home.

I'll never understand why they never went full-on Hooterville and did a big huge crossover between MTM, Bob, Rhoda, and Phyllis.

Edited March 31, 201312 yr by All My Shadows

I recreated - the best i could - Marys living room in my own. Its not exact by any means, that just wouldnt be remotely possible, but its similar and def has that MTM vibe, people have commented on it without me telling them thats what I was going for.

basically when they originally taped the pilot people didn't like Rhoda with her threatening to take the apartment away from Mary.

they found Lou too humorless and bullying and Phyllis too abrasive

Someone told the writers then that if the kid(Phyllis' daughter) liked Rhoda, people would like her, they did that by adding the line about "Aunt Rhoda's really alot of fun"

They retaped the pilot reworked alot of stuff, had EA back off on Lou being too angry and it worked, they got the laughs with the new studio audience they were looking for

Edited March 31, 201312 yr by dragonflies

I loved the EW excerpt of the upcoming book! Even though I've never seen the series, I definitely want to now and then buy the book! Some very great info on the first two rehearsals/tapings of the show.

MTM cast on Katie preview

 

<object id="flashObj" width="630" height="354" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=2279778413001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.katiecouric.com%2Fon-the-show%2F2013%2F04%2F08%2Fmary-tyler-moore-valerie-harper-betty-white-exclusive-interview%2F&playerID=1778770226001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABWfWhrnk~,FtZztaNxIqTVkSb1ju2Ka7JVAY8r79nB&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=2279778413001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.katiecouric.com%2Fon-the-show%2F2013%2F04%2F08%2Fmary-tyler-moore-valerie-harper-betty-white-exclusive-interview%2F&playerID=1778770226001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABWfWhrnk~,FtZztaNxIqTVkSb1ju2Ka7JVAY8r79nB&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="630" height="354" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>

The sitcoms they aired then, Bob Newhart Show, MTM, Taxi, Dick Van Dyke, they were wonderful, and that was the first time I got to watch them all together like that, instead of some random airings late at night on some local channel. They still hold up so well, probably better than ever.

I just realized that the guy in that clip played the nasty queen with the 'fro in Boys in the Band.

Yup. I watched that exact lineup too but MTM was always my favorite, and one of my fave sitcoms of all-time. LOVED everyone in it and agree with you Carl- it's tough to think of an episode I didn't enjoy. My mom always liked Rhoda, but I LOVED Phyllis!