Gavin Macleod may be the worst actor ever. And he looks 10 times worse surrounded by those other great actors. (Except Georgette, who also makes me sick). I can't watch any episode that features him. Just had to say that.
shareReally? I always felt Ed Asner was the weakest link on the show. Murray was just okay.
shareNah, I like him. Great in The Love Boat too.
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I liked him better on "The Love Boat", he was more authoratative.
shareMacLeod has a NYC accent and never tried to hide it. He should have, because he was playing a guy in Minneapolis.
Marriage is between one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others.
Murray was probably the most underdeveloped character of them all but MacLeod was perfect at doing what Murray was supposed to do - be a supportive friend to Mary and zipping off zingers at the expense of Ted and Sue Ann.
Ted reading a newspaper: hey Mur, have you seen the spread on Sue Ann
Murray: yeah, but you don't notice it as much when she sits down
Ted: and all the fans wanting to sign my neck brace
Murray: I'm surprised you let them get that close to your throat
Ted doing a Bogart imitation: 'all right you dirty rats, I'm not eating anymore of this slop. I'm outta here.' okay who am I?
Murray: Sue Ann's first husband
Al - Alicia
An - Andrew
Jo - Joseph
Be - Benjamin
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He was good at one line zingers, but when he actually had to act he was way over the top, like in the episode where he quits.
shareThen I guess you didn't watch the show then, since Murray was on every single episode. Lol.
shareI really like Murray. He's supposed to be a very passive character and he did it well. Sometimes Rhoda gets on my nerves, but again, her character is supposed to be outspoken and pushy. I really don't see a weak link on the show.
shareI don't dislike Murray, but I could do without him. I don't think he added a whole lot to the show!
shareI'm disappointed to hear negative talk about Gavin Macleod. MTM was an ensemble effort, and for diehard fans, people speaking ill of any of the main actors is as unnerving as if you were to hear a good friend bad-mouthed behind their back. It may be that the character of Murray may not to be to your liking. Certainly we all have some characters we love more than others. (Even when I was young, I always was in love with Rhoda.) I personally liked the way we are given subtle hints about Murray's home life with Marie, without having the information whacked over our heads in obviousness. We're given the impression of a largely passionless marriage in which Murray is the perpetual nice guy trying to make good for his family while secretly lamenting his own failed dreams or pining for things he knows he can't have (in one episode, even willing to throw his family away for love of Mary). His wife Marie seems "pleasant" but not entirely likable, and I've always gotten the impression Murray was a little p-whipped. These nice revelations of character, never made explicit but written between the lines, give nice shadings to his character so that you can, as with the other characters, believe they have a life outside of what we see at WJN.
shareGavin was not an unknown. He was from McHale's Navy and played a Nazi on Hogan's Heroes. Murray was not the bumbling Ted Baxter or the gruff Lou Grant. He was the every man.
shareI think Murray was probably used as a mouthpiece for the show's writers. At least, I think some of the writers took advantage of that. Murray WAS a writer after all. Murray is the clever, wisecracking observer who is also gentle at heart and full of insecurities. He probably is at least partially a reflection of James L. Brooks and Alan Burns, who even Ed Asner had to call out as "too nice" when they wouldn't vocalize their misgivings about his initial audition.
Writers are always using writers as characters, frequently as protagonists. Once you start looking for it, you see it everywhere. Sunset Boulevard is a classic example.
Gavin was not an unknown. He was from McHale's Navy and played a Nazi on Hogan's Heroes. Murray was not the bumbling Ted Baxter or the gruff Lou Grant. He was the every man.
He was also in one of my favorite Dick van Dyke episodes. He was Mel's cousin the jewelry salesman who sold Rob "Empress Carlotta's Necklace." LOL
Always thought Gavin McLeod was perfect as Murray. He was cute and a nice guy, but not outstandingly handsome. He was a talented hard worker, but not terribly successful. He was the average guy with a good job and a nice wife and family.
I think he represent the "everyman" that the average person could relate to and understand. He overly romanticized Mary. But he saw her every day at her best, well groomed and pulled together, not dealing with crying babies or toddlers, having grown-up conversations with him. I think it's a reason why some guys cheat on their wives with co-workers. They see their wives in the morning without make-up, changing diapers, messy clothes from cleaning up after a family all day, etc. And a lot of men idealize a female co-worker who isn't in the same unglamorous situation.
Murray idolized Mary that way. It was understandable and kind of bittersweet. He wanted more but he knew he couldn't have it.
Also, I thought Murray's wisecracks aimed at Ted and Sue Ann were hilarious!
Just before The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Gavin played the drug kingpin "Big Chicken" (yes, "Big Chicken") on two different Hawaii Five-0 episodes. As I recall, "Big Chicken" was quite the sleazeball. Arrogant, amoral, ruthless and, ultimately, a coward.
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