MovieChat Forums > Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Discussion > THIS SHOW IS GREAT, EXCEPT FOR...

THIS SHOW IS GREAT, EXCEPT FOR...

posted 8 years ago by snsurone
16 replies | jump to latest

...Mary Tyler Moore!

I know you posters will want to string me up for this, but I have to be honest and say that I never cared for the actress or her character, Mary Richards.

I love the general concept of the show: a woman making it alone in business without having to lean on a man.
Unlike Ann Marie in THAT GIRL, who ran to Daddy or Donald whenever she had a problem.
Plus, the writing and direction on MTM was excellent and the supporting cast couldn't be better.
I especially loved Valerie Harper as Rhoda.

But I just can't warm up to Mary.
Her nasal, whiny voice and irritating mannerisms set my teeth on edge!
And she wasn't especially "hot', so I can't see men always falling in love with her.

I especially found her awful in the first couple of seasons; here was a woman of 30 trying to look like a teenager with those mini-skirts, go-go boots and those ugly hair extensions.
I'm glad that she eventually matured enough to dress more conservatively, as befitting a woman of her age and station in life.

All in all, I found Candace Bergen much better in MURPHY BROWN, which had the same basic concept as MTM.

[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

All in all, I found Candace Bergen much better in MURPHY BROWN, which had the same basic concept as MTM.

Nah. That show was far too political. Despite that show's (then) popularity, it's rarely seen in reruns.

[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

No one wants to "string up" the OP for his comments; his comments are merely silly.

THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW was, then and now, a period piece (a mostly non-political one) and Mary Tyler Moore is one of the reasons why.

Without her brand of melancholy, the show would have been just another show.

--

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

FYI, I'm a HER!

[–] rldalton 8 years ago

I hate Mary's hair - in first two seasons, at least, but she always had a great bod. I liked her Laura Petrie character much more.

[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

she always had a great bod.

My ideal woman has always been a "Mary Tyler Moore brunette...", which my mother was similar to ( & what I married).
Mary filled that role to the teeth, but she did look older and not "hot" as some characterized her.

[–] gppressingon 8 years ago

Re Mary's bod. I just watched the early episode "Divorce Isn't Everything" that has a gratuitous scene of Mary and Rhoda exercising together. Mary is in her black tights and I would have to rate her bod as less than great. She looks almost anorexic with those twiggy legs.

Coincidentally, the very next episode, "Keep Your Guard Up," has John Schuck's character tell Mary she's too skinny. She was!

[–] alanjobe 8 years ago

Mary wore a wig during the first two seasons.

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

but she can turn the world on with her smile and she can make a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worth while!!!

[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

What a STUPID post. How can you say a show is "great" and not like the lead
character, for heaven's sake? Moore was fantastic on this show. She gave
everyone else the spotlight, yet it was HER show, and HER show alone. A true
television icon.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

This poster (assuming they are serious) just doesn't like Moore, for whatever reason. I'm in the minority, but I have zero-interest in the "how yuppie"- Murphy Brown--and it's leading lady. Yet, Bergen goes on to win 5 Emmys.

[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

I, too, HATED "Murphy Brown." I respect and understand "influence", but this
show was way too derivative of MTM, yet lacked its charm. Bergen is a
gorgeous actor, but "Murphy" was so unlikable, as was the majority of the rest
of the characters.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

gbennet6, can't you disagree without being insulting?

[–] anbmom 8 years ago

I understand what she said, I loved Sex and the City but hated Carrie Bradshaw.

[–] coreycitn63 8 years ago

Murphy Brown was a dramedy much like M*A*S*H It was Mary Tyler Moore who paved the way for Murphy Brown.

[–] residentevil6901 8 years ago

Mary Tyler Moore and her show is 100x better than Murphy Brown.

[–] cheapfrill 8 years ago

Well you gotta cut the woman some slack for the way she dressed anyway. I think anyone who was a young adult in the early '70s remembers how awful fashion was. So often the outfits and haircuts made us look like outright clowns.