Ted Baxter - Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Discussion

[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

I wonder if the other actors ever felt a bit resentful that he got so many of the best lines. I think I would.

Yeah. Like Larry Linville's Frank Burns on MASH got many of the best lines too.

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[–] ElRaisuli 8 years ago

I'm pretty sure Ed Asner wasn't resentful... he was nominated for 7 Emmys and won 4.

Mary was nominated for 7 Emmys and won 3.

Ted Knight was nominated for 6 Emmys and won 2.

Valerie Harper was nominated for 4 Emmys and won 3, not counting the one she won as Best Lead Actress on "Rhoda."

Betty White was nominated for 3 Emmys and won 2.

Cloris Leachman was nominated for 3 Emmys and won 1 (correction: won 2).

Georgia Engel was nominate twice.

Gavin MacLeod may have felt left out of the Emmys, but he was nominated for 2 Golden Globes for MTM, and another 3 for Love Boat.

Ed Asner was also nominated for 5 more Emmys for playing the same character on "Lou Grant." He won twice.

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[–] alanjobe 8 years ago

Actually, Leachman won 2 Emmys for MTM

1974 - Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
1975 - Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Al - Alicia
An - Andrew
Jo - Joseph
Be - Benjamin

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[–] gppressingon 8 years ago

SnoozeAlarm, Yeah, I wonder that too, since Ted turned out to be a breakout character who often stole every scene he was in.

On the DVD the first episode has a commentary with the producers and Ed Asner where they say Ted Knight auditioned three times for the part. He really wanted it badly. And they say that the Ted Baxter character was rewritten from the way he was originally envisioned. He went from vain and obnoxious--flopping his loose jacket insignia in Mary's face, for example--to being a sympathetic and beloved character.

The producers did say how generous the cast was in giving everyone a chance to shine. A real ensemble cast, despite Mary's being the show's title.

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[–] SnoozeAlarm 8 years ago

Great post, gppressingon!

You can tell that Ted Knight put his heart and soul into that character. In my opinion, one of the best sitcom characters of all time.

Scariest words in English: We’re from the federal government and we’re here to help. R. Reagan

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[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

The producers did say how generous the cast was in giving everyone a chance to shine. A real ensemble cast, despite Mary's being the show's title.

Wish MASH wasn't so Alan Alda-focused.
It began as an ensemble but soon devolved into Alda's soapbox, which made it less appealing.

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

The real mystery on the show is why any of the characters would want to be friends with him. It's a suspension of disbelief that everybody who worked in the same office were friends.

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

The same thing could be said for Phyllis, who, if you choose to look at it this way, could be very superficial and phony and Sue Ann, who was overbearing and relentlessly chirpy. Ted was a naive blowhard, but he was also lovable and completely harmless. There was a part of him that was very sweet, and Ted Knight was very, very funny. It is not at all difficult to understand why he was part of Mary's family or why viewers like his character so much.

Lucy Ricardo is way more obnoxious than Ted Baxter. Even though she was lovable, too.

The only person I find unlikable is Murray. He's also the only character who does not make me laugh.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

I'm in the minority, as I find Ted extremely annoying and rather unfunny. In a
show peopled by realistic characters, he was quite cartoonish. This NOT a snub
against Ted Knight, who was brilliant. I just don't find him funny, and avoid
episodes where he is the center of the plot. In other episodes, I just sort of
tolerate him until he does his schtick and leaves the scene.

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[–] anbmom 8 years ago

I also did not care for Ted Baxter. They could have removed him from the show and it would have had no bad effect what so ever.

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[–] SnoozeAlarm 8 years ago

>>> Wish MASH wasn't so Alan Alda-focused

I feel the same way about Nicholson and Cuckoo's Nest.

Scariest words in English: We’re from the federal government and we’re here to help. R. Reagan

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

Sarcasm noted, but Mary Tyler Moore did quite well with Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou,
Murary (yeah, Murary), and Ida Morgenstern. There's plenty else to laugh at.

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[–] Doug-Oh 8 years ago

MASH was never called "The Alan Alda Show."
It was originally an ensemble cast, like Mary Tyler Moore.

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

Mary Tyler Moore was still at the center, and had more screen time than the others. In that respect, we could call any show an ensemble show. I also find Moore to be funnier/inspired than Harper (everyone's favorite)

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

Harper/Rhoda was NOT everyone's favorite. When Harper left after the 4th season, the ratings went from #9th to #11th, only two notches, and the 5th season was, IMO, the best year of the show.

Mary Richards was my favorite character on the show, by far. I loved Rhoda. I loved all of the characters on this wonderful, gentle sitcom. Well, except for Murray. And Gavin MacLeod was also the weakest actor of the bunch. Everybody else portrayed their characters with moments of brilliance. I know you hate that word/think it's overused.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

I don't agree that the fifth year was the best. At all. While MTM could
afford to lose Rhoda, it was STILL a loss. I personally prefer the
scenes at Mary's apartment with Rhoda (and everyone else, for that matter).
The show lost even more when Phyllis left.

I personally lose most interest in the series when Mary moves to that
(boring) new apartment. Of course it made sense for Mary to move up into
a one-bedroom, but the set lacked charm. And those last two years focused
waaaay too much on Ted, his wedding and (yuck) pregnant Georgette.

I recognize, again, how brilliant Knight was. But I react to Ted Baxter the
same way Lou and Murray do - with total ANNOYANCE. He is too much of
an idiot, with virtually no redeeming qualities.

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

I did miss Rhoda very much when she left. And it was a double shame because Rhoda worked best as a supporting character. When she turned lead, she lost her self-effacing charm. And Mary and Rhoda were so great together as best friends. One of my favorite episodes is "Best of Enemies". It's a great example of what this wonderful show did best, which was to take the ordinary and find the magic.

But Mary remains my favorite character, so as much as I love Rhoda, the show and Mary just hit its peak for me during the 5th season. Everything came together and flowed and it was sublime. And Mary was never lovelier. Episodes like "You Try and Be a Nice Guy" and "A New Sue Ann" and "Ted Baxter's Famous Broadcaster's School" and "Will Mary Richards Go To Jail?" and "An Affair to Forget" are practically beyond reproach.

I do agree that her high rise apartment is not as cool as her adorable studio, but it doesn't bother me too much. And though I can understand why somebody wouldn't like Ted, I disagree that he has no redeeming qualities. He has a child's sense of wonder, and there is an innocence about him that makes some people feel protective towards him. He has a good heart (remember he was the only one who didn't laugh at Chuckles death, even scolding assshat Murray) and I think he's completely lovable. I think considering how his father abandoned him and how comically awful his mother appeared to be, Ted turned out pretty well. Also, Georgette saw goodness in him, and that says a lot for Ted.

Murray is the one whom I don't care for. I think it must be the actor because Captain Stubing is the only character I don't like on The Love Boat.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

Gavin Macleod brought much humanity to "Murrary" - an insecure writer,
who privately held a torch for Mary Richards, and who couldn't stand
Ted (how I related).

The Love Boat is on a par with The Brady Bunch - primetime trash.

Your point here?????

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

I just said that the reason I don't like Murray is probably the same reason I don't like Captain Stubing. Gavin MacLeod rubs me the wrong way.

"The Love Boat" is relentlessly cheerful viewing, and sometimes it hits all the right spots.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

I'd say you hit the nail on the head, and right on spot

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

I don't agree that the fifth year was the best. At all. While MTM could
afford to lose Rhoda, it was STILL a loss.

Season 5 is where I see Moore, the actress, rev up her sarcasm and bite. There is one particular episode in the 5th season (I think ) where Moore made an effort to make every other line hilarious through sheer phasing, in a way that never happened before or after, as if she had a drink or a hit if weed before the taping. (you can see Lucille Ball more slap-happy in some episodes more than others, by the way)

Georgette is the one I wanted to just do her shtick and be done, with exceptions. Especially when she tried to be tough, which didn't come off (nor was it funny) Engel, for some reason, was very funny for her initial 2 episodes, then she lost that quality for the most part. I missed Phyllis more than Rhoda. For me, Bette White filled in where Harper left off--not in characterization--but as a replacement for laughs

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

Disagree. I thought Engel was brilliant. Who could forget the sadness in her
face when she realized Ted was cheating on her (with a vacuum cleaner saleswoman
in Ted's dressing room!).

Different strokes for different folks.

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

Oh, disagree schmisagree!

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] gbennett5 8 years ago

So so sorry, Hutch - we should all know better and agree only with YOUR point of
view.

I will try and remember that. Good grief.

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago



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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

What, you think gbennett wants to be your friend now? He doesn't like you any more than anybody else does. You're such a rodent.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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[–] I_Love_Hutch 8 years ago

I really don't want you agreeing with me, so I guess we're good.

I thought I was gonna die! - Roseanne Roseannadanna

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