Mary Tyler Moore turns 80

[Snarky Oracle!]

Is she known much out of the U.S.A.?

In America, she's one of the biggest of TV icons, the princess of the TV sitcom of the '60s and '70s (e.g., "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and then notably cast against type as the repressed suburban mother in 1980's "Ordinary People."

Born on December 29, 1936, she's also suffered from Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed fifty years ago, and she's reportedly all but vegetative now (her recent comment on ex-husband Grant Tinker's death is suspicious, probably from her "people").

 

[Angela Channing]

Both The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show aired on UK TV so UK audiences are aware of her but she has nowhere near the profile she has in the USA.

 

[James from London]

Is she known much out of the U.S.A.?

Yes, in the same way that everybody in the UK knows (or knew) who Lucille Ball was, but without necessarily being able to put a finger on why. Generally speaking, I think Mary Tyler Moore made more of an impression on the UK consciousness than Lucy did, even though MTM was never a massive star here. There was a shortlived BBC sitcom about fifteen years ago called Rhona. In the opening credits, the titular character attempted to reenact the opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but with less success -- e.g., throwing her hat into the air but failing to catch it on the way down. The MTM Show hadn't been seen here for years but somehow everyone got the reference.

And Ordinary People was a big movie here as well.

 

[Alexis]

I'm only really aware of her from this forum. I haven't seen her sitcoms, I guess I would be too young being born in 1983. I'm actually more aware of Lucile Ball, though that's probably because they reran I Love Lucy on Channel 4 in the early/mid '90s.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Dutch wiki gives a short description of the tv shows, but doesn't state if they were shown on Dutch tv.
But I've seen her name so many times that I think I know her.

Either way, happy birthday, Mary Tyler Moore!

 

[supermanfan]

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

There was a shortlived BBC sitcom about fifteen years ago called Rhona. In the opening credits, the titular character attempted to reenact the opening credits of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but with less success -- e.g., throwing her hat into the air but failing to catch it on the way down. The MTM Show hadn't been seen here for years but somehow everyone got the reference.

Funny, because the closing credits of MTM spinoff RHODA did the same thing. So perhaps RHONA's gag was a gag within a gag.

 

[Don Howard]

As she is today..........

 

[Gabriel Maxwell]

I'm only really aware of her from this forum. I haven't seen her sitcoms, I guess I would be too young being born in 1983. I'm actually more aware of Lucile Ball, though that's probably because they reran I Love Lucy on Channel 4 in the early/mid '90s.

The Dick Van Dyke Show is a delight to watch.

Here's a classic episode 'It May Look Like a Walnut' (the video and its infringing channel will probably get blocked or deleted fast).

It starts with Laura Petrie's (MTM's character) trademark "Oh, Rob!"

 

[James from London]

Funny, because the closing credits of MTM spinoff RHODA did the same thing. So perhaps RHONA's gag was a gag within a gag.

Come to think of it, Rhoda was probably bigger here than The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I certainly have stronger memories of it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Is she known much out of the U.S.A.?

Yes, in the same way that everybody in the UK knows (or knew) who Lucille Ball was, but without necessarily being able to put a finger on why.

Yes, that's it for me too. I'm aware of MTM and the iconography that conjures up but goodness knows how it arrived in my consciousness.


I'm currently listening to the audio version of Barney Rosenzweig's book about Cagney & Lacey and he mentioned some of the production team having worked on MTM productions. The C&L squad room layout, for example, was changed early on because someone who'd worked on Lou Grant knew that layout offered more dramatic potential.

It got me thinking how prolific MTM Enterprises was. Critically acclaimed series like Hill Street Blues or St. Elsewhere don't immediately make me think Mary Tyler Moore (mostly because I haven't yet got round to watching them in full), but the connection is there.

That cute little kitty appears on a hell of a lot of shows that are on my viewing bucket list.

 

[Angela Channing]

UK audiences will also know Mary Tyler Moore from the film Thoroughly Modern Millie which regularly is repeated on TV here.

 

[TJames03]

Funny, because the closing credits of MTM spinoff RHODA did the same thing. So perhaps RHONA's gag was a gag within a gag.

When MTM's second spinoff, "Phyllis," aired, Phyllis was supposed to have thrown her hat into the air and a sea gull was supposed to catch it and fly away with it, but TPTB dropped the idea. A shame as it would have totally fit the character of Phyllis to have had that happen to.

 

[Seaviewer]

Both The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show aired on UK TV so UK audiences are aware of her but she has nowhere near the profile she has in the USA.

Much the same in Australia, I suspect. The DVD Show continued to air in afternoon reruns until colour TV started in the mid seventies but MTM was moved to late nights at some point, although the finale did get a prime time slot.