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Episode Guide
Season One
September 19, 1970 to March 6, 1971

C A S T
Mary Richards      Mary Tyler Moore
Lou Grant      Ed Asner
Rhoda Morgenstern      Valerie Harper
Murray Slaughter      Gavin MacLeod
Ted Baxter      Ted Knight
and special guest star
Phyllis Lindstrom      Cloris Leachman

 

Opening credits' notes
Opening credits devised by Reza S. Badiyi show Mary departing from Roseburg, Minnesota, heading towards the Twin Cities in her white 1970 Ford Mustang. Note that the song, performed and written by Sonny Curtis, has a different verse to that used in the other seasons. The tone and editing are very late-'sixties, and sombre by comparison to the opening title used after 1971. Compare the style of these credits to those used on the final season of Get Smart, also devised by Badiyi.

The author wishes to thank Stacey Emerson for her help on first-season details.

Created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Produced by David Davis
Executive Producers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Music Composed and Conducted by Patrick Williams
Theme Song Love Is All Around Written and Performed by Sonny Curtis

An MTM Enterprises, Inc. production

 

 
1 Love Is All Around
Jilted by her fiancé, Mary Richards moves to Minneapolis to join her old friend Phyllis Lindstrom. She applies for a secretarial job at WJM-TV, a local television station, and winds up Associate Producer of The Six O'Clock News, and befriends her new neighbor, Rhoda Morgenstern, with whom she is initially at odds. When Mary's fiancé visits, it's clear that the romance is over

 

Bess Lindstrom Lisa Gerritsen
Bill Angus Duncan
Locksmith Dave Morich

Written by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
2 Today I Am a Ma'am
Mary is worried now that she's outside the 15-29 demographic group which the station classifies as 'young', and the mailboy has called her 'Ma'am'. Rhoda persuades her into calling an old boyfriend for a get-together. (Trivium: Howard Arnell is one of four roles played by Richard Schaal during the series. Schaal was then married to Valerie Harper)

 

Howard Arnell Richard Schaal
Armand Lynton Jack De Mave
Nancy Lynton Sheila Wells
Mailroom Boy David Hayward

Written by Treva Silverman
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
3 Bess, You Is My Daughter Now
When Phyllis's husband Lars takes ill, she asks Mary to babysit Bess for a few days. Bess decides she wants to stay permanently with Mary, to Phyllis's dismay. (Trivia: in this early episode, Mary says her mother's name is Marge, but when Nanette Fabray plays Mrs Richards a few seasons later, she is Dottie. There is also an uncharacteristic location scene, one of two in the series, where Mary and Bess go shopping in Minneapolis [but filmed in LA - thanks to member Patrick Alford for this trivium]. Patrick Williams' score is very period and enjoyable, and the composition here is used only for this scene)

 

Bess Lindstrom Lisa Gerritsen

Written by John D. F. Black
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
4 Divorce Isn't Everything
Mary and Rhoda find out that divorcees at the Better Luck Next Time club can get group rates on cruises - and decide to join. However, Mary proves a hit with the club's members and gets elected to its board

 

Dr Walter Udall Shelley Berman
Karen Norris Jane Connell
Sparkie Patte Finley
Roy Gino Conforti
Hal Dave Ketchum
Salesman Vernon Weddle

Written by Treva Silverman
Directed by Alan Rafkin

 
5 Keep Your Guard up
A football player turned insurance salesman applies for a job as a sportscaster and attaches himself to Mary. Mary and Rhoda discover that he hasn't had much success at anything and encourage him to pursue his dreams

 

Frank Carelli John Schuck
Timothy Brown Timothy Brown

Written by Steve Pritzker
Directed by Alan Rafkin

 
6 Support Your Local Mother
Rhoda's mother, Ida, comes visiting - and Rhoda refuses to see her. Ida stays with Mary but drives her crazy

 

Ida Morgenstern Nancy Walker

Written by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Directed by Alan Rafkin

Emmy Award: Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy (Series)

 
7 Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favorite Artists
Mary begins seeing an author who appeared as a guest on WJM-TV's Scrutiny, and becomes extremely self-conscious after discovering he is several inches shorter than her

 

Eric Matthews Hamid Hamilton Camp
Floor Manager Robert Rothwell

Written by Lloyd Turner and Gordon Mitchell
Directed by Jay Sandrich

Emmy Award: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy (Series)

 
8 The Snow Must Go on
A snowstorm leaves Mary producing her first program, broadcasting the results of the local elections. The show has to remain on until a winner is declared - and no word is received at the newsroom

 

Father Flint Ivor Francis
Chuckles the Clown Richard Schaal
Floor Manager Robert Rothwell
Phone Girl Mimi Kirk

Written by David Davis and Lorenzo Music
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
9 Bob and Rhoda and Teddy and Mary
Mary is nominated for her first Television Editors' Award (the "Teddies"), but at home Rhoda's boyfriend Bob takes more of an interest in Mary than in Rhoda. (Trivium: the Teddies are fictional but consistently appear throughout the series)

 

Bob Peterson Greg Mullavey
Wedding Guest Henry Corden
Master of Ceremonies Dick Patterson

Written by Bob Rodgers
Directed by Peter Baldwin

 
10 Assistant Wanted, Female
Mary's workload gets too much so Lou allows her to hire an assistant. She chooses Phyllis - who hinders more than she helps

 

Gordy Howard John Amos

Written by Treva Silverman
Directed by Peter Baldwin

 
11 1040 or Fight
Mary is audited by the IRS, and the shy auditor takes an interest in her. Unfortunately, he has great difficulty telling her how he feels

 

Robert C. Brand Paul Sand
Waitress Gloria Lord
Delivery Boy David Hayward

Written by David Davis and Lorenzo Music
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
12 Anchorman Overboard
Ted loses his self-confidence after speaking at Phyllis's club. Mary has to find a way to get Ted back on a high

 

Dave Curson Bill Fiore
Clock Man Bob Duggan

Written by Lorenzo Music
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
13 He's All Yours
After Mary invites Lou's nephew home for dinner, she confronts false rumours in the newsroom the following day

 

Allen Stevens Wes Stern

Written by Bob Rodgers
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
14 Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II
Feeling sympathetic for a co-worker who hasn't spent Christmas with his family for years, Mary is forced to stay alone at WJM-TV Christmas Eve

 

Fred Ned Wertimer
Charlie's Voice Henry Corden

Written by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
15 Howard's Girl
Mary begins seeing Paul Arnell, the brother of her former boyfriend Howard Arnell, and is shocked to discover that the brothers' parents still believe that she and Howard are an item

 

Paul Arnell Richard Schaal
Mr Arnell Henry Jones
Mrs Arnell Mary Jackson

Written by Treva Silverman
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
16 Party Is Such Sweet Sorrow
Mary gets a tempting offer from a rival television station, but becomes reluctant to leave when her WJM-TV colleagues throw a farewell party for her

 

Bob Freelander Richard Clair
Gordy Howard John Amos

Written by Martin Cohan
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
17 Just a Lunch
Mary reluctantly finds herself romantically involved with a married man

 

John Corcoran Monte Markham
Marie Slaughter Joyce Bulifant
Woman in Restaurant Gloria Lord

Written by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
Directed by Bruce Bilson

 
18 Second Story Story
Mary's apartment is burgled, with her clothes, stereo and television taken. The next night the whole apartment is cleaned out

 

Officer Larry Tully Bob Dishy
Officer Jackson Vic Tayback
Old Man Burt Mustin
Ed Sprinkle James McCallion

Written by Steve Pritzker
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
19 We Closed in Minneapolis
Murray's play, All Work and No Play, is finally produced - but his happiness is short-lived when he discovers that the leading role will be played by Ted

 

Marie Slaughter Joyce Bulifant
Milt Elliot Street

Written by Kenny Solms and Gail Parent
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
20 Hi!
Mary is admitted into hospital to have her tonsils removed, and shares a room with a grouchy woman who refuses to get on with anyone

 

Loretta Kuhne Pat Carroll
Bert Bruce Kirby
Nurse Lynn Wood
Anesthesiologist Robert Casper
Attendant Arthur Abelson

Written by Treva Silverman
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
21 The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner
Lou and his wife Edie separate and Mary becomes involved when she is asked for advice

 

Gordy John Amos
Waiter Paul Micale

Written by David Davis and Lorenzo Music
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
22 A Friend in Deed
An irritating childhood friend drops by Mary's apartment, making use of her connection as Mary's former campmate to introduce herself to the newsroom's staff

 

Twinks Patte Finley

Written by Susan Silver
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
23 Smokey the Bear Wants You
Rhoda falls in love with a top executive, and is shocked to find that he wants to give up the high-flying lifestyle to become a forest ranger

 

Chuck Pelligrini Michael Callan

Written by Steve Pritzker
Directed by Jay Sandrich

 
24 The 45-Year-Old Man
When Lou is fired, Mary goes to confront the station owner, Wild Jack Munroe

 

Wild Jack Munroe Slim Pickens
Gordy John Amos
Mr Phelps Richard Roat
Everett Edwards Sid Clute
Big Chicken Richard Libertini

Written by George Kirgo
Directed by Herbert Kenwith

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Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper, Mary Richards, Rhoda Morgenstern, Mary & Rhoda, Mary and Rhoda