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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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