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Season Four
September 15, 1973 to March 2, 1974

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
Georgette Franklin	Georgia Engel
and special guest star
Phyllis Lindstrom	Cloris Leachman

 

Opening credits' notes Same theme, but new visuals. David Davis was responsible for bringing The Mary Tyler Moore Show into 1973 with new shots of Mary shopping, relaxing, working and socializing in Minneapolis. (There is one carry-over scene, of Mary walking by the lake.) The classic scene where Mary flattens Ted's hat is re-shot for the opening title (it was originally in the episode, 'Christmas and the Hard-luck Kid', in 1970). Mary's car is finally updated to the current model year - but it's not the one Rhoda bought for her at the end of the last season. End titles use similar footage to the opening.

Created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns Produced by Ed. Weinberger Executive Story Consultant Treva Silverman 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

 

73 The Lars Affair Phyllis finds out that Lars has been having an affair with Sue Ann Nivens, the star of WJM-TV's The Happy Homemaker show. (This is Betty White's first episode as Sue Ann)	Sue Ann Nivens Betty White Written by Ed. Weinberger Directed by Jay Sandrich Emmy Award: Best Supporting Actress in Comedy (for a special program, a one-time appearance in a series, or a continuing role): Cloris Leachman
74 Angels in the Snow Mary's boyfriend is younger than she is - and she and Rhoda discover there is a generation gap when they go and visit his friends at a party	Stephen Peter Strauss Salesgirl Elayne Heilveil Girl at Party Carole Ita White Beck Wilson Jon Korkes Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Monica Magowan Johnson Directed by Jay Sandrich
75 Rhoda's Sister Gets Married Rhoda and Mary fly to New York for Rhoda's younger sister's wedding. Rhoda's mother downplays the whole thing fearing that Rhoda is envious	Ida Morgenstern Nancy Walker Martin Morgenstern Howard Gould Debbie Morgenstern Liberty Williams Aunt Rose Brett Somers Written by Karyl Geld Directed by Jerry Belson
76 The Lou and Edie Story On the advice of their marriage counselor, Lou's wife, Edie, decides to move out. Lou is heartbroken by the prospect	Edie Grant Priscilla Morrill Mr Charney Darrel Zwerling Written by Treva Silverman Directed by Jay Sandrich Emmy Awards: Best Writing in Comedy (a single program of a series with continuing characters and/or theme), and Writer of the Year - Series.
77 Hi There, Sports Fans Mary finds herself ordering paper clips and a pair of tweezers at work and demands that Lou give her more responsibility. He obliges and assigns Mary her first task: fire Ed the sportscaster and find a replacement. (Trivium: this is the only time we see Ed the sportscaster)	Ed Cavanaugh Dick Gautier Andy Rivers John Gabriel Hank Morton Gordon Jump Waitress Chanin Hale Written by Jerry Mayer Directed by Jay Sandrich
78 Father's Day Ted meets his father, who deserted him as a baby	Robert Baxter Liam Dunn Mr Caldwell John Holland Written by Ed. Weinberger Directed by Jay Sandrich
79 Son of 'But Seriously Folks' Mary's former boyfriend Wes Callison gets a job in the Newsroom - but his affection for Mary gets in the way of his work	Wes Callison Jerry van Dyke Chuckles the Clown Mark Gordon Director Randy Kirby Josh McBride Gavin O'Herlihy Pete Benjamin Chulay Written by Phil Mishkin Directed by Jay Sandrich
80 Lou's First Date Lou gives Mary the task of finding him a date for an awards' ceremony. A name mix-up means that Lou winds up taking out an 80-year-old woman	Martha Dudley Florence Lake Edie Grant Priscilla Morrill Andy Rivers John Gabriel Master of Ceremonies Larry Wilde Mike Montgomery Jeff Thompson Written by Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels Directed by Jay Sandrich
81 Love Blooms at Hemple's Rhoda begins dating the boss of Hemple's and falls deeply in love with him. She wants to tell him how she feels, but Mary warns her to take things slowly	Doug Hemple William Burns Dr Margaret Kellogg Barbara Barnett Written by Sybil Adelman and Barbara Gallagher Directed by Jay Sandrich
82 The Dinner Party Mary invites Congresswoman Geddes to a fancy dinner at her home, trying hard to ensure that everything is perfect	Sue Ann Nivens Betty White Congresswoman Geddes Irene Tedrow Steve Waldman Henry Winkler Sy Fisher Edgar Daniels Written by Ed. Weinberger Directed by Jay Sandrich
83 Just Friends Lou is still heartbroken over Edie's departure and asks Mary to help them get back together	Edie Grant Priscilla Morrill Written by William Wood Directed by Nancy Walker
84 We Want Baxter Phyllis persuades Ted to stand for local government. Ted agrees and goes so far as quitting his job at WJM-TV	Gordy John Amos Written by David Lloyd Directed by Jay Sandrich
85 I Gave at the Office Murray's daughter, Bonnie, is looking for a job and Mary is persuaded into giving her one - but Bonnie is not as efficient as everyone had hoped. (There is a small continuity error: we are told that Bonnie is Murray's only daughter in this episode, but in later series the Slaughters have three. This is one of the very few that creep in over 168 episodes)	Bonnie Slaughter Tammi Bula Rick Bruce Boxleitner Written by Don Reo and Allan Katz Directed by Jay Sandrich
86 Almost a Nun's Story Georgette is distraught when she catches Ted with another woman and makes plans to join a convent	Sister Ann Gail Strickland Written by Ed. Weinberger and Stan Daniels Directed by Jay Sandrich
87 Happy Birthday, Lou! Lou detests celebrating his birthday. Nevertheless, Mary arranges a surprise party for him - and he is not pleased	Sue Ann Nivens Betty White Edie Grant Priscilla Morrill Gordy John Amos Written by David Lloyd Directed by George Tyne
88 WJM Tries Harder Mary begins dating the anchorman from Minneapolis's top news show and becomes ashamed of WJM-TV's smaller news operation	Ross Nelson Anthony Eisly Bill Brown Ned Wertimer Pete Benjamin Chulay Copy Boy Christopher Stafford Nelson Marc Williams Regis J. Cordic Written by Karyl Geld Directed by Jay Sandrich
89 Cottage for Sale Phyllis, who has gotten her real estate license, persuades Lou to sell his house. However, Lou hasn't really made up his mind whether he wants to move	David Russell David Haskell Rena Russell Michelle Nichols Moving Man Robert Riesel Written by George Atkins Directed by Jay Sandrich
90 The Co-Producers Mary and Rhoda are given permission to develop a new show for WJM - but their dreams begin to fade when they find out that the hosts will be Ted and Sue Ann, who both begin to interfere with their plans	Sue Ann Nivens Betty White Written by David Pollock and Elias Davis Directed by Jay Sandrich
91 Best of Enemies Rhoda tells a secret of Mary's - that she never graduated from college, as she claimed on her job application - and their friendship is suddenly put at risk. (Trivium: this episode has one of two outside shots used in the series. Mary and Rhoda are filmed walking together along a street, although it's hard to say where this was located)	Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Monica Johnson Directed by Jay Sandrich
92 Better Late ... That's a Pun ... Than Never To relieve her boredom, Mary jokingly writes a humorous obituary of one of the people in the WJM-TV file. Coincidentally, the same person dies the following day and the obituary is read on the air. Lou has no choice but to suspend Mary, but she threatens to quit in response	Erica Jordan Jennifer Leak Written by Treva Silverman Directed by John C. Chulay
93 Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite After a heavy self-promotion campaign, Ted wins his first Teddy Award. When Walter Cronkite comes to the newsroom, Ted assumes that he will be hired by the networks	Andy Rivers John Gabriel Teddy Presenter John Pringle Teddy Presenter Patricia Wilson Miss "Teddy Award" Nanci Beck Special guest appearance by Walter Cronkite Written by Ed. Weinberger Directed by Jay Sandrich
94 Lou's Second Date Lou and Rhoda find they have a lot in common and begin seeing each other on a casual basis - but everyone assumes that the romance is serious. (This is Valerie Harper's last appearance as a regular cast member)	Sue Ann Nivens Betty White Written by Ed. Weinberger Directed by Jerry London
95 Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer Ted joins Mary at a night-school class in creative writing, and winds up plagiarizing her assignment	Mrs Mallone Shirley O'Hara Written by David Lloyd Directed by Nancy Walker
96 I Was a Single for WJM Mary goes to a singles bar to research a documentary, but on the night the crew arrives for filming, the same people who were willing to tell Mary everything don't want to be seen on camera. (Trivium: this is Richard Schaal's fourth role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show)	Dino Richard Schaal Toni Penny Marshall Alice Arlene Golonka Bartender Robert Riesel Stage Manager Randy Kirby Written by Treva Silverman Directed by Mel Ferder

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