The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) What Is Mary Richards Really Like? (1972) User Reviews

"I sleep in the nude"

[Rrrobert · 8/10 · 16 August 2019]

Though Lou warns her against it, Mary is interviewed by harsh newspaper columnist Mark Williams (Peter Haskell) who hates TV and is adept at twisting innocent interview answers to make them sound more dramatic.

I was a bit worried when they then went on a date. Like many dating episodes the guy is a bit sleazy which makes you wonder why Mary goes all soppy around him. Luckily they didn't go overboard on the romance angle, sticking to comedy. Much of this involves Mary herself including a great bit when the date comes to an unexpectedly abrupt end.

The episode works well because the story is strong, there's lots of comedy, and the regular characters all play well with many funny moments. I especially love Rhoda's bits of advice when commiserating with Mary after the date suddenly ends.

I thought it was interesting that Mary knew she was being interviewed as she was the only woman in the newsroom but Murray and Ted were kinda oblivious to that angle. Lou was onto it though. Ted of course is more focused on himself imagining HE will be the one interviewed, then trying to insert himself into it when he realises the subject is Mary.

The Interview

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 6 February 2017]

Mary is asked to interview with a guy who pans just about everything. Because of nerves, the interview ends up badly, not for her but her colleagues. The guy is handsome and puts the make on her and, as usual, as rotten as he is, she goes out with him because he's handsome. Lou comes across as a drunk (which he actually is, sorry). He had warned Mary to be careful and she blows it. Ted Baxter is more obnoxious than usual, following her around to try to get some of his own publicity. The guy really is a jerk because he uses her like a plaything and gets away with it. I guess the one scene shows a sense of liberation in Mary, but I wish there was some substance to her men.

Our 'Mare' has hit her stride (I just realised the pun! Read on, WJM'ers)

[UNOhwen · 10 April 2012]

This review of this episode, is more a review of the template that's set here, and will serve MTM beautifully.

Most series that are 'hits,' didn't necessarily start out that way. They need time to 'gestate,' for the actors to grow into their character's skin.

That's a rarity, and if a show doesn't perform well - and quickly - they're canceled.

Likewise, The Mary Tyler Moore Show didn't come out an automatic winner. Yes, it had a terrific pedigree both behind and in front of the camera - with an awesome cast, and terrific writing, but it needed time to develop.

With the opening episode of the third season of The Mary Tyler Moore show, the cast, finally hits it's stride, and kicks into high gear. It began to run like a beautifully tuned machine, which would last the next 4 years - only leaving the air because of Ms. Moore's decision that the show had run it's course (a rarity, as most networks will run any show into the ground).

Gone are the long hair (a wig) Mary had worn, and Rhoda's looking zaftig (it's Yiddish. Look it up). In their place, is a more mature Mary - a woman who's finally got a full sense-of-self (and I say that with a chuckle. Read the next paragraph).

A big credit to Ms. Moore, is (and she's said this herself), she's not a comedienne. She's a 're-actor.' Her hemming, hawing, stuttering and stammering begins to truly flower in this season, starting in this episode (watch when Lou tells about his promotion, and him having to fill in his old position. Mary does a terrific job, just reacting, and it's hysterical).

Another big credit goes to the writers, who have taken the time the past two years have given them, to finely hone the character's timing, their peccadilloes, and play on those strengths - Mary's hemming and hawing, and Ted being...well, Ted, and all the rest.

I've been a fan of this series since it's first run, when I was a little boy, and would faithfully watch it with my mom and pop (I could put Rosie O'Donnell, the self-professed 'expert' on MTM trivia to shame. I can tell which episode it is just from listening to the version of the opening THEME - ha!), and, I'm so happy it's back on the Hallmark Channel - though I'm really irked they cut the opening theme just to the 'tam toss,' and the closing theme's non-existent. SHAME, Hallmark!!!!

While I've not said much about this episode in particular, it is clear from here that with this episode, The Mary Tyler Moore Show has grown into full bloom, and, 'What Is Mary Richards Really Like' shows it off beautifully.