When Lou is kicked upstairs, his job becomes open. At first Mary doesn't want it, but the meddling Phyllis pushes her into asking for it. Unfortunately, she is never considered because she is woman. Things are messy when Murray gets the job. He is too weak to really do much of a job. Mary would have been the better choice. There is an interesting bit with Lou in his new digs. He has no drawers in his desk to put his Scotch bottle. Mary and Murray go to visit him. We can see his unhappiness. This is another place where we see the transition of Mary into a real professional. Ted, of course, is clueless throughout the whole venture.
3 Reviews
Sudden promotion
Rrrobert16 August 2019
It's like the makers of the show realised 'The Good-Time News' two episodes ago was so good they'd repeat some of its ideas here as if that episode never happened.
Lou is promoted to an unwanted management job. Mary assumes she is next in line so immediately rejects the offer of Lou's job, but Lou says she isn't automatically going to get it: everyone will be considered.
This gets Phyllis on the case espousing on feminism and standing up for yourself at work etc... just so long as someone else is doing the hard work and the standing up. After that Mary decides she wants the job after all but Lou says he wouldn't appoint her as she's a woman.
Murray gets the job instead but flounders in trying to put his mark on the news (one brief idea is even a 'comics' section in the news). The Mary versus Murray promotion angle is only briefly explored but they'd return to that idea in 'Operation: Lou'.
The script is like a jumble of familiar elements rather than a cohesive story but the regulars play well and keep the jokes flying so you almost don't notice that.
One of the shows running on WJM is a repeat of 'My Mother the Car' and Chuckles the Clown appears in a walk-on sight gag.
Lou is promoted to an unwanted management job. Mary assumes she is next in line so immediately rejects the offer of Lou's job, but Lou says she isn't automatically going to get it: everyone will be considered.
This gets Phyllis on the case espousing on feminism and standing up for yourself at work etc... just so long as someone else is doing the hard work and the standing up. After that Mary decides she wants the job after all but Lou says he wouldn't appoint her as she's a woman.
Murray gets the job instead but flounders in trying to put his mark on the news (one brief idea is even a 'comics' section in the news). The Mary versus Murray promotion angle is only briefly explored but they'd return to that idea in 'Operation: Lou'.
The script is like a jumble of familiar elements rather than a cohesive story but the regulars play well and keep the jokes flying so you almost don't notice that.
One of the shows running on WJM is a repeat of 'My Mother the Car' and Chuckles the Clown appears in a walk-on sight gag.
Cloris Leachman saves the episode
kellielulu8 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This was a strange one . Lou gets a promotion and gets to choose who will take his place . Mary initially doesn't want it and Lou isn't inclined to choose her .
That night Phyllis encourages her to go for it . Mary says she isn't sure it's a job for a woman. Huh ??!! I know MTM was not particularly consistent about women's rights so maybe that spilled over into writing for the character. Thankfully they didn't avoid that pov and Phyllis made a lot of good points on how we are conditioned to think like that . Mary goes over what that promotion would entail and realizes she already does all that. Lou however already chose Murray. He never considers Mary and says it's because she's a woman.
Clearly things are going back to where they were so there wasn't much point to the episode even Rhoda contributes little to it .
Phyllis though adds some energy and a contrasting view of what is going on.
That night Phyllis encourages her to go for it . Mary says she isn't sure it's a job for a woman. Huh ??!! I know MTM was not particularly consistent about women's rights so maybe that spilled over into writing for the character. Thankfully they didn't avoid that pov and Phyllis made a lot of good points on how we are conditioned to think like that . Mary goes over what that promotion would entail and realizes she already does all that. Lou however already chose Murray. He never considers Mary and says it's because she's a woman.
Clearly things are going back to where they were so there wasn't much point to the episode even Rhoda contributes little to it .
Phyllis though adds some energy and a contrasting view of what is going on.
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