Ted may have outsmarted Lou when he convinces him to strike the clause from his contract which forbids him from doing outside work; things like movies and Broadway. And cheesy commercials.Ted may have outsmarted Lou when he convinces him to strike the clause from his contract which forbids him from doing outside work; things like movies and Broadway. And cheesy commercials.Ted may have outsmarted Lou when he convinces him to strike the clause from his contract which forbids him from doing outside work; things like movies and Broadway. And cheesy commercials.
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Ted's agent (Lurene Tuttle) negotiates a new non-exclusive contract for him. Lou agrees, reasoning that no one would hire Ted for the mooted film and Broadway work. Lou becomes despondent when Ted instead does undignified TV commercials each night.
The regulars are all in top form while Ed Asner gives a masterclass in comedy acting. Valerie Harper (Rhoda) appears in an unrelated but funny sketch in Mary's apartment about the Christmas store display.
Many laugh out loud moments.
With Murray it was most blatant and personally shocking because I gasped when he walked up to Ted and literally tore his clothes...and twice--each time being out of the blue and for no reason at all. Ted looks bewildered afterwards.
Mary witness both assaults and just sits there doing nothing when Ted looks at her in shock. It's obvious that Murray is incredibly jealous of Ted because throughout the whole series I notice how he finds ways to mention Ted in an insulting manner even when he's not there. It's almost an obsessive behavior with him.
We find out a bit more why he's so jealous when Murray learns Ted's yearly salary, which causes him to irrationally tear Ted's clothes the first time early in the episode with absolutely no provocation at all. It's psychotic behavior.
I guess something like this was considered comedy in the early 70's but it's shocking to see today. Even more shocking was how Mary witnesses both unprovoked assaults and did nothing. Do they really hate Ted that much?!
Then there's Lou who is Ted's superior and boss who literally tells Ted he'll bash his face in if he doesn't null the new contract he made with him. Ted backs down out of fear to Lou, who tries hard to look scary when in reality Ted could probably have taken on the out of shape Lou and won with one arm tied behind his back.
I just don't understand the mistreatment of Ted. Yes, he's immature and kind of an imbecile, but he never insults, harms or threatens anyone, yet this is what his co-workers do to him in return and it's so sad and cringy to watch.
Mary is kind of passive in all of it, but her character is always pretty passive/aggressive with pretty much everything in her life so I can let her slide, but Murray and Lou are both just immature and hateful in this episode and come across as petty, jealous and unlikable. The more they beat on Ted, the more I like him and despise them.
Did you know
- TriviaTed's 1972 salary of $31,000 is approximately $196,465 in 2021 dollars.
- GoofsWhen Mary calls Lou to inform him of Ted's tomato slicer commercial, she tells him to watch channel 6 even though her TV is on channel 3.
- Quotes
Mary Richards: [Ted Baxter's been doing his commercials and Mr Grant's depressed about the whole situation. Mary goes into Mr Grant's office, and tries to talk to him] Mr. Grant, what is it?
Lou Grant: [Mr. Grant's standing there - dejected, looking defeated] Hmmm?
Mary Richards: What's wrong?
Lou Grant: Oh.
[sighs]
Lou Grant: I think Baxter's finally got me. I've gone over his contract, a dozen times. There's nothing I can do to stop him. First it was that tomato slicer. Then it was that commercial for that woman's product. I didn't even know what it was. I had to ask my wife what they used it for. She wasn't sure.
[sighs]
Lou Grant: Mary, he's got me.
Mary Richards: [Trying to cheer Mr. Grant up] Mr. Grant, how about if I fix you a nice drink?
[Lou just nods his head, silently, 'no', and looks forlorn]
Mary Richards: You haven't had a nice drink in days.
[Lou lumbers towards his desk's chair]
Mary Richards: Mr Grant, I'm worried about you.
[Mary and Mr Grant both sit down]
Lou Grant: [Mr. Grant sighs] Somehow... booze just doesn't taste good to me, anymore. You know, sometimes, I think I'm losing contact with reality. Like, last night... I was watching a movie on TV, you know - to try... and... forget. And this dog food commercial came on. And I could've sworn, I heard a dog bark, that sounded just like Ted.
Mary Richards: Mr. Grant, isn't there anything I can do?
[Lou mouths 'no]
Mary Richards: The news is on.
[Spoken like talking to a sad child]
Mary Richards: You wanna watch the news?
Lou Grant: I suppose so.
Mary Richards: I turned it on very softly.
[Mary walks towards the door, but, as she grabs the doorknob, she turns, and becomes full of 'vim']
Mary Richards: Mr Grant, doesn't it just make you mad? I mean - wouldn't you like to really chew Ted out?
[She makes a fist, as Lou just sits - lethargic, and silent. Lou says nothing, so Mary leaves the office]
- ConnectionsFeatures Red Dust (1932)
- SoundtracksLove Is All Around
Written and Performed by Sonny Curtis