When Mary Tyler Moore passed away a few weeks ago, I decided to watch all 168 episodes. I was a little concerned. Was it really as funny as I remembered it as a young adult. While there were a handful of episodes that were not brilliant, I think there was a consistency to this series that may have never been matched. The cast was brilliant. We got to know them intimately. Even though we could predict their behavior, each script was fresh and downright funny. From Ed Asner to Ted Knight. From Gavin McLeod to Valerie Harper. From Chloris Leachman to Betty White. They revolved Like beautiful planets around a sun that was Mary Tyler Moore, one of the most brilliant comedians of our time. She was beautiful and sweet and never hogged the stage. This final episode paid homage to the world that they trod for seven wonderful years. The writers said goodbye in the best way possible, allowing them to hug and squeeze every last ounce out of their personas. Life is short and a show like this filled in spaces for the lonely and the shy and the everyman and everywoman. It will live forever.
5 Reviews
So Long to One of the Best
Erik_Burns9 February 2019
Family
Rrrobert16 April 2020
Brilliant final episode.
When in real life I contemplate what it might be like to be fired from a long term job where you are settled, I always imagine this episode and wonder what everyone was doing the next day, how they were feeling, who took over in the newsroom?
The episode itself is a fantastic story with some well-done drama moments, poignant moments, and funny moments.
Mary Tyler Moore was adept at both comedy and the poignant stuff and does both really well here.
Seeing Rhoda and Phyllis show up at the new apartment highlights how much I loved the original apartment, and how great Rhoda and Phyllis were. But they became such strong, and big, characters, it made sense to spin them off. During season four it started to get a bit incongruous to have Rhoda do a brief drop in neighbour bit then exit, when in a way you wanted the whole episode to be about her. Having the replacements Georgette becoming Ted's girlfriend and Sue Ann of course being a WJM employee made it much easier to include them in any story and be at WJM: the script didn't need to keep inventing a reason for them to be there, and scenes could feasibly take place in the newsroom. I guess Mary's later, smaller apartment was more practical for filming especially when fewer scenes needed to take place there.
Yeah this final episode was great. Too bad the preceding three episodes were unusual formats that were probably fun for the cast and crew but less entertaining for audiences. A neat run up of newsroom-oriented episodes to the end would have had greater impact.
When in real life I contemplate what it might be like to be fired from a long term job where you are settled, I always imagine this episode and wonder what everyone was doing the next day, how they were feeling, who took over in the newsroom?
The episode itself is a fantastic story with some well-done drama moments, poignant moments, and funny moments.
Mary Tyler Moore was adept at both comedy and the poignant stuff and does both really well here.
Seeing Rhoda and Phyllis show up at the new apartment highlights how much I loved the original apartment, and how great Rhoda and Phyllis were. But they became such strong, and big, characters, it made sense to spin them off. During season four it started to get a bit incongruous to have Rhoda do a brief drop in neighbour bit then exit, when in a way you wanted the whole episode to be about her. Having the replacements Georgette becoming Ted's girlfriend and Sue Ann of course being a WJM employee made it much easier to include them in any story and be at WJM: the script didn't need to keep inventing a reason for them to be there, and scenes could feasibly take place in the newsroom. I guess Mary's later, smaller apartment was more practical for filming especially when fewer scenes needed to take place there.
Yeah this final episode was great. Too bad the preceding three episodes were unusual formats that were probably fun for the cast and crew but less entertaining for audiences. A neat run up of newsroom-oriented episodes to the end would have had greater impact.
'Being fired is like being violated...'
UNOhwen23 September 2012
'Leave it to Murray to find a bright spot' -Sue Ann Nivens
Oh, how I cried.
We raced home to watch it (the original broadcast).
I've been a Mary fan since it began (I can EASILY beat Rosie - or ANYONE for that crown!).
With the end of Mary, a lot of us lost our 'best friends.'
I can't tell you how much - about life - I learned from this show.
It was never written down to the audience. It was a show that - gave women a strong voice, and, really was a show that many (Oprah ?!?!) used as a roll-model, for it's depiction of life.
Nothing extreme. Nothing exaggerated.
The acting was pitch-perfect. A huge part of the thanks goes to those behind the cameras: writers, camera, stage crew, and many, many more.
I don't think there's been a show since that ever came close to capturing what this show did.
This - the last episode of a seven year run - was a real tear-jerker, especially, on it's initial run (I'll explain later).
It was beautifully written. Not maudlin, but, very funny, and, yes - it also made what was happening - the leaving of OUR WJM crew - very heartfelt.
THe tears you see on the screen are real. They really did feel that way.
And we did too.
That initial last showing - the only time they broadcast it - the epilogue, where the entire cast came out for a final curtain call, was especially endearing.
In my mind, Mary, she's OK.
And, thanks for those seven years.
Oh, how I cried.
We raced home to watch it (the original broadcast).
I've been a Mary fan since it began (I can EASILY beat Rosie - or ANYONE for that crown!).
With the end of Mary, a lot of us lost our 'best friends.'
I can't tell you how much - about life - I learned from this show.
It was never written down to the audience. It was a show that - gave women a strong voice, and, really was a show that many (Oprah ?!?!) used as a roll-model, for it's depiction of life.
Nothing extreme. Nothing exaggerated.
The acting was pitch-perfect. A huge part of the thanks goes to those behind the cameras: writers, camera, stage crew, and many, many more.
I don't think there's been a show since that ever came close to capturing what this show did.
This - the last episode of a seven year run - was a real tear-jerker, especially, on it's initial run (I'll explain later).
It was beautifully written. Not maudlin, but, very funny, and, yes - it also made what was happening - the leaving of OUR WJM crew - very heartfelt.
THe tears you see on the screen are real. They really did feel that way.
And we did too.
That initial last showing - the only time they broadcast it - the epilogue, where the entire cast came out for a final curtain call, was especially endearing.
In my mind, Mary, she's OK.
And, thanks for those seven years.
Only One Thing Was Off
Littlelep11 February 2019
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