The Mary Tyler Moore Show
 A groundbreaking series in its depiction of a single woman's
life, this series follows Mary Richards, a woman in her early 30s,
as she starts a new life in Minneapolis after an unsuccessful
relationship.
She moves into Apartment D in an old Victorian home located at
119 North Weatherly Avenue, and finds a job at a local TV station
(WJM).
There she quickly works her way through the ranks, all the
while faced with many problems faced by women of her age in real
life.
MTM was created at a time when TV sitcoms were first
beginning to explore contemporary controversial issues such as
women's liberation, anti-Semitism, homosexuality, divorce, and
racism. But the show makes its points with skill and subtlety in
the context of character rather than through didactic preachiness.
The cast includes Ed Asner as Mary's boss Lou Grant, Valerie
Harper as her insecure upstairs neighbour Rhoda Morgenstern (a
window dresser who lives in the converted attic space) and their
gossipy landlord Phyllis Lindstrom who drops in from time-to- time
with tid-bits about her husband, Lars (an unseen
dermatologist).
All later starred in their own eponymous spin-off series'.
 Also
on hand are Ted Knight as dim and egotistical anchorman Ted
Baxter, Gavin MacLeod as humble but wisecracking news writer
Murray Slaughter, and Betty White as lascivious Sue Ann Nivens -
The Happy Homemaker.
Beyond its intelligent and witty writing, the show's enduring
appeal is probably due to its main characters' underlying
affection for one another.
The show's theme song, Love Is All Around, accurately
expresses its tone.
Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day
and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?
Well it's you girl, and you should know it
With each glance and every little movement you show it
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was created and produced in
part by future film director James L. Brooks, who drew on his
experience working in broadcast journalism as he would do later
for his feature film Broadcast News.
On her way out the door in the last episode, Mary took one last
look around the newsroom set, then turned out the lights. I really
miss those disastrous dinner parties that she used to throw . .
.
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