I have a feeling which way this is gonna go, but was Laura or Mary Richards a better performance by MTM? I really think I can defend
Laura as the better one by far than her own show. (Although I liked that one too.) I think TDVDS
got into guys' heads while TMTMS really got into women's psyche. But her level of concentration, listening, being subtle, and honesty as Laura was much higher.
I think being with DVD and Carl Reiner made for a much better performance. That was her truly
great performance. And it's still
the best ever given by the lead actress in a comedy. Shelley Long
is the only one who ever came close. And that doesn't wear nearly as well as time passes.
At least, I don't think so...

I love both shows, and watch both of them back to back every night on TV Land. Mary Tyler Moore gave terrific performances on both shows. She could recite the alphabet and hold my interest.
Personally, I like her character on the MTM show better. It was more modern, and she was the star which gave her more airtime. Although both shows were sitcoms, the DVD show was lighter fare, and the MTM show gave Mary the opportunity to showcase her acting ability to a greater degree. Mary Richard's character was, in my opinion, more developed than Laura's.
For a more accurate poll Samme, I suggest posing this question on the MTM message board as well.
There's no right or wrong answer to this question. It's a matter of personal opinion. It is a tough question. She was so wonderful in both roles.

I'd have to say Laura Petrie even though both were great (and both of you made excellent points which made it tough to decide). Jan you were right about how she got more airtime on MTM (I've seen episodes of DVD that have Mary in two scenes the whole show). But I like her performance as Laura Petrie a little better. IMO, Laura is what Mary Richards should have become even though Laura came first.

Originally posted by JanLady617:
I love both shows, and watch both of them back to back every night on TV Land. Mary Tyler Moore gave terrific performances on both shows. She could recite the alphabet and hold my interest.
Personally, I like her character on the MTM show better. It was more modern, and she was the star which gave her more airtime. Although both shows were sitcoms, the DVD show was lighter fare, and the MTM show gave Mary the opportunity to showcase her acting ability to a greater degree. Mary Richard's character was, in my opinion, more developed than Laura's.
For a more accurate poll Samme, I suggest posing this question on the MTM message board as well.
There's no right or wrong answer to this question. It's a matter of personal opinion. It is a tough question. She was so wonderful in both roles.

I definitely gotta go with Mary Richards. I guess since she was single and dealing with dating, I was able to relate more to her than Laura. Plus I think Mary was a little more three dementional and developed than Laura. Of course none of this is a dis on Dick Van Dyke at all, I love the show, I just love her show MORE.

Kristen

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(After Mary's famous job interview)
Lou Grant:You know what? You've got spunk!
Mary Richards:Well, yes.
Lou Grant:I HATE SPUNK!!!
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Visit www.mtmshow.cjb.net (http://www.mtmshow.cjb.net)

I can't choose betweent the two. The characters are so different and she was great in both roles.

I watched "Teacher's Petrie" yesterday and it sorta pointed to what I meant about her as Laura.
It was just a fantastic performance.
She went through so many small and honest changes during her scene
arguing with DVD that it becomes not
just great comedy but a study in human nature.Every few seconds she would nail a new moment. The only other person I ever saw listen as well and do such subtle and perfect
acting was Andy Griffith at his very
best. Along with him, she was the best listener I ever say. Other people are talking and you watch her reactions. She once said she learned to listen by watching Van Dyke react
and stay in character even when the camera wasn't on him. But she became
even better than him. (Probably because she had to listen in scenes
more than he did.) But although I still loved her on her own show, especially her acting during the first couple years. She was never more razor sharp as an actress than
during the peak Van Dyke years. And she never had someone so perfect to set off those hair trigger responses. It was perfection.