I accidentally posted this under a different thread, but didn't mean to...sorry since its off topic from that thread.
Anyway, hello - I'm new here :)
Unfortunately I was born about ten years after the MTM show went off the air and didn't start watching it on DVD until after it wasn't even on re-runs on TV Land anymore. So anyway, that means I have nothing to trade on a trading board, but really would like to know what happens after season 4. Here are some of the episodes that I am dying to see and would be VERY APPRECIATIVE if someone could at least give me a play-by-play description of some of these episodes. I watched every clip on YouTube I could find of the show and read episode descriptions online, but most were only a line or two long. I also bought the book "The Making of the Mary Tyler Moore Show" which had episode desciptions, but I still only know about two sentences worth of any episode from the last three seasons. (Except for the few episodes I could find on VHS.) I'm just dying to know more about what happens! Here are the ones that I am especially dying to see. Any recaps etc. about them would be very appreciated!

Not Just Another Pretty Face
You Try to Be a Nice Guy
Mary Moves Out
Murray In Love
What's Wrong with Swimming
Mary Gets a Lawyer
Mary's Insomnia
Mary's Three Husbands
Mary's Big Party

I know you said you can't offer anything to trade, but some people might be willing to do it in exchange for a blank tape. That's what I used to do when someone didn't have anything to offer. Or else, check eBay, there's a "Best of " VHS set that I think turns up there occaisonally, and some tapes that Columbia House put out, too. Those have some of the eps. you're looking for. (Oh, and welcome to the boards! Always nice to see new faces around here! :D)

Anyway, here's my best attempt at a detailed description of "Mary's Insomnia." I think I remember this one pretty well, so let's hope I do it justice. Anyone else out there is welcome to add anything I left out.

Mary has been having trouble sleeping, and she's really concerned about it, Murray tells her he's had insomnia before, but it's "nothing to lose sleep over," hehe. Mary eventually falls asleep w/ her head on Lou's desk (I can't remember exactly why she went into his office, I'll have to check my tape and get back to you on that!). Lou, Murray and Ted all "aww" over watching her sleep, then Mary snores loudly. LOL

Murray's daughter asks him to talk to Ted about speaking to her journalism class. At first Murray tries to say he doesn't see Ted often, but then Ted walks right into the newsroom, so Murray asks Ted if he'll do it. Ted agrees, on one condition: Murray can't insult him anymore. Murray very reluctantly agrees.

Several days later, Mary is her usual perky self, b/c she went to the doctor and was prescribed a sleeping pill. She thinks it's the greatest thing ever, b/c she's finally over her insomnia. Lou overhears Mary telling Murray this, and he asks her to come into his office and tells her she shouldn't take pills b/c she could get hooked. Mary tells him she's been using it for days w/o any signs of addiction. He tells her using them for days is addiction. They argue back and forth about it. Then, Ted walks into Lou's office, and Mary finally says, "OK, Mr. Grant, I won't take my pill tonight, and we'll just see what happens." Ted, of course, thinks that they're talking about birth control and is like: :eek: LOL

That night, Mary goes to take her pill, then decides not to, then flips a coin to decide. When she doesn't like the result of that flip, she flips it a few more times till it tells her what she wants, and she decides to take the pill after all. Then she loses it down her pajamas. LOL (This entire scene has no diologue, it's just Mary in the bedroom by herself. I think it's the only time you saw the bedroom in the new apartment.) When she finally does get the pill, she takes it and goes to bed.

The next night, Lou panics b/c he can't get Mary on the phone. He bursts into her apartment (the super lets him in). Of course he finds out that Mary took her phone off the hook to take a bath. (I assume you've seen the famous "bathtub scene" on YouTube, but in case it's not there anymore, I'll try to do it justice! hehe). Lou barges into the bathroom, which of course makes Mary angry. He says he didn't come over to "cop a peek" at her, he came b/c he was worried about her. He says, "Do you think I care that you're in the bathtub?" Mary replies, "Obviously not!" :lol: A few mins later, Murray and Ted come in (they were just at Murray's daughter's school). Before Mary can say anything, Lou says, "We're in here!" and the two of them join Lou in the bathroom. Ted wants to read Mary his speech, so he takes out his reading glasses. Murray grabs Ted's arm to pull him out of the room, they fight, and Ted's glasses end up in the tub. Mary can tell what Ted is thinking, so she says, "Don't you dare!" as he rolls up his sleeve to retrieve his glasses. Ted replies, "Don't worry, Mary. This'll only take an hour!" Mary screams at him, and all 3 of them leave. (This scene is WAY better than I could describe it here, but I hope it gives you some idea!)

A little later, Mary comes out of the bathroom and finds that Lou has not left. She says she's going to take her pill, he takes them away, and tries to put them out of her reach. Then he realizes if he can reach, so can she, so he dumps them down the sink. Mary objects, but Lou tells her she doesn't need them. He takes her over to the couch and proceeds to sing her to sleep w/ an old Irish lullaby. (This was a really sweet kind of father/daughter moment!) She finally falls asleep on his arm. He tries to get up w/o waking her, but finally gives up. The next morning, Lou wakes her up and tells her she made it through the night. She thanks him for staying w/ her the whole night. Mary has to help Lou on w/ his coat, b/c his arm is totally stiff, LOL. He playfully accuses her of snoring. She asks if she really did. She did, but Lou says, "Mary Richards snore? Never!" hehe

The End.

I checked YouTube, and the bathtub scene isn't there anymore. But I saved it on my comp. when it was, so if you really want to see it (and I can't see why you wouldn't! LOL), PM me and I'll send it to you. There are a couple little things I left out. For example, once Ted agreed to speak to Murray's daugher's class, Ted kept bugging Murray since Murray couldn't insult him. At one point he says, "I have half a mind to go read a book!" And Murray can't say anything back other than, "Good, Ted, enjoy the book." LOL But I covered most of the major plot points.

What ep. would you like me to do next?

- Kristen

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! That was awesome :D I love this board :) I actually was able to see the bathtub scene on YouTube a few months ago and so thats what made me want to see the episode. It was great to figure out what had led up to that though b/c I had no idea what its context was. Btw I would be willing to trade blank tapes if anyone has any episodes taped off TV.
How about Mary's Three Husbands next.... Thanks again this is totally making my day! lol :)

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! That was awesome :D I love this board :) I actually was able to see the bathtub scene on YouTube a few months ago and so thats what made me want to see the episode. It was great to figure out what had led up to that though b/c I had no idea what its context was. Btw I would be willing to trade blank tapes if anyone has any episodes taped off TV.
How about Mary's Three Husbands next.... Thanks again this is totally making my day! lol :)

OK, tomorrow night, after I've had some time to think back (and maybe this time I'll consult my tape!), I'll post "Mary's Three Husbands." It's another good one from Season 7, so it should be fun to re-live.

You might want to try posting your request for tapes on the Tape Trading board. It would at least give you a better chance at finding someone who can help. I know there are people out there who can, you just have to find them. I feel really bad for the fans who haven't seen these later episodes, b/c you're missing out a LOT of great stuff. If I could make copies, I'd do it for everyone and their brother. LOL It just stinks that Fox is being stubborn and not releasing the rest. BTW, if you haven't, you should def. check out the "Season 5 Soon?" thread, b/c in there, we have the email for Fox, and some petitions to sign. You've prob. already seen them, but it never hurts to make sure.

- Kristen

Thanks Kristen!

I just posted on the Tape trading board so hopefully that gets me somewhere. In the meantime, if you happen to get the capability to make copies again let me know cuz I'll do whatever! :) Until then I'll have to live vicariously through the recaps of your tapes lol :D

There's going to be a slight delay with "Mary's Three Husbands." I can't seem to locate my VHS tape of it. :(

Edit: The tape is still MIA, but I've decided to look for a new copy on the Tape Trading board. I'd like to watch it again before I try to write a recap of it, b/c my memories of the 3 fantasies are rather fuzzy. I'd rather wait and do this one justice. BUT, I'll make it up to you. I know "Chuckles Bites the Dust" wasn't on your list, but it's an absolute MUST see, so I'll do a recap of it this weekend. Sound good?

- Kristen

I actually have Chuckles Bites the Dust b/c I got it on the best of VHS set. However I agree its a great one so there may be other people that haven't seen it yet. And thanks for everything you're doing!