Hi folks I'm new and I use to love to watch the "Doris Day Show"!

Lets not forget Marlo Thomas's "That Girl" which had preceeded "Mary Tyler Moore" and was a huge hit. That may have also influenced the producers to change Doris from a widow w/kids to a bachelorette!

Ed

...that the "rural era" of sitcoms was coming to an end. She also knew that
she, and her character, was too sophisticated for "farm life" {"An Yves St. Laurent dirndl for milking the cows wouldn't quite do it", she mused in the book "Her Own Story"}- that's why 'Doris Martin' moved to the "big city" in season two, taking "the kids" with her. By the time Mary Tyler Moore's show became a critical success in 1971, Doris also realized that she'd have to "reinvent" her show again, without "the kids" and her family "back home". In other words, the successful single working woman 'Mary Richards' had become would also apply to 'Doris Martin' as well. That may have been the best setting for her in the first place.

Heck, the first season episode entitled "The Job" was already laying down the foundation for the upcoming format change!