http://www.likelihoodofsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/murray-slaughter.jpg

If so, why? The reason I ask, is because everyone I ever talk to about the show says they loved Mary, Rhoda, Ted, Lou, but never Murray...

Murray may have been the least developed of the three. I think that looking back, Gavin McLeod did a LOT with a character that was a bit underwritten. He was a long suffering newswriter who longed for more job fulfillment and had a loving wife and daughter. And...that was about it, really. He had a crush on Mary (who didn't?) and a rivalry with Ted and Sue Ann, but I'm fairly sure he had the least episodes centered around him of anyone, including Ted (but excluding Sue Ann and Phyllis).

He was a beloved character, though, on the strength of McLeod's sympathetic and wry portrayal alone, I'd say.

Murray may have been the least developed of the three. I think that looking back, Gavin McLeod did a LOT with a character that was a bit underwritten. He was a long suffering newswriter who longed for more job fulfillment and had a loving wife and daughter. And...that was about it, really. He had a crush on Mary (who didn't?) and a rivalry with Ted and Sue Ann, but I'm fairly sure he had the least episodes centered around him of anyone, including Ted (but excluding Sue Ann and Phyllis).

He was a beloved character, though, on the strength of McLeod's sympathetic and wry portrayal alone, I'd say.


I agree that he probably did the most with less more than any other character. I wonder if he ever showed regret about not getting cast as Lou?

Personally I did love Murray. He was my favorite character on the show. I loved his clever and hilarious jabs at Ted. In fact they were so clever that Ted often mistook them for compliments! I don't think Murray was unpopular he was just less popular than the other characters you mentioned and under appreciated.

I don't think Murray was unpopular he was just less popular than the other characters you mentioned and under appreciated.


Excellent point Marv! Under appreciated might be a better term for Murray Slaughter.

That's how brilliant this show was.
I liked several of the other major characters a tiny bit better, but Murray's was a great, rich part, and his lines were fantastic!

And I would agree, the word is "underappreciated." Not sure the Murray character could have anchored a whole sitcom, but he really was very funny on this show. Such complementary roles on TMTMS gave it its unmatched depth!

Not sure the Murray character could have anchored a whole sitcom, but he really was very funny on this show. Such complementary roles on TMTMS gave it its unmatched depth!


Well, he did do the "Love Boat" if you want to consider that a sitcom? lol :joke:

With so many over the top characters like Ted, Phyllis and Sue Ann, the show needed somebody who was level headed and somewhat normal. And Murray also made a good friend and ally for Mary at the newsroom.

With so many over the top characters like Ted, Phyllis and Sue Ann, the show needed somebody who was level headed and somewhat normal. And Murray also made a good friend and ally for Mary at the newsroom.

Couldn't have said it better myself old grouch!

Murray wasn't unpopular, he just wasn't childish, pushy, hot-to-trot, phony, obnoxious, cheap or an attention (or any other kind of) wh*r*. Just because his personality wasn't overbearing doesn't mean he was dull or faded into the background. To me, his qualities were endearing - this, made me notice and appreciate him more the over-the-top characters ("characters"!?) - that you mentioned.

Well, he did do the "Love Boat" if you want to consider that a sitcom? lol :joke:

Ha ha!
I was referring to the "Murray" character, not Gavin himself, and I didn't even think about Captain Stubing! Even though I did say I wasn't sure Murray could "anchor" a sitcom!

Really, what DID they call "Love Boat"? I mean, it was kind of a combination of comedy and adventure/drama...and Gavin did that extremely well. A dramedy, maybe?

I'm just thinking that with "Murray", I agree, in general he was level-headed and hard-working and normal, like Mary, but that's what they had Mary for...so some of the same themes likely might have been explored if Murray was the main character in a similar sitcom.

A way it MIGHT have worked, though, with Murray's pure wit, is if you'd given him some interesting new characters to play off, and made his kids a bit more outspoken (they were mostly nice on TMTMS). Maybe that could have been pulled off.

So if the writing was good enough, and he was put in a new situation, Gavin could have done it with his talent. But I think he was perfect as Murray in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and there are also some issues with having somebody so identified with a previous part/situation. And as somebody pointed out, I'm not sure the hilarious Murray/Ted dynamic ever could have been recreated!

Fun to think about, but Gavin navigated in a slightly different direction, and I'm sure he's pretty happy with the way it all worked out.