I thought this might be a good topic for debate. Does the great state of Minnesota, in particular, the city of Minneapolis, owe The Mary Tyler Moore Show some gratitude for basing the sitcom in that location OR is it just a show that was based in Minneapolis only in name and was mainly a Hollywood show?

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I thought they tried hard to include Minnesota references in the show, but for the most part it could have been set in most any Midwestern city and it would have been much the same. Being shot in Hollywood, it naturally would have kind of an outsiders take on Minnesota. Nevertheless it is cool that Minneapolis was the setting. It was a lot of fun hunting down and looking at the house used for the exteriors of Mary's place.

I thought they tried hard to include Minnesota references in the show, but for the most part it could have been set in most any Midwestern city and it would have been much the same. Being shot in Hollywood, it naturally would have kind of an outsiders take on Minnesota. Nevertheless it is cool that Minneapolis was the setting. It was a lot of fun hunting down and looking at the house used for the exteriors of Mary's place.

Excellent post gopyle, are you from the Minnesota area? The only reason I ask, is that I have been reading a lot of comments from readers on the Star tribune website, and it seems that a lot of them seem to resent the show.

Not sure why they would have resentment. The show was not demeaning in any way to Minnesota. Having read numerous comments on the StarTribune website, I'm not surprised, though, as it is quite the haven for those who are smarter than the rest of us. For a bunch of stoic Scandinavians, there seems to be a lot of misguided emotion regarding just about any subject.

Not sure why they would have resentment. The show was not demeaning in any way to Minnesota. Having read numerous comments on the StarTribune website, I'm not surprised, though, as it is quite the haven for those who are smarter than the rest of us. For a bunch of stoic Scandinavians, there seems to be a lot of misguided emotion regarding just about any subject.


A few months ago I posted an article from the Mayor of Minneapolis, and even he was trying to distance himself from the show. While I understand, that the city may offer plenty of things other than Mary Tyler Moore, why "diss" a show that brings in revenue even till this day???

I haven't read the article, but I highly doubt that anyone beyond Minnesota gives more than a fleeting thought to connecting MTM to Minnesota in any meaningful way...and if they do, it should lnly be positive. Things like the legislature and other MN politicians would shine a WAY more negative light on the Gopher State than MTM.

Well my opinion is she threw some positive vibes its way - although Minneapolis was already a thriving city in its own right - The statue of Mary in Minneapolis is a nice tribute. I thought they portrayed the city in a positive way for the most part.

(Now for a city that DOES owe a show a HUGE debt of gratitude - I'd say Scranton for The Office - sorry for going a bit O/T)

A few months ago I posted an article from the Mayor of Minneapolis, and even he was trying to distance himself from the show. While I understand, that the city may offer plenty of things other than Mary Tyler Moore, why "diss" a show that brings in revenue even till this day???


I don't understand that either. The show gave me a postive impression of the city; and certainly put it on the radar screen for many.