I was talking classic tv shows with a buddy of mine and he said he never saw The Mary Tyler Moore Show because he said it was for women, not men. I told him I loved it and was a man. I thought it appealed to both genders. He said it appealed more to girls. So I pose this question, what makes TMTMS so appealing to you?

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it has a great ensemble cast, great writing and characters; half of the main characters are male - and who couldn't enjoy Ted Knight on the show?

it has a great ensemble cast, great writing and characters; half of the main characters are male - and who couldn't enjoy Ted Knight on the show?

I agree with you rob. I don't get it, I mean yes it was centered around a woman, but the show was FAR from being a chick show.

As for Ted Knight, he was the crowning jewel of TMTMS, but I do know of people who do not like the Ted Baxter character, mainly because he was "goofy."

Agreed with the above. Lou Grant and Murray presented strong male characters. Ted not so much strong but very memorable, lol! So you could draw in the guys that way.

Plus Mary was a very likeable and relateable character, regardless of her sex. It was the "little fish in the big pond" story more than "the story of a woman" IMHO. That helped it cross gender lines.

Agreed with the above. Lou Grant and Murray presented strong male characters. Ted not so much strong but very memorable, lol! So you could draw in the guys that way.

Plus Mary was a very likeable and relateable character, regardless of her sex. It was the "little fish in the big pond" story more than "the story of a woman" IMHO. That helped it cross gender lines.


That's a great point, after awhile, you didn't so much see Mary as a woman, but as a character that was surrounded by memorable characters.

It's a long list. The great writing, story lines, clever contrasting of characters would some up why I like the SHOW in a nutshell. And many of the characters were nicely nuanced like Rhoda and Mr. Grant. Lou may come across like a curmudgeon a lot of the time, but underneath he can be a pussycat.

As for Mary Richards, it have to be the eveness of her personality and that she was so well-balanced. Even though Mary tries to accommodate and tolerate everyone, when people really "push the envelope" with her she stands her ground.

I think the show would appeal to anyone from 9 to 99.

It's a long list. The great writing, story lines, clever contrasting of characters would some up why I like the SHOW in a nutshell. And many of the characters were nicely nuanced like Rhoda and Mr. Grant. Lou may come across like a curmudgeon a lot of the time, but underneath he can be a pussycat.

As for Mary Richards, it have to be the eveness of her personality and that she was so well-balanced. Even though Mary tries to accommodate and tolerate everyone, when people really "push the envelope" with her she stands her ground.

I think the show would appeal to anyone from 9 to 99.


Agreed!

The show could never be duplicated today because it would involve a lot more sex and probably wouldn't be shot in front of a live studio audience.

I think it appeals to both sexes because it is mainly about trying to make it on your own, getting ahead in the workplace, and most of all - FRIENDSHIP. Maybe women will relate to Mary and Rhoda's friendship more than the guys, but I think the guys would understand Murray's crush on Mary.

On the other side of the coin, Barney Miller was considered a "guy show" (indeed, even the producers/writers interviewed on the DVD set said they couldn't see the show appealing to women) - but I and several other women I know of love it. Maybe I should open up a thread on that board to ask women why that show appeals to them.

Well, I think the show appeals to people for all the above reasons. I mean, a good show is a good show. Yeah, there were definitely messages throughout the show about women and the changes in society at the time and such. But that was never the main point, I don't think. It was just about these people and what happened in their lives. It was stuff all of us could relate to, dealing w/ your job, your co-workers, friends, etc. None of that has anything to do w/ men vs. women, really.

It's just a great show in so many ways.And in my opinion,at least for the most part great TV shows appeal to both sexes and most age groups etc.

Were Charlie's Angels, Laverne And Shirley, Policewoman, Bionic Woman etc... chick shows--I think not!!

Agreed!

The show could never be duplicated today because it would involve a lot more sex and probably wouldn't be shot in front of a live studio audience.

Yes, totally re the sex - that card is played soooo much it's just plain tired.
Its what shows do when they're too lazy (or challenged) to come up with something creative and original.

And a dup could never be produced, written or acted as well as the original.
(It's virtually impossible to re-create a MASTERPIECE ground-breaking show)

As I've posted before,women and men can relate to Mary Richards ,particularly if you're single,will I ever meet the right person? etc.

That was only one theme of the show,it was an excellent cast,great writing and REAL people,yes Lou Grant had a heart of gold but he could be bad tempered,come to work with a hang over,Murray was in a job he found frustrating,Phyllis made out she'd the perfect marriage but really wanted to one of the girls with Mary and Rhoda and was always afraid she was missing something!

Mary was a trendsetter without being preachy about it,they stayed true to the character,a lesser show would have married her off but in true MTMS style,the WJM-TV all get sacked apart from Ted Baxter,the less talented of them all,unlike the multi-talented Ted Knight.

I loved it then and I love it now,its beloved by men and women as its a comedy gem!