They have several co-workers in the back of the newsroom. I've seen every episode of this series, but I can't think of a single time where Mary, Murray or Lou ever talked to any of those guys, or even acknowledge them. Not even a "hello." They'll walk past them and completely ignore them. And whenever a friend or acquaintance of Mary, Murray or Lou comes to the office to visit, they never get introduced to anyone outside of this circle of three, unless Ted, Gordy or Sue Ann happens to walk in. Ted, Gordy and Sue Ann are about the only other people at the station they seem to talk to. What's up with their cliquish behavior?

I remember some blond guy named Pete who sat at one of the back desks, and Lou would yell for him, occasionally. I don't think he ever had any lines though.

Good question. I think it's merely a case of television making us "suspend our disbelief" as far as background characters. The same criticism could easily be applied to Welcome Back, Kotter. How often did any of those other kids in the class ever get spoken to or even acknowledged? The same could be said of Star Trek, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, etc, etc.

The producers needed to communicate the reality that there were other people in the school/workplace, but didn't have the money or time to really delve into any of these people. Thus, the main cast comes off looking cliquish.

Nobody remembers Pete? :lol:

^ Yeah, I remember him. I think I recall a Nick at Nite marathon mentioning that he was the son of a show producer, something like that. :)

Good question. I think it's merely a case of television making us "suspend our disbelief" as far as background characters. The same criticism could easily be applied to Welcome Back, Kotter. How often did any of those other kids in the class ever get spoken to or even acknowledged? The same could be said of Star Trek, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, etc, etc.

The producers needed to communicate the reality that there were other people in the school/workplace, but didn't have the money or time to really delve into any of these.

An excellent thoughtful response. Reflecting back, yes this I'd why I NEVER thought they were snobbish. If anything, Mary, Murray and Lou were as down-to-earth as a person could be - yet each displayed great intelligence and at times a vastly incisive wit.

It is an interesting topic. Its also unrealistic that anytime there's a get together, its the same 6 people Mary, Lou, Murray, Ted, Georgette and Sue Ann. (Marie always had some reason not to be there; Lou and Edie were splitting up). Why wasn't anybody else from the newsroom invited to dinner at Mary's?

Like the time Johnny Carson was coming to Mary's apartment. Wouldn't you think Pete would have wanted to be there too?:lol:

It is an interesting topic. Its also unrealistic that anytime there's a get together, its the same 6 people Mary, Lou, Murray, Ted, Georgette and Sue Ann. (Marie always had some reason not to be there; Lou and Edie were splitting up). Why wasn't anybody else from the newsroom invited to dinner at Mary's?

Like the time Johnny Carson was coming to Mary's apartment. Wouldn't you think Pete would have wanted to be there too?:lol:

Yep, Mary's clique. And look at the wedding episode of Rhoda. Who did Rhoda invite from Minneapolis, other than Phyllis? Mary's clique from the newsroom, of course. Wouldn't you think Rhoda would have made some other friends along the way during her years there, or was she a snob, too? :)

The producers needed to communicate the reality that there were other people in the school/workplace, but didn't have the money or time to really delve into any of these people. Thus, the main cast comes off looking cliquish.

Yeah, I know that's the reality of it, but it seems they could have had Mary, Murray and Lou do a quick hello, or a smile or a wave to the others in the newsroom every once in awhile.

The two writers in the back of the office were gay and so weren't into Mary, scared of Lou, hated Ted, and are too embarrassed to talk to Murray because they thought he was gay and once invited him out for a drink.

I believe one of the guest stars had a role working at one of the three background desks, so they talked with him in that capacity. Also, Lou would sometimes wave everyone to gather around him so he could give a speech, so he was at least willing to let them listen to him talk. It looks like the background cast was filled with mainly young workers. It appears the cliques were formed by age and professional status, and Mary and Murray were such tight friends they didn't have time to chat with anyone else besides the boss or Ted when he cut into their conversation. Maybe if the others were more bold like Ted, they would have gotten at least some acknowledgment of their existence.

It all has to do with money! If one of the main cast members spoke to one of the extras they may have answered back. If that happened they would have to be paid as an actor instead of an extra which would be a much higher rate of pay.

Also, Lou being the gruff boss that he is, probably instructed each new intern that they were "to be seen and not heard" :mad: , so they lived in dire fear of being called on the carpet for talking, except quietly to themselves. They were a meek and mild newsroom crew, except Gordy. Mary and Murray probably didn't want to get them in trouble with Lou so they avoided chatting with them. Ted, being the clueless chap that he was, would sometimes be over there chatting with them in the background.

I would love to have the jobs that those two guys had. I don't mean on the show. I mean in real life! Just sitting at back desks pretending to work, having no lines to say or anything and getting paid! WOW!! I wonder how much money those guys made just to sit at those desks every episode?

Pete and the other guys probably had a clique of their own. They were probably going out after work for some drinks and complaining about their superiors for treating them like mere factotums! :lol: Anyway, it would have been more unrealistic not to have them there, because who would be doing the grunt work? Ha ha, remember when Ted was running the newsroom and approved a kid's copy, and the kid threw it out? :lol: