http://www.bonethefish.com/viewtopics.php?1941

American 1970s sitcom, ground-breaking in its portrayal of a single professional woman (MTM) "making it afterall."

For me it was when Rhoda (and later Phyliis) left for spin-off shows. It totally desroyed the balance between Mary's work life and home life that the series producers worked so hard to create in the first place.

For me it was when Rhoda (and later Phyliis) left for spin-off shows. It totally desroyed the balance between Mary's work life and home life that the series producers worked so hard to create in the first place.

Hmm. I disagree. Many of my favorite episodes came in the last three seasons. My favorite season is S6, followed by S7. Earlier on in the series I think there was often too much emphasis on Mary's home life and it made it feel too much like a chick show. The departure of Rhoda and Phyllis allowed for stories focused on Ted Baxter, and further development of the Sue Ann character, with entire episodes focused on her. After Mary, they, along with Lou, were my favorite characters on the show.

I don't think it ever JTS. It was great from season 1 until the end.

I never saw a marked decline in the show's quality. Having said that, I think that if they had continued much further you would have seen this. They had mined the show for all it was worth and their decision to end it early was a great one. And they resisted the impulse to marry off Mary! :)

It NEVER did, plain and simple!

I am now, literally now watching the 6th and 7th season of MTM Show and really like it. Wih Mary in the "new" apartment.

I do not think the show lost a beat by losing Valarie Harper and Cloris Leachman. Harper I really liked, Leachman, not so much. Not being a bummer, but i have neve been a Betty White fan ever. I love The Golden Girls, and always thought of White as the weakest link. The core cast, Mary, Murray, Ted, Lou, and Georgette get more time to shine. To me the writing or the tone of the show did not decline one bit at all.

Georgia Franklin gets a more of a role in the later season. Damn....what a FINE LOOKING WOMAN. Sort of a virginal Marilyn Monroe. I have asked this before.....but to me it is amazing that this woman has never been married, but that is another conversation.

But this program went out on top, the writing is as sharp and did not lose a beat at all. This was the point and MTM herself has said so herself.

I missed Rhoda/Valerie, but I don't think it was a "bone moment". Especially since Betty White and Georgia Engel picked up the slack.

I agree the MTMS never lost its quality,I did miss Cloris and Valerie but Cloris had only been doing three appearances in the last few seasons before she got "Phyllis" and I loved the early "Rhoda seasons",so we got the best of both worlds for a while.

I think Sue Ann may have de-boned the fish for a recipe or two!

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was brilliant throughout, but I agree that they ended it at precisely the right time.

They boned the fish about one minute after the series finale episode.

As I mentioned in other threads, I was a little too young to really appreciate Cloris and Val back then, and most of my first-run memories of the series definitely come from after their departures. With so many strong characters and excellent acting, the series still had a lot to offer in its later seasons...!

Did the show start to lose something in Season 5, with Valerie Harper gone and Cloris Leachman only making one or two appearances? Mary also became more shrill and bitter, and didn't seem as likable. Plus, Ted Knight was whining that he wanted Ted Baxter to be more likable. They gave into him, resulting in the new saccharine, less funny Ted.