The only sitcom without two lives?

[mstewart]

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve

You're right, mstewart,
That scene is funny, and it was all Mary's. I guess it was her breakthrough scene.
At least we immediately agree on the Capri pants!

Steve

Hey Steve my favorite part of Laura's crying speech is: "...and you said (sniff), 'Don't do that!'...and the gray hair!" She nailed that scene as any natural comedianne would.

One thing about the character of Laura Petrie is she took the role of a TV wife/housewife to a whole new level where she was seen as a real person with real human needs with flaws and not centering her entire world around her husband. It was cool she wore pants, sexy tight pants that is, while doing housework. MTM had to fight CBS to wear the slacks. They were concern because the cut of the pants would show too much butt. MTM always have that earthy girl next door look about her.

[PhoenixAcres]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Old thread, but I think this is right.

There's a little stretch right at the start where there's a little bit of a grim take on marriage and suburban life - The Sick Boy and the Sitter, Washington v. The Bunny, Jealousy! - but that's pretty clearly left behind by the middle of the first season and they're just exploiting whatever funny situations they can dream up.

No significant decline - probably 10 of the last dozen episodes in the series are excellent.

That's probably why I don't like many of the earliest episodes. Rob and Laura just didn't come across as likeable or funny and the show was pretty bland. Thankfully the actors and characters eventually developed into their true forms and made TDVDS one of the greatest series of all time. And I agree, once the show got into its proper "groove" there was never a dip in quality in any successive seasons.

The shaky beginnings were understandable though because I think this applies to all shows in the history of TV - they need a period of time at the beginning to find themselves and account for what is and isn't working. For this reason I don't think any show can say it never had "two lives".

The only exceptions to this might be one-season shows like "The Honeymooners", where there's really no time for significant change to occur. Or maybe "Hogan's Heroes", which somehow stuck with the same premise from day one, all the way through six seasons, with minimal (perhaps zero) plot and character development. The exception there would be when Ivan Dixon left, though this was near the end of its run, and the new character mysteriously assumed his old role without discussion or explanation.

[jehobden]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Yes, I'm sure you've noticed that Mary always had last billing on the show even after all those seasons! I always wondered about that.

MTM was billed in front of Larry Mathews in the S1 credits, so she wasn't always last, and when she was mentioned last starting in S2, I agree with others who stated that being mentioned last can be very good, almost (but not quite) as good as being mentioned first.

[hifijohn]

MASH had three very good seasons,but went down hill after the first three, when frank left the show was never the same.