Laura Petrie/Mary Richards - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Artfiore1 · 06-29-2001, 03:04 AM

Hi all,
Recently, I had an interesting discussion with someone on the subject of differences & similarities between Mary Tyler Moore's two best known characters -- Laura Petrie & Mary Richards. I was saying that the two weren't really as different as people tend to think.

Sure, Laura Petrie was a dutiful housewife, who threw great parties, while Mary Richards was an independent "liberated" working girl, whose parties were disasters. But, to me, both characters were loyal to their friends. Both were wholesome, yet sexually appealing. Both were sort of perky, well-behaved and kinda nervous around strong male characters. And, as Laura proved in the "Dick Van Dyke" episode in which she filled in for Sally in Rob's office for a week, she was capable of much more than just housework and feeding Ritchie.

Then, the person I was talking to came up with the one point I was unable to dispute: "Laura Petrie would've never had a friend like Rhoda."

Any thoughts out there?

------------------
Later,
Art

Christine0079 · 06-29-2001, 04:11 AM

Well all of that is true but I actually think Laura Petrie was more virginal than Mary Richards. I'm not saying that Mary is a tramp or anything like that. I think it has to do with the fact that Laura Petrie was tied down to one man and there were a lot of things Mary could say than Laura due to the 'innocence of television' in the 60s.

Artfiore1 · 06-29-2001, 03:41 PM

MtM fan,
Ironic, isn't it, how, of the two characters, the only one with a child is the one you describe as "more virginal"? (Hah)

I guess the fact that Laura was a one-man woman, combined with the more innocent era in which her character was set, somehow made her seem that way.

Mary Richards dated a lot of different men, but I can't see her as being particularly sexually active. She first arrived in Minneapolis fresh off a two-year (I think) relationship with a guy. The show never directly stated, or even really implied, that they had been living together . . . although in the "Inside TVLand" special, somebody stated that it was apparent they were. I don't know -- I never got that impression.

Did you see that DVD episode I referred to earlier -- the one in which Laura filled in for Sally in Rob's office? Not only did she turn out to be an outstanding typist, but she even contributed ideas to the actual writing process -- ideas that ended up being nixed only because of Rob's ego. Meanwhile, she was secretly napping while Rob and Buddy were out to lunch, so that she could get up during the night and do her housework! I think Laura Petrie would have been more than capable of producing a TV news show like Mary did. Laura also had plenty of guys interested in her both before and during her marriage to Rob.

------------------
Later,
Art

Kristen · 06-30-2001, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Artfiore1:
Hi all,
Recently, I had an interesting discussion with someone on the subject of differences & similarities between Mary Tyler Moore's two best known characters -- Laura Petrie & Mary Richards. I was saying that the two weren't really as different as people tend to think.

Sure, Laura Petrie was a dutiful housewife, who threw great parties, while Mary Richards was an independent "liberated" working girl, whose parties were disasters. But, to me, both characters were loyal to their friends. Both were wholesome, yet sexually appealing. Both were sort of perky, well-behaved and kinda nervous around strong male characters. And, as Laura proved in the "Dick Van Dyke" episode in which she filled in for Sally in Rob's office for a week, she was capable of much more than just housework and feeding Ritchie.

Then, the person I was talking to came up with the one point I was unable to dispute: "Laura Petrie would've never had a friend like Rhoda."

Any thoughts out there?

I agree, they are a lot alike. They both seem to have the same spirit (If u can say that about a TV character LOL). I think if they had met, they would have been good friends for that reason. I think Mary was a little more in control of her life than Laura, not to say that Laura was a puppet or anything! I just think Mary was more independent than Laura (Duh--She had to be; that was the whole point of MTM!!). I tend to think of Laura as being a finished piece of work whereas Mary seemed to have more growing to do. I guess that's odd considering Mary's older! LOL I think Laura already had what she wanted in life, and wasn't likely to go out and get anything else. Mary on the other hand was still in the process of finding out what she wanted.
This is definitely a question I've done a lot of thinking about myself, so I hope my post makes at least a little sense! LOL

Kristen

------------------
(After Mary's famous job interview)
Lou Grant:You know what? You've got spunk!
Mary Richards:Well, yes.
Lou Grant:I HATE SPUNK!!!
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Visit www.mtmshow.cjb.net

06-29-2001, 03:04 AM	#1
Artfiore1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 28, 2001 Location: East Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 457	Laura Petrie/Mary Richards Hi all, Recently, I had an interesting discussion with someone on the subject of differences & similarities between Mary Tyler Moore's two best known characters -- Laura Petrie & Mary Richards. I was saying that the two weren't really as different as people tend to think. Sure, Laura Petrie was a dutiful housewife, who threw great parties, while Mary Richards was an independent "liberated" working girl, whose parties were disasters. But, to me, both characters were loyal to their friends. Both were wholesome, yet sexually appealing. Both were sort of perky, well-behaved and kinda nervous around strong male characters. And, as Laura proved in the "Dick Van Dyke" episode in which she filled in for Sally in Rob's office for a week, she was capable of much more than just housework and feeding Ritchie. Then, the person I was talking to came up with the one point I was unable to dispute: "Laura Petrie would've never had a friend like Rhoda." Any thoughts out there? ------------------ Later, Art

06-29-2001, 04:11 AM	#2
Christine0079 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2001 Location: phila,pa usa Posts: 232	Well all of that is true but I actually think Laura Petrie was more virginal than Mary Richards. I'm not saying that Mary is a tramp or anything like that. I think it has to do with the fact that Laura Petrie was tied down to one man and there were a lot of things Mary could say than Laura due to the 'innocence of television' in the 60s.

06-29-2001, 03:41 PM	#3
Artfiore1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 28, 2001 Location: East Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 457	MtM fan, Ironic, isn't it, how, of the two characters, the only one with a child is the one you describe as "more virginal"? (Hah) I guess the fact that Laura was a one-man woman, combined with the more innocent era in which her character was set, somehow made her seem that way. Mary Richards dated a lot of different men, but I can't see her as being particularly sexually active. She first arrived in Minneapolis fresh off a two-year (I think) relationship with a guy. The show never directly stated, or even really implied, that they had been living together . . . although in the "Inside TVLand" special, somebody stated that it was apparent they were. I don't know -- I never got that impression. Did you see that DVD episode I referred to earlier -- the one in which Laura filled in for Sally in Rob's office? Not only did she turn out to be an outstanding typist, but she even contributed ideas to the actual writing process -- ideas that ended up being nixed only because of Rob's ego. Meanwhile, she was secretly napping while Rob and Buddy were out to lunch, so that she could get up during the night and do her housework! I think Laura Petrie would have been more than capable of producing a TV news show like Mary did. Laura also had plenty of guys interested in her both before and during her marriage to Rob. ------------------ Later, Art