Interesting MTM Facts - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CliffClavin · 07-19-2004, 05:22 PM

The show was originally planned to be about a divorced woman, but because divorce was still a hot subject in 1970, they settled for a broken engagement instead. Also, the network was afraid people would think that Mary had divorced Rob Petrie, her character's husband on "The Dick Van Dyke Show", losing the audience's sympathy.

A three-minute mini-pilot, entitled "Love is All Around," was produced for CBS Network executives in an attempt to sell them on the casting of Ed Asner as Lou Grant.

After several seasons, the theme song was completely re-written and the last line went from "you might just make it after all" to "you're gonna make it after all".

Series was filmed on Stage 2 at CBS Studio City

Mary's house, which appears in the opening credits, is still standing in Minneapolis, Minnesota - the city in which the show takes place.

Gavin MacLeod first auditioned for the part of Lou Grant. Edward Asner gave a terrible reading at his first audition and insisted on a second chance. Jack Cassidy was considered for the role of Ted Baxter. Cassidy later guest starred as Ted's brother.

The classic episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust" was inspired by an actual event where several funeral-goers burst out laughing during a funeral.

The name for the local broadcasting awards on the show were the Teddies.

Murray was the only member of the W.J.M. news staff that never won a Teddy. Coincidentally, Gavin MacLeod, who played Murray, was the only member of the cast to never win an Emmy.

After leaving the W.J.M. news staff, Gordy the weatherman became a successful talk show host.

Following the conclusion of the series, Edward Asner continued to play Lou Grant in a long-running dramatic series of the same name. This is one of the only times in TV history that a sitcom spun off a dramatic series.

AB · 03-15-2007, 05:45 PM

That was pretty interesting. I can't remember the episode with Jack Cassidy
playing Ted's brother off hand but if I saw a few minutes of it, it would probably come back to me.

Zoneboy · 03-15-2007, 05:50 PM

The Kitten shown at the end of the closing credits was Mary Tyler Moore's own cat, Mimsy.

07-19-2004, 05:22 PM	#1
CliffClavin Yada Yada Yada Senior Member Join Date: May 04, 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,403	Interesting MTM Facts The show was originally planned to be about a divorced woman, but because divorce was still a hot subject in 1970, they settled for a broken engagement instead. Also, the network was afraid people would think that Mary had divorced Rob Petrie, her character's husband on "The Dick Van Dyke Show", losing the audience's sympathy. A three-minute mini-pilot, entitled "Love is All Around," was produced for CBS Network executives in an attempt to sell them on the casting of Ed Asner as Lou Grant. After several seasons, the theme song was completely re-written and the last line went from "you might just make it after all" to "you're gonna make it after all". Series was filmed on Stage 2 at CBS Studio City Mary's house, which appears in the opening credits, is still standing in Minneapolis, Minnesota - the city in which the show takes place. Gavin MacLeod first auditioned for the part of Lou Grant. Edward Asner gave a terrible reading at his first audition and insisted on a second chance. Jack Cassidy was considered for the role of Ted Baxter. Cassidy later guest starred as Ted's brother. The classic episode "Chuckles Bites the Dust" was inspired by an actual event where several funeral-goers burst out laughing during a funeral. The name for the local broadcasting awards on the show were the Teddies. Murray was the only member of the W.J.M. news staff that never won a Teddy. Coincidentally, Gavin MacLeod, who played Murray, was the only member of the cast to never win an Emmy. After leaving the W.J.M. news staff, Gordy the weatherman became a successful talk show host. Following the conclusion of the series, Edward Asner continued to play Lou Grant in a long-running dramatic series of the same name. This is one of the only times in TV history that a sitcom spun off a dramatic series.
	__________________ We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight. - Milton Berle

03-15-2007, 05:50 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,381	The Kitten shown at the end of the closing credits was Mary Tyler Moore's own cat, Mimsy.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

03-15-2007, 05:45 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	That was pretty interesting. I can't remember the episode with Jack Cassidy playing Ted's brother off hand but if I saw a few minutes of it, it would probably come back to me.