What was Mary better on? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FanofRetroTV · 06-12-2009, 04:42 PM

Hi all, I was wondering what show people liked Mary on more. The Dick van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was graet on both. I can't decide my self but I like how she use to dance on DVD, I don't think she danced on MTM. But on MTM she was on her own and made it after all.

Marvo301 · 11-02-2009, 09:43 PM

Personally I liked her better on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". As a suppoting character she was able to use all the tools in her acting toolbox with hilarious results. On MTM she was the lead character and as such her job was really to br the "straight man" for all the other characters. So she didn't shine as much comedically but allowed her fellow cast members to shine very brightly.

McGillicuddy · 11-02-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FanofRetroTV

Hi all, I was wondering what show people liked Mary on more. The Dick van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was graet on both. I can't decide my self but I like how she use to dance on DVD, I don't think she danced on MTM. But on MTM she was on her own and made it after all.

I just got The Dick Van Dyke Show Complete Series, and am enjoying getting to know Laura Petrie. I really can't say I like one more than the other. Mary Richards and Laura Petrie, they're both great!

MickeyMac · 11-03-2009, 11:19 AM

I gotta go with Laura Petrie.

TripperFan · 11-03-2009, 10:20 PM

Dick Van Dyke without a doubt. To me, it was the supporting cast on MTM that was what drew my interest. The Mary Richards character wasn't that great in my opinion.

Retro4Life · 11-03-2009, 10:43 PM

Wow, I'm surprised at the results here.

I'd have thought MTM would win by a mile. For me, Mary Richards was a more well developed character, and was able to convey a much broader array of emotions. I liked Laura, of course, but in general the show was about Rob and his workplace and Laura, while a very large part of that life, wasn't given the focus and potential that Mary was.

SpunkiiMonkii7078 · 11-04-2009, 03:55 PM

I am always so torn by this question, and everytime it gets asked I seem to change my mnid. Right now, I'm going to say Mary was better on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

1960'sTVfan · 11-06-2009, 10:38 PM

I think she was better on the Dick Van Dyke Show, absolutely no question about that. I never could get into Mary's show or any of those other MTM shows. To me, other than All In The Family, Brady Bunch, and maybe a couple other shows, the 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

MickeyMac · 11-07-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I think she was better on the Dick Van Dyke Show, absolutely no question about that. I never could get into Mary's show or any of those other MTM shows. To me, other than All In The Family, Brady Bunch, and maybe a couple other shows, the 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

The 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

I will so second that.

Retro4Life · 11-07-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

The 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

I will so second that.

I'm thinking we have REALLY different criteria for what makes a good sitcom.

Quality sitcoms from the 70's, IMHO

1) All in the Family
2) Bob Newhart Show
3) Mary Tyler Moore
4) Rhoda
5) MASH
6) One Day at a Time
7) Barney Miller
8) Soap
9) WKRP in Cincinnati
10) Good Times
11) Maude
12) Happy Days
13) Laverne and Shirley
14) Mork and Mindy
15) Angie (yes, it was short lived but it was good)
16) Three's Company
17) Too Close for Comfort
18) Partridge Family
19) Brady Bunch
20) The Odd Couple
21) Room 222
22) What's Happening
23) Chico and the Man
24) Sanford and Son
25) The Tony Randall Show

There's more I'm sure, but that's a good start.

Discuss.

1960'sTVfan · 11-07-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

The 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

I will so second that.

For me, one thing that's missing from many 70's sitcoms is that fun/fantasy angle that made many 60's sitcoms so great. There are probably only four or five 70's sitcoms that I can say I genuinely enjoy watching. The 60's was the decade for sitcoms, the 70's was the decade for cop shows.

mstewart · 11-15-2009, 11:35 AM

What was wild about Mary's part in TDVDS was her part was originally to be a small part but end up being the unofficial leading lady on the show which caused problems between her and Rose Marie. Originally Rose Marie was supposed to be the lead actress. Mary was very funny on the show and I enjoyed Rob and Laura's relationship. They kept it real.

I did like TMTMS but her character did developed well and grew in the seven seasons where Mary Richards did get an edge towards the end of the series. She was more of the central character and a reactor to the craziness at the office and the Rhoda and Phyllis rivalry.

Here is another thing I wish TDVDS could had done is more storylines on Laura and Millie. There was some good comedy between those two and it is an underrated female friend team. They were excellent together. Ann Morgan Guilbert brought out the comedienne in Mary Tyler Moore in their scenes together.

Scoobiedoo30 · 11-15-2009, 03:25 PM

Laura Petrie

janet42 · 11-17-2009, 10:34 PM

I liked her on both shows.

cathyg321 · 01-01-2010, 05:32 AM

Yeah, Mary was great on both shows. I grew up watching her on MTM and always wanted to be like her, independent. But as I got older, I kinda think I like her more on DVD.

06-12-2009, 04:42 PM	#1
FanofRetroTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 292	What was Mary better on? Hi all, I was wondering what show people liked Mary on more. The Dick van Dyke Show or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was graet on both. I can't decide my self but I like how she use to dance on DVD, I don't think she danced on MTM. But on MTM she was on her own and made it after all.

11-02-2009, 09:43 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Personally I liked her better on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". As a suppoting character she was able to use all the tools in her acting toolbox with hilarious results. On MTM she was the lead character and as such her job was really to br the "straight man" for all the other characters. So she didn't shine as much comedically but allowed her fellow cast members to shine very brightly.
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11-03-2009, 10:20 PM	#5
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Dick Van Dyke without a doubt. To me, it was the supporting cast on MTM that was what drew my interest. The Mary Richards character wasn't that great in my opinion.
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11-03-2009, 10:43 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Wow, I'm surprised at the results here. I'd have thought MTM would win by a mile. For me, Mary Richards was a more well developed character, and was able to convey a much broader array of emotions. I liked Laura, of course, but in general the show was about Rob and his workplace and Laura, while a very large part of that life, wasn't given the focus and potential that Mary was.
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11-04-2009, 03:55 PM	#7
SpunkiiMonkii7078 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 20, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 784	I am always so torn by this question, and everytime it gets asked I seem to change my mnid. Right now, I'm going to say Mary was better on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
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11-03-2009, 11:19 AM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	I gotta go with Laura Petrie.

11-06-2009, 10:38 PM	#8
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,123	I think she was better on the Dick Van Dyke Show, absolutely no question about that. I never could get into Mary's show or any of those other MTM shows. To me, other than All In The Family, Brady Bunch, and maybe a couple other shows, the 70's was not a great decade for sitcoms.

11-15-2009, 11:35 AM	#12
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	What was wild about Mary's part in TDVDS was her part was originally to be a small part but end up being the unofficial leading lady on the show which caused problems between her and Rose Marie. Originally Rose Marie was supposed to be the lead actress. Mary was very funny on the show and I enjoyed Rob and Laura's relationship. They kept it real. I did like TMTMS but her character did developed well and grew in the seven seasons where Mary Richards did get an edge towards the end of the series. She was more of the central character and a reactor to the craziness at the office and the Rhoda and Phyllis rivalry. Here is another thing I wish TDVDS could had done is more storylines on Laura and Millie. There was some good comedy between those two and it is an underrated female friend team. They were excellent together. Ann Morgan Guilbert brought out the comedienne in Mary Tyler Moore in their scenes together.

11-15-2009, 03:25 PM	#13
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Laura Petrie
	__________________ Who Dat

11-17-2009, 10:34 PM	#14
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	I liked her on both shows.

01-01-2010, 05:32 AM	#15
cathyg321 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 31, 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 103	Yeah, Mary was great on both shows. I grew up watching her on MTM and always wanted to be like her, independent. But as I got older, I kinda think I like her more on DVD.