Does Anybody Agree The Most Un-Realistic Character Was Ted Baxter?

[Brian Damage]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show did a great job of bringing fictional characters to life, but was Ted Knight's (Ted Baxter) character the exception to the rule? Was he too goofy like JJ Evans was to Good Times? Was Ted Baxter too cartoonish?

I read an article just now that before Ted Baxter came along, nnews anchors were considered these sort of knowledgeable and astute-responsible journalists. Did The Mary Tyler Moore Show completely ruin that image for American TV Viewers?

[OH Nuts!]

Well, I thought there were a few characters on the show had a caricature quality to them - I mean WHO is as stupid as Ted, slutty as Sue Ann, obnoxiously passive-aggresive as Phyllis? So yes, I think Ted's character was exaggerated - for comedic effect.

But other characters on the show demonstrated personalities that were nicely balanced. Like Mary, Lou and Rhoda.

I don't think the show damaged the image of newscasters, because it was clear (at least to me) that Ted was a caricature - a distortion not to be taken seriously.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Well, I thought there were a few characters on the show had a caricature quality to them - I mean WHO is as stupid as Ted, slutty as Sue Ann, obnoxiously passive-aggresive as Phyllis? So yes, I think Ted's character was exaggerated - for comedic effect.

But other characters on the show demonstrated personalities that were nicely balanced. Like Mary, Lou and Rhoda.

I don't think the show damaged the image of newscasters, because it was clear (at least to me) that Ted was a caricature - a distortion not to be taken seriously.

[Cloud9 Lorraine]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

I don't think the show damaged the image of newscasters, because it was clear (at least to me) that Ted was a caricature - a distortion not to be taken seriously.

Agreed. Ted, trying to be the sophisticated, serious newscaster, then blowing it in the middle of his newscast was all part of his persona. The other characters on the show and even the tv viewers would all wait anxiously for Ted to fumble.

I think the most awkward character was Georgette. I don't even know how to describe her.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

Well, I thought there were a few characters on the show had a caricature quality to them - I mean WHO is as stupid as Ted, slutty as Sue Ann, obnoxiously passive-aggresive as Phyllis? So yes, I think Ted's character was exaggerated - for comedic effect.

Well, years ago I used to know somebody who acted almost EXACTLY like Ted. He's on Facebook these days and we have mutual friends, so I've seen some things he's posted and, well, he still seems to act like Ted. I do NOT want to friend him.

As for Sue Ann, well . . . . . . I used to know someone who was probably sluttier than her. And if I think about it long enough, I'm sure I can conjure up someone I've known who was as obnoxious as Phyllis.

Heck, there was a woman in my neighborhood who served on the PTA and also earned most of her cash "servicing" the local police force and working as a prostitute. Her husband was her pimp. The cops were often at her house, but not to arrest her. When her young daughters were outside playing for hours on end, we knew she was busy inside "working." This was in a small Bible Belt southern town. She and other people I've come across in my life would make the characters on TMTMS seem boring by comparison.