Did Sue Ann Nivens Dominate Later Episodes Of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show?'

[Brian Damage]

I was reading a lot of viewer comments and a couple of comments that struck me interesting was that Sue Ann Nivens...The Happy Homemaker herself was the closest thing to a break out star on TMTMS as say Flo on 'Alice' or JJ on 'Good Times.'

She was apparently so popular with viewers that she became a more seen and vocal character on the show. Was this accurate?

[Family Ties Forever!]

I like Betty White, but I didn't care for the Sue Ann Nivens character. I liked the show better before they brought her on. I think Sue Ann was in too many episodes. Just my opinion.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

I like Betty White, but I didn't care for the Sue Ann Nivens character. I liked the show better before they brought her on. I think Sue Ann was in too many episodes. Just my opinion.

So she was used more in later episodes?

[OH Nuts!]

I do think she gained more of a presence as time went on - but Sue Ann was still a secondary character to Mary, Lou, Murray and Rhoda - imo anyways.

My understanding was that Sue Ann was supposed to be a one shot deal (no pun intended!) but Betty proved so good in the role, Sue Ann became a recurring character.

Sue Ann was a good character. She was a female counterpart to Ted (both obnoxious) and contrasted nicely to the more solid personalities on the show.

[Dianne3]

Like somebody already posted, I also like Betty White also but didn't care for Sue Ann. I skip the Sue Ann centred episodes.

I question on how popular the character of Sue Ann really was since starting in year 6, less viewers were watching. Sue Ann was on way too much that season.

I noticed that in the final season, her airtime was not as much.

[scotsguy]

I loved Sue Ann,she came into the show and was a good female addition to

the newsroom and helped bring up the numbers of female characters

later,when Rhoda and Phyllis left the parent show,for spinoffs.

I loved Sue Ann "The Smiling Cobra" and how she frightened the usually

tough Lou,love how Sue Ann turned every subject into food.

I don't think she dominated the show,no,if she'd been in every episode

maybe,the character would have been tiresome but Sue Ann was hilarious

and Betty White's a legend!

[Willbo]

I don't think she dominated the later episodes. I wish that she were in more episodes. Sue Ann was hilarious.

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Willbo

Sue Ann was hilarious.

She sure was and boy could she cook (in the kitchen and elsewhere)

[PracTz]

While Sue Ann definitely helped out the last seasons a great deal- especially after Rhoda left, I have to admit that it was better when she was a background character instead of center stage. Perhaps, this would be best epitomized when they spun off Betty White to play a very Sue An- like character in "The Betty White Show" along with Georgia Engel playing her Georgette-like best friend and roomie- which ended after a 13 week run the least successful of the MTM spinoffs !
Yes, I always liked Sue-Ann and still adore Betty White but IMO Sue Ann's best taken in small doses.

[Mr. Television]

Sue Ann was popular but no way was she as popular as JJ on Good Times or The Fonz on Happy Days. I liked the character. Her and Ed Asner were great together.

[Retro4Life]

I thought she was about as prominent as Murray, more prominent than Georgette, but not as prominent as Lou, Mary or Ted.

White did a good job with the character but it was hard to sympathize with Sue Ann because she was such a rotten person. But as the show went on, Ted was becoming more sympathetic, so maybe they needed a 'heavy' with more edge.