Ed Asner Reveals Ted Knight's Paranoia, Mary's Doubts About Him As Lou & CBS - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-18-2012, 10:58 PM

Edward Asner, the irascible Lou Grant to a generation of TV viewers and aspiring journalists, recalls his 1970 preliminary audition for The Mary Tyler Moore Show:

“I hadn’t done much comedy on film. Didn’t have much confidence in myself,” said Asner, then a struggling actor from the Midwest who read for MTM producers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns.

“They said it was a very intelligent reading,” says Asner, who replied, “You mean it’s not funny.”

Right. Next time, Brooks and Burns told him, do it “wild wiggy, all-out crazy.”

“I read it like a meshuga,” Asner says. “They laughed their asses off. They said, ‘Read it just like that with Mary.’ ”

The next week, Asner auditioned with star Mary Tyler Moore. “I read it wiggy wacky,” he said. “She stared at me in disbelief.”

“Are you sure?” she said to Brooks and Burns, who replied, “That’s your Lou Grant.”

Now 82, Asner is currently co-starring in Elephant Sighs and Identical, two independent films out this month on DVD.

Throughout Asner’s 1970-82 run as the gruff newsman (first on MTM, then on the succeeding drama, Lou Grant) he won five Emmy Awards as the character. He also won Emmys for roles in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and Roots (1977).

Asner, who trained in the late ’50s and early ’60s as a performer with The Second City in Chicago, is known for his ensemble work. In August, he goes into rehearsal opposite Paul Rudd for a Broadway comedy-drama, Grace.

Nothing tops his glory days on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran seven years Saturday nights on CBS.

“We always felt we were top of the roost,” says Asner, who confides that in 1970, “there wasn’t a lot of confidence by the brass of CBS in Mary.”

“I guess they were fogies,” he said, adding that the network originally planned to air the show on Tuesday nights opposite ABC’s hit The Mod Squad.

Asner describes his MTM co-stars, who each had successful stage and TV careers after the series ended in 1977:

Moore (Mary Richards): “I was enchanted by her, naturally.”
Valerie Harper (Rhoda Morgenstern): “She was perfect. Wide mouthed, wide assed. Jewish girl from New York.” Harper actually was raised Roman Catholic.
Cloris Leachman (Phyllis Lindstrom): “Loose cannon. And a delight.”
Gavin MacLeod (Murray Slaughter): “The sweetest pussycat in the world.”
Betty White (Sue Ann Nivens): “She was wonderful. She’s a trouper. She doesn’t make problems.”
Georgia Engel (Georgette Franklin): “There’s not a mean bone in her body. She’s her own boss. She’s not a patsy for anybody.”
Ted Knight (Ted Baxter): “The funniest man I had ever seen. ... He was very paranoid, too, when I was busy winning the awards in the first and second year.” Knight won his Emmys in 1973 and ’76.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gayso...#storylink=cpy

OH Nuts! · 06-21-2012, 06:42 AM

Well just goes to show you that the brasses were as*es. Mary has proved her competence and talent many times over. Although there were many fine actors on the show, coupled with superb writing, Mary is the one MOST responsible for making the show an enduring masterpiece. The execs can put that in their pipe and smoke it.

catlover79 · 06-22-2012, 01:10 AM

She really COULD make it on her own - and did!!!

Kristen · 06-22-2012, 01:48 AM

It's kind of strange that Ed says CBS had no faith in Mary. B/c didn't THEY approach HER about doing a sitcom, after seeing her in Dick Van Dyke & The Other Woman? So why would they not think she could succeed?

catlover79 · 06-22-2012, 05:18 AM

Well, these were the same execs who didn't want Mary Richards to be a divorcee because they thought the viewers would think she had divorced Dick Van Dyke. So who really knows?

ajgenard · 06-23-2012, 01:10 AM

I think what he means when he says “there wasn’t a lot of confidence by the brass of CBS in Mary" he's referring to them having serious doubts about the overall show, not Mary as an actress. It's well known that the CBS execs had absolutely no faith in the show in the beginning, especially after the first taping that was received so poorly by the audience they had no choice but to re-shoot. I believe the A/C conked out in the building and the audience were not happy campers.

TMC · 04-17-2017, 12:52 AM

Supposedly, Ted Knight was furious over having to always be playing a fool and begged the producers to change the character. Apparently Ed Asner told him to get over it. They were both "working" actors doing single episodes on lots of shows before they got MTM. Ted didn't understand how important a regular role in a hit show was. Asner set him straight.

06-18-2012, 10:58 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Ed Asner Reveals Ted Knight's Paranoia, Mary's Doubts About Him As Lou & CBS Edward Asner, the irascible Lou Grant to a generation of TV viewers and aspiring journalists, recalls his 1970 preliminary audition for The Mary Tyler Moore Show: “I hadn’t done much comedy on film. Didn’t have much confidence in myself,” said Asner, then a struggling actor from the Midwest who read for MTM producers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns. “They said it was a very intelligent reading,” says Asner, who replied, “You mean it’s not funny.” Right. Next time, Brooks and Burns told him, do it “wild wiggy, all-out crazy.” “I read it like a meshuga,” Asner says. “They laughed their asses off. They said, ‘Read it just like that with Mary.’ ” The next week, Asner auditioned with star Mary Tyler Moore. “I read it wiggy wacky,” he said. “She stared at me in disbelief.” “Are you sure?” she said to Brooks and Burns, who replied, “That’s your Lou Grant.” Now 82, Asner is currently co-starring in Elephant Sighs and Identical, two independent films out this month on DVD. Throughout Asner’s 1970-82 run as the gruff newsman (first on MTM, then on the succeeding drama, Lou Grant) he won five Emmy Awards as the character. He also won Emmys for roles in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and Roots (1977). Asner, who trained in the late ’50s and early ’60s as a performer with The Second City in Chicago, is known for his ensemble work. In August, he goes into rehearsal opposite Paul Rudd for a Broadway comedy-drama, Grace. Nothing tops his glory days on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran seven years Saturday nights on CBS. “We always felt we were top of the roost,” says Asner, who confides that in 1970, “there wasn’t a lot of confidence by the brass of CBS in Mary.” “I guess they were fogies,” he said, adding that the network originally planned to air the show on Tuesday nights opposite ABC’s hit The Mod Squad. Asner describes his MTM co-stars, who each had successful stage and TV careers after the series ended in 1977: Moore (Mary Richards): “I was enchanted by her, naturally.” Valerie Harper (Rhoda Morgenstern): “She was perfect. Wide mouthed, wide assed. Jewish girl from New York.” Harper actually was raised Roman Catholic. Cloris Leachman (Phyllis Lindstrom): “Loose cannon. And a delight.” Gavin MacLeod (Murray Slaughter): “The sweetest pussycat in the world.” Betty White (Sue Ann Nivens): “She was wonderful. She’s a trouper. She doesn’t make problems.” Georgia Engel (Georgette Franklin): “There’s not a mean bone in her body. She’s her own boss. She’s not a patsy for anybody.” Ted Knight (Ted Baxter): “The funniest man I had ever seen. ... He was very paranoid, too, when I was busy winning the awards in the first and second year.” Knight won his Emmys in 1973 and ’76. Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gayso...#storylink=cpy
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06-22-2012, 01:10 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	She really COULD make it on her own - and did!!!
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06-22-2012, 01:48 AM	#4
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	It's kind of strange that Ed says CBS had no faith in Mary. B/c didn't THEY approach HER about doing a sitcom, after seeing her in Dick Van Dyke & The Other Woman? So why would they not think she could succeed?
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06-21-2012, 06:42 AM	#2
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Well just goes to show you that the brasses were as*es. Mary has proved her competence and talent many times over. Although there were many fine actors on the show, coupled with superb writing, Mary is the one MOST responsible for making the show an enduring masterpiece. The execs can put that in their pipe and smoke it.

06-22-2012, 05:18 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Well, these were the same execs who didn't want Mary Richards to be a divorcee because they thought the viewers would think she had divorced Dick Van Dyke. So who really knows?

06-23-2012, 01:10 AM	#6
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	I think what he means when he says “there wasn’t a lot of confidence by the brass of CBS in Mary" he's referring to them having serious doubts about the overall show, not Mary as an actress. It's well known that the CBS execs had absolutely no faith in the show in the beginning, especially after the first taping that was received so poorly by the audience they had no choice but to re-shoot. I believe the A/C conked out in the building and the audience were not happy campers.

04-17-2017, 12:52 AM	#7
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,305	Supposedly, Ted Knight was furious over having to always be playing a fool and begged the producers to change the character. Apparently Ed Asner told him to get over it. They were both "working" actors doing single episodes on lots of shows before they got MTM. Ted didn't understand how important a regular role in a hit show was. Asner set him straight.