Former 'Mary Tyler Moore Show' Writer Reveals He Hates Ed Asner!

[Brian Damage]

His name is Burt Prelutsky and he wrote two episodes of MTM...

- Mary Gets a Lawyer (1976)

– Mary the Writer (1976)

This brings us to Ed Asner, whom I got to know when I wrote a couple of episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and a TV movie in which he co-starred with Jean Simmons. Even when I was a Democrat, I never agreed with his radical politics, but I always found him bearable in an amiably gruff Lou Grant sort of way.

But, recently, I heard from a friend of mine, an actress who had toured in a stage play with Asner. It seems they had gotten along famously until one day she happened to mention that she was a Republican. Even though they’d never even discussed political issues, the mere fact that she shared that shocking truth about herself made her repugnant in his eyes. From that day on, except when they were on stage, he never said another word to her.

Even though the TV movies I wrote weren’t political, it probably wouldn’t have saved me from being ostracized. After reading Primetime Propaganda and discovering how very much Gene Reynolds, Allan Burns, Leonard Stern, Grant Tinker, Gary David Goldberg, James Brooks and Larry Gelbart, despised conservatives, I have to assume that I would never have had the opportunity to write episodes of McMillan & Wife, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Family Ties, Rhoda, The Governor & J.J. or Bob Newhart.

http://www.burtprelutsky.com/search?q=rhoda

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

His name is Burt Prelutsky and he wrote two episodes of MTM...

- Mary Gets a Lawyer (1976)

– Mary the Writer (1976)

This brings us to Ed Asner, whom I got to know when I wrote a couple of episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and a TV movie in which he co-starred with Jean Simmons. Even when I was a Democrat, I never agreed with his radical politics, but I always found him bearable in an amiably gruff Lou Grant sort of way.

But, recently, I heard from a friend of mine, an actress who had toured in a stage play with Asner. It seems they had gotten along famously until one day she happened to mention that she was a Republican. Even though they’d never even discussed political issues, the mere fact that she shared that shocking truth about herself made her repugnant in his eyes. From that day on, except when they were on stage, he never said another word to her.

Even though the TV movies I wrote weren’t political, it probably wouldn’t have saved me from being ostracized. After reading Primetime Propaganda and discovering how very much Gene Reynolds, Allan Burns, Leonard Stern, Grant Tinker, Gary David Goldberg, James Brooks and Larry Gelbart, despised conservatives, I have to assume that I would never have had the opportunity to write episodes of McMillan & Wife, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Family Ties, Rhoda, The Governor & J.J. or Bob Newhart.

http://www.burtprelutsky.com/search?q=rhoda

Mr. A has got to take a chill pill. There was something about him being annoyed with MTM when she said she was a Palin fan.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Mr. A has got to take a chill pill. There was something about him being annoyed with MTM when she said she was a Palin fan.

I agree! I mean its fine to be either a liberal or a conservative. That's what makes this country great, but to take those beliefs and start bullying people is wrong. Politics aside, Ed Asner is an extremist, who actually believes the government is responsible for 9/11.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I agree! I mean its fine to be either a liberal or a conservative. That's what makes this country great, but to take those beliefs and start bullying people is wrong. Politics aside, Ed Asner is an extremist, who actually believes the government is responsible for 9/11.

I remember Ed Asner claimed that Lou Grant was canceled because of his liberal beliefs and his support for the communists in Nicaragua. That's a laugh. The ratings started to suck. lol

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I remember Ed Asner claimed that Lou Grant was canceled because of his liberal beliefs and his support for the communists in Nicaragua. That's a laugh. The ratings started to suck. lol

No. Nicaragua is really to blame. You know how their people can be. LOL.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I remember Ed Asner claimed that Lou Grant was canceled because of his liberal beliefs and his support for the communists in Nicaragua. That's a laugh. The ratings started to suck. lol

Really? He always claimed the ratings were great. I always assumed that was the case.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Really? He always claimed the ratings were great. I always assumed that was the case.

Lou Grant was never a monster hit. It reached #27 in 1980-81 and that was the highest it ever was. It always lost a huge chunk of the audience from the Monday sitcoms that came on before it. I don't know what the ratings were in 1981-82 but it was out of the top 30.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Lou Grant was never a monster hit. It reached #27 in 1980-81 and that was the highest it ever was. It always lost a huge chunk of the audience from the Monday sitcoms that came on before it. I don't know what the ratings were in 1981-82 but it was out of the top 30.

Wow, okay! You'd think by hearing some people talk about the show that it was a ratings and Emmy darling. lol

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Wow, okay! You'd think by hearing some people talk about the show that it was a ratings and Emmy darling. lol

Well it was an Emmys darling but the Emmys always had a history of selecting low rated shows as winners. lol

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Well it was an Emmys darling but the Emmys always had a history of selecting low rated shows as winners. lol

That is very true, it's like a cult. lol

[Cloud9 Lorraine]

I think Ed Asner is the kind of guy that is easy not to like. I enjoyed him on TMTMS as Lou Grant, and thought he was a wonderful actor. But anything that I've heard about him personally, he sounds like a big-mouthed lout. Nothing likable there.

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Cloud9 Lorraine

I think Ed Asner is the kind of guy that is easy not to like. I enjoyed him on TMTMS as Lou Grant, and thought he was a wonderful actor. But anything that I've heard about him personally, he sounds like a big-mouthed lout. Nothing likable there.

I met Ed Asner about five years ago. I thought he was a hoot. He gladly posed for a picture with me and was putting on a gruff Lou Grant act for me, yanking my arm so I'd be closer to him for the shot. He had me in stitches. Loved the guy. Very unpretentious and with a great sense of humor.