1970-74 vs. 1974-77 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MLB · 03-28-2002, 05:58 PM

This may sound like a blasphemy to many TMTMS fans, but I actually prefer the post-Rhoda years to the Rhoda years. The interactions between Mary and the rest of the newsroom staff are generally my favorite part of the show, and the post-Rhoda years featured these scenes more often. In my opinion, TMTMS got better as the years went by, something you can't say about a majority of shows.

Kristen · 03-28-2002, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MLB
This may sound like a blasphemy to many TMTMS fans, but I actually prefer the post-Rhoda years to the Rhoda years. The interactions between Mary and the rest of the newsroom staff are generally my favorite part of the show, and the post-Rhoda years featured these scenes more often. In my opinion, TMTMS got better as the years went by, something you can't say about a majority of shows.

That's not blasphemy! IMO, the later years and the earlier years were the same in quality. It's just a matter of personal preference as far as which you like better. I personally prefer the Rhoda years, but then I'm also a big Valerie Harper fan! LOL

Kristen

LucyFan · 04-02-2002, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MLB
This may sound like a blasphemy to many TMTMS fans, but I actually prefer the post-Rhoda years to the Rhoda years. The interactions between Mary and the rest of the newsroom staff are generally my favorite part of the show, and the post-Rhoda years featured these scenes more often. In my opinion, TMTMS got better as the years went by, something you can't say about a majority of shows.

I agree. The later years seemed much better.

Kristen · 04-02-2002, 06:09 PM

Geez, am I the only person who likes the earlier seasons better?? LOL

Kristen

flagler · 04-10-2002, 02:10 AM

I would have to say I liked both, I thought Rhoda was really funny although I notice in the later years the cast seems more relaxed.

Tiger32 · 04-10-2002, 09:53 PM

I have to say I liked the early years best. I really did not watch MTM much after 1974.

JaneTVFan · 05-09-2002, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tiger32
I have to say I liked the early years best. I really did not watch MTM much after 1974.

I don't like the episodes from the first season at all. Whenever I see one of those on I turn the channel. It got better starting in the second season. I never found the Rhoda character very funny though. I like the show much better with her gone. I agree with the person who said the show got better the longer it was on. When it started, Mary was too cutesy and perfect and goodie goodie. By the end she could speak her mind and even stand up to Sue Ann and tell her to go shove it. And Ted became a real character, not the quick walk-on say a line and leave cartoon he was the first year. Ditzy Georgette was also very funny and Sue Ann was hilarious. But they were nowhere to be seen the first couple years. The best season was the last one.

Pepper · 05-10-2002, 04:49 PM

I agree with you on the first season JaneTVFan. It was nice to see Mary more embolden as the series went on. I do think that the episodes got better when Sue Ann turned up as well.

mstewart · 02-20-2003, 11:18 PM

The first season the show was shaping and the characters were developing. If you recall, Mary Richards had no experience in a newsroom so she was on new ground. But each season you saw Mary blossoming into her own. My favorite was the opening of Season Three, "The Good Time News." She painted Lou Grant into a corner when she wanted to same exact pay as the previous person who held her job as associate producer. She did not back down and got what she wanted. It was great when she told Ted to shut up on TV. Actually that was my favorite episode. Actually that season, 72-73, when the show began to hit its stride. Actually my favorite seasons were 72-73, 73-74, 74-75, and 75-76. Two of those seasons were with Rhoda and Phyllis, one with very little Phyllis after Rhoda left and the final without either one. But the episodes were funny and very intelligent humor. I long to see that in today's sitcoms.

pandora_spocks · 02-20-2003, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kristen
Geez, am I the only person who likes the earlier seasons better?? LOL

Kristen

No! I love all the episodes so I don't have a preference on season. And I do love the fact that Betty White joined the cast as Sue Ann, but sad that in the later seasons Rhoda left, but hey what can you do?

Kristen · 02-21-2003, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstewart
The first season the show was shaping and the characters were developing. If you recall, Mary Richards had no experience in a newsroom so she was on new ground. But each season you saw Mary blossoming into her own. My favorite was the opening of Season Three, "The Good Time News." She painted Lou Grant into a corner when she wanted to same exact pay as the previous person who held her job as associate producer. She did not back down and got what she wanted. It was great when she told Ted to shut up on TV.

I couldn't agree more, mstewart!! "The Good-Time News" is one of my favorites as well. The scene where Mary asks for equal pay is great in that it does make a statement about feminism, but at the same time, it's totally in character for Lou and Mary. You can tell that the writers really cared about these characters!

Kristen

TVgen62 · 02-21-2003, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mstewart
The first season the show was shaping and the characters were developing. If you recall, Mary Richards had no experience in a newsroom so she was on new ground. But each season you saw Mary blossoming into her own. My favorite was the opening of Season Three, "The Good Time News." She painted Lou Grant into a corner when she wanted to same exact pay as the previous person who held her job as associate producer. She did not back down and got what she wanted. It was great when she told Ted to shut up on TV. Actually that was my favorite episode. Actually that season, 72-73, when the show began to hit its stride. Actually my favorite seasons were 72-73, 73-74, 74-75, and 75-76. Two of those seasons were with Rhoda and Phyllis, one with very little Phyllis after Rhoda left and the final without either one. But the episodes were funny and very intelligent humor. I long to see that in today's sitcoms.

Oh my God! Are you me?

You've crystalized my sentiments exactly. For me, TMTMS is actually one big season spanning 168 episodes.

I think you really nailed the meatiest portion of the series, MStewart. IMO, season 3 marked the show's transformation from "goodness" to "greatness". The seeds were planted in 1 & 2, the crop was reaped the following 5 years (and beyond!) and ended exactly on cue. Perfect!

Leigh Ann · 02-21-2003, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kristen
Geez, am I the only person who likes the earlier seasons better?? LOL

Kristen

Nope, because I like them better too! When they had Val on as Rhoda. She's one of my fave characters!

GoldenGuy · 02-27-2003, 11:03 PM

I agree the show was not nearly as good in the first 2 to 3 years as it was later on. The news room just started to get more air time, and that's the highlight of the show. And I like Mr. grant better later on. And of course the addition of Sue Ann Nivens. And Mary get's better too. The only two characters who i think hit their stride Right from THE BEGINING were Ted and Murry.

ClesStahn · 05-22-2003, 01:56 PM

I can't choose. I likke how when Phyllis and Rhoda left that Mary interactred more with the newsroom people, which was hillarious *cough*ted*cough*; but also, Rhoda was funny, and Phyllis was such an idiot, lol.

03-28-2002, 05:58 PM	#1
MLB Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 278	1970-74 vs. 1974-77 This may sound like a blasphemy to many TMTMS fans, but I actually prefer the post-Rhoda years to the Rhoda years. The interactions between Mary and the rest of the newsroom staff are generally my favorite part of the show, and the post-Rhoda years featured these scenes more often. In my opinion, TMTMS got better as the years went by, something you can't say about a majority of shows.
	__________________ "I'm out there, Jerry, and I'm loving every minute of it!" -- Cosmo Kramer, <I>Seinfeld</I> "You can never be unfaithful to your one true love. You always come back to her." -- Norm Peterson, the final episode of <I>Cheers</I> "The out of control truck procceeded to crash into Mrs. Ray's bedroom. Luckily, the 93 year old Mrs. Ray was not at home at the time, having died the night before." -- Ted Baxter, reading the news in the final episode of <I>The Mary Tyler Moore Show</I> Last edited by MLB; 03-28-2002 at 06:00 PM.

04-02-2002, 06:09 PM	#4
Kristen Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2000 Location: New York, USA Posts: 4,042	70-74 vs. 74-77 Geez, am I the only person who likes the earlier seasons better?? LOL Kristen

02-27-2003, 11:03 PM	#14
GoldenGuy MAAAAAA Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 26, 2002 Posts: 446	I agree the show was not nearly as good in the first 2 to 3 years as it was later on. The news room just started to get more air time, and that's the highlight of the show. And I like Mr. grant better later on. And of course the addition of Sue Ann Nivens. And Mary get's better too. The only two characters who i think hit their stride Right from THE BEGINING were Ted and Murry.
	__________________ Marie: Im Not Just Some Trophy Wife Frank: You're a Trophy Wife... What Contest in Hell did I win. Dreams unwind Love's a State of mind~ Stevie Nicks ~

04-10-2002, 02:10 AM	#5
flagler Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 122	I would have to say I liked both, I thought Rhoda was really funny although I notice in the later years the cast seems more relaxed.

04-10-2002, 09:53 PM	#6
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	I have to say I liked the early years best. I really did not watch MTM much after 1974.

05-10-2002, 04:49 PM	#8
Pepper Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Location: San Jose, Ca. Posts: 21	I agree with you on the first season JaneTVFan. It was nice to see Mary more embolden as the series went on. I do think that the episodes got better when Sue Ann turned up as well.

02-20-2003, 11:18 PM	#9
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	The first season the show was shaping and the characters were developing. If you recall, Mary Richards had no experience in a newsroom so she was on new ground. But each season you saw Mary blossoming into her own. My favorite was the opening of Season Three, "The Good Time News." She painted Lou Grant into a corner when she wanted to same exact pay as the previous person who held her job as associate producer. She did not back down and got what she wanted. It was great when she told Ted to shut up on TV. Actually that was my favorite episode. Actually that season, 72-73, when the show began to hit its stride. Actually my favorite seasons were 72-73, 73-74, 74-75, and 75-76. Two of those seasons were with Rhoda and Phyllis, one with very little Phyllis after Rhoda left and the final without either one. But the episodes were funny and very intelligent humor. I long to see that in today's sitcoms.

05-22-2003, 01:56 PM	#15
ClesStahn Senior Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2001 Posts: 500	I can't choose. I likke how when Phyllis and Rhoda left that Mary interactred more with the newsroom people, which was hillarious coughtedcough; but also, Rhoda was funny, and Phyllis was such an idiot, lol.