Laura Petrie vs. Mary Richards - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LucyFan · 05-18-2002, 07:18 PM

Which classic character of Mary Tyler Moore do you prefer: Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show or Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show and why?

Kristen · 05-18-2002, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LucyFan
Which classic character of Mary Tyler Moore do you prefer: Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show or Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show and why?

I love Laura a lot, but my heart belongs to Mary Richards! I think being that I'm not married yet and still dealing with that search for "Mr. Right" I can relate more to her than to Laura, although I'm closer to Laura's age.

That's just my opinion, I know on both sides there are strong feelings.

Kristen

Pepper · 05-22-2002, 01:54 PM

I prefer Mary, she was indepedent and could think for herself. As opposed to Laura who was portrayed in that 60's sitcom dimwit wife syndrome.

SawgrassSteve · 05-30-2002, 02:37 PM

I'm a little old fashioned, but how can there be any comparison to MTM's Laura Petrie character? MTM once said herself that, "Laura was just out there in New Rochelle, doing her thing." And what was Laura's "thing"? She didn't want to dance, although she could, and very well. She didn't want a writer's career, although she tried her hand at it. She didn't want to compete with and beat Rob at anything, although she occassionally did. Laura focused her energy on making sure that their home was comfortable and happy for Rob and Richie.
Mary Richards was different. She was a career woman who'd never found the right guy to settle down with, but you knew that she knew she could have almost any guy she wanted. She was no vixen, to be sure, but she was well aware of her curb appeal. You get the impression that when she was ready, she knew she'd have her pick.
On the other hand, Laura Petrie would've been genuinely surprised and flattered to know that millions of men found her so attractive and desireable. Oh she may have denied it at first, if Rob brought it up one morning at breakfast. But eventually she would've given in, agreed reluctantly, and told him she didn't understant why. Then she would have sent him off to work with a kiss, and started defrosting a roast for dinner. No comparison

PGood97041 · 05-23-2008, 12:49 AM

OK, so tonight, as a relative newcomer to the MTMS board, I'm looking back at the different subjects that have been talked about.
And while I did just choose between The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show in another thread, as a guy I just can't make the call on this one.
MTM as Laura Petrie...a bright-eyed, gorgeous brunette (those capri pants!), younger, intelligent, yes a devoted housewife, but talented and with a mind of her own
MTM as Mary Richards...still stunning with great hair and smile, a bit older and more worldly, sweet and a friend to all, now independent enough to make it on her own in a male-dominated field

This is like choosing between chocolate and strawberry ice cream...give me one scoop of each, please!

catlover79 · 05-23-2008, 01:31 PM

Mary Richards by default - I've seen much more of MTM than DVD.

OH Nuts! · 05-24-2008, 12:08 AM

Mary!

MTM fan - Holly · 05-24-2008, 12:52 AM

Mary !!!

LauraNamesake · 06-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Eeek! That is the toughest one!!! I love them both. I can relate to them both in different ways:
Laura: I want to be a dancer (and an actress) and if anyone told me that I was pretty I would deny it (I do to my BFF all the time). I'm not just Laura's namesake, I'm Laura's exact replica! So many people say to me: "You remind me just of Laura Petrie!" Laura is more my age than Mary.
Mary: Mary is a career lady like I want to be. She produces (and they mention that she edits!!) like I like to also, but she is shy. I am not shy, but many people will say that I am a goody-goody like her. I never get into trouble (not that Laura did by any means, but Mary showed that she didn't).
All in all, I will conclude that I love both of the characters equally and I am a mix between the both of them!

~LauraNamesake

AB · 06-14-2008, 05:12 PM

Both are funny, beautiful characters and it's really hard to make a choice.

SpunkiiMonkii7078 · 06-14-2008, 05:24 PM

I love both characters so much, but I like Laura a little more than Mary.

PGood97041 · 06-17-2008, 02:12 AM

LauraNamesake, do you have photographic proof that you look like Laura Petrie?

LauraNamesake · 06-18-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGood97041

LauraNamesake, do you have photographic proof that you look like Laura Petrie?

What do you mean, photographic proof?

Kristen · 06-18-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraNamesake

What do you mean, photographic proof?

I believe he means a picture of you. hehe

- Kristen

PGood97041 · 06-19-2008, 02:42 AM

yes, when you said you were an exact replica of laura petrie, i thought it would be fun to see it
but it's no big deal if you can't produce a pic
i'm sure you're close, but there's only one laura petrie!
or only one mary richards for that matter!

View Poll Results: Choose the one you like the best
Laura Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show)	6	46.15%
Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)	7	53.85%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

05-18-2002, 07:18 PM	#1
LucyFan Still Loving Lucy! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 23, 2001 Location: In the Wonderful World of Lucy! Posts: 8,198	Laura Petrie vs. Mary Richards Which classic character of Mary Tyler Moore do you prefer: Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show or Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show and why?

05-30-2002, 02:37 PM	#4
SawgrassSteve Loyal Worshipper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,423	No Comparison I'm a little old fashioned, but how can there be any comparison to MTM's Laura Petrie character? MTM once said herself that, "Laura was just out there in New Rochelle, doing her thing." And what was Laura's "thing"? She didn't want to dance, although she could, and very well. She didn't want a writer's career, although she tried her hand at it. She didn't want to compete with and beat Rob at anything, although she occassionally did. Laura focused her energy on making sure that their home was comfortable and happy for Rob and Richie. Mary Richards was different. She was a career woman who'd never found the right guy to settle down with, but you knew that she knew she could have almost any guy she wanted. She was no vixen, to be sure, but she was well aware of her curb appeal. You get the impression that when she was ready, she knew she'd have her pick. On the other hand, Laura Petrie would've been genuinely surprised and flattered to know that millions of men found her so attractive and desireable. Oh she may have denied it at first, if Rob brought it up one morning at breakfast. But eventually she would've given in, agreed reluctantly, and told him she didn't understant why. Then she would have sent him off to work with a kiss, and started defrosting a roast for dinner. No comparison
	__________________ The Cult Of Laura

05-23-2008, 01:31 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Mary Richards by default - I've seen much more of MTM than DVD.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-14-2008, 05:24 PM	#11
SpunkiiMonkii7078 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 20, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 784	I love both characters so much, but I like Laura a little more than Mary.
	__________________ Please vote for S Club 7 on DVD 713 votes x Miami 7 x Unreleased rank: 221st 681 votes x L.A. 7 x Unreleased rank: 243rd 692 votes x Hollywood 7 x Unreleased rank: 232nd 221 votes x Viva S Club x Unreleased rank: 1148th Updated: January 7, 2013 myspace facebook twitter

05-22-2002, 01:54 PM	#3
Pepper Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Location: San Jose, Ca. Posts: 21	I prefer Mary, she was indepedent and could think for herself. As opposed to Laura who was portrayed in that 60's sitcom dimwit wife syndrome.

05-23-2008, 12:49 AM	#5
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	OK, so tonight, as a relative newcomer to the MTMS board, I'm looking back at the different subjects that have been talked about. And while I did just choose between The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show in another thread, as a guy I just can't make the call on this one. MTM as Laura Petrie...a bright-eyed, gorgeous brunette (those capri pants!), younger, intelligent, yes a devoted housewife, but talented and with a mind of her own MTM as Mary Richards...still stunning with great hair and smile, a bit older and more worldly, sweet and a friend to all, now independent enough to make it on her own in a male-dominated field This is like choosing between chocolate and strawberry ice cream...give me one scoop of each, please!

05-24-2008, 12:08 AM	#7
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Mary!

05-24-2008, 12:52 AM	#8
MTM fan - Holly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 11, 2007 Posts: 107	Mary !!!

06-14-2008, 01:33 PM	#9
LauraNamesake Oh Rob!!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 13, 2008 Location: MD Posts: 277	Eeek! That is the toughest one!!! I love them both. I can relate to them both in different ways: Laura: I want to be a dancer (and an actress) and if anyone told me that I was pretty I would deny it (I do to my BFF all the time). I'm not just Laura's namesake, I'm Laura's exact replica! So many people say to me: "You remind me just of Laura Petrie!" Laura is more my age than Mary. Mary: Mary is a career lady like I want to be. She produces (and they mention that she edits!!) like I like to also, but she is shy. I am not shy, but many people will say that I am a goody-goody like her. I never get into trouble (not that Laura did by any means, but Mary showed that she didn't). All in all, I will conclude that I love both of the characters equally and I am a mix between the both of them! ~LauraNamesake

06-14-2008, 05:12 PM	#10
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	Both are funny, beautiful characters and it's really hard to make a choice.

06-17-2008, 02:12 AM	#12
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	LauraNamesake, do you have photographic proof that you look like Laura Petrie?

06-19-2008, 02:42 AM	#15
PGood97041 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 747	yes, when you said you were an exact replica of laura petrie, i thought it would be fun to see it but it's no big deal if you can't produce a pic i'm sure you're close, but there's only one laura petrie! or only one mary richards for that matter!