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* BitchInSheepsClothing: Phyllis, Sue Ann.
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Moore stars as Mary Richards, a thirtysomething single woman living in Minneapolis and working as associate producer in the newsroom of fictional
TV station WJM.
TV station WJM.
to:
Moore stars as Mary Richards, a thirtysomething single woman living in Minneapolis and working as associate producer in the newsroom of fictional
fictional TV station WJM.
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Moore stars as Mary Richards, a thirtysomething single woman living in Minneapolis and working as associate producer in the newsroom of fictional
TV station WJM.
TV station WJM.
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* RunningGag: The Teddy Awards, Mary's disastrous dinner parties (lampshaded in later episodes), Ted's speech about the "five-thousand-watt radio station in Fresno, California", Lou's drinking, etc.
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* RunningGag: The Teddy Awards, Mary's disastrous dinner parties (lampshaded in later episodes), Ted's speech about the "five-thousand-watt radio station in Fresno, California", Lou's drinking, etc.
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* SpecialGuest: JohnnyCarson attends one of Mary's dinner parties. Unfortunately, a power outage strikes just before he arrives, so [[TheFaceless we only get to hear his voice]]. His credit in the closing credits, which normally showed the guest, was a black screen.
to:
* SpecialGuest: JohnnyCarson Johnny Carson attends one of Mary's dinner parties. Unfortunately, a power outage strikes just before he arrives, so [[TheFaceless we only get to hear his voice]]. His credit in the closing credits, which normally showed the guest, was a black screen.
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The first sitcom with a grand finale was Leave It To Beaver.
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* GrandFinale: The first sitcom to have one.
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* GrandFinale: The first sitcom to have one.introduce what is now known as the StockSitcomGrandFinale.
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One of the many tropes it established was the recurring gag about Mary's disastrous parties. ''{{Friends}}'' similarly has built continuity around its Thanksgiving episodes, and ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' typically had ruinous birthdays.
According to a book by JMichaelStraczynski if a writer watches this and ''FawltyTowers,'' they will have had the best possible grounding in how to write comedy.
According to a book by JMichaelStraczynski if a writer watches this and ''FawltyTowers,'' they will have had the best possible grounding in how to write comedy.
to:
One of the many tropes it established was the recurring gag about Mary's disastrous parties. ''{{Friends}}'' similarly has built continuity around its Thanksgiving episodes, and ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' typically had ruinous birthdays.
According to a book byJMichaelStraczynski Creator/JMichaelStraczynski if a writer watches this and ''FawltyTowers,'' they will have had the best possible grounding in how to write comedy.
According to a book by
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** Arguably the episode in which Rhoda invites Mary to her sister's wedding could be considered something of a pilot as it looks like a rough version runthrough of ''{{Rhoda}}'' with a few retools to come, not the least being switching Married Debbie for Single Brenda.
to:
** Arguably the episode in which Rhoda invites Mary to her sister's wedding could be considered something of a pilot as it looks like a rough version runthrough of ''{{Rhoda}}'' ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'' with a few retools to come, not the least being switching Married Debbie for Single Brenda.
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* YeahShot: Mary's hat-toss in the opening.
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* MaamShock
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* MaamShockMaamShock: "Today I Am a Ma'am"
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* SpiritualSuccessor: Moore's short-lived 1985 sitcom ''Mary'', which had her playing a single woman working at a tabloid newspaper and featured a similar ensemble cast.
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** Averted hard however on ''Series/LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was three-time guest character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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** Averted hard however hard, however, on ''Series/LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was three-time guest character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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Change Namespace...
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Legendary 1970s {{CBS}} comedy created by JamesLBrooks and Allan Burns which forever reshaped sitcoms. Every [[WorkCom workplace sitcom]] since bears its influence.
to:
Legendary 1970s {{CBS}} comedy created by JamesLBrooks and Allan Burns which forever reshaped sitcoms. Every [[WorkCom workplace sitcom]] since bears its influence.
influence.
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''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.]]
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.]]
to:
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
)
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.]]
]]
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.
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----
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* BackForTheFinale: Rhoda and Phyllis.
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* BackForTheFinale: Rhoda and Phyllis.
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* [[ChekhovsHobby Chekhov's Hobby]]: In "Mary Midwife," Lou mentions that he once delivered a baby when he was in the Army. Five minutes later, Georgette goes into labor and Lou is called upon to deliver the baby.
to:
* [[ChekhovsHobby Chekhov's Hobby]]: ChekhovsHobby: In "Mary Midwife," Lou mentions that he once delivered a baby when he was in the Army. Five minutes later, Georgette goes into labor and Lou is called upon to deliver the baby.
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* CousinOliver: Literally: Ted and Georgette's adopted son David is played by Robbie Rist, who played Oliver on ''TheBradyBunch''.
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* CousinOliver: Literally: Ted and Georgette's adopted son David is played by Robbie Rist, who played Oliver on ''TheBradyBunch''.
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** The ages of the characters was treated as a major issue early on.
* MadMagazine: ''The Mary Tailor-Made Show''.
* MadMagazine: ''The Mary Tailor-Made Show''.
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** The ages of the characters was treated as a major issue early on.
on.
*MadMagazine: Magazine/{{MAD}}: ''The Mary Tailor-Made Show''.
*
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* MsFanservice: A number of episodes, particularly in the early seasons, contrived excuses for Moore to display her celebrated legs. Parodied by MadMagazine, which had Mary declare "time to show off my legs!" and change into a tennis outfit for no reason.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted."
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted."
to:
* MsFanservice: A number of episodes, particularly in the early seasons, contrived excuses for Moore to display her celebrated legs. Parodied by MadMagazine, Magazine/{{MAD}}, which had Mary declare "time to show off my legs!" and change into a tennis outfit for no reason.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted." "
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted.
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* TheScrooge: Ted. The show had a seemingly endless supply of gags about his reluctance to spend any money, even though he's the highest-paid employee at the station.
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* TheScrooge: Ted. The show had a seemingly endless supply of gags about his reluctance to spend any money, even though he's the highest-paid employee at the station.
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* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Ted on multiple occasions.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
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* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Ted on multiple occasions.
occasions.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
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** Rhoda and Murray join Calorie Cutters. (Weight Watchers)
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* BrickJoke: In one episode Ted spends an undeserved $6,000 tax refund check on gifts for his friends. Mary is taken aback at the fine Sterling Silver pitcher she was given saying how embarrased she was that she had only given Ted and Georgette a blender for their wedding. Georgette assures her it was the nicest one of the three blenders they got. Fast foward through the plot as the IRS audits Ted and he begs his friends to say he took them out to business lunches that he deducted. Mary enters the newsroom to find flowers on her desk marked "Roses are Red/And here's a bunch/please tell the IRS man/I took you to lunch.". Murry comments "Is that all you got? I got a blender."
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** Averted hard however on ''Series/LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was recurring character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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** Averted hard however on ''Series/LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was recurring three-time guest character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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** Arguably the episode in which Rhoda invites Mary to her sister's wedding could be considered something of a pilot as it looks like a rough version runthrough of ''{{Rhoda}}'' with a few retools to come, not the least being switching Married Debbie for Single Brenda.
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** Lou's idea to have a cameraman ride along in a policecar to film an on the spot arrest predated {{''Cops''}} by about 15 years.
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** Lou's idea to have a cameraman ride along in a policecar to film an on the spot arrest predated {{''Cops''}} ''{{Cops}}'' by about 15 years.
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* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture:
** Lou's idea to have a cameraman ride along in a policecar to film an on the spot arrest predated {{''Cops''}} by about 15 years.
** In one episode Ted looked for Coffee Bags ... guess what Folgers and other companies now make.
** Les (Jerry Van Dyke) had the idea to broadcast the ''WJM 6:00 News'' from the newsroom...an idea many later newsshows adapted, most notably ABC's ''WorldNewsNow''.
** Lou's idea to have a cameraman ride along in a policecar to film an on the spot arrest predated {{''Cops''}} by about 15 years.
** In one episode Ted looked for Coffee Bags ... guess what Folgers and other companies now make.
** Les (Jerry Van Dyke) had the idea to broadcast the ''WJM 6:00 News'' from the newsroom...an idea many later newsshows adapted, most notably ABC's ''WorldNewsNow''.
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After a few weeks of hype in April 2012 - including an all day marathon and the 2000 reunion movie ''Mary & Rhoda'' - Hallmark Channel removed the show along with ''TheBobNewhartShow'' from its schedule after 2 weeks in favor of ''{{Cheers}}'' and ''{{Frasier}}''.
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The show was also one of the first to feature a single woman, and focus on her career rather than love life. As originally scripted, Mary was to have been recently divorced. This was considered too controversial in 1970 (plus, in a case of classic ExecutiveMeddling, network brass was afraid [[ViewersAreMorons viewers would think]] that Moore's ''[[TheDickVanDykeShow Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' character, Laura Petrie, had gotten divorced from Rob), so her BackStory was changed to one of rebuilding her life after a broken engagement.
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Rhoda'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Lou Grant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Rhoda'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Lou Grant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
to:
The show was also one of the first to feature a single woman, and focus on her career rather than love life. As originally scripted, Mary was to have been recently divorced. This was considered too controversial in 1970 (plus, in a case of classic ExecutiveMeddling, network brass was afraid [[ViewersAreMorons viewers would think]] that Moore's ''[[TheDickVanDykeShow ''[[Series/TheDickVanDykeShow Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' character, Laura Petrie, had gotten divorced from Rob), so her BackStory was changed to one of rebuilding her life after a broken engagement.
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until''{{Frasier}}'' ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Rhoda'', ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Lou Grant''.''Series/LouGrant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until
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* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: "His Two Right Arms" was a pilot for a proposed series about an incompetent city councilman (played by Bill Daily) and his wacky but competent staff. CBS didn't pick it up to series, and Daily went on to join ''TheBobNewhartShow'' a year later.
** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
to:
* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: "His Two Right Arms" was a pilot for a proposed series about an incompetent city councilman (played by Bill Daily) and his wacky but competent staff. CBS didn't pick it up to series, and Daily went on to join ''TheBobNewhartShow'' ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' a year later.
** Averted with''Rhoda, Phyllis'' ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
** Averted with
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* RequiredSpinoffCrossOver: Mary appeared in several episodes of both ''{{Rhoda}}'' and ''Phyllis''. For Rhoda's WeddingDay two-parter on the former, *all* of the ''MTM'' regulars (save for Ted and Sue Ann) showed up.
to:
* RequiredSpinoffCrossOver: Mary appeared in several episodes of both ''{{Rhoda}}'' ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'' and ''Phyllis''. For Rhoda's WeddingDay two-parter on the former, *all* of the ''MTM'' regulars (save for Ted and Sue Ann) showed up.
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* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''.
to:
* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Series/{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Series/LouGrant''.
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* TakeThat: The writers would sometimes put in disparaging references to the cheesy late-'60s sitcoms this show was rebelling against, including ''GilligansIsland'', ''TheBradyBunch'' (re-named [[{{Expy}} "The Clancy Clan"]]) and co-creator Allan Burns's own OldShame ''MyMotherTheCar''.
to:
* TakeThat: The writers would sometimes put in disparaging references to the cheesy late-'60s sitcoms this show was rebelling against, including ''GilligansIsland'', ''TheBradyBunch'' ''Series/GilligansIsland'', ''Series/TheBradyBunch'' (re-named [[{{Expy}} "The Clancy Clan"]]) and co-creator Allan Burns's own OldShame ''MyMotherTheCar''.
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** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
to:
** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''.''Series/LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
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** Averted hard however on ''LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was recurring character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
to:
** Averted hard however on ''LouGrant''.''Series/LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was recurring character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''.
to:
* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''.''Series/LouGrant''.
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* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey, who plays Sue Ann's sister in one episode, would go on to play Star Reporter Billie Newman on the show's SpinOff ''LouGrant''.
to:
* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey, who plays Sue Ann's sister in one episode, would go on to play Star Reporter Billie Newman on the show's SpinOff ''LouGrant''.''Series/LouGrant''.
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* StockSitcomGrandFinale
to:
* StockSitcomGrandFinaleStockSitcomGrandFinale: The TropeMaker.
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** Averted hard however on ''LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was Mary's Aunt Flo, played by Eileen Heckart.
to:
** Averted hard however on ''LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was Mary's Aunt Flo, recurring character Flo Meredith (Mary's aunt), played by Eileen Heckart.
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* TheDanza: Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Ted Knight as Ted Baxter.
to:
* TheDanza: Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Richards
** Subverted, however, with TedKnight as Knight's character, Ted Baxter.Baxter. The role was actually originally conceived with Jack Cassidy in mind, but he turned it down. Cassidy did, however, appear in an early episode as Ted's equally egocentric brother, Hal.
** Subverted, however, with Ted
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* HollywoodPudgy: Again, Rhoda
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** Averted hard however on ''LouGrant''. The only character from ''MTM'' to appear was Mary's Aunt Flo, played by Eileen Heckart.
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[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Marytylermooreshow.JPG]]
->''"Sometimes I get concerned about being a career woman. I get to thinking my job is too important to me, and I tell myself that the people I work with are just the people I work with and not my family. And last night, I thought, what is a family, anyway? They're just people who make you feel less alone, and really loved. And that's what you've done for me. Thank you for being my family."''
->-- '''Mary Richards''', [[GrandFinale "The Last Show"]]
Legendary 1970s {{CBS}} comedy created by JamesLBrooks and Allan Burns which forever reshaped sitcoms. Every [[WorkCom workplace sitcom]] since bears its influence.
The show was famous for the quality and depth of its writing, particularly the attention and care given to supporting characters such as Lou Grant, Rhoda Morgenstern, Murray Slaughter, Ted Baxter, and Phyllis Lindstrom. Even Sue Ann Nivens, the Happy Homemaker, who could have been played as merely two dimensional, was given some measure of depth.
The show was also one of the first to feature a single woman, and focus on her career rather than love life. As originally scripted, Mary was to have been recently divorced. This was considered too controversial in 1970 (plus, in a case of classic ExecutiveMeddling, network brass was afraid [[ViewersAreMorons viewers would think]] that Moore's ''[[TheDickVanDykeShow Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' character, Laura Petrie, had gotten divorced from Rob), so her BackStory was changed to one of rebuilding her life after a broken engagement.
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Rhoda'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Lou Grant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.]]
One of the many tropes it established was the recurring gag about Mary's disastrous parties. ''{{Friends}}'' similarly has built continuity around its Thanksgiving episodes, and ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' typically had ruinous birthdays.
According to a book by JMichaelStraczynski if a writer watches this and ''FawltyTowers,'' they will have had the best possible grounding in how to write comedy.
Ultimately ''MTM'' is best remembered for the depth and humanity of its characterizations, while never sacrificing the funny. Oh, and the hat-throwing scene in the intro.
The show will be airing on FamilyNet starting in October 2011.
----
!!This show provides examples of:
* TheAlcoholic: Lou, though this is mostly played for laughs.
-->"I've seen lots of guys get loans to open bars, and the only security they had was that I was gonna drink there."
* AssumedWin: The "Teddy Awards" episodes.
* BackForTheFinale: Rhoda and Phyllis.
* BigEgoHiddenDepths: Former TropeNamer (TedBaxterCloseUp).
* BlackComedyBurst: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
* BlandNameProduct: Mary buys Bess a "Fast Wheels" racing car set. (Hot Wheels)
* ButtMonkey: Ted.
** Also Mary on more than one occasion. [[hottip:*:One example is the episode "Put on a Happy Face"; Mary's up for a Teddy award, which she's sure she won't win but feels an obligation to attend since she's nominated. At first her only problem is that she has no date, but things go downhill from there. She sleeps on her hair wrong so that it's lopsided at work. On the way to the washroom to try to fix it, she slips and sprains her ankle. After going to the hospital, she catches a cold from soaking her foot. Then the almost brand new dress she planned to wear is ruined by an inept cleaner and she needs to borrow an ugly-looking one (by 1970s standards) from Rhoda. After that, desperate not to go to the awards alone, she takes Ted up on his earlier offer to fix her up with a guy who's kind of like a "good-looking Robert Redford", at which time he tells her "April fool!" and reveals that the guy is ''him''. Ted shows up and is appalled by Mary's appearance (her dress, her flat hair because her hair dryer broke, and her being sick) and is very reluctant to be seen in public with her. On the way to the awards, Mary gets rained on and steps in a puddle. When they get there, Ted pretends that she's his sister and a last-minute replacement for his ''real'' date. Then Mary loses one of her false eyelashes at the table...and that's when she's invited onstage in front of dozens of people to receive the Teddy that she ended up winning after all:]]
* TheBusCameBack: "Hail the Conquering Gordy"
* TheCastShowoff: "Murray Can't Lose" gives Georgia Engel (Georgette) a chance to show off her singing and dancing skills with a big musical production number to the song "Steam Heat."
** Subverted in the same episode with Mary, who suggests putting herself in the talent show but thinks better of it after trying out a hilariously inept attempt to sing "One For My Baby."
* CatchPhrase: "Hi, Guys!" (Ted Knight even recorded a novelty record based on it), "Ohhhhh, Mr Grantttttt."
** Phyllis has "Hi hi!"
* ChainLetter: "Don't Break the Chain" has Lou passing one of these along to Mary.
* [[ChekhovsHobby Chekhov's Hobby]]: In "Mary Midwife," Lou mentions that he once delivered a baby when he was in the Army. Five minutes later, Georgette goes into labor and Lou is called upon to deliver the baby.
* ChristmasEpisode: "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II" (the title references an episode of the '60s sitcom ''That Girl'', which James L. Brooks had scripted) has Mary roped into working at the station on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while "Not a Christmas Story" has the WJM staff trapped by a blizzard while Sue Ann films a Christmas episode of her ''Happy Homemaker'' show...in November.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Rhoda's sister Debbie and Phyllis's brother Ben were both written out of existence on the characters' respective [[{{Spinoff}} spinoffs]].
* ClassReunion: "Didn't You Used to Be...Wait...Don't Tell Me"
* ClipShow: The third-to-last episode mostly features clips from Mary's earlier disastrous parties.
* CloserToEarth: Georgette is always more down-to-earth and sensible than Ted, and Murray's wife Marie is usually the more practical one in their relationship.
* CommutingOnABus: In seasons 3 through 5, with Cloris Leachman doing more movie work after winning an [[AcademyAward Oscar]], Phyllis went from appearing in half the episodes to only three or four episodes a year.
* CompressedVice: In "Mary's Insomnia," Mary gets addicted to sleeping pills and gets over her addiction within a single episode.
* CousinOliver: Literally: Ted and Georgette's adopted son David is played by Robbie Rist, who played Oliver on ''TheBradyBunch''.
* CovertPervert: Mary sometimes hints at this.
-->'''Lou''': Mary, do you know what it's like to wake up next to a stranger?
-->'''Mary''': Sure.
* CuteKitten: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm6x91utqJo Mimsie]], the MTM VanityPlate.
* DaEditor: Lou.
* TheDanza: Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Ted Knight as Ted Baxter.
* DeadpanSnarker: Rhoda, Lou, Murray
* DirectedByCastMember: Moore herself helmed the season 5 episode "A Boy's Best Friend".
* TheDitz: Ted, Georgette
* DreamSequence: "Mary's Three Husbands" has Lou, Murray, and Ted each imagining what it would be like to be married to Mary.
** Also a bit of FourthWallBreaking in that Mary refuses to act out Ted's dream of a romantic honeymoon.
* TheEponymousShow
* ExecutiveMeddling: A common plot on the show, as the station managers at WJM mess with the news show's format or try to make personnel changes. Somewhat subverted in that Ted's news show is so bad that the executives may have a point in wanting to change it.
-->'''Mary''': ''[to Lou, after watching Ted on the news]'' That's the format you're so anxious to hang on to?
* FreudianSlip: Mary: "I'd love to interview Robert Redford, if the opportunity ever arouse... arose."
* TheFunInFuneral: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
* GrandFinale: The first sitcom to have one.
* GroupHug: Famously employed in the finale.
* [[GirlOfTheWeek Guy of the Week]]: Most of Mary's boyfriends last no more than one episode, even if she doesn't officially break up with them at the end of the episode.
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: Phyllis's husband, Lars.
* HollywoodPudgy: Again, Rhoda
* HypocriticalHumor: During the "Chuckles" episode, Mary is horrified at her co-workers' jokes revolving around the titular deceased clown. Fast-forward to the funeral, where they remain appropriately solemn while she completely cracks up at the eulogy.
* InadvertentEntranceCue: Happens numerous times, mostly with Ted.
-->'''Mary''': ''[discussing disaster coverage on the news]'' How many big disasters are there in Minneapolis?\\
'''Ted''': ''[entering]'' [[CatchPhrase Hi, guys!]]\\
'''Murray''': [[LampshadeHanging Nice timing, Ted.]]
* InformedAttractiveness: Mary is consistently portrayed in-universe as, in Murray's words, "so terrifically attractive and desirable that she can probably have any man she wants."
* IntimidatingRevenueService: In "1040 or Fight", Mary gets audited, and to make matters worse the IRS agent develops a crush on her.
** In a later episode Ted splurges on buying gifts for his friends with an undeserved tax refund check which the IRS later wants back.
* JustEatGilligan: It's repeatedly shown that the station would do better in the ratings if Ted were replaced by someone competent.
* KarmaHoudini: Ted Baxter in the finale. His inept reporting skills and high opinion of himself should have gotten him fired, and yet he's the only one who still has a job.
* KavorkaMan: After Lou's wife divorces him, he demonstrates a surprising ability to attract women. One episode ends with him caught between two women and deciding to date both of them at once, Sue Ann has a crush on him, and in the next-to-last episode even Mary has to admit she's interested in Lou.
* KnockKnockJoke: Ted got stuck trying to come up with one using the name "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Maria_Alberghetti Anna Maria Alberghetti]]". [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evPZLtQxo8A He finally figures out a punchline by the end of the episode]]:
-->Anna Maria Alberghetti in a taxi honey, better be ready 'bout half past eight....
* LargeHam: Phyllis is this in-universe, managing to turn everything into life-or-death drama, even Ted's failed campaign for City Council:
-->"I believed in us. I felt we had such bright, untarnished hopes for the future. I felt we had mountains to climb, promises to keep. But the light failed, Ted! The dream died!"
* LastNameBasis: Everyone calls Lou by his first name except Mary, who insists on calling him "Mr. Grant." She only calls him "Lou" when she's angry at him or, in one of the last episodes, when they go on a date.
* LeftItIn: In one episode, Mary is interviewing a male author with the intention of cutting in a tape of Murray asking the questions later. At the end, the author asks Mary out. The final result that is broadcast shows Murray being asked out by the author.
* LikesOlderWomen: In the episode "It Was Fascination, I Know", Mary finds herself the object of a 15-year-old's affections.
** In "He's All Yours", Mary gets chased after by a new cameraman at the station, who's barely in his 20s.
* MaamShock
** The ages of the characters was treated as a major issue early on.
* MadMagazine: ''The Mary Tailor-Made Show''.
* {{Manchild}}: Ted, who cries when he doesn't get his way, whimpers when he's afraid, and giggles at any reference to sex.
* MarathonRunning: Nick@Nite's ''The Mary-thon'', a one season a night week long marathon that introduced the series to the cable network's line-up in 1992.
* MsFanservice: A number of episodes, particularly in the early seasons, contrived excuses for Moore to display her celebrated legs. Parodied by MadMagazine, which had Mary declare "time to show off my legs!" and change into a tennis outfit for no reason.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted."
* NaiveNewcomer: Mary kind of started out as one.
* NeverMyFault: Phyllis.
-->"Lars came over to me, put his arm around me, and said 'Darling, don't you think it would be a good idea, in view of the high cost of living, that you try to keep your spending down a little?' I turned to him and said 'Darling, why don't you go suck an egg?' And that's when Lars started the argument."
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Lou's explanation for why Sue Ann's constant advances make him so nervous.
* OhMrGrant: TropeNamer.
** Note that this is a case where the TropeNamer does not actually employ said trope; the name comes from a writers-room joke.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Georgette. She sounds like TheDitz but is much smarter than Ted, and she frequently gives level-headed advice to other characters.
* TheOddCouple: Lampshaded in the episode "Where There's Smoke, There's Rhoda":
-->'''Rhoda''': Face it, Mare. How long can we keep up this Felix and Oscar routine?
* OfficialCouple: Ted and Georgette starting in the third season.
** In season 6 there was an attempt to give Mary a regular boyfriend, played by Ted Bessell, but the character was [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome dropped without explanation]].
* OneSidedArmWrestling: Subverted in that Lou would let the old man win.
* PluckyOfficeGirl: Mary, initially.
* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: "His Two Right Arms" was a pilot for a proposed series about an incompetent city councilman (played by Bill Daily) and his wacky but competent staff. CBS didn't pick it up to series, and Daily went on to join ''TheBobNewhartShow'' a year later.
** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Completely averted. Nobody but Mary Tyler Moore herself was ever named in the show's opening.
* RealitySubtext: One of the episodes from the final season is about Murray's frustration at being the only person in the group who hasn't won a Teddy Award. In real life, Gavin [=MacLeod=] was the only major cast member who never won an Emmy (he was never even nominated) and he later admitted his disappointment about this.
* ReallyGetsAround: Sue Ann Nivens
* RequiredSpinoffCrossOver: Mary appeared in several episodes of both ''{{Rhoda}}'' and ''Phyllis''. For Rhoda's WeddingDay two-parter on the former, *all* of the ''MTM'' regulars (save for Ted and Sue Ann) showed up.
* ReunionShow
* RunningGag: The Teddy Awards, Mary's disastrous dinner parties (lampshaded in later episodes), Ted's speech about the "five-thousand-watt radio station in Fresno, California", Lou's drinking, etc.
* TheScrooge: Ted. The show had a seemingly endless supply of gags about his reluctance to spend any money, even though he's the highest-paid employee at the station.
* ShipSinking: Toward the end of the series, the writers addressed the Mary/Lou 'shipping that had become popular among fans (and even among some of the writers) by having Mary and Lou try dating... and break into giggles after they kiss, realizing that they will never work as a romantic couple.
* ShoutOut: In later seasons, the opening credits feature two scenes in which Mary is seen interacting with people connected with the show. The first scene shows Mary walking in the park when two joggers run by her: creators James L. Brooks and Allan Burns. The second scene shows Mary dining at a restaurant with an older man: Moore's then-husband, Grant Tinker, who also served as co-founder and president of the show's production company, MTM Enterprises, and would later become even more well known as "the man who saved {{NBC}}", when he served as the network's chairman and CEO from 1981 to 1986.
** The opening also has a scene of Mary washing her car while donning a Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings QB) jersey.
** If you look closely at the WJM program grid on the wall of the Station Manager's office, you'll see ''MyMotherTheCar'' is shown several times a day. This is an in-joke to the OldShame shared between Brooks and Burns.
* ShowWithinAShow
* SitcomArchNemesis: Phyllis, for Rhoda.
* SmallNameBigEgo: Ted Baxter, the former TropeNamer.
* SnowedIn: "The Snow Must Go On" (which combines this trope with TheShowMustGoOn, hence the punny title); "Not a Christmas Story"
* SpecialGuest: JohnnyCarson attends one of Mary's dinner parties. Unfortunately, a power outage strikes just before he arrives, so [[TheFaceless we only get to hear his voice]]. His credit in the closing credits, which normally showed the guest, was a black screen.
** Ted Baxter meets WalterCronkite in one episode.
** Lou's friend does a heck of a [[GeraldFord Betty Ford]] imitation.
** Technically, Cloris Leachman was never a full-time regular on the show, and was always billed as "Special Guest Star" for her appearances.
* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''.
** And oddly enough, that last one was a ''[[GenreShift drama]]'' and it was the most successful one!
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Ted was the focus of a hugely increased number of episodes in the last few seasons.
* StarMakingRole: Pretty much everyone in the cast ''other'' than Mary Tyler Moore herself (and perhaps BettyWhite) can thank this show for first making them a household name.
* StepfordSmiler: Sue Ann is so into her TV persona as the sweetly helpful "Happy Homemaker" that she acts like that all the time, onscreen and off, smiling even when saying the meanest or dirtiest things.
* StockSitcomGrandFinale
* StrawCritic: Karl Keller ([[TheYoungAndTheRestless Eric Braeden]]) in "The Critic" embodies this trope in its purest form, a SmugSnake who hates everything except obscure European art movies.
* StrawFeminist: Phyllis, who considers herself a great progressive, can be this on occasion.
-->'''Phyllis''': ''[after Mary is fired]'' It's obviously a case of sexual discrimination.\\
'''Mary''': No, Phyl, they fired the guys too.\\
'''Phyllis''': Oh, Mary, you little goose! That was just to cover their tracks!
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: When Phyllis is worried about her brother and Rhoda spending a lot of time together, she reasons that saying anything to dissuade them will probably just bring them closer together. To prevent that from happening she resolves to be "passive, even kindly," and when Rhoda walks into the room a moment later...
-->'''Phyllis:''' "Rhoda...I want you to know, dear...that I am ''not'' sick to my stomach over you and Ben."
* TakeThat: The writers would sometimes put in disparaging references to the cheesy late-'60s sitcoms this show was rebelling against, including ''GilligansIsland'', ''TheBradyBunch'' (re-named [[{{Expy}} "The Clancy Clan"]]) and co-creator Allan Burns's own OldShame ''MyMotherTheCar''.
* ThatDidntHappen: Mary and Lou are both completely squicked out after they kiss.
* TheTalk: One episode has Phyllis enlisting Mary to give this to her daughter Bess.
* ThematicThemeTune: "Love Is All Around", written and sung by Sonny Curtis. A different version was used beginning in the second season.
* ThrowItIn: When Moore filmed her famous hat-tossing scene in downtown Minneapolis, the camera caught an elderly woman scowling at her in the background. The woman was [[http://jyanet.com/mtm/020514.shtml a local resident named Hazel Frederick]], who happened to be walking down the street after shopping in the area and couldn't understand what this young woman was doing in the middle of a busy intersection. The producers decided the shot was too good not to use, and Frederick's face became an unintentionally iconic part of the show's opening.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Mary, despite references to her limited clothing budget. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Ted a couple of times.
--> "Georgette keeps asking me why you have more clothes than she does. I tell her it's because all your outfits are reversible."
* WackyGuy: Ted verges on this. Most of the wackier plots and tropes involve him.
* WelcomeEpisode
* WeWantOurJerkBack: Any time Lou acts unusually nice or considerate, his employees take it as a sign that there's something very wrong.
-->'''Mary''': We have got to do something about Mr. Grant. He hasn't yelled at anybody in days. He's not drinking. This is terrible!
** Averted in the episode in which Ted has a minor heart attack on the air which changes his personality. The gang likes the new Ted and start to adopt his new outlook just as he snaps out of it.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Brought up by Mary in the episode where Georgette marries Ted.
-->'''Georgette''': Mary, I know what you're getting at, and believe me, I know how Ted can be. Nobody knows that better than I do. But I know how I feel.\\
'''Mary''': You do love him, then?\\
'''Georgette''': Of course, Mary. ''Somebody'' has to!
* WholePlotReference: "The New Sue Ann," where a young LoonyFan of Sue Ann plots to take over her show, is a take-off on ''AllAboutEve''.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Ted on multiple occasions.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
* WriteWhoYouKnow: Ted Baxter was actually inspired by real life anchorman Jerry Dunphy of CBS Los Angeles O&O KNXT, who later also provided the inspiration for Kent Brockman on Brooks's ''TheSimpsons''. [[hottip:*:Ironically, however, in real life, Dunphy was actually a very competent, very professional anchorman. In fact, when he anchored KNXT's newscasts, titled ''The Big News'' for 6:00 PM newscasts, and ''24 Hours'' for 11:00 PM newscasts, the programs generally attracted a quarter of Los Angeles television owners, ratings unheard of in the market. Indeed, Dunphy was so professional and so popular, that when KNXT unceremoniously fired him in 1975 in order to reshape their newscasts to contain a faster-paced, ''Eyewitness News'' type format, their ratings crashed to last place and have remained in last place to this very day. In addition, to add insult to injury, immediately after KNXT fired him, rival station KABC immediately hired him to be their chief anchorman, causing their news ratings to skyrocket to #1 in the process. Dunphy was also well loved behind the scenes as well. Near the end of his career, he was anchoring the main news for independent station KCAL, when he died of a heart attack on his way to work on May 20, 2002. On that day's 9:00 PM newscast, KCAL co-anchor Pat Harvey, fighting back tears, announced his death: "Los Angeles has forever changed tonight, because Jerry Dunphy will never come into your home again. Our beloved anchorman and friend has died. Jerry touched the lives of generations of Angelenos for more than 40 years; a beacon of truth and trust, and for all to turn to in good times and in bad."]]
* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: [[ConversationalTroping Discussed]] in the episode "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II." After telling Mary she has to work on Christmas, Lou says he has a feeling he will be visited by three ghosts that night.
* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey, who plays Sue Ann's sister in one episode, would go on to play Star Reporter Billie Newman on the show's SpinOff ''LouGrant''.
----
->''"Sometimes I get concerned about being a career woman. I get to thinking my job is too important to me, and I tell myself that the people I work with are just the people I work with and not my family. And last night, I thought, what is a family, anyway? They're just people who make you feel less alone, and really loved. And that's what you've done for me. Thank you for being my family."''
->-- '''Mary Richards''', [[GrandFinale "The Last Show"]]
Legendary 1970s {{CBS}} comedy created by JamesLBrooks and Allan Burns which forever reshaped sitcoms. Every [[WorkCom workplace sitcom]] since bears its influence.
The show was famous for the quality and depth of its writing, particularly the attention and care given to supporting characters such as Lou Grant, Rhoda Morgenstern, Murray Slaughter, Ted Baxter, and Phyllis Lindstrom. Even Sue Ann Nivens, the Happy Homemaker, who could have been played as merely two dimensional, was given some measure of depth.
The show was also one of the first to feature a single woman, and focus on her career rather than love life. As originally scripted, Mary was to have been recently divorced. This was considered too controversial in 1970 (plus, in a case of classic ExecutiveMeddling, network brass was afraid [[ViewersAreMorons viewers would think]] that Moore's ''[[TheDickVanDykeShow Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' character, Laura Petrie, had gotten divorced from Rob), so her BackStory was changed to one of rebuilding her life after a broken engagement.
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' was the first series produced by MTM Enterprises (founded by Moore and then-husband Grant Tinker), which would be responsible for several of the most popular and acclaimed shows of the '70s and '80s. The show won 29 Emmy Awards (a record that held until ''{{Frasier}}'' won its 30th in 2002) and a Peabody Award, and spun off three other series: ''Rhoda'', ''Phyllis'' and ''Lou Grant''. (The latter being one of the few instances where a comedy series spawned a ''drama''.)
One of its episodes, "Chuckles Bites the Dust", is widely considered to be [[CrowningMomentOfFunny one of the funniest sitcom episodes ever.]]
One of the many tropes it established was the recurring gag about Mary's disastrous parties. ''{{Friends}}'' similarly has built continuity around its Thanksgiving episodes, and ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' typically had ruinous birthdays.
According to a book by JMichaelStraczynski if a writer watches this and ''FawltyTowers,'' they will have had the best possible grounding in how to write comedy.
Ultimately ''MTM'' is best remembered for the depth and humanity of its characterizations, while never sacrificing the funny. Oh, and the hat-throwing scene in the intro.
The show will be airing on FamilyNet starting in October 2011.
----
!!This show provides examples of:
* TheAlcoholic: Lou, though this is mostly played for laughs.
-->"I've seen lots of guys get loans to open bars, and the only security they had was that I was gonna drink there."
* AssumedWin: The "Teddy Awards" episodes.
* BackForTheFinale: Rhoda and Phyllis.
* BigEgoHiddenDepths: Former TropeNamer (TedBaxterCloseUp).
* BlackComedyBurst: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
* BlandNameProduct: Mary buys Bess a "Fast Wheels" racing car set. (Hot Wheels)
* ButtMonkey: Ted.
** Also Mary on more than one occasion. [[hottip:*:One example is the episode "Put on a Happy Face"; Mary's up for a Teddy award, which she's sure she won't win but feels an obligation to attend since she's nominated. At first her only problem is that she has no date, but things go downhill from there. She sleeps on her hair wrong so that it's lopsided at work. On the way to the washroom to try to fix it, she slips and sprains her ankle. After going to the hospital, she catches a cold from soaking her foot. Then the almost brand new dress she planned to wear is ruined by an inept cleaner and she needs to borrow an ugly-looking one (by 1970s standards) from Rhoda. After that, desperate not to go to the awards alone, she takes Ted up on his earlier offer to fix her up with a guy who's kind of like a "good-looking Robert Redford", at which time he tells her "April fool!" and reveals that the guy is ''him''. Ted shows up and is appalled by Mary's appearance (her dress, her flat hair because her hair dryer broke, and her being sick) and is very reluctant to be seen in public with her. On the way to the awards, Mary gets rained on and steps in a puddle. When they get there, Ted pretends that she's his sister and a last-minute replacement for his ''real'' date. Then Mary loses one of her false eyelashes at the table...and that's when she's invited onstage in front of dozens of people to receive the Teddy that she ended up winning after all:]]
* TheBusCameBack: "Hail the Conquering Gordy"
* TheCastShowoff: "Murray Can't Lose" gives Georgia Engel (Georgette) a chance to show off her singing and dancing skills with a big musical production number to the song "Steam Heat."
** Subverted in the same episode with Mary, who suggests putting herself in the talent show but thinks better of it after trying out a hilariously inept attempt to sing "One For My Baby."
* CatchPhrase: "Hi, Guys!" (Ted Knight even recorded a novelty record based on it), "Ohhhhh, Mr Grantttttt."
** Phyllis has "Hi hi!"
* ChainLetter: "Don't Break the Chain" has Lou passing one of these along to Mary.
* [[ChekhovsHobby Chekhov's Hobby]]: In "Mary Midwife," Lou mentions that he once delivered a baby when he was in the Army. Five minutes later, Georgette goes into labor and Lou is called upon to deliver the baby.
* ChristmasEpisode: "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II" (the title references an episode of the '60s sitcom ''That Girl'', which James L. Brooks had scripted) has Mary roped into working at the station on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, while "Not a Christmas Story" has the WJM staff trapped by a blizzard while Sue Ann films a Christmas episode of her ''Happy Homemaker'' show...in November.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Rhoda's sister Debbie and Phyllis's brother Ben were both written out of existence on the characters' respective [[{{Spinoff}} spinoffs]].
* ClassReunion: "Didn't You Used to Be...Wait...Don't Tell Me"
* ClipShow: The third-to-last episode mostly features clips from Mary's earlier disastrous parties.
* CloserToEarth: Georgette is always more down-to-earth and sensible than Ted, and Murray's wife Marie is usually the more practical one in their relationship.
* CommutingOnABus: In seasons 3 through 5, with Cloris Leachman doing more movie work after winning an [[AcademyAward Oscar]], Phyllis went from appearing in half the episodes to only three or four episodes a year.
* CompressedVice: In "Mary's Insomnia," Mary gets addicted to sleeping pills and gets over her addiction within a single episode.
* CousinOliver: Literally: Ted and Georgette's adopted son David is played by Robbie Rist, who played Oliver on ''TheBradyBunch''.
* CovertPervert: Mary sometimes hints at this.
-->'''Lou''': Mary, do you know what it's like to wake up next to a stranger?
-->'''Mary''': Sure.
* CuteKitten: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm6x91utqJo Mimsie]], the MTM VanityPlate.
* DaEditor: Lou.
* TheDanza: Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, Ted Knight as Ted Baxter.
* DeadpanSnarker: Rhoda, Lou, Murray
* DirectedByCastMember: Moore herself helmed the season 5 episode "A Boy's Best Friend".
* TheDitz: Ted, Georgette
* DreamSequence: "Mary's Three Husbands" has Lou, Murray, and Ted each imagining what it would be like to be married to Mary.
** Also a bit of FourthWallBreaking in that Mary refuses to act out Ted's dream of a romantic honeymoon.
* TheEponymousShow
* ExecutiveMeddling: A common plot on the show, as the station managers at WJM mess with the news show's format or try to make personnel changes. Somewhat subverted in that Ted's news show is so bad that the executives may have a point in wanting to change it.
-->'''Mary''': ''[to Lou, after watching Ted on the news]'' That's the format you're so anxious to hang on to?
* FreudianSlip: Mary: "I'd love to interview Robert Redford, if the opportunity ever arouse... arose."
* TheFunInFuneral: "Chuckles Bites the Dust"
* GrandFinale: The first sitcom to have one.
* GroupHug: Famously employed in the finale.
* [[GirlOfTheWeek Guy of the Week]]: Most of Mary's boyfriends last no more than one episode, even if she doesn't officially break up with them at the end of the episode.
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: Phyllis's husband, Lars.
* HollywoodPudgy: Again, Rhoda
* HypocriticalHumor: During the "Chuckles" episode, Mary is horrified at her co-workers' jokes revolving around the titular deceased clown. Fast-forward to the funeral, where they remain appropriately solemn while she completely cracks up at the eulogy.
* InadvertentEntranceCue: Happens numerous times, mostly with Ted.
-->'''Mary''': ''[discussing disaster coverage on the news]'' How many big disasters are there in Minneapolis?\\
'''Ted''': ''[entering]'' [[CatchPhrase Hi, guys!]]\\
'''Murray''': [[LampshadeHanging Nice timing, Ted.]]
* InformedAttractiveness: Mary is consistently portrayed in-universe as, in Murray's words, "so terrifically attractive and desirable that she can probably have any man she wants."
* IntimidatingRevenueService: In "1040 or Fight", Mary gets audited, and to make matters worse the IRS agent develops a crush on her.
** In a later episode Ted splurges on buying gifts for his friends with an undeserved tax refund check which the IRS later wants back.
* JustEatGilligan: It's repeatedly shown that the station would do better in the ratings if Ted were replaced by someone competent.
* KarmaHoudini: Ted Baxter in the finale. His inept reporting skills and high opinion of himself should have gotten him fired, and yet he's the only one who still has a job.
* KavorkaMan: After Lou's wife divorces him, he demonstrates a surprising ability to attract women. One episode ends with him caught between two women and deciding to date both of them at once, Sue Ann has a crush on him, and in the next-to-last episode even Mary has to admit she's interested in Lou.
* KnockKnockJoke: Ted got stuck trying to come up with one using the name "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Maria_Alberghetti Anna Maria Alberghetti]]". [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evPZLtQxo8A He finally figures out a punchline by the end of the episode]]:
-->Anna Maria Alberghetti in a taxi honey, better be ready 'bout half past eight....
* LargeHam: Phyllis is this in-universe, managing to turn everything into life-or-death drama, even Ted's failed campaign for City Council:
-->"I believed in us. I felt we had such bright, untarnished hopes for the future. I felt we had mountains to climb, promises to keep. But the light failed, Ted! The dream died!"
* LastNameBasis: Everyone calls Lou by his first name except Mary, who insists on calling him "Mr. Grant." She only calls him "Lou" when she's angry at him or, in one of the last episodes, when they go on a date.
* LeftItIn: In one episode, Mary is interviewing a male author with the intention of cutting in a tape of Murray asking the questions later. At the end, the author asks Mary out. The final result that is broadcast shows Murray being asked out by the author.
* LikesOlderWomen: In the episode "It Was Fascination, I Know", Mary finds herself the object of a 15-year-old's affections.
** In "He's All Yours", Mary gets chased after by a new cameraman at the station, who's barely in his 20s.
* MaamShock
** The ages of the characters was treated as a major issue early on.
* MadMagazine: ''The Mary Tailor-Made Show''.
* {{Manchild}}: Ted, who cries when he doesn't get his way, whimpers when he's afraid, and giggles at any reference to sex.
* MarathonRunning: Nick@Nite's ''The Mary-thon'', a one season a night week long marathon that introduced the series to the cable network's line-up in 1992.
* MsFanservice: A number of episodes, particularly in the early seasons, contrived excuses for Moore to display her celebrated legs. Parodied by MadMagazine, which had Mary declare "time to show off my legs!" and change into a tennis outfit for no reason.
* MyFriendsAndZoidberg: "Well Mary, there's something you have to remember about poker. It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It's being involved in a group activity with people you like. And Ted."
* NaiveNewcomer: Mary kind of started out as one.
* NeverMyFault: Phyllis.
-->"Lars came over to me, put his arm around me, and said 'Darling, don't you think it would be a good idea, in view of the high cost of living, that you try to keep your spending down a little?' I turned to him and said 'Darling, why don't you go suck an egg?' And that's when Lars started the argument."
* NoGuyWantsToBeChased: Lou's explanation for why Sue Ann's constant advances make him so nervous.
* OhMrGrant: TropeNamer.
** Note that this is a case where the TropeNamer does not actually employ said trope; the name comes from a writers-room joke.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Georgette. She sounds like TheDitz but is much smarter than Ted, and she frequently gives level-headed advice to other characters.
* TheOddCouple: Lampshaded in the episode "Where There's Smoke, There's Rhoda":
-->'''Rhoda''': Face it, Mare. How long can we keep up this Felix and Oscar routine?
* OfficialCouple: Ted and Georgette starting in the third season.
** In season 6 there was an attempt to give Mary a regular boyfriend, played by Ted Bessell, but the character was [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome dropped without explanation]].
* OneSidedArmWrestling: Subverted in that Lou would let the old man win.
* PluckyOfficeGirl: Mary, initially.
* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: "His Two Right Arms" was a pilot for a proposed series about an incompetent city councilman (played by Bill Daily) and his wacky but competent staff. CBS didn't pick it up to series, and Daily went on to join ''TheBobNewhartShow'' a year later.
** Averted with ''Rhoda, Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''. All of them made their pilots separately from the main series.
* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Completely averted. Nobody but Mary Tyler Moore herself was ever named in the show's opening.
* RealitySubtext: One of the episodes from the final season is about Murray's frustration at being the only person in the group who hasn't won a Teddy Award. In real life, Gavin [=MacLeod=] was the only major cast member who never won an Emmy (he was never even nominated) and he later admitted his disappointment about this.
* ReallyGetsAround: Sue Ann Nivens
* RequiredSpinoffCrossOver: Mary appeared in several episodes of both ''{{Rhoda}}'' and ''Phyllis''. For Rhoda's WeddingDay two-parter on the former, *all* of the ''MTM'' regulars (save for Ted and Sue Ann) showed up.
* ReunionShow
* RunningGag: The Teddy Awards, Mary's disastrous dinner parties (lampshaded in later episodes), Ted's speech about the "five-thousand-watt radio station in Fresno, California", Lou's drinking, etc.
* TheScrooge: Ted. The show had a seemingly endless supply of gags about his reluctance to spend any money, even though he's the highest-paid employee at the station.
* ShipSinking: Toward the end of the series, the writers addressed the Mary/Lou 'shipping that had become popular among fans (and even among some of the writers) by having Mary and Lou try dating... and break into giggles after they kiss, realizing that they will never work as a romantic couple.
* ShoutOut: In later seasons, the opening credits feature two scenes in which Mary is seen interacting with people connected with the show. The first scene shows Mary walking in the park when two joggers run by her: creators James L. Brooks and Allan Burns. The second scene shows Mary dining at a restaurant with an older man: Moore's then-husband, Grant Tinker, who also served as co-founder and president of the show's production company, MTM Enterprises, and would later become even more well known as "the man who saved {{NBC}}", when he served as the network's chairman and CEO from 1981 to 1986.
** The opening also has a scene of Mary washing her car while donning a Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings QB) jersey.
** If you look closely at the WJM program grid on the wall of the Station Manager's office, you'll see ''MyMotherTheCar'' is shown several times a day. This is an in-joke to the OldShame shared between Brooks and Burns.
* ShowWithinAShow
* SitcomArchNemesis: Phyllis, for Rhoda.
* SmallNameBigEgo: Ted Baxter, the former TropeNamer.
* SnowedIn: "The Snow Must Go On" (which combines this trope with TheShowMustGoOn, hence the punny title); "Not a Christmas Story"
* SpecialGuest: JohnnyCarson attends one of Mary's dinner parties. Unfortunately, a power outage strikes just before he arrives, so [[TheFaceless we only get to hear his voice]]. His credit in the closing credits, which normally showed the guest, was a black screen.
** Ted Baxter meets WalterCronkite in one episode.
** Lou's friend does a heck of a [[GeraldFord Betty Ford]] imitation.
** Technically, Cloris Leachman was never a full-time regular on the show, and was always billed as "Special Guest Star" for her appearances.
* {{Spinoff}}: There were three - ''{{Rhoda}}'', ''Phyllis'' and ''LouGrant''.
** And oddly enough, that last one was a ''[[GenreShift drama]]'' and it was the most successful one!
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Ted was the focus of a hugely increased number of episodes in the last few seasons.
* StarMakingRole: Pretty much everyone in the cast ''other'' than Mary Tyler Moore herself (and perhaps BettyWhite) can thank this show for first making them a household name.
* StepfordSmiler: Sue Ann is so into her TV persona as the sweetly helpful "Happy Homemaker" that she acts like that all the time, onscreen and off, smiling even when saying the meanest or dirtiest things.
* StockSitcomGrandFinale
* StrawCritic: Karl Keller ([[TheYoungAndTheRestless Eric Braeden]]) in "The Critic" embodies this trope in its purest form, a SmugSnake who hates everything except obscure European art movies.
* StrawFeminist: Phyllis, who considers herself a great progressive, can be this on occasion.
-->'''Phyllis''': ''[after Mary is fired]'' It's obviously a case of sexual discrimination.\\
'''Mary''': No, Phyl, they fired the guys too.\\
'''Phyllis''': Oh, Mary, you little goose! That was just to cover their tracks!
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: When Phyllis is worried about her brother and Rhoda spending a lot of time together, she reasons that saying anything to dissuade them will probably just bring them closer together. To prevent that from happening she resolves to be "passive, even kindly," and when Rhoda walks into the room a moment later...
-->'''Phyllis:''' "Rhoda...I want you to know, dear...that I am ''not'' sick to my stomach over you and Ben."
* TakeThat: The writers would sometimes put in disparaging references to the cheesy late-'60s sitcoms this show was rebelling against, including ''GilligansIsland'', ''TheBradyBunch'' (re-named [[{{Expy}} "The Clancy Clan"]]) and co-creator Allan Burns's own OldShame ''MyMotherTheCar''.
* ThatDidntHappen: Mary and Lou are both completely squicked out after they kiss.
* TheTalk: One episode has Phyllis enlisting Mary to give this to her daughter Bess.
* ThematicThemeTune: "Love Is All Around", written and sung by Sonny Curtis. A different version was used beginning in the second season.
* ThrowItIn: When Moore filmed her famous hat-tossing scene in downtown Minneapolis, the camera caught an elderly woman scowling at her in the background. The woman was [[http://jyanet.com/mtm/020514.shtml a local resident named Hazel Frederick]], who happened to be walking down the street after shopping in the area and couldn't understand what this young woman was doing in the middle of a busy intersection. The producers decided the shot was too good not to use, and Frederick's face became an unintentionally iconic part of the show's opening.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Mary, despite references to her limited clothing budget. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Ted a couple of times.
--> "Georgette keeps asking me why you have more clothes than she does. I tell her it's because all your outfits are reversible."
* WackyGuy: Ted verges on this. Most of the wackier plots and tropes involve him.
* WelcomeEpisode
* WeWantOurJerkBack: Any time Lou acts unusually nice or considerate, his employees take it as a sign that there's something very wrong.
-->'''Mary''': We have got to do something about Mr. Grant. He hasn't yelled at anybody in days. He's not drinking. This is terrible!
** Averted in the episode in which Ted has a minor heart attack on the air which changes his personality. The gang likes the new Ted and start to adopt his new outlook just as he snaps out of it.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim: Brought up by Mary in the episode where Georgette marries Ted.
-->'''Georgette''': Mary, I know what you're getting at, and believe me, I know how Ted can be. Nobody knows that better than I do. But I know how I feel.\\
'''Mary''': You do love him, then?\\
'''Georgette''': Of course, Mary. ''Somebody'' has to!
* WholePlotReference: "The New Sue Ann," where a young LoonyFan of Sue Ann plots to take over her show, is a take-off on ''AllAboutEve''.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Ted on multiple occasions.
* WorkCom: The TropeCodifier.
* WriteWhoYouKnow: Ted Baxter was actually inspired by real life anchorman Jerry Dunphy of CBS Los Angeles O&O KNXT, who later also provided the inspiration for Kent Brockman on Brooks's ''TheSimpsons''. [[hottip:*:Ironically, however, in real life, Dunphy was actually a very competent, very professional anchorman. In fact, when he anchored KNXT's newscasts, titled ''The Big News'' for 6:00 PM newscasts, and ''24 Hours'' for 11:00 PM newscasts, the programs generally attracted a quarter of Los Angeles television owners, ratings unheard of in the market. Indeed, Dunphy was so professional and so popular, that when KNXT unceremoniously fired him in 1975 in order to reshape their newscasts to contain a faster-paced, ''Eyewitness News'' type format, their ratings crashed to last place and have remained in last place to this very day. In addition, to add insult to injury, immediately after KNXT fired him, rival station KABC immediately hired him to be their chief anchorman, causing their news ratings to skyrocket to #1 in the process. Dunphy was also well loved behind the scenes as well. Near the end of his career, he was anchoring the main news for independent station KCAL, when he died of a heart attack on his way to work on May 20, 2002. On that day's 9:00 PM newscast, KCAL co-anchor Pat Harvey, fighting back tears, announced his death: "Los Angeles has forever changed tonight, because Jerry Dunphy will never come into your home again. Our beloved anchorman and friend has died. Jerry touched the lives of generations of Angelenos for more than 40 years; a beacon of truth and trust, and for all to turn to in good times and in bad."]]
* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: [[ConversationalTroping Discussed]] in the episode "Christmas and the Hard-Luck Kid II." After telling Mary she has to work on Christmas, Lou says he has a feeling he will be visited by three ghosts that night.
* YouLookFamiliar: Linda Kelsey, who plays Sue Ann's sister in one episode, would go on to play Star Reporter Billie Newman on the show's SpinOff ''LouGrant''.
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