MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, THE: THE DINNER PARTY (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Mary Richards, a single career woman working in a television newsroom.
In this episode, Mary is flustered by the prospect of hosting a soirée for Congresswoman Margaret Geddes, particularly when Rhoda bluntly informs her that her dinner parties are usually "disasters." Deciding that her table fits only six, Mary invites Lou, who agrees that her parties are "rotten" but accepts nonetheless. Murray explains that his wife can't join them, so Mary decides to bring a date of her own. When she asks for Sue Ann's help in coming up with meal ideas, however, Sue Ann assumes that she is also invited and happily agrees to cook the entire thing herself. Ted finds out about the party and is appalled to learn that Mary has invited Murray "over" him, and he tries to sway her decision with a tragic story from his childhood.
On the night of the party, Sue Ann declares that her gourmet meal must be consumed at exactly 8 p.m., just as the guests are set to arrive; Mary is alarmed when Rhoda takes pity on a recently fired colleague, Steve Waldman, and brings him along as her date. When the others arrive, Steve is exiled to a separate table, and Mary is forced to hurriedly correct her boss when Lou helps himself to three servings of veal. The dinner itself goes well, but Ted, still desperate to be included, barges in during dessert. He annoys the guests with further tales of his depressing and lonely childhood. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: November 17, 1973 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:29
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:65106
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1970-1977
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James L. Brooks … Executive Producer, Created by
- Allan Burns … Executive Producer, Created by
- Ed. Weinberger … Producer, Writer
- Michael Zinberg … Associate Producer
- Jay Sandrich … Director
- Stan Daniels … Writer
- Patrick Williams … Music by
- Sonny Curtis … Theme Music by
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Mary Richards
- Ed Asner … Cast, Lou Grant
- Valerie Harper … Cast, Rhoda Morgenstern
- Gavin MacLeod … Cast, Murray Slaughter
- Ted Knight … Cast, Ted Baxter
- Betty White … Cast, Sue Ann Nivens
- Irene Tedrow … Cast, Congresswoman Margaret Geddes
- Henry Winkler … Cast, Steve Waldman
- Edgar Daniels … Cast, Sy Fisher