MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, THE: SUE ANN'S SISTER (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about Mary Richards, a single career woman working in a television newsroom.
In this episode, Ted takes up jogging as the staffers prepare to throw Sue Ann a birthday party. Lou attempts to recruit Mary to buy his present for him. Sue Ann overhears and cheerfully "offers" to buy her own gift, adding that her semi-estranged sister Lila, who hosts a televised cooking show in Georgia and whom she always saw as a "rival," will be attending the party. Later, everyone gathers for the not-so-surprise party, and Sue Ann opens her somewhat inappropriate gift from Lou, which she herself selected. The cheerful Lila arrives and greets Sue Ann's friends. Sue Ann immediately grows annoyed when Lila defies her wishes and befriends Lou in particular. Back at the office, Sue Ann tells Mary that after the party, she and her sister talked through their issues and agreed not to let "petty" disagreements get in the way of their bond. However, Lila then reveals that she is up for a job at a local news station, and Sue Ann flies into a panic at the idea that her sister may be moving to Minneapolis permanently.
Ted announces that his "bad knee" has put an end to his jogging habit, and Sue Ann's distress increases when Lou takes Lila out to lunch. Lila reveals that she has landed the job after all. Mary scolds the men for their insensitivity when they make clear that they greatly prefer Lila to Sue Ann, and Sue Ann takes to her bed in a "deep emotional depression." Mary visits her garish bedroom and tries to convince her to return to work, dragging along a reluctant Murray, Ted, and Lou to cheer her up. They awkwardly assure her that she is indeed a "sensual beast" who is highly valued in the newsroom. Lila arrives and kindly tells her that she is willing to give up the job for her sister's sake – and Sue Ann happily agrees. Later, Mary finds herself enjoying Sue Ann's extravagant home décor after all. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: October 9, 1976 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:65473
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; News broadcasting
- 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
- Stan Daniels … Producer
- Budd Cherry … Associate Producer
- Jay Sandrich … Director
- David Lloyd … Writer
- Patrick Williams … Music by
- Sonny Curtis … Theme Music by
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Mary Richards
- Edward Asner … Cast, Lou Grant
- Gavin McLeod … Cast, Murray Slaughter
- Ted Knight … Cast, Ted Baxter
- Georgia Engel … Cast, Georgette Baxter
- Betty White … Cast, Sue Ann Nivens
- Pat Priest … Cast, Lila Nivens