Seasons & Episodes
Love is All Around
The classic series begins its classic 7-year run in Mary's apartment. Mary Richards, a 30-year-old single woman, has le
Today I Am a Ma'am
Mary is worried now that she's outside the 15-29 demographic group which the station classifies as 'young', and the mail
Bess, You is My Daughter Now
When Phyllis's husband Lars takes ill, she asks Mary to babysit Bess for a few days. Bess decides she wants to stay perm
Divorce Isn't Everything
Mary and Rhoda find out that divorcees at the Better Luck Next Time club can get group rates on cruises and decide to jo
Keep Your Guard Up
A football player turned insurance salesman applies for a job as a sportscaster and attaches himself to Mary. Mary and R
Support Your Local Mother
Rhoda's mother, Ida, comes visiting and Rhoda refuses to see her. Ida stays with Mary but drives her crazy.
Toulouse-Lautrec is One of My Favorite Artists
Mary begins seeing an author who appeared as a guest on WJM-TV's Scrutiny, and becomes extremely self-conscious after di
The Snow Must Go On
A snowstorm leaves Mary producing her first program, broadcasting the results of the local elections. The show has to re
Bob & Rhoda & Teddy & Mary
Mary is nominated for her first Television Editors' Award (the ""Teddies""), but at home Rhoda's boyfriend Bob takes mor
Assistant Wanted, Female
Mary's workload gets too much so Lou allows her to hire an assistant. She chooses Phyllis who hinders more than she help
1040 or Fight
Mary is audited by the IRS, and the shy auditor takes an interest in her. Unfortunately, he has great difficulty telling
Anchorman Overboard
Ted loses his self-confidence after speaking at Phyllis's club and Mary has to find a way to get Ted back on a high.
He's All Yours
After Mary invites Lou's nephew home for dinner, she must confront false rumors in the newsroom the following day.
Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid II
Feeling sympathetic for a co-worker who hasn't spent Christmas with his family for years, Mary is forced to stay alone a
Howard's Girl
Mary begins seeing Paul Arnell, the brother of her former boyfriend Howard Arnell, and is shocked to discover that the b
Party is Such Sweet Sorrow
Mary gets a tempting offer from a rival television station, but becomes reluctant to leave when her WJM-TV colleagues th
Just a Lunch
Mary reluctantly finds herself romantically involved with a married man.
Second Story Story
Mary's apartment is burgled, with only her clothes, stereo and television taken but then next night the whole apartment
We Closed in Minneapolis
Murray's play, All Work and No Play, is finally produced but his happiness is short-lived when he discovers that the lea
Hi!
Mary is admitted into the hospital to have her tonsils removed, and shares a room with a grouchy woman who refuses to ge
The Boss Isn't Coming to Dinner
Lou and his wife Edie separate and Mary becomes involved when she is asked for advice.
A Friend in Deed
An irritating childhood friend drops by Mary's apartment, making use of her connection as Mary's former camp mate to int
Smokey the Bear Wants You
Rhoda falls in love with a top executive, and is shocked to find that he wants to give up the high-flying lifestyle to b
The 45-Year-Old Man
When Lou is fired, Mary goes to confront the station owner, Wild Jack Munroe.
The Bird and ...Um ...Bess
In the second-season premiere, after Mary Richards produces a ""What's Your Sexual IQ?"" documentary for the Six O'Clock
I Am Curious Cooper
Mary is intrigued by the voice of Lou Grant's friend, Mike Cooper, and asks to be set up with him. Lou breaks his policy
He's No Heavy . . . He's My Brother
Mary and Rhoda take an unplanned vacation to Mexico but have to do a strange favor for a Mexican restaurant owner for re
Room 223
Mary and Rhoda enroll in a night school course in journalism and Mary begins dating the lecturer.
A Girl's Best Mother Is Not Her Friend
When Ida, Rhoda's mother, visits, she sees how well Phyllis and Bess get on, and how closely Mary appears to her mother
Cover Boy
Jack Cassidy guest stars as professional model Hal Baxter, who comes to visit his brother Ted at WJM-TV. Immediately, t
Didn't You Used to Be . . . Wait . . . Don't Tell Me
Mary attends her high school reunion and meets up with her former boyfriend Howard Arnell, who continues to have feeling
Thoroughly Unmilitant Mary
The writing and technical unions go on strike, leaving only Lou, Mary, and Ted in the newsroom. WJM-TV makes Lou be sec
And Now, Sitting in for Ted Baxter
Ted is forced to take a vacation and the anchorman hired to sit in for him becomes a huge success.
Don't Break the Chain
Mary gets a chain letter from Lou, and she is persuaded to send it on. To her surprise, one of the recipients comes for
The Six-and-a-Half-Year Itch
Mary, Rhoda and Lou go to a John Wayne movie, where they spot Lou's son-in-law with an unknown woman.
. . . Is a Friend in Need
Rhoda loses her job as a window-dresser and isn't in a hurry to find something new. When there is a job opening at WJM-T
The Square-Shaped Room
When Edie is out of town, Lou hires Rhoda to redecorate his living room. However, Rhoda's tastes are too modern.
Ted Over Heels
After Ted appears on the Chuckles the Clown Show, he falls in love with Chuckles' daughter.
The Five-Minute Dress
After volunteering some of her spare time for a worthy cause, Mary begins dating the Governor's aide. Unfortunately, the
Feeb
An incompetent waitress is fired after Mary complains about her poor service and Mary feels obliged to hire her when she
The Slaughter Affair
Murray takes on a night job as a cab driver in order to save up and buy his wife Marie a new car for their 10th wedding
Baby Sit-Com
Mary agrees to babysit Bess for the weekend, but then a former boyfriend, in town for a few days, asks her out. When she
More Than Neighbors
After being persuaded by Phyllis, Ted moves into a vacant apartment below Mary's but Mary and Rhoda are not thrilled by
The Care and Feeding of Parents
Bess gets top marks for a report she wrote for school, and Phyllis pressures her to write a book based on it, calling on
Where There's Smoke, There's Rhoda
When Rhoda's apartment is destroyed by fire, she moves in with Mary. The two find that while they are best friends, they
You Certainly Are a Big Boy
Mary begins dating an architect and is astonished to learn that his son is only six years younger than she is.
Some of My Best Friends Are Rhoda
Through a minor car accident, Mary befriends a young woman, Joanne. Rhoda becomes jealous when Mary spends more time wit
His Two Right Arms
Mary gets city councilman Pete Peterson to appear on Face the People and discovers that he is completely incompetent. Sh
The Good-Time News
Mary is given the task of making The Six O'clock News more upbeat, and her plans are on target to succeed until they're
What is Mary Richards Really Like?
Mary is interviewed by a newspaper columnist and ends up telling a little too much.
Who's in Charge Here?
Lou is promoted to the position of program director but has to decide to whom his old job should go. Meanwhile, The Six
Enter Rhoda's Parents
Ida Morgenstern, Rhoda's mother, mistakenly believes that her husband is seeing other women, so Rhoda and Mary try to cl
It's Whether You Win or Lose
When Lou's trip to Las Vegas is cancelled, Mary organizes a poker game at the office where Murray loses a substantial am
Rhoda the Beautiful
After losing 20 pounds, Rhoda enters a beauty contest at work, but continues to put herself down.
Just Around the Corner
Mary is worried that her parents, who have moved to the Twin Cities to be close to her, may pry into her life too much.
But Seriously, Folks
Mary begins dating the writer of the Chuckles the Clown show, whose real ambition is to become a stand-up comedian.
Farmer Ted and the News
Ted refuses to sign his contract renewal until Lou agrees to let him pursue other ventures, a decision he soon regrets w
Have I Found a Guy for You
Two of Mary's friends separate and Mary accepts a date from the husband.
You've Got a Friend
Mary becomes concerned when her father, newly retired, appears to have no friends or hobbies in Minneapolis, and tries t
It Was Fascination, I Know
Bess's 15-year-old boyfriend falls in love with Mary and begins to surprise her with visits to her apartment and her wor
Operation: Lou
Lou goes to hospital to have a piece of World War II shrapnel removed and, surprisingly, he and Ted become best friends.
Rhoda Morgenstern: Minneapolis to New York
Rhoda decides to move back to New York but Mary is taking the whole thing with a grain of salt.
The Courtship of Mary's Father's Daughter
Mary runs into her former boyfriend Dan Whitfield in an elevator by chance. Subsequently, Dan realizes he still has feel
Lou's Place
Lou spots an opportunity to buy a bar after realizing a lifelong dream. However, he is short of several thousand dollars
My Brother's Keeper
Phyllis wants to set up her visiting brother with Mary, but instead he hits it off with Rhoda and begins spending time w
The Georgette Story
Mary and Rhoda try to encourage Georgette to take a stand for herself after seeing how Ted takes advantage of her.
Romeo and Mary
Rhoda introduces Mary to a very irritating Warren Sturges, who tries everything including a giant billboard across the r
What Do You Do When the Boss Says, I Love You?
The new station manager, an attractive woman, falls for Lou.
Murray Faces Life
Murray becomes depressed when he realizes that the years are passing him by, after he learns that a contemporary has won
Remembrance of Things Past
A former boyfriend visiting Minneapolis calls Mary who, deep down, wants to see him again but she has been hurt by him t
Put On a Happy Face
Everything goes right for Rhoda and everything goes wrong for Mary on a disastrous day when she is due to go to the Tedd
Mary Richards and the Incredible Plant Lady
Mary lends Rhoda almost $1,200 to start a new venture and worries she may never see her money again, after Rhoda postpon
The Lars Affair
Phyllis finds out that Lars has been having an affair with Sue Ann Nivens, the star of WJM-TV's The Happy Homemaker show
Angels in the Snow
Mary's boyfriend is younger than she is and she and Rhoda discover there is a generation gap when they go and visit his
Rhoda's Sister Gets Married
Rhoda and Mary fly to New York for Rhoda's younger sister's wedding. Rhoda's mother downplays the whole thing fearing th
The Lou and Edie Story
On the advice of their marriage counselor, Lou's wife, Edie, decides to move out. Lou is heartbroken by the prospect.
Hi There, Sports Fans
In this episode Dick Gautier guest stars briefly as Ed Cavenaugh, a sleazy sportscaster. Have a look at his website at D
Father's Day
Ted meets his father, who deserted him as a baby.
Son of But Seriously Folks
Mary's former boyfriend, Wes Callison, gets a job in the newsroom but his affection for Mary gets in the way of his work
Lou's First Date
Lou gives Mary the task of finding him a date for an awards' ceremony. A name mix-up means that Lou winds up taking out
Love Blooms at Hemples
Rhoda begins dating the boss of Hemple's and falls deeply in love with him. She wants to tell him how she feels, but Mar
The Dinner Party
Mary invites Congresswoman Geddes to a fancy dinner at her home, trying hard to ensure that everything is perfect.
Just Friends
Lou is still heartbroken over Edie's departure and asks Mary to help them get back together.
We Want Baxter
Phyllis persuades Ted to stand for local government. Ted agrees and goes so far as to quit his job at WJM-TV.
I Gave at the Office
Murray's daughter, Bonnie, is looking for a job and Mary is persuaded into giving her one but Bonnie is not as efficient
Almost a Nun's Story
Georgette finds Ted making out with a woman in his dressing room. She then decides to enter a nunnery, but the head nun
Happy Birthday, Lou!
Lou is closing in on fifty and today is his birthday. Mary can't stand the thought of the now-separated Lou celebrating
WJM Tries Harder
Mary begins dating the anchorman from Minneapolis's top news show and becomes ashamed of WJM-TV's smaller news operation
Cottage for Sale
Phyllis, who has gotten her real estate license, persuades Lou to sell his house. However, Lou hasn't really made up his
The Co-Producers
Mary and Rhoda are given permission to develop a new show for WJM but their dreams begin to fade when they find out that
Best of Enemies
Rhoda tells the secret of Mary's that she never graduated from college, as she claimed on her job application, and their
Better Late . . . That's a Pun . . . Than Never
To relieve her boredom, Mary jokingly writes a humorous obituary of one of the people in the WJM-TV file. Coincidentally
Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite
After a heavy self-promotion campaign, Ted wins his first Teddy Award. When Walter Cronkite comes to the newsroom, Ted a
Lou's Second Date
Lou and Rhoda find they have a lot in common and begin seeing each other on a casual basis but everyone assumes that the
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Writer
Ted joins Mary at a night-school class in creative writing, and winds up plagiarizing her assignment.
I Was a Single for WJM
Mary goes to a singles bar to research a documentary, but on the night the crew arrives for filming, the same people who
Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?
Mary refuses to reveal a news source for a story she produced and has to spend a night in jail.
Not Just Another Pretty Face
Mary dates a man with whom she has nothing in common and becomes concerned that their relationship is superficial.
You Sometimes Hurt the One You Hate
Lou finally loses his temper with Ted when he endorses a political candidate on The Six O'clock News and throws him thro
Lou and That Woman
Lou begins seeing a cocktail lounge singer but becomes uncomfortable about her past.
The Outsider
WJM-TV hires a young business consultant, who demands certain changes for The Six O'clock News, offending every member o
I Love a Piano
Murray meets an attractive woman at one of Mary's parties and considers having an affair. On the pretext of buying her o
A New Sue Ann
A young fan, Gloria, persuades Sue Ann to hire her for The Happy Homemaker. Sue Ann is less than pleased when Gloria pla
Menage-a-Phyllis
Phyllis dates a man on a platonic basis, but he is attracted more to Mary and begins seeing her.
Not a Christmas Story
The entire newsroom staff is arguing with each other, and when they are trapped at the office due to bad weather, Sue An
What Are Friends For?
Mary and Sue Ann go to a convention in Chicago and Mary finds out that Sue Ann leads a lonely life.
A Boy's Best Friend
Ted is shocked when he finds out his mother does not intend to marry her boyfriend, but will live with him.
A Son for Murray
Murray, who has three daughters, wants a son, but his wife Marie doesn't want to have another child. The couple decide t
Neighbors
Lou wants a smaller place and moves in to Rhoda's old apartment but can't help interfering in Mary's private life.
A Girl Like Mary
Lou wants to hire a female newscaster 'like Mary', so Mary decides to audition for the job herself.
An Affair to Forget
Now that Mary is producer, Ted thinks that he can make his move on her. He convinces the rest of the newsroom that they
Mary Richards: Producer
Mary doesn't feel she deserves the title of producer and asks Lou that she be given the chance to produce The Six O'cloc
The System
When Ted's formula for betting on football games works, Lou goes into partnership with him. He winds up betting all of t
Phyllis Whips Inflation
Phyllis and Lars have a dispute and she finds her credit cards cut off. She looks for a job but finds that she has no re
The Shame of the Cities
Lou wants to research his own news story now that Mary's producer and decides to launch a major investigation on a city
Marriage Minneapolis Style
Ted pops the question to Georgette at Murray's 20th wedding anniversary party and then gets cold feet.
You Try To Be a Nice Guy
Mary agrees to help a troubled crime prone girl go straight and find a job.
You Can't Lose 'em All
Lou wins the Albert Mason Award, which he had once said was for broadcasting veterans who couldn't chew their own food.
Ted Baxter's Famous Broadcasters' School
A con-man tricks Ted into setting up a broadcasters' academy. When he finds out he's been had, he asks Lou, Mary and Mur
Anyone Who Hates Kids and Dogs
Mary likes her new boyfriend but finds his son absolutely intolerable.
Edie Gets Married
Lou puts on a brave face when he learns that his ex-wife Edie is remarrying.
Mary Moves Out
Mary, wanting some change in her life, makes the decision to move to a new apartment.
Mary's Father
Mary researches a documentary with the help of a priest. He eventually decides to leave the Church, and Mary thinks that
Murray In Love
Murray realizes that he's always been in love with Mary and wants desperately to tell her.
Ted's Moment of Glory
Ted's jocular nature is ideal for hosting a game show in New York, and he successfully auditions for the job. But Mary a
Mary's Aunt
Mary's high-flying journalist aunt comes for a visit, and Lou finds that he has a rival in her.
Chuckles Bites the Dust
Chuckles the Clown is crushed to death by a rogue elephant in a parade, which leaves all the newsroom staff in hysterics
Mary's Delinquent
Mary joins a Big Sisters scheme and tries to bring a teenage shoplifter to the side of good. Sue Ann, pursuing an award,
Ted's Wedding
Out of pity for Ted, Mary invites him & Georgette over for brunch. While he as an onion ring in his mouth, he proposes
Lou Douses an Old Flame
Lou meets up with a woman who had sent him a 'Dear John' letter during World War II but is disappointed to learn her mot
Mary Richards Falls in Love
Mary is convinced she has really fallen in love, but her boyfriend seems reluctant in saying those three magic words, 'I
Ted's Tax Refund
Ted is overjoyed when he gets a tax refund and splurges out on everyone at the newsroom, but is later shocked when the I
The Happy Homemaker Takes Lou Home
Sue Ann gets Mary to ask Lou out on a date on her behalf. Lou accepts, not realizing who Mary's 'friend' is.
One Boyfriend Too Many
Mary's old flame Dan Whitfield, who once proposed to her, returns to Minneapolis and she's forced to choose between him
What Do You Want to Do When You Produce?
Initially delighted at the chance of producing the Happy Homemaker show, Murray quickly becomes miserable when he realiz
Not With My Wife, I Don't
Ted and Georgette face marital problems, but Ted refuses to see a counselor unless Lou goes with him.
The Seminar
Lou and Mary go on a press junket to Washington, DC. Lou was once a correspondent there, but Mary has difficulty believi
Once I Had a Secret Love
Lou has spent the night with Sue Ann, and confides in Mary. Their friendship is almost ruined when Mary is unable to kee
Menage-a-Lou
Lou almost ruins one of Mary's parties when his old girlfriend, Charlene Maguire, arrives with a date. He tries to make
Murray Takes a Stand
Murray is unhappy with the new station owner's policies and tells him off over the phone one evening. However, the stati
Mary's Aunt Returns
Mary's Aunt Flo and Lou both prepare competing ideas for a TV documentary.
A Reliable Source
Mary learns that an old friend seeking re-election to Congress had financial help from the mob. Lou threatens to use the
Sue Ann Falls in Love
Sue Ann has fallen in love, but her new boyfriend is less scrupulous than he first seems.
Ted and the Kid
Ted and Georgette decide to adopt a son after Ted is informed he cannot have children.
Mary Midwife
Georgette gives birth at Mary's dinner party. With the hospital and doctor too far away, Lou and Mary help deliver the b
Mary the Writer
Mary decides to take a creative writing course, and is less than delighted with the criticism Lou levels at her efforts.
Sue Ann's Sister
Sue Ann becomes deeply depressed when her sister arrives and gets an offer to do a competing homemaker show in Minneapol
What's Wrong with Swimming?
Mary hires a new sportscaster who refuses to cover any sports but swimming and is faced with the prospect of firing her.
Ted's Change of Heart
Ted suffers a heart attack on the air and for the next few days becomes conscious of how precious life is.
One Producer Too Many
Lou promotes Murray to co-producer against Mary's wishes to prevent him from accepting a producer's job at a rival telev
My Son, the Genius
Ted and Georgette are initially disturbed to find that their son, David, is not doing well at school, but a psychiatrist
Mary Gets a Lawyer
Mary faces a contempt charge for not revealing her news source. Lou recommends a lawyer friend who takes a romantic inte
Lou Proposes
Lou realizes that he has feelings for Mary's Aunt Flo, a journalist with a similar pride and passion in the news profess
Murray Can't Lose
Lou learns from a source on the Teddy Award's panel that Murray will finally win an award for his news writing.
Mary's Insomnia
Mary is having trouble sleeping and resorts to pills, which has Lou concerned that she's become addicted to them.
Ted's Temptation
Mary and Murray find it hard to believe that an attractive young journalist has tried to seduce Ted while they are at a
Look at Us, We're Walking
Mary and Lou threaten to quit after the new station manager refuses to give them a raise.
The Critic
A pompous but renowned critic is hired to provoke controversy on The Six O'Clock News, but the newsroom thinks he has go
Lou's Army Reunion
Lou wants to return a favor to an old Army buddy, but balks when he asks for a date with Mary.
The Ted and Georgette Show
Ted and Georgette successfully audition for their own variety show, which becomes a big hit, but Georgette eventually fi
Sue Ann Gets the Ax
Sue Ann's Happy Homemaker show is canceled but she is determined to stay at WJM and asks Mary to give her a job in the n
Hail the Conquering Gordy
WJM's former weatherman, Gordy Howard, returns to visit Minneapolis after becoming a highly successful network presenter
Mary and the Sexagenarian
Mary happily accepts a date from a charming older man without realizing that he's Murray's father, but everyone else has
Murray Ghosts for Ted
Ted offers Murray $200 to write an article on his behalf. The article becomes a success, but Ted refuses to share the cr
Mary's Three Husbands
Murray, Ted and Lou fantasize about being married to Mary.
Mary's Big Party
Mary has planned a fancy party at her apartment, with a mystery guest of honor, but the power in the building goes befor
Lou Dates Mary
Mary has another disastrous date and worries she'll never meet the right man, until Georgette points out that every qual
The Last Show
WJM-TV has some personnel changes in the executive department (again), and everyone except Ted Baxter is fired. The new
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